Convention Schedule

We are so excited to offer more than 60 continuing education credits at this year's
Virtual Convention! Check out the full convention schedule below. Click on the individual sessions to view more details.
As the Convention Committee finalizes details of the 2022 Virtual Convention, the scheduled workshops and events may change, including times, CEUs, titles, and descriptions. Please check back to the schedule periodically to see any updates.
Scroll down to see descriptions of each workshop!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Below are the generous companies who have helped to bring about this event.
The continued work and advocacy of NYMHCA is made possible by these contributions and the support of our members.
We urge you to become a member by clicking here.
--------------- Visionary Sponsors ---------------
Counslr is a community of licensed Mental Health Counselors, Clinical Social Workers and Creative Arts Therapists on a mission to make quality mental health care readily available, easily accessible and socially acceptable 24/7/365. Counslr has created a platform that unites the Client and Counselor for a human-centered yet remote experience. Our chosen modality of text-based support creates a unique environment for clients who prefer a greater level of privacy or need convenient, immediately accessible help. We are hiring independently licensed counselors in NY, NJ & CT to provide quality mental health support to collegiate and corporate clients. These are fully remote, contractor roles. Counselors enjoy the convenience of utilizing
their own computer to access the secure Counslr web portal to engage in text counseling anywhere within the state(s) they are licensed. Counselors set their own work hours. Pay differentials are available for overnight shifts and holidays. Visit www.Counslr.com
CPH & Associates provides malpractice insurance for mental health professionals throughout the US, and CPH is proud to be exclusively endorsed by AMHCA as their recommended insurance partner for over 20 years. With up-to-date legal resources and exceptional customer service, CPH insures your professional journey from student practicum to full licensure. A policy with CPH protects your career against a grievance from a regulatory board, claim, or lawsuit. Find peace of mind with CPH. Get a quote and apply online at www.cphins.com.
Spring Health is a comprehensive mental health solution for employers and health plans. We serve diverse populations - from frontline to corporate workers - across several industries. Clinicians work with Spring Health because we do more than source motivated clients and coordinate scheduling and billing for them. We’re a community built for and by mental health professionals — backed by scientific research, grounded in clinical quality, and defined by unparalleled support. Clinicians have a space for personal and professional growth; that includes opportunities for connection, gaining skills beyond 1:1 therapy, professional development, and more. With Spring Health, you get more. Learn more about our mission to eliminate every barrier to mental health today. Click Here
--------------- Benefactor Sponsors ---------------
A master’s degree is required to begin a professional counseling career, and Cazenovia College’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offers the courses and clinical practice needed to be successful in the field. We believe that preparing students for a client-centered profession should involve a student-centered curriculum. Students earn this 60-credit degree in two years, get 700 hours of practical experience, and become eligible to apply for licensure in NY; all through convenient evening and online courses at an affordable cost. Visit cazenovia.edu/gradprograms for more info.
I really Do Listen on what you have to Say. My specialty is in Gambling and Assessing/Treating Various Process Addictions: along with MH topics, If you have been Diagnosed and the Treatment is not working, lets talk. Between my Education and years of experience We can figure it out together. Click Here
The New York Council on Problem Gambling is here to raise awareness of problem gambling and to get help to people impacted by problem gambling. To learn more about problem gambling treatment (with free CEs), how to become a provider in our network, or make a referral, please visit our website. Click Here
--------------- Supporter Sponsors ---------------
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Staten Island NYMHCA​
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​Blue Skies Psychological Services, PC. 
 
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​Buffalo NYMHCA
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Long Island NYMHCA 
 Wednesday 7/27 
Lynda Dimitroff
Ph.D., MSEd, BSN, LMHC, RN, MCHES, PCC
Keynote: Counselor, Heal Thyself
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally (Kabat-Zinn, 2005). This one-day retreat offers licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) the opportunity to use mindfulness in daily life and in clinical practice in an experiential learning environment. It is designed to improve resilience and well-being. 
