Schedule - American Mental Health Counselors Association

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Chapter Leadership Academy
By invitation only for leaders of AMHCA chartered chapters. Please contact Whitney Meyerhoeffer at wmeyerhoeffer@amhca.org for more information about receiving an invitation.
8:00 - 9:00 AM	Breakfast and Registration
9:00 - 10:30 AM	Welcome and State of the Association
10:30 - 11:00 AM	Break
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM	Ignite - Chapter Innovation Spotlight
	Presentations that highlight innovative ideas and accomplishments of state chapters with round table deep dives.
1:00 - 2:00 PM	Lunch with Regional Directors (included with registration)
2:00 - 2:15 PM	Break
2:15 - 3:45 PM	Breakout Session
	Content Track: Marketing and Membership Strategies
	Working Group Track: Enhancing State and National Legislative Advocacy
3:45 - 4:00 PM	Break
4:00 - 5:30 PM	Breakout Session
	Content Track: Nuts and Bolts of Association Leadership
	Working Group Track: The Future for One AMHCA: Reimagining the National, State, and Local Collaboration
5:30 - 5:45 PM	Break
5:45 - 6:15 PM	AMHCA National and State Chapter Advocacy in Real Time: Partners in Policymaking and Wrap-up
7:00 - 9:00 PM	Welcome Reception

Pre-Conference
We are pleased to offer two all-day sessions for pre-conference training this year! Attendees will select a course to attend all day.
Pre-Conference #1	Counseling in Context: How the Brain and Body Provide Critical Insights Into the Mind Penijean Gracefire With quality research emerging from the field of neuroscience, and recent advances in biometric technology, mental health counseling professionals are perfectly positioned to improve clinical outcomes by integrating new knowledge into their practice. Historically, there has never been such a wealth of data to draw from, and while this is a gift to clinicians, it can also feel overwhelming. Many therapists are interested in how physiology and neurobiology informs the production and maintenance of cognitive states and perceptions, but they don’t have a framework for how to easily integrate these concepts into their current methods. This workshop day will provide an accessible, clinician-friendly overview of how neurophysiology can impact mental health. Designed to enhance clinical assessment and analysis, supporting research and principles will be introduced to help counselors more easily identify when clients might benefit from additional evaluation and adjunctive therapies. The efficacy of mental health counseling is limited to the client’s capacity to internalize and implement the discussed strategies, but clinicians can streamline this process by either providing or referring clients to appropriate interventions which can strengthen their cognitive flexibility and help regulate mood. Informed counselors are the lynchpin to better therapeutic outcomes, so this workshop will discuss guidelines for identifying clients who need additional assessment, whether EEG-based evaluation and neurofeedback is helpful to mental health and how counselors can learn to either provide it or refer clients for it, and an overview of immediately usable strategies based on neuroscience which every mental health counselor can benefit from as they interact with clients. Attendees will - gain a better understanding of how neurobiology and physiology impact mental health - learn why brain mapping can enhance the sensitivity of mental health assessments - be able to evaluate whether EEG-based technology is appropriate or potentially beneficial for their client populations - be able to immediately implement discussed principles to improve clinical evaluation and referral strategies.
