About Us
Introducing Us
More Than A Martial Art School
More supportive and inclusive environment for those that have mental health struggles.
Instructors are more effective because they know how to tailor their instruction to each individual student
Instructor have received psycho-education on relevant mental health topics and how it affects their students.
Instructors have access to ATIMAS support to help them provide specific teaching interventions when needed.
An ATIMAS school has put value on their continued education in an effort to magnify their abilities to reach and support their students
About ATIMAS
ATIMAS, The Association of Trauma Informed Martial Arts Schools is the brain child of Jeremy Leavitt. Jeremy started training in Taekwondo at age 12. During the first year of his training, he had several traumatic events in his life, most notably the divorce of his parents and bullying at school. Jeremy also suffered from undiagnosed anxiety and ADHD. Through training in Taekwondo he learned skills that helped him navigate life during that difficult period in his life. Those skills transferred to other areas in his life and helped him be successful in school, career, and building a business as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
He sees the skills he learned in Taekwondo directly helping his ability to assist others in healing in his work as a psychotherapist. He also sees the skills he learned as a therapist benefiting his teaching at his Taekwondo Dojang. His goal is to help the 2 worlds connect and help in greater assisting individuals and families in their individual journeys of healing. He is passionate about helping Martial Arts instructors become educated in how they can greater assist people heal through becoming informed in the common mental health issues that effect many of us.
Our Mission and Vision
Testimonials
Stories from Our Empowered Students
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Cori P. ParentOur daughter started training in Taekwondo when she was 7 years old. When she first began training, it was evident that she had a passion for the art and was incredibly driven for her age. At that time she was getting good grades in school and was happy, positive and confident child. About 8 months later she hit a wall as they say. She became depressed, anxious and didn’t want to train anymore. She was struggling in school and she lost her spark. We found out that our daughter has ADHD, GAD and she is Dyslexic. These things were always there but she had become an expert masker and finally hit her point where it was all too much to handle on her own. One of the instructors at her Taekwondo Studio specializes in the very neurodiversity’s our daughter was struggling with. Having an Instructor that was informed and passionate about working with people that have these difference changed everything for our daughter. Mr. Leavitt helped our daughter regain her confidence by understanding her challenges and guiding her through them in the moment so she felt empowered instead of feeling debilitated. Because of his training Mr. Leavitt can identify when she is overstimulated or struggling and interject in real time without any disruption to her or any of the other students training. Mr. Leavitt has also taken a lot of time and care to ensure the other instructors can provide the same support in the Dojang. Over time, our daughter has found her safe place again in Taekwondo and is back to being confident and driven. Mr. Leavitt has also provided me support me parent of a child with ADHD but also as a mom that also has ADHD. Having an instructor that is Mental Health/Trauma focused changed everything for our daughter. Without Mr. Leavitt our daughter likely would have quit, but instead she is getting ready to test for her Black Belt in the spring!Read more
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C. Stack GrandmotherI did some research and decided to bring my 9 year old grandson to Lone Mountain Taekwondo. Lucas started 1/20/21. Lucas has ADHD and had not started on medication yet. His instructor, Master Sue had experience in dealing with students with mental health issues. She could see when Lucas was/was not processing information. Mr. Jeremy Leavitt, a therapist, and a former black belt student (of Master Sue) started working with Master Sue as an instructor. He gave Master Sue suggestions of dealing with students who have mental health/trauma. This has been extremely helpful for Lucas. Because of his limitations, Lucas could not start brick and mortar school until this year. Having qualified instructors that were trauma and mental health informed was a major factor in his ability to start attending in person school. Within several months He went from sitting whole lessons on the mat for being obstinate to now a green belt. Lucas learned the tenants of taekwondo and how to start living by them. The help of Mr. Leavitt and Master Sue made my first week of Lucas going to a brick-and-mortar school too easy. They have helped Lucas become happy and self-assured.Read more
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Cori P. ParentOur daughter started training in Taekwondo when she was 7 years old. When she first began training, it was evident that she had a passion for the art and was incredibly driven for her age. At that time she was getting good grades in school and was happy, positive and confident child. About 8 months later she hit a wall as they say. She became depressed, anxious and didn’t want to train anymore. She was struggling in school and she lost her spark. We found out that our daughter has ADHD, GAD and she is Dyslexic. These things were always there but she had become an expert masker and finally hit her point where it was all too much to handle on her own. One of the instructors at her Taekwondo Studio specializes in the very neurodiversity’s our daughter was struggling with. Having an Instructor that was informed and passionate about working with people that have these difference changed everything for our daughter. Mr. Leavitt helped our daughter regain her confidence by understanding her challenges and guiding her through them in the moment so she felt empowered instead of feeling debilitated. Because of his training Mr. Leavitt can identify when she is overstimulated or struggling and interject in real time without any disruption to her or any of the other students training. Mr. Leavitt has also taken a lot of time and care to ensure the other instructors can provide the same support in the Dojang. Over time, our daughter has found her safe place again in Taekwondo and is back to being confident and driven. Mr. Leavitt has also provided me support me parent of a child with ADHD but also as a mom that also has ADHD. Having an instructor that is Mental Health/Trauma focused changed everything for our daughter. Without Mr. Leavitt our daughter likely would have quit, but instead she is getting ready to test for her Black Belt in the spring!Read more