LMHCs will gain knowledge and practice techniques related to awareness, noticing, deep breathing, meditation, emotional regulation, active listening, and powerful communication. This experiential retreat includes learning basic mindfulness techniques with applied practice and gentle feedback to enable LMHCs to use the skills they acquire into daily practice at home and in the clinical setting.
Our lives are stressful and we tend to forget how to care for the most important person – you. Spend the day nourishing yourself with new skills to regain joy and peace in your life. This day is all about you! One of the wonderful outcomes of this conference is that you will be able to use and share the skills you learn immediately to begin healing. No prior experience with mindfulness or mediation is required.
 Thursday 7/28 
Fredrick Dombrowski
Ph.D., LMHC, CASAC, LPC, LADC, NCC, CCMHC, MAC, ACS, BC-TMH, HS-BCP, ICADC, DCMHS
Enhancing transgender counseling: Expectation and evidence-based practices. 
Many clinicians providing transgender care may lack full understanding of the recommendations required by the WPATH Standards of Care. This workshop will review WPATH’s expectations for counselors as well as discuss ways to use evidence-based practices, advocacy, and linkage with other services to assist their transgender clients.  
Stephanie Lauer
LMHC
Sandtray Therapy Across the Lifespan 
Sandtray is an effective tool that could be used with all ages to assess and treat various mental health issues. This course will teach you about what sandtray is, who could benefit from sandtray therapy, what you need to get started, and will provide multiple case examples across the lifespan. 
Lynda Dimitroff
Ph.D., MSEd, BSN, LMHC, RN, MCHES, PCC
Meditation
Jacqueline Baer
Ph.D., LMHC, NCC
Joseph
​Toles
LMHC
Emily
Collins
LMHC
This ain't no sitcom: An eye opening reconstruction of one man's never ending journey through the foster care system.
Follow along as we reconstruct one individual’s journey of survival and healing from the foster care system. Although issues can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children and adolescents living in and through the foster care system, this workshop will help bridge the gap for mental health professionals from confusion to competency.  Through the tender story of one individual, we will explore the proper identification and effective assessment of potential mental health issues that are essential to establishing physical and emotional health of our clients.  
Jacqueline Bove
MHC-LP
Cynthia
Stone
Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care
The presentation will focus on integrated care from the lens of Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) working in primary care to implement evidence-based practices, like solution-focused approaches, CBT, SBIRT, and motivational interviewing all of which are short-term interventions. This will be in a lecture formate with a lively presentation of slides and a Q & A session. 
Hannah Bland
Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Sam
Flynn
Grief and Loss: Coping with Death Behind Bars
Death and dying are part of the natural life cycle. However, the topic can often evoke strong reactions from those who discuss it. Professional counselors can help to alleviate some of this discomfort around the topic with clients who are experiencing issues related to death, dying, and grief. For those who are incarcerated, death and dying hold additional complexities not often considered by the general public or the professional mental health community. This presentation seeks to provide participants with a deeper understanding of death and dying in relation to those who are currently incarcerated. Through lecture format, with experiential components, participants will develop a basic understanding of grief counseling, learn about additional grief related concerns in incarcerated settings, and will learn skills that can be implemented when working with individuals who are currently incarcerated to help manage grief and death related concerns. Additional resources will be provided at the end of the presentation for those who desire to learn more. 
 Friday 7/29 
Lynda Dimitroff
Ph.D., MSEd, BSN, LMHC, RN, MCHES, PCC
Meditation
Madison
Rynne
LMHC
The Importance of Psycho-Education to Patient Support Systems
Expand methods of providing psycho-education for patient's and their support systems. Reference included study here: Vigod, S., Kurdyak, P., Dennis, C., Leszcz, T., Taylor, V., Blumberger, D., & Seitz, D. (2013). Transitional interventions to reduce early psychiatric readmissions in adults: Systematic review. British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(3), 187-194. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.115030. This study was republished in 2018. Review significance of psycho-education as it relates to readmission rates, relapse prevention and recovery. Utilize slides with definitions, and visual graphs to depict readmission rates and the impact of psycho-education.  Engage audience with polls and open ended questions.