Pre-Conference #2	The Road Taken Has Made All the Difference: Reality Therapy in Action Robert Wubbolding Reality Therapy emphasizes the human ability to make choices. Counselors using reality therapy help clients make the existential choice between the road leading to happiness or the road leading to misery. Role-play simulations illustrating how counselors can implement the WDEP system of reality therapy constitutes the core of this presentation. The leader emphasizes practical and immediately usable tools designed to use and teach to clients, school children, couples, and others. Included is a discussion and demonstration of two paradoxical techniques – reframing and prescriptions. Practical and immediately usable skills and techniques constitute the outcome of this training. Role-play simulations of clients selected by participants will illustrate how to use reality therapy in a variety of settings. The fork in the road metaphor illustrates the value of assisting clients in their choice of meaningful actions that lead to satisfying their interpersonal needs and their own self-actualization. Handouts suitable for distribution will be provided. Participants will be able to: Identify and discuss 5 motivators for human behavior and how they relate to the metaphor the fork in the road Explain the meaning of W (wants), D (doing, thinking, and feeling), E (three forms of self-Evaluation), and P (the significance of practical and realistic Planning) List and elaborate on 2 paradoxical techniques: reframing and prescriptions
Pre-Conference Schedule
10:30 - 11:00 AM	Registration
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM	Sessions in Progress
12:30 - 1:00 PM	Lunch (included with registration)
1:00 - 2:00 PM	Lunch and Learn
	Guardianship and the American Mental health Counseling Association Code Of Ethics Richard Chapman and Richard Powell The focus of this presentation is to discuss the ethical implications of guardianship as it applies to mental health counselor. Guardianship is a complex issue for counseling professionals and presentation will provide a relevant discussion on the issue. Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss the code of ethics sections relating to individuals with disabilities. 2. Provide an overview of the guardianship system in the United States. 3. Discuss issues of consent to counseling services as they apply to individuals under a guardianship. 4. Provide an overview of alternatives to guardianship, with a focus on supported decision making
2:00 - 2:30 PM	Break
2:30 - 4:00 PM	Session in Progress
4:00 - 4:30 PM	Break
4:30 - 6:00 PM	Session in Progress
7:00 - 9:00 PM	Welcome Reception

6:30 - 8:30 AM	Registration
7:00 - 8:00 AM	Wake Up Sessions
	Neuroscience Track Neuroscience Interest Network Graduate Student/Emerging Professionals
7:30 - 8:30 AM	Breakfast (included with registration)
8:30 - 10:00 AM	Keynote Presentation
	Crisis Track Two People Looked Out...Perceiving the World with Reverse Paranoia Presented by Bob Wubbolding
10:30 - 12:00 PM	Breakout Session Number 1
	Neuroscience Track \| Trauma Track Exposure to Childhood Maltreatment and Its Effects on Brain Development and Psychopathology Presented by Michael Hillerman This program provides a high level review of the Teicher and Sampson (2016) study on the enduring neurobiological effects of childhood maltreatment, as well as review of several other important related studies published recently including two studies on potential mediators between maltreatment and psychopathology.
	Substance Use/Addiction Track Helping Difficult Clients Evaluate Their Behavior Presented by Bob Wubbolding Practical and usable skills immediately applicable, constitutes the focus of this presentation. Participants will gain practical ideas, skills and techniques based on theory and research. The core of the presentation is simulated role-play demonstrations of clients presented by participants that will also include mindfulness and ways to deal with trauma.
	Trauma Track \| Crisis Track \| Child/Adolescent Track Preparation and Intervention: Helping Adults to Support Children and Adolescents Struggling with Grief or Personal Trauma Presented by Joel Muro Using data from their pilot study, researchers will address the gaps in the lay person’s understanding of grief and trauma as it relates to children. Presenters will address preparing adults to supportively provide basic interventions and responses to process grief reactions and deescalate emotional reactivity.
	Integration Track The Food-Mood Connection: Can What We Eat Really Influence Our Mental Health Presented by Helena Boersma This talk will provide an overview of the impact food and the microbiome have on anxiety, depression, and general mental health conditions. It will review the current literature, and give clinicians tools on how to incorporate nutritional discussions into their clinical work while staying within their scope of practice.
	Supervision Track \| Trauma Track Our Role as Gatekeepers: Supervision Practices for Counselors Experiencing Impairment Presented by Amber Pope Many counselors entering the profession have experienced their own personal wounds. Session attendees will learn about the benefits and risks that a supervisee's personal history may pose to professional practice and personal wellbeing, and supervision strategies for supporting counselors recovering from wounds in order to promote growth and minimize harm.
	Ethics Track Diversifying Your Practice with the Lucrative Specialty of Forensic Mental Health Evaluation Presented by Aaron Norton Learn about the lucrative specialization of forensic mental health evaluation and how it may help you diversity your practice with impactful, challenging, creative, innovative, and meaningful work while increasing your practice's income.
12:30 - 1:15 PM	Lunch and Learn (included with registration)
	More information coming soon.
