Workshop Schedule Workshops will each provide 1.25 CEUs unless otherwise indicated.
Saturday July 18th Workshops 9:00-10:15 am
Treating Trauma: incorporating imaginal Exposure, Bilateral Stimulation, Somatic Focus, and Memory Reconsolidation with ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy)
Marsha Mandel, LMHC, CCTP
Recalling facts of traumatic memories evokes distressing images, emotions, and body sensations; it is re-experienced. This session will outline the neurobiology of the stress response, differentiate between therapeutic approaches and the PTS symptoms they target, discuss bilateral stimulation and memory reconsolidation, and introduce the integrative resolution of trauma with ART.
Examining Common Factors and the Working Alliance Impact on the Discrimination Model of Supervision
Matthew S. Day, PhD, LMHC
The presentation provides counseling supervisors and educators with an approach to enhance the supervisory alliance, increase supervisee efficacy and determine how to accomplish these dynamics within the framework of the Discrimination Model of supervision. Attendees will leave with specific tools designed to elicit discussion and increase self-awareness during clinical supervision.
A Sixth Force in Counseling? Restoring the Place of the Psyche in Psychology
Michael Florio, LMHC
The Psyche was long ago relegated to the esoteric disciplines of philosophy and religion as Psychology became a science. Redefining Psychology as the dynamic interaction of consciousness coalescing with physiology establishes the esoteric dimension of the psyche as an essential component of human experience.
Counseling International Students Using a Social Justice Approach
Krista Kirk, PhD, NCC
John J. S. Harrichand, PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC, CCMHC, CCC
International students appear to be part of American society yet their challenges and needs can go unheard and unmet. Therefore, counselors are urged to utilize culturally sensitive strategies to help international students navigate complex intersectional identities. This workshop incorporates the RESPECTFUL model and the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies.
The Evolution of Cannabis - Implications for Mental Health Counselors *Double Workshop*
Kevin Wadalavage, LMHC, CASAC, MAC, NCAC II
This presentation will seek to help Mental Health Counselors discuss the evolving issues and understanding of cannabis with their patients. Topics include cannabis pharmacology, emerging administration methods, what is currently known regarding health effects of cannabis, issues that have emerged as a result of commercialization, treatment and toxicology testing.
Assessing and Treating Emotional Neglect per ACES
Kim Ploussard, LMHC, SEP, DARTT
David Pettie, ACSW, LCSW, DARTT
Have you struggled with clients who suffer from pervasive neglect and been challenged to convey its impact on their lives? Understand how to assess and diagnose neglect, a component of childhood trauma. Learn to incorporate the Developmental and Relational Trauma (DART) Assessment and discover new avenues for treating emotional neglect.
Saturday July 18th Workshops 10:30 – 11:45 am
Pornography Use on the Developing Brain
Rachel Jordan, PhD, LMHC
Steven Parshall, MS, MHC
This presentation will focus on the widespread access to pornography that is available to all children with electronic devices in the 21st century. We will discuss how early exposure to pornography impacts brain development and the potential consequences of childhood pornography use. We will also explore how to address these challenges as part of treatment.
How Do You Like Your Eggs? Fertilized: The Etiology, Medical Treatment, and Psychological Impact of Infertility
Esther Tresser-Polanco, LMHC
Infertility affects 1 out of 8 couples in the US, with over 7.4 million women having received treatment for infertility in their lifetime. A diagnosis of infertility can be devastating, with levels of resulting symptoms of depression and anxiety akin to those of patients with a cancer or other life-threatening diagnosis. This workshop will address causes of infertility, medical intervention, and the different ways in which women and men experience the emotional effects of an infertility diagnosis, and impact upon functioning. Attendees will be provided with information about the requirements for working in the field of infertility counseling.
The Nature Cure: Using the Natural World to Enhance Client Development and Well-Being
Jason T. Duffy, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS
This informative and experiential workshop will overview the use of nature-based interventions in counseling and counselor training and engage the attendee in several innovative nature-based activities that can be used for counseling and training purposes. Additionally, two recent qualitative studies examining the efficacy of the approach will briefly be discussed.
Counseling Trainees’ Experiences of Counseling: Benefits and Lessons Learned
Steve Byrne, PsyD.
Joe Franco, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Jessica Shepard, MS Student
This presentation will highlight an original study of counseling students’ own experiences as clients. Presenters will highlight the qualitative data on the ways that students’ counseling impacted their personal and professional development, experiences that oftentimes take place outside the classroom. Implications for counselor education programs will be discussed.
Early Warning Signs of Affective and Psychotic Disorders in Children
Beth A. Weiner, PsyD
This workshop on At Risk Children and Adolescents will explore early warning signs of mental health risk factors including prodromal signs of affective and psychotic disorders. This will include intervention strategies, utilization of community resources and clinical case illustrations.
Saturday July 18th Workshops 2:45 – 4:00 pm
The Missing Voice in Advocacy: YOU!
Heather Evans
This workshop will provide participants with an overview of the current political landscape in New York State in order to help licensed mental health counselors learn to use their professional knowledge and expertise to advocate for the profession and increased access to mental health services.