Tina
​Fitts 
Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, NCC, RYT, CPT
Yoga and Mental Health: in action 
Yoga philosophy and ethics as it applies to the field of mental health. The format of this talk will be a discussion with the audience as well as sharing of personal experiences with clients that is supported by the research. This is an open discussion about use of yoga philosophy and mindfulness practices in a therapeutic setting. I will share my personal experiences and effective ways that yoga and meditation has helped my patients.
Scott
McGuinness
Ph.D., LMHC, Master CASAC, NCC
Eric
Bates
LMT
Kyle Sullivan
Ph.D. Candidate
Integrating Bengston Energy Healing Into Counseling Sessions
An overview of the Bengston Healing Method will be given utilizing video clips from William Bengston’s past conference presentations (e.g., Iclif Executive Education Centre at ASB, 2014) coupled with a traditional lecture. Next, the empirical basis of Bengston Healing will be discussed (e.g., Beseme et al., 2018) as well as how it is differentiated from the Placebo Effect (e.g., Bengston and Moga, 2007). Then, the method by which healing is conveyed, Image Cycling (Bengston, 2010), will also be conveyed to participants. Participants will be encouraged to experiment with Image Cycling. Anecdotal accounts of healing using the Bengston Method will be provided throughout the workshop to help illustrate main points, and to describe how the method works with clients struggling with inflammation, chronic pain, and mental health disorders. A demonstration of the Bengston Healing will be conducted by using one or more participants who are in attendance. The demonstration will be processed by the participants with the presenters and larger group. The presenters will identify ways how Bengston Healing can be used in conjunction with conventional, evidence-based, approaches to counseling. A discussion about how to include this method in informed consent forms will also take place, given that psychotherapy and the energetic intervention will occur simultaneously and not apart from one another. PowerPoint slides will be used throughout the presentation when discussing research. Reference materials about the method will be digitally distributed at the conclusion the presentation.
Syed
​Hasan
Ph.D. Candidate, MS, MHC-LP
Asha
Kadir
Joseph Franco
Using the Empowerment Model to Address Disparities in Muslim Mental Health
The use of the Empowerment Model will be applied to address the disparities in Muslims seeking mental health counseling services. Current literature suggests that Muslim Americans attribute mental illness to a variety of causes, such as a lack of faith and sinful behaviors, from spiritual causes to environmental factors (Basgara & Mackinem, 2014). Counselors will learn to incorporate the empowerment model by McWhirter (1997), including the five C's: Collaboration, Competence, Context, Critical Consciousness, and Community (Ali, Liu & Humedian, 2004). Using this model, mental health practitioners can visualize the barriers and influencing factors of Muslims seeking services to establish a framework for future advocacy. The presenters will use this model to describe best practices for counseling. The presentation will include a PowerPoint format with pre-recorded demonstrations of clinical techniques. Presenters will engage attendees in an interactive discussion.
Marjan
Persuh
Ph.D.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy
This workshop will explore psychedelic-assisted therapy. Data from recent clinical trials, as well as author’s research on psychological effects of psilocybin and MDMA, will be presented. Current treatment models, training, and the implications of the recently passed diagnosis bill will be discussed.
 Saturday 7/30 
Gary
Bisogna
M.A., LMHC, CEAP
SAFER Suicide Awareness and Intervention Skills Training
This workshop includes a PowerPoint presentation, lecture, videos, and use of an audience response system and interactive role play. Topics covered include becoming aware of suicidal warning signs, how to engage the potentially suicidal person to ask about suicide in the most fruitful manner. Also covered are recommended steps should the person, in fact, be thinking about suicide. Tips that I was never taught in graduate school. Supportive studies include "What is the Harm in Asking About Suicidal Ideation?" (Mathias et al, Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior Journal, 2012, Vol 42, Issue 3). This is a new model, which we began teaching October, 2019.