1:30 - 2:30 PM	Keynote Presentation
	Crisis Track Why Mental Health Counselors Are Essential to Suicide Prevention Presented by Jane Pearson
3:00 - 4:00 PM	Breakout Session Number 2
	Neuroscience Track Conceptualizations of Depression Presented by Thom Field During the past decade, new neuroscience conceptualizations for depression have emerged within the neuroscience community. This presentation will review emerging theories, and describe the results of a survey study into counselor awareness and applications of neuroscience models for explaining clinical depression to clients.
	Integration Track Forum of the Integrated Medicine Community Led by James Messina This forum will provide participants an insight to the current state of Clinical Mental Health Counselors' involvement in providing Behavioral Health Consulting in a variety of Integrated medicine, primary care, behavioral medicine and other related settings in our nation. The forum will enable participants to network to strengthen information sharing and collaboration of efforts.
	Trauma Track How We Survive: An Exploration of Stress and Psychological Hardiness Presented by Emily Petkus Stress and trauma can disrupt normal functioning. Psychological hardiness is a personality style that promotes resilience. Psychological hardiness requires maintaining attitudes and beliefs regarding the interaction between one’s self and the world. Strategies to increase hardiness with clients who have experienced trauma and stress will be discussed.
	Immigration Track \| Child/Adolescent Track Traumatized Child and Adolescent Refugees: Efficacious Treatments and Future Implications Presented by Eric Camden Attendees will explore the emotional, interpersonal, and social problems faced by child and adolescent refugees, and will briefly review efficacious trauma treatments. Derived from the review of effective treatments in the literature, we will facilitate a discussion to identify intervention strategies for clinicians and program developers.
Session Cancelled	Supervision Track Sink, Swim, or Walk on Water: Continuum of Broaching Race in Cross-Racial Supervision Presented by LaTonya Summers In this didactic workshop, the presenter will address her research on the relationship between self-efficacy, broaching cultural differences, and cultural competence and provide opportunities for demonstration. Implications for enhancing cross-cultural counseling and supervision will be provided.
	Crisis Track Suicide Prevention Presented by Jane Pearson
4:15 - 5:45 PM	Breakout Session Number 3
	Neuroscience Track \| Integration Track A Paradigm Shift: The Role of Inflammation on Depression and Integrative Approaches to Treatment (Part 1 of 2) Presented by Richelle Vawter Chronic inflammation has been been referred to colloquially, as well as clinically, as "the root of all disease". In this presentation we will review the biological basis of inflammation, its long term repercussions, and integrative treatments to assuage inflammation and its impact on mental health, specifically depression.
	Substance Use/Addiction Track \| Child/Adolescent Track \| Trauma Track Beyond the Stuckness: Teens, Trauma, and Substance Use Disorders (Part 1 of 2) Presented by David Flack The connection between substance use and trauma is clear. Unfortunately, this connection is often neglected, leading to teens stuck in endless cycles of maladaptive behaviors and negative treatment outcomes. In this presentation, we'll examine ways trauma and substance use exacerbate each other, then explore practical skills for getting teens unstuck.
	Trauma Track \| Neuroscience Track Transforming Trauma with Memory Reconsolidation (Part 1 of 2) Presented by Courtney Armstrong Memory reconsolidation is a recent neuroscience discovery that has revealed a new way to heal trauma at its roots. In this workshop, you'll learn a simple five-step memory reconsolidation protocol you can use to reverse the negative impact of traumatic memories while instilling hope, empowerment, and resilience in your clients.
	Integration Track \| Neuroscience Track Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) - Train the Trainer Program (Part 1 of 2) Presented by James Messina Learn how to conduct the 8 Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) in offices, agencies, hospitals or community. The MBSR program is an evidence based program to alleviate clients’ unhealthy stress in their lives as well as an effective tool used in an interdisciplinary setting for Non-Medication Management of Pain.
