Meet Our Facilitators

Lisa Anllo, PhD - Breast Cancer/Young Breast Cancer Survivors Group Facilitator
A clinical psychologist and marital/sex therapist, Lisa has extensive experience as a facilitator of breast cancer support groups. Was honored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Western New York with the 2009 Hope Award for her work as a health professional in helping to improve the lives of breast cancer survivor.

Steve Bell - Transformational Rhythm Activity/Drumming Instructor
A retired educator having served 21 years as Middle School Principal with the Springville School District, Steve's musical background includes performing, arranging and teaching numerous Drum and Bugle Corps/Marching Bands and serving as timpanist with the Orchard Park Symphony. After a forty year involvement with African hand-drumming, Steve began participating and facilitating a number of drum circles in both Western New York and Southwest Florida. He is certified in transformational rhythm activity facilitation, as well as training in sound empowerment.

Jessica Casamassa, MS - Red Door Readers Facilitator
Jessica is an elementary school librarian with the West Seneca School District. Before obtaining a Masters in Library Science from the University at Buffalo, she spent over seven years working in and managing local bookstores. Jessica is passionate about reading and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for books with her students and book club members.

Elizabeth (Beth) Collins, CCLS - Kids Kitchen Club
Beth has been a Certified Child Life Specialist working for the Essential Care for Children Program for the past 16 years. She has a B.A in English from Niagara University and has 25 years of experience working with both children and adults coping with life-threatening illnesses and grief and loss.

Choon Hoch - Qi Gong Instructor
Previously a long standing volunteer Yoga instructor at Gilda's Club, Choon has also been a Qi Gong instructor at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and an instructor of Tae Kwon-Do and Karate at Erie Community College and Niagara University. She has certifications in Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga), Qi Gong, Tae Kwon-Do/Karate, Reiki, and Reflexology.

Connie James, LMSW - After a Parent Diess & Persons Widows & Widowers Support Group (Evening) Facilitator
Connie has had extensive experience in mental health as well as experience providing counseling for Hospice patients and families coping with end of life issues and bereavement. She has facilitated general bereavement groups as well as support groups for widows and widowers. She also has facilitated a monthly Remembrance Ceremony for Hospice staff. 

Ann Loretan, RN, LMT - Yoga Instructor
A retired RN with over twenty years experience in mental health treatment, Ann is a practicing massage therapist and Yoga teacher. She has been doing Yoga for 15 years and has been teaching for seven years following teacher training at the The Himalayan Institute in Buffalo and currently involved in continuing teacher education there.

Sara Montz, LCSW - Metastatic Breast Cancer Facilitator (Bennett Road)
Sara is a Dialysis Social Worker and a Palliative Care Consultant with Supportive Medical Partners, an affiliate of Hospice-Buffalo. She has over 25 years experience in providing clinical social work services to patients with serious illness and their caregivers. In addition to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Group which is sponsored by Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Sara has also been a facilitator for General Bereavement Groups, Suicide Bereavement Group, Caregiver Support Group.

Elaine Rinfrette, RN, LCSW-R, PhD - Cancer Survivor Group Facilitator
Elaine is an assistant professor and director of the MSW program at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Department of social work, adjunct faculty at the University at Buffalo, School of Social Work. She has had extensive clinical experience in mental health, trauma care, and bereavement.

Karen Rumsey - LMHC - General Bereavement Group Facilitator
Has extensive experience with bereavement, trauma, family therapy and cognitive behavioral treatment.

Carol Stein - Yoga Instructor
A certified Yoga instructor, Carol began her study of Yoga over 40 years ago when her family moved from Minneapolis to Buffalo. She has taught Yoga at the Himalayan institute for over thirteen years, was a Yoga instructor for Gilda's Club since 2005 and continues to be one our instructors for Life Transitions Center.

Jonathan Treible, PhD - Yoga Instructor
Has extensive training and experience in psychotherapy with individuals, couples and families and is interested in holistic approaches to therapy and personal growth. In addition to his private practice, he has conducted workshops on stress and conflict management, health and wellness, pain management, intimacy, anxiety disorders, grief, loss and other transitions. He is Board Certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance (RYT). 

Amanda Tyson-Ryba, PhD - Suicide Bereavement Group
Amanda is a licensed counseling psychologist and Practicum Coordinator at the University at Buffalo Counseling Services, where she has worked since 2003. In addition to providing individual, couples, and group therapy to the university students, she is a certified QPR Gatekeeper (suicide prevention) Trainer and has participated in the Buffalo Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention since it started in 2007, joining the planning committee for the Walk in 2010. 

Ryki Zuckerman - Poetry Without Rhyme Facilitator
A retired teacher and professor, Ryki is an active co-editor of the literary arts periodical, Earth's Daughters magazine, published locally for 42 years, (www.earthsdaughters.org), and curates two local readings series, the Gray Hair Series (www.hallwalls.org) and Wordflight (www.justbuffalo.org). Her full-length book of poems, Looking for Bora Bora, published in April, 2013, is available from Amazon.com.

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