Portia
​Allie-Turco
LMHC, NCC
La Tasha
Sullivan
Tryphena Quaicoe
Disordered Eating in Black Women: Assessment, Conceptualization & Treatment
Black women’s battle to reclaim the damaging stereotypes about their womanhood, and to challenge the stigma of being perceived as angry, aggressive, emasculating, loud, and promiscuous resulted in the embodiment of the strong Black woman schema (Harris-Perry, 2011). This representation allowed Black women to showcase their enduring strength in the face of adversity and to persevere through the unbearable weight of trauma, and oppression.  Being strong is a protective factor that allowed Black women to survive the trauma of slavery, and ongoing systemic racism and oppression. However, even though being strong, allowed them to discredit these derogatory associations, and to promote a respectable, self-contained, and self-reliant femininity, this strength has contributed to emotional dysregulation and disordered eating that is silently killing Black women (Collins, 2000; Harris-Perry, 2011).  Since endorsing a strong Black identity is a protective factor against the pursuit for thinness, Black women typically have a positive body image even at larger sizes compared to women of other races. This has led traditional behavioral research to promote the idea that Black women are immune to eating disorders even when disordered eating patterns pose a detriment to their health and wellbeing.  The goal of this presentation is to explore disordered eating in Black women, by understanding how maladaptive eating patterns can be conceptualized, and assessed to create treatment strategies that addressed the unique needs of this population and mitigate the impact of this largely unrecognized issue.
This presentation will utilize an interactive lecture and group discussion to explore emerging strategies in the treatment of disordered eating. The merits of the Healthy At Every Size and Intuitive eating models will be incorporated to infuse social justice as foundational to the clinical treatment of eating disorders in Black women.
Krissy
Moses
MS, LMHC
Supporting Mental Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth
Topics will include the different sexual and gender minority terms and definitions; research highlighting the increased mental health risks LGBTQ+ youth face; heteronormativity in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth; the impact of intersecting identities on LGBTQ+ youth mental health; barriers to mental health care; and ethical considerations. Power point presentation with interactive activities and discussion throughout the session. Research will be used from various resources including the 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health for the statistics portion. 
Erin
​Berzins
LMHC (WA), LPCC (MN), Ph.D.
Tina
Sacin
Ph.D., LPC
Invisible Families: Pregnancy and Birth During COVID-19
This presentation is based upon an IRB-approved phenomenological study which was conducted in 2021-2022. The sample consisted of women from the United States (selected due to the uniquely poor public health response and high infection rate) who experienced pregnancies which began after the pandemic started. The purpose was to examine the unique experiences of individuals who went through pregnancy, birth, and early parenting experience entirely during pandemic conditions. A total of 19 interviews were conducted and coded. This study focused in particular on the experience of social support, due to the relationships between peripartum social support and health outcomes such as postpartum depression and anxiety, birth outcomes, stress, and parent-child attachment. The participants in this study identified many effects of the pandemic on their own experiences and the wellbeing of their families such as feeling invisible and forgotten by both close loved ones and society as a whole, experiencing low social support, feeling distrustful of their communities, experiencing a sense of loss and grief about the experiences that did not occur, losing bodily autonomy in the medical system, and having difficulty accessing mental health care. These themes will be reviewed utilizing participant quotes, to give visibility and voice to the participants. Implications for counselors will be discussed, with group participation requested to collectively brainstorm how to respond to the ongoing needs of these families as the pandemic changes and ultimately ends. Recommendations and resources will be shared.
Rachel
Lauria
BSW
Amanda
Quintana
​LMHC
Why You Should Care About Emerging Trends in the Gambling Landscape
Increased gambling opportunities in NYS continue to impact clients and have resulted in increased risks of gambling addiction. Technology has made gambling more accessible; providers should be equipped to respond. This session reviews recent gambling expansion, connections to social issues, warning signs, screening tools, and referral options. 