	Supervision Track \| Ethics Track The Congruent Supervisor: A Discussion of Ethics Presented by Megan Boyd This interactive workshop will review the literature surrounding common ethical issues in clinical supervision. Furthermore, this workshop will challenge the attendees to complete an inventory regarding traits of congruence, genuineness, and frequency of consultation. Attendees will learn from one another regarding supervisor barriers while learning strategies for resolving ethical dilemmas.
	Integration Track Building Knowledge, Innovation, and Recognition - Using AMHCA Resources to Enhance Your Practice Presented by Joel Miller Building our knowledge, keeping up with best practices, and enhancing recognition for that expertise is often a challenge in our fast-paced world. This presentation focuses on three AMHCA resources: the Journal of Mental Health Counseling, the Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and the Diplomate credential, that will help attendees stay up to date on emerging research and best-practices as well as gain recognition for their advanced practice expertise.
6:00 - 7:00 PM	Breakout Session Number 4
	Neuroscience Track \| Integration Track A Paradigm Shift: The Role of Inflammation on Depression and Integrative Approaches to Treatment (Part 2 of 2) Presented by Richelle Vawter Chronic inflammation has been been referred to colloquially, as well as clinically, as "the root of all disease". In this presentation we will review the biological basis of inflammation, its long term repercussions, and integrative treatments to assuage inflammation and its impact on mental health, specifically depression.
	Substance Use/Addiction Track \| Child/Adolescent Track \| Trauma Track Beyond the Stuckness: Teens, Trauma, and Substance Use Disorders (Part 2 of 2) Presented by David Flack The connection between substance use and trauma is clear. Unfortunately, this connection is often neglected, leading to teens stuck in endless cycles of maladaptive behaviors and negative treatment outcomes. In this presentation, we'll examine ways trauma and substance use exacerbate each other, then explore practical skills for getting teens unstuck.
	Trauma Track \| Neuroscience Track Transforming Trauma with Memory Reconsolidation (Part 2 of 2) Presented by Courtney Armstrong Memory reconsolidation is a recent neuroscience discovery that has revealed a new way to heal trauma at its roots. In this workshop, you'll learn a simple five-step memory reconsolidation protocol you can use to reverse the negative impact of traumatic memories while instilling hope, empowerment, and resilience in your clients.
	Integration Track \| Neuroscience Track Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) - Train the Trainer Program (Part 2 of 2) Presented by James Messina Learn how to conduct the 8 Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) in offices, agencies, hospitals or community. The MBSR program is an evidence based program to alleviate clients’ unhealthy stress in their lives as well as an effective tool used in an interdisciplinary setting for Non-Medication Management of Pain.
	Supervision Track Supervisees in Crisis: Using Cultural Humility to Improve Support and Working Alliance Presented by Paige Zeiger Supervisors provide support while being a gatekeeper. Research demonstrates supervisees’ disclosures are critical to supervision; however, supervisees who experience psychosocial stressors often do not self-disclose. Self-disclosure in distance supervision present a greater challenge. Participants will learn to employ cultural humility strategies to support supervisees in crisis and maintain client welfare.
	Child/Adolescent Track Using Expressive Art Therapy with LGBTQ Youth: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Presented by Jean Georgiou The presenter will discuss the use of Expressive Art Therapy with LGBTQ youth and explore a case study including client’s drawings. Follow up questions for each exercise used for processing will be reviewed. Included will be a Q & A segment meant to assist those considering using the techniques.

6:30 - 8:30 AM	Registration
7:00 - 8:00 AM	Wake Up Session
	Laughter Yoga* Presented by Coralis Solomon
7:30 - 8:30 AM	Breakfast (included with registration)
8:30 - 10:00 AM	Keynote Presentation
	Substance Use/Addiction Track Sexually Compulsive and Addictive Behavior: The Controversy, Diagnosis, and Implications for Treatment Presented by Stefanie Carnes In recent years there has been tremendous controversy about sexually compulsive behavior. Researchers and clinicians alike have argued about the best terminology to use, diagnostic criteria, and treatment approaches. In this presentation, Dr. Carnes discusses the concerns about labeling out control sexual behavior and the examines innovative new research and best practices in differential diagnosis. Different perspectives on conceptualization of the disorder and treatment will be discussed.
