Since the late 1960s, Ellis has trained in various martial arts systems, spending thirteen of these years studying in Japan. He is a recognized expert in classical and modern Japanese martial traditions, and has authored two iconoclastic books, as well as one instructional DVD on this subject.  Furthermore, he has released three instructional books for families who live with seriously mentally ill family members. 

Since his return to America in 1988, Ellis has worked in the field of crisis intervention. He has developed a range of training and consultation services, as well as a unique style of assessment and psychotherapy. These are based on a combination of phenomenological psychology and the underlying philosophical premises of classical Japanese martial traditions. Ellis’s professional philosophy can best be summed up in this idea: the development of an individual’s integrity and dignity is the paramount virtue. This can only occur when people live courageously, regardless of the circumstances, and take responsibility for their roles in making the changes they desire.

Ellis Amdur is a dynamic public speaker and trainer who presents his work throughout the U.S. and internationally. He is noted for his sometimes outrageous humor as well as his profound breadth of knowledge. Ellis’s vivid descriptions of aggressive and mentally ill people and his true-to-life role-playing of the behaviors in question give participants an almost first-hand experience of facing the real individuals in question.

Link to Ellis's CV

Renee Balodis-Cox
 
In 1997, Renee Balodis-Cox became fully certified in Edgework methodology regarding the de-escalation of aggression for social services. She brings vast professional experience to her work. Renee is a seasoned case manager and therapist, working with some of Seattle's most difficult clients, not only in an office setting, but also in their own homes and on the street.  She is currently 2007-08 president of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association.  

Renee’s extensive training in psychology and behavioral medicine gives her a unique insight into the nature of hostile and aggressive behaviors.  She earned her MA in Community Counseling from City University in 1997, and her MS in Behavioral Medicine from the Behavioral Physiology Institute in 1999.  Renee is a licensed mental health counselor and child mental health specialist, and also has specialized training in PTSD and anxiety issues. In the past she has done work with a mental health after-hours crisis stabilization team.

In addition to Edgework training, Renee has conducted trainings in grief and loss and child therapy, and she presently teaches counseling and psychology classes at City University.

Renee is a dynamic and quick-witted speaker who presents concepts in a thorough yet easy-to-understand manner. Her empathic, flexible style makes her effective in communicating with a wide range of people, and her background in amateur theater helps make her trainings dramatic, humorous, and affecting. 

NOTE:  All inquiries regarding training should be directed to the contact information at the bottom of this page.  However, those wishing to contact Renee regarding her private therapy practice may contact her at 425-503-9845 or EMAIL

Link to Renee's CV