 Sunday 7/31 
Nouna 
​Jalilzadeh
M.S., MHC-LP, NCC, Ph.D.(c)
Ashley Davis
Joseph
Franco
Piece a Cake: Being Vulnerable in the Unknown World of Differences in Cultural Flavors
Multicultural diversification in the U.S. is steadily increasing with more than 30-million minority individuals nationally therefore it is important to broach multicultural conversations on many levels. Consequently, this workshop will discuss previous research, explore barriers, and suggest implications for having a vulnerable dialogue about multicultural topics on a peer-to-peer level.
Jason
Duffy
Ph.D., LMHC, NCC, ACS
An Ironic Pairing: Using Technology to Bring the Benefits of the Natural World to our Clients
To start, the presenter will define nature and nature-based activities and provide a brief overview of its use in counseling, counselor training, and counselor supervision. Next, the presenter will discuss the rationale for specifically using technology-driven, nature-based activities (inside and outside the counseling office) in counseling as well as in counselor training to assist in client and student development and well-being. The presenter will then demonstrate, using an interactive lecture and several participatory activities, how nature-based activities can easily be used to assist counseling clients with issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and transition-based issues. Case examples emanating from three recent studies conducted by the presenter will be provided. Attendees will receive copies of the PowerPoint slides used in the presentation and a manual the presenter has developed for implementing this approach in varying contexts. A projector and cords (Mac compatable) will be required by the presenter.    
Alexa
Mulee
LMHC, CASACT
Breaking Down Borderline
Topics to be presented include BPD DSM5 diagnostic criteria, history of BPD, causes of BPD,  busting the myths/stigma around BPD, most effective treatment modalities, effective ways to communicate in treatment with individuals who have BPD, BPD in the media, and importance of boundary setting. Format: Zoom using google sheets and sharing screen, Cited resources available upon request!
Linton
Hutchinson
LMHC, NCC. FL License 2661
Stacy
Frost
Passing the new NCMHCE Narrative Exam
The presentation covers three areas necessary to pass the Narrative NCMHCE exam: knowing how the exam is constructed, knowing areas covered on the exam, and learning a structured approach for dissecting the narratives. The new exam is based on a theoretical construct and evidence-based practices back by research. 
Kati
​Singh
LMHC, CRC
When the Body Speaks:
Focusing Oriented Therapy or
The Phenomenology of the Implicit - the Philosophy of Eugene T. Gendlin
Eugene T. Gendlin worked with Carl Rogers at the University of Chicago and Focusing has well been empirically studied to prove reliability and validity. As a group we will have an experiential exercise using "something" and "it" language to relate to the implicit. We will then explore what is the: felt sense, facets and organizing principles of a client's existence. 
 Monday 8/1 
Katie
Streeter
MA, NCC, CTTS, LPC, LMHC
Healing The Helper:  Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue
The topics presented will be compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, as well as a resiliency toolkit.  This material will be presented via powerpoint and video.  Paper copies of an assessment will be handed out to gauge a participants compassion fatigue.  A copy of the resiliency toolkit will be handed out on paper to follow along with the presenter.  Various items will be made available by the presenter to allow the participants to bring home their own self-care items as a tangible reminder to utilize such skills both as professionals, but to also teach others about self-care and compassion fatigue.  
Christiana Rogers-Larke
​EdD, NCC, BCPCC, CCTP, CAMS-II,  EMDRIA CIT, RPT-S, LPC-S
God Doesn't Make No Junk: ADHD Through the Lifespan
ADHD, though well known, continues to be a disorder that is both misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed.  As a result, practitioners don't have a good working knowledge of the factors that impact those with this disorder.  Participants will gain an awareness of neurobiological  factors, common interventions and strategies they can use effectively with clients throughout the lifespan. 
Poster Presentations
​
Alexis
Campbell
BA
The Black Maternity Experience
The purpose of this study was to examine the maternity experiences of Black women, utilization of birth workers, and their mental health. A photovoice study and interviews were conducted. Emerging themes include lack of knowledge and access to birth workers, common medical conditions among experiences, and invalidation as pregnant Black women.