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM	Breakout Session Number 1
	Neuroscience Track \| Integration Track Innovative Neuroscience Informed Counseling Interventions For a Better Night Rest: Treating Anxiety Related Sleep Issues Presented by Justin Jacques This interactive education session will present the findings on a number of sleep related studies on how anxiety impacts the brain and ultimately sleep quality. The audience will be introduced to neuroscience-informed approaches when working with clients who present with sleep issues that are impacted by anxiety.
	Immigration Track Immigration Issues in Counseling: Action with Advocacy Presented by Jennifer Reckner This presentation explores the current status of immigration issues in America and how they affect individual counseling sessions, how issues differ and vary by community and ethnicity, and strategies to advocate for immigration rights outside of the counseling session on meso and macro levels.
	Trauma Track When "Suck it Up" Doesn't Work: Promoting Psychological Wellness in Emergency Responders Presented by Mark Holland Steeped in the tradition of emergency services is the mindset when an emergency call disturbs emergency responders, the best way to cope is to "suck it up." This best practice presentation will identify the hazards of detrimental coping methods & offer optimal coping strategies that cultivate resilience.
	Geriatric Track What Are the Differences Between Alzheimer's, Dementia, Depression, Grief and Normal Aging Presented by Greggus Yahr The typical changes brought on by the aging process, reactions that may accompany grief & transitions for many seniors, clinical mental health issues such as dementia's and or depression - these seemingly can look the same; yet for the client they're very different and treatment providers need to identify them.
	Military/Veterans Track Military Cultural Competency: Evidenced-Based Practices and Counselor Parity: Considerations for Veteran Integration and Community Innovation Presented by Yashika Neaves This presentation outlines concepts in military cultural competency, evidence-based practices and counselor parity to address Veteran treatment in community-based settings. It provides trends in military help-seeking behaviors and service delivery, while covering legislative efforts to improve mental health professional parity for licensed counselor recognition in the federal workforce.
	Substance Use/Addiction Track Recognizing and Treating Complex Trauma in Family Members of Sex Addicts Presented by Stefanie Carnes
12:30 - 1:15 PM	Lunch and Learn (included with registration)
	More information coming soon.
1:30 - 2:30 PM	IGNITE Session
	The IGNITE session will be fast-paced and feature short, inspirational TED-Style talks from our colleagues around the country and at various stages of their careers. This session will focus on quick, practical applications of clinical mental health counseling as well as connecting to the spirit, passion, and vision that we all have for the field and those we serve. We will hear about lessons learned, pearls of wisdom, motivations for the field, and vision for the future of the profession. Join us as we ignite our passion together!
3:00 - 4:30 PM	Breakout Session Number 2
	Neuroscience Track Training CMHCs in the Biological Basis of Behavior: Aims of the AMHCA Neuroscience Task Force Presented by Thom Field The AMHCA Neuroscience Task Force will present their aims over the next two years. The presentation will provide an overview of the Task Force's mission to promote high quality, accurate, and ethical integration of neuroscience into CMHC training and practice. The Task Force will share an update of their progress.
Session Cancelled	Substance Use/Addiction Track Rethinking the Role of Shame - A New Look at a Client Centered Approach to Addiction Treatment Presented by Adi Jaffe Addiction treatment engagement is poor and outcomes are disappointing. This workshop reconsiders current approaches and offers a new take on the issues. Overcoming barriers to engagement, breaking through shame and the creation of an updated toolkit to help "resistant" clients improve will be the result of this groundbreaking presentation.
	Trauma Track \| Integration Track \| Substance Use/Addiction Track Integrated Care for Trauma & Co-Occurring Disorders: A Comprehensive Model for Treatment, Recovery and Resolution (Part 1 of 2) Presented by Gray Otis Treating trauma and co-occurring disorders depends on informed integrated healthcare. This presentation focuses on emerging trends in achieving effective outcomes for trauma resolution, recovery from co-occurring disorders, and the development of future resilience. Participants will learn how to apply an evidence-based, CBT model of treatment.
