Our Team

Dr. Christine DiBlasio was inspired to study martial arts by her children, over 20 years ago. She currently holds the rank of 5th degree Black Belt in Kempo-JuJitsu. Christine is also a licensed psychologist and the director of a large outpatient, private mental health practice, Stone House Associates. In this capacity, Christine has had the honor of working with many survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault. It is this unique combination of expertise (martial arts and psychology) that has led her to develop and teach violence prevention classes (ESD) as well as to create a ground-breaking trauma treatment program (TESD or Therapeutic Empowerment Self-Defense). TESD utilizes a mind-body approach to healing trauma and has received worldwide attention. Christine was recently named USA Today’s Vermont Woman of the Year in recognition of her innovative work in the field of trauma recovery for survivors of violence. Her sense of humor, professional approach, warmth, and compassion help her connect with course participants. Christine welcomes questions or inquiries and can be reached at Christine@TheSafetyTeam.org.

Nancy Keller has been a student of martial arts since 2002 and a valued member of The Safety Team since 2004. She holds the rank of 4th-degree Black Belt in Kempo-JuJitsu, 2nd-Degree Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and 3rd-Degree Brown Belt in Bushintai-Do, a martial art created especially for practice in public schools. Nancy is also a national board-certified science and mathematics educator with over 30 years of experience teaching both young adolescents and adults. Having integrated Bushintai-Do into her classroom, Nancy has witnessed firsthand the positive influence learning a martial art can have on the lives of students. While students learn and practice the physical skills of self-defense, they also make academic and social/emotional gains. Nancy is known as a warm, patient and encouraging instructor who combines her classroom expertise and martial arts training to help her students grow in self-confidence and independence. 

Geneviève’s (Genie) tenure on TST started when she volunteered over a decade ago, after taking an Empowerment Self-Defense class with her teenage daughter. She subsequently began training in martial arts, ultimately earning a black belt in Kempo-Jujitsu. Genie was later invited to become a professional team member in 2018 and successfully completed training which resulted in certification in all of our signature programs. Genie’s enthusiasm and passion for the topics of empowerment, preventing violence, and promoting healing are inspiring. She has been the senior instructor for programs delivered in various settings, including schools, colleges, businesses and community centers in VT. She has been instrumental in improving our curriculum and is a vital part of our Training and Certification programs for new instructors. Genie has co-led TST’s Therapeutic Empowerment Self-Defense Sessions for survivors of interpersonal and sexual violence. This impactful work in promoting healing has prompted Genie to pursue a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. In addition to her work on TST, Genie has created and successfully developed two businesses which share a focus on women’s health and well-being (Birth Journeys & Massage Journey). Additionally, Genie is a co-founder of the UVM Volunteer Doula program. The constant theme in all this work is Geneviève’s passion for empowering people and promoting equity. She can be reached at Genie@TheSafetyTeam.org. 

Dale Henry started volunteering with The Safety Team when she was 14 years old and is now a certified ESD instructor in Levels 1 & 2 and a TESD instructor. She identifies as a person in long-term recovery and a lifelong learner. Dale has experience working with people managing substance abuse, trauma, housing, and mental health challenges. She is a certified Recovery Coach through the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County and a Mental Health Technician in the UVM Medical Center Emergency Department. This impactful work in promoting healing has prompted Dale to pursue a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. She is passionate about helping people overcome their obstacles and make meaningful changes in their lives, achieving transformative personal growth, which fuels her work with The Safety Team. You can reach Dale at dale@thesafeteam.org

Certified TESD Mental Health Provider & ESD Instructor

Caroline has been a dedicated member of The Safety Team since 2020. She is a certified TESD™ provider, ESD instructor, and, as of 2025, a valued member of the Board of Directors. In addition to her work with The Safety Team, Caroline maintains a private practice specializing in family therapy, EMDR, and trauma recovery. She is also a second-degree brown belt in Karate. You can reach Caroline at caroline@thesafetyteam.org

Kara Cross completed TESD certification in March 2025 and recently became a certified ESD Level 1 Instructor. As a social worker and psychotherapist in private practice, Kara helps clients heal through compassion, embodiment, and empowerment. She believes therapy is a wonderful space to build resilience and uncover our innate capacity to heal and grow. As a yoga instructor and former athletics coach, she also recognizes that working in groups facilitates deeper learning. She is grateful to have found alignment and community with the Safety Team. You can reach Kara at kara@thesafetyteam.org