Nicole
Sarnataro
LMHC, NCC
Supporting Counselor in Training Self-Efficacy Development 
Counselor training and development is an integral topic for counselor educators and supervisors. Facilitating counselors’ self-efficacy during their counseling training and preparation is one way to strengthen counselor development. The purpose of this poster presentation is to present approaches to develop counselors’ self-efficacy in counselor education as well as supervisory practices.
Christiana
​Roberts
M.S., Candidate
Dr. Maren Westphal
Ph.D.
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in CBT for Depression
There is increasing interest in incorporating mindfulness and self-compassion into counseling based on empirical evidence that they can be effective in reducing depression and preventing relapse. This presentation will describe the relationship between mindfulness, self-compassion, and depression and provide examples of techniques counselors can use to foster mindfulness and self-compassion.
Danielle
​Giocondo
M.S. candidate 
Dr. Maren Westphal
Ph.D.
Exploring the Utilization of Online Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Reduce Stress in College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Increasing evidence suggest that mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are effective in reducing stress in college students. Traditionally, MBIs have been conducted in-person, however, but due to the pandemic, they had to be adapted for online format. This poster identifies specific challenges as well as advantages of online delivery of MBIs.
Rachel
Maran
Graduate Student MS MHC Pace University
Dr. Maren Westphal
Ph.D.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions May Reduce Burnout, Anxiety, and Depression in Counselors, Caregivers, and Other Health Professionals Treating Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Stroke
Individuals caring for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and stroke are at increased risk for burnout, anxiety, and depression and can benefit from mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs).  This presentation discusses research on the effectiveness of MBIs for caregivers and health care providers, including mental health counselors. 
DominiqueMannix
BS, JD
​Dr. Maren Westphal
The Use of Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Reduce Stress in College Students
College students are reporting increased mental health concerns, including stress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to reduce stress. This poster presents the current literature concerning the efficacy of MBIs in reducing stress in college students and specific interventions that have been found to be effective.  
Gabrielle
Taubenfeld
B.A.
Dr. Maren Westphal
Ph.D.
How Effective Are Mindfulness Interventions for Individuals from Different Ethnic Backgrounds?
There is extensive evidence for the mental health benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in Western cultures, but far fewer studies have examined their effectiveness in different ethnic groups. This presentation reports on current research on this topic and discusses their implications for counselors working with individuals from ethnic minority groups. 
 Tuesday 8/2 
Jessica
​McJunkin-Flatts
LMHC, RYT
Find Your Comfort: Yoga and Mindfulness Practices for Clinicians
Finding your Comfort explores the relationship between the body and mind. Therapists typically are last to engage in Self Care as they are consistently providing support to others. Due to current times, telehealth can limit mobility. This practice is developed for the therapist who needs a moment to stretch, breathe and fill their cup! 
Amanda
​Dixon
LMHC, RPT
Introduction to Play Therapy
This presentation is geared towards participants who have little to no knowledge about play therapy, but are interested in learning what it has to offer.  The training will cover some foundational information regarding play therapy, as well as some creative ideas you could implement now with children in session.
Margaret
Donohoe
Esq.
Paul
Talbert
Esq.
How Mental Health Counselors Can Help Their Patients Navigate Divorce, Separation & Custody Battles
The dynamics between mental health professionals, their clients and lawyers can impact the client’s legal rights. The presentation would discuss: how therapists can ensure a parent doesn’t impact their rights legally with divorce or child custody, important confidentiality concerns, and information that may be required if there is client evaluations.
Susan
Meyerle
Ph.D., LIMHP, CEAP, CFLE
Risk Mitigation in Telemental Health
The pandemic changed the world, including the world of counseling. More counselors than ever have engaged in telemental health. Is the genie out of the bottle?  Is telehealth here to stay? In what ways?  How is your counseling practice impacted by ongoing changes to telemental health regulations? 