Session Cancelled	Couples/Family Track \| Crisis Track A Vital Partnership: Mental Health Counselors and Legal Professionals Working Together for Our Clients Presented by Helen Elliott Wheeler Frequently Individuals and families come to mental health counselors at the worst times in their lives: trauma, crisis, or divorce. Many of these crises involve attorneys, Guardians ad Litem, Child Advocacy Centers, law enforcement. Clinicians need specialized training so they won't become anxious working out of their area of expertise.
	Child/Adolescent Track Engaging Avoidant Teens: An Attachment-Based Approach to Building Therapeutic Alliance Presented by David Flack One in four Americans has an avoidant attachment style. As teens, they can appear oppositional, resistant, or dismissive. Building therapeutic alliances with them is challenging, but essential. In this presentation, we will deepen our understanding of avoidant attachment, explore the importance of effective alliances, and build skills to increase engagement.
	Trauma Track Disordered Eating, Body Image, Attachment Trauma, and Socio-Political Context in Therapy (Part 1 of 2) Presented by Lori Kucharski Disordered eating can come from body dissatisfaction and attachment trauma as a form of dissociation. Treating co-occurring body dysmorphia, complex trauma, and eating disorders must address body positivity, self-nurturance, and comprehensive wellness. Socio-political factors, body-positive terminology, and case examples are discussed for assessment and treatment.
4:45 - 6:00 PM	Breakout Session Number 3
	Neuroscience Track \| Integration Track Transdiagnostic Treatment Approaches: The New Look in Evidence-Based Practice Presented by Gary Gintner In contrast to disorder-specific treatments, transdiagnostics target neurobiological, cognitive and behavioral mechanisms that cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries. Emerging research shows that transdiagnostic protocols are effective for a range of disorders, especially those characterized by comorbidity and case complexity. The program reviews these protocols and illustrates their application.
	Substance Use/Addiction Track \| Ethics Track What Mental Health Counselors Need to Know About Medical Marijuana Presented by Aaron Norton Increasingly, clients are seeking medical marijuana prescriptions, raising important legal, ethical, philosophical, and clinical questions for clinical mental health and substance abuse counselors. This session provides a breakout a basic overview of medical marijuana, including differentiating between therapeutic use and misuse and an overview of legal and ethical issues.
	Trauma Track \| Integration Track \| Substance Use/Addiction Track Integrated Care for Trauma & Co-Occurring Disorders: A Comprehensive Model for Treatment, Recovery and Resolution (Part 2 of 2) Presented by Gray Otis Treating trauma and co-occurring disorders depends on informed integrated healthcare. This presentation focuses on emerging trends in achieving effective outcomes for trauma resolution, recovery from co-occurring disorders, and the development of future resilience. Participants will learn how to apply an evidence-based, CBT model of treatment.
	Geriatric Track Medicare and Mental Health: A Qualitative Analysis of Mental Health Counselors' Barriers to Providing Services Presented by Amy Morgan Medicare reimbursement is one of the counseling profession’s top legislative priorities. The authors conducted a qualitative study to explore what occurs when Medicare beneficiaries seek treatment from LPCs and LMFTs. Results will be shared and used to inform advocacy strategies and shape public policy.
	Military/Veterans Track Not Just PTSD: Understanding Military Culture and Veteran Identity Presented by Susan Powell This program aims to enhance counselors’ cultural competence related to serving veterans. The presenters will discuss key components of military culture, diversity among veterans, reintegration issues, and the importance of civilian-veteran collaboration.
	Trauma Track Disordered Eating, Body Image, Attachment Trauma, and Socio-Political Context in Therapy (Part 1 of 2) Presented by Lori Kucharski Disordered eating can come from body dissatisfaction and attachment trauma as a form of dissociation. Treating co-occurring body dysmorphia, complex trauma, and eating disorders must address body positivity, self-nurturance, and comprehensive wellness. Socio-political factors, body-positive terminology, and case examples are discussed for assessment and treatment.

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Legend

*	The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 1012. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified with an asterisk. AMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
	Requires additional cost.
	Invitation only event.

Special Conference Issue

Read more about the conference in our special conference issue of The Advocate Magazine!