August 24-25, 2023

 

Registration

Conference registration closes August 15, 2023; no registrations will be accepted after this date.

Cost of registration (includes sessions, lunches, and snacks)

June-August rate (ends 8/15/23):

• $200 for both days
• $120 for one day
• $45 Ethics

Register 

Speaker Bios

Exhibitor Info

 

Agenda

Thursday, August 24

8:30 – 8:45: Welcome, housekeeping, door prize drawings and a song by Pat McManus

8:45 – 10:15: Co-Occurring Persistent Depressive (Dysthymic) Disorder & Substance Abuse: Diagnostic Jenga – David Wright

1.5 hours in Alcohol & Drug Specific/Counseling Theories

This presentation will highlight the importance of understanding and treating clients with co-occurring PDD and substance use disorders in an effort to maximize efficacy of recovery intervention and client effort.  The presentation will touch upon the recent changes in the DSM 5 TR as well.  Participants will be better able to identify the following:

• • What is Persistent Depressive Disorder
  • How Persistent Depressive Disorder is different from other depressive disorders
  • The prevalence of substance use disorder correlation and implications for treatment
  • Why it’s important to differentiate PDD with other depressive disorders in co-occurring treatment

10:30 – 12:00: Vicarious Trauma, Resilience & Mindfulness – Brittany McGraw

1.5 hours in Counseling Theories

In this session, we will:

• • Define vicarious trauma and related concepts, and describe various presentations
  • Define resilience and mindfulness, and application to attendees’ practices and lives
  • Identify ways to combat vicarious trauma and burnout

12:00 – 1:00: Lunch

1:00 – 2:30: Drug Trends 2023 – Claudia Schmugge and Michael Calito

1.5 hours in Alcohol & Drug Specific

Objectives of this session:

• • Increase awareness of new and re-occurring drug trends
  • Increase understanding of new products for vaping, including marijuana use
  • Increase understanding of new opioid trends pertaining to Fentanyl and Xylazine
  • Increase awareness of changing risk perception of vaping, marijuana and opioids

2:45 – 4:15: Spirituality – Grace Restored – T.D. Hostikka

1.5 hours in Generic

This session will cover:

• • Our meaning and purpose envisioned by our Higher Power
  • The language of grace and forgiveness
  • Behaviors that lead to a downward spiral toward destruction
  • The change process put into words

 5:30 – 8:30: Ethics in a Post Pandemic Era (optional session) – Thomas Eachus

This session is optional and requires the additional $45.00 registration fee

3.0 hours in Ethics

Register here! 

Friday, August 25

8:30 – 8:45: Welcome, housekeeping and door prize drawings

8:45 – 10:15: Boundaries in Relationships: The Impact of Substance Use and Abuse – Donald Gilbert

1.5 hours in Counseling Theories/Alcohol & Drug Specific

This session will look into the impact of substance use and abuse on relationships, how it creates codependency and boundary problems, and how to say “yes” and “no” in relationships where substance use and abuse is involved.  We will be looking at relationships involving parents/children, adult children, friendships, co-workers and lovers.

10:30 – 12:00: Engaging the Disengaged Adolescent –  Myleena Grenis

1.5 hours in Special Populations

Learn how to build the relationship with youth and parents while maintaining authenticity, boundaries and confidentiality; maintain focus of having youth in the driver’s seat; share tools to expand toolbox of helpful worksheets, books, expressive art materials and other engaging tools.

12:00 – 1:00: Lunch

1:00 – 2:30: Brave Spaces: Creating a Culturally Sensitive Environment in the Workplace – Sharaine Webster

1.5 hours in Racial/Ethnic

Objectives of this session include:

• • Introduction of the importance of cultural sensitivity
  • Cultural competency vs. cultural awareness vs. cultural sensitivity
  • Definition of a “brave space” vs. a “safe space”
  • Hot topics – interpersonal relationships (i.e. colorism, sexism, microaggressions, etc.)
  • How to start making changes in the workplace

 2:45 – 4:15: You’re Addicted to What? Examining the Intersection of Process Addictions & Mental Health – Thad Shunkwiler

1.5 hours in Counseling Theories/Alcohol & Drug Specific

Too much of anything is bad for you, right? This session will examine process addictions and their impact on mental health and emotional well-being.  The pathology and etiology of non-chemical addictions will be discussed with an emphasis of how to integrate the information into your current practice.

 

Register here!