 Wednesday 8/3 
Rachelle
Heinemann
LMHC
The Psychoanalytic Approach to the Treatment of Eating Disorders
The course will begin with a discussion about what is an eating disorder with DSM criteria. Then, we will address medical, behavioral, and nutritional issues as the ability to do psychoanalytic work rests on the foundation of the resolution of the above. Following will be a discussion of assessment of level of care and/or organizing a treatment team.
Once the patient is safe and stable for psychotherapy, how do we engage them? Building an alliance with patients with eating disorders presents with unique obstacles.  Discussion of theory and technique of building an alliance and its roots in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
We then expand our conversation to include understanding eating disorders through a psychoanalytic perspective. We will cover the following topics: alexithymia, loss of mentalization, the role of significant developmental relationships/childhood experiences in the pathogenesis of eating disorders through the lens of attachment theory and self psychology, and finally understanding the role of dissociation and psychological defenses.
The talk will conclude with the psychoanalytic treatment  of eating disorders. This segment will cover: addressing the mind-body disconnect, exploration of what  makes emotions (or one in particular) intolerable, engaging in the processing of intolerable emotions, utilizing metaphors in treatment, and utilizing the analytic relationship/exploration of transferences in treatment.
Laura
Smestad
MA, LMHC, NCC, NCSC
​Advanced Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly misunderstood, pervasive mental health problem. On average, individuals with OCD wait 10-17 years after first experiencing symptoms before receiving proper treatment due to high rates of misdiagnosis. This presentation will inform counselors about differential diagnosis, less commonly recognized OCD symptoms, and proper treatment modalities.
Mike
Morde
LMHC, NCC, CASAC-T
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: A Primer to ACTion
This presentation provides a general overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  Mike will invite the audience to explore the concepts of ACT through video and experiential exercises, compare and contrast this approach with CBT and third-wave psychotherapies, and provide tips for engaging clients using ACT techniques.
Tom
​Smith
LMHC
Clinical and practical considerations for starting a group for male survivors of abuse.
Society's gradual acknowledgement of the impact of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse on men is creating more treatment opportunities for survivors.  This program addresses clinical guidance and practical considerations for the creation of a male survivor treatment group.
Brittany
Glenn
Graduating Master's Student - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Ariel
Williams
Ph.D.
How Does Sense of Community Impact the Process of Learning in Counselor Education Students?
This presentation will discuss the findings from original grounded theory research on the ways in which sense of community plays a role in the process of learning in counselor education graduate students. Participants will gain insight into the unique structure of counselor education classes and the conditions under which sense of community may play a role in the quality of learning. 
 Thursday 8/4 
Alex
Valentine​
LMHC, CASAC-MC
Substance Use 101: Understanding Addiction and Navigating Patient Use
Working with substance using patients can be challenging, especially with multiple intervention options when undertaken outside of a formal treatment setting.  This session will aim to combat stigma around substance using patients by putting use in context of common mental health comorbidities and identifying sound and attainable clinical interventions at any level of care.
Nouna
​Jalilzadeh 
M.S., MHC-LP, NCC, Ph.D.(c)
Becoming a Mental health Counselor, Permanently or Temporarily: International Students enrolled in Mental Health Counseling Master’s program, and implications of student visas
The U.S. is among the top countries that receive international students because of known high-quality education, diversity, and the global labor market. Although the number of international counseling students is growing every semester, limited attention has been given to their personal and professional barriers and how to support them.  
Joanne
Jodry
EdD, DMH, LPC, LCADC, NCC, ACS
The Personal is Political: ​Feminist counseling theory is an essential skill during these transformational times
This discussion will allow the counselors to immerse themselves in 3rd Wave feminist counseling theory to get an understanding of the healing properties this theory can offer to clients struggling with current social, political, and cultural issues.  This session will allow the counselor to integrate feminist theory into their existing theoretical orientation.  Additionally, the counselor will learn potential applications of the theory and how it might be integrated into various many counseling and educational settings.
Joanne
Jodry
EdD, DMH, LPC, LCADC, NCC, ACS
Matthew Tirrell
Conversion “Therapy”: Avoiding the Harm
The practice of Conversion Therapy continues to shadow the counseling profession as an often legal, yet evidence-based discredited treatment method. This workshop will help counselors comprehend the contextual factors that inform the controversial role of Conversion Therapy in counseling. It will also provide practical strategies for working with clients most affected by this issue. Discussions will include a brief history of Conversion "Therapy", as well as, existing laws, ethical codes, and prevalence of practice. Evidence-based practices pertinent to counselors identify will be discussed in contrast to perspectives that support this practice.  The presenters will describe the potentiality for harm to clients; and discuss interventions for broaching the topic with clients in a culturally responsive manner. 
Katherine
O'Hara
Ph.D.
Stretched Beyond Recognition: Supervising Bachelors Level Practitioners in Scope of Practice.
Unprecedented demands on mental health systems influence agencies to stretch the practice realm of bachelor’s level mental health technicians.  As clinicians tasked with supervising the ethical practice and training of these individuals.  This presentation provides guidance in navigating issues of need and competence to ensure client access to quality care.
 Friday 8/5 
Aaron
Reslink
LMHC, CASAC-T
ACT Self-as-Context Interventions for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Minority Clients​
Self-as-context is arguably the most mysterious process in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This training empowers the therapist to intervene in gender identity rumination while considering gender-affirming and trauma-informed care. The tool of self-as-context for gender identity is also briefly shown in the grander picture of ACT processes. ​
Tom 
Smith
LMHC
OCD treatment using ERP: challenging therapists' myths and clients' beliefs.
This workshop will address the hesitancy that both therapists' and their clients can face when attempting to treat OCD symptoms with Exposure Response Prevention (ERP).   Demonstration of exposure treatment interventions will be included in the session.
Carly
Moskowitz
LMHC
Joseph
Franco
Addiction approach for families: Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)
This presentation will highlight the purpose of Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). CRAFT approach aims to increase family and loved one’s compliance with an intervention for persons with alcohol or other substance abuse. This intervention helps to increase the rate of engagement of those addicted individuals in treatment.
Robert
Dobmeier
Ph.D., LMHC, CRC
Abena
Marfowaa
​Owusu-Nkwantabisah
Mental Health Counselor
(in-Training), 
​CASAC-T
College Students At-Risk for Mental Health Problems
Mental health challenges experienced by College students include anxiety from student debt, COVID-19 stressors and underemployment, trauma and abuse, microaggressions, dropping out, and alienation for members of underrepresented groups and veterans. How students who are at-risk can be recognized will be addressed. Prevention, intervention, and best practices will be covered.
Tremaine
Leslie
Ph.D., LPC., NCC.
Applying the Eight Dimensions of Wellness as Combatants to Burnout and Compassion Fatigue.
Burnout is a slow continuous process occurring when a counselor’s stress factors outweigh supportive factors. Compassion fatigue is preoccupation with absorbing trauma and emotional stresses of others, creating secondary traumatic stress in the helper. Understanding signs and symptoms of both is critical, in order to intervene before it’s too late. 
Mike
Pernot
LMHC, NCC
Use of Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) in Treatment Mandated Populations
This presentation will explore background on mindfulness in relation to preventing addictive behaviors
 Saturday 8/6 
Richard
Schaub
Ph.D., LMHC
Clinical Meditation and Imagery: Techniques to Access Peace and Wisdom in Our Clients 
Via discoveries in meditation research, neuroscience is describing states of peace and wisdom that sit in dormancy in each person's higher brain.  With safe, effective techniques, counselors can help clients to experientially access these beneficial natural  states in order to reduce fear and increase purpose in daily life.    
Leilani
Yizar-Reid
Certified Life Coach, Certified Bereavement Advocate
The Healing Power of Loss
Grief is one of the many things that are present in a person's life, whether is it losing a loved one or losing a job, people experience one or more types of grief in their lifetime. Recognizing that grief is universal is important and realizing that the process is individualistic helps us all learn how to support ourselves and one another.