Trauma Informed Supervision: Strategies, Skills, and Parallel Process
Thomas Murphy, PhD, NCC, LMHC, ACS, EMDR-C
This workshop will review adaptations of supervision models for work with supervisees encountering trauma in early practice. Trauma-informed supervision refers to supervisory processes and relationships designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the supervisee to provide trauma-informed services. Current trauma interventions will be explored.
Confidentiality Issues with the Child Client
Heather Paessler-Chesterton, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Counselors who work with minors appreciate the complexity of preserving the therapeutic relationship, while maintaining a partnership with parents and caregivers. This presentation explores the complexities of working with minors and confidentiality issues. It also includes an examination of ethical and legal issues related to client confidentiality with minors.
Treatment Issues for Women Receiving Substance Abuse Treatment
Robert C. Bennett, LMHC, CASAC
This presentation will address those problems inherent to women who have an alcohol or drug abuse problem seeking and receiving treatment. This presentation will focus on some of the common characteristics of women in drug treatment. The purpose of this presentation is to help counselors to critically analyze the barriers that hinder positive outcomes for women, with the intent of helping clinicians to develop new knowledge and skills to utilize when assisting this vulnerable population.
The Fear of Missing Out: Dimensions of Personality and Psychopathology in Smartphone Overuse
Errol Rodriguez, PhD, CRC, MAC
RoseMarie Chatterton, MA, LMHC
Recent data suggest use of smartphones and the various outcomes from overuse bare striking resemblance to other behavioral addictions such as gambling and internet gaming disorder. This presentation will examine the psychological factors contributing to smartphone overuse and discuss clinical implications for counselors.
Psychiatric Assessment in the Hospital Emergency Department; Emerging Opportunities For Clinical Practice *Double Workshop/ 2.5 CEUs*
Wendy M. Pinder, AG, MA, LMHC, Cht
This workshop will teach clinicians what to expect when working in integrated health care, how to tease out the difference between medical and psychiatric emergencies, how to make psychiatric assessments in a crisis situation, and how to deescalate an agitated, panicked or fearful patient.
Saturday July 18th Workshops 4:15 – 5:30 pm
Complex Bereavement: Spirituality as a hindrance and helper in the grieving process
Paul J. Deal, PhD, NCC
David Stone, PhD, LMHC
Spirituality may help the grieving process, but it can also hinder and complicate grief. This presentation will introduce a model for understanding the different roles spirituality can play in grief work and for supporting clients in working through spiritual struggles and moving towards “clean” grief.
Using Wellness to Support Adolescent Transitions and Identity Development in Group Counseling
Adam F. Stephens, PhD, NCC
Brittany Pollard-Kosidowski, PhD
This session explores how counselors can use creativity to help adolescents explore their emotions, thoughts, and personal identities. We will discuss how our essential and creative selves can align during times of developmental transition and invite attendees to engage in experiential activities they can use with their own teen clients.
Clinical Counseling Strategies: Preparing Undocumented Parents and Child for Separation and/or Deportation
Joseph R. Franco, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Karina Rieke, LMHC
Alondra Castro, MS Candidate
This presentation will highlight the specific issues concerning best practices to discuss the undocumented legal status between parents and their children. Presenters will focus on strategies to assist parents in preparing their children for the possibility of separation and/or deportation. This will include empowering clients to understand their civil rights.
Can Self-Compassion Mitigate Compassion Fatigue and Burnout?
Madeleine Reynolds, EdD, LMHC, NCC, ACS, DCC
Emerging research indicates that the concept of self-compassion plays an important role in well-being and positive health. A recent research study conducted by the presenter suggests that self-compassion can mitigate work-related burnout or compassion fatigue. In this workshop, participants will explore the concepts and assessments related to both burnout and self-compassion and experience some exercises for increasing self-compassion in themselves and others.
Adopting or Integrating Online Learning Programs for Graduate Degrees in Mental health Counseling (No CEUs)
Norissa Williams, PhD
Frandelia Moore, PhD
Linnie Green, PhD
Adopting or integrating online learning platforms for graduate degrees in mental health counseling presents both challenges and opportunities. In this presentation, faculty from the Applied Psychology Department at NYU, will discuss their 3-year experience in the development, implementation and maintenance of a graduate level, online mental health and wellness program.
Sunday July 19th Workshops 9:00 – 10:15 am
Mental Health Counselors Making a Difference in Public Schools: Trauma-Informed Approaches
Tami Sullivan, PhD, LMHC, NCC, RPT
Nicole Maether, MA
Edward Blanch, MS, MHC-LP
Children are going to school with increasing number of psychological needs, many are impacted by trauma. Mental health counselors in schools are becoming a more visible and utilized resource, and are uniquely suited to work in multi-tiered systems of supports in schools. Learn about how collaborative approaches that can be integrated into the education system.
Incorporating Sex Therapy Into Your Practice
Stephanie Zuber, LMHC
Many clients have sex related concerns but are afraid to disclose them in the counseling room. As we work to further understand our clients, knowing our biases and learning sex therapy techniques is tremendously helpful in supporting the client as we strive to work from a sex positive perspective.
In Depth Imaginary Worlds Save Female Adolescent Incest Survivors
Patti Feuereisen, PhD
Dissociation and Imagination Saving the Female Adolescent Incest Survivor: Experience a porthole into brilliant alternate imaginary worlds with great details and deep imagination and imagery created by adolescent girls to survive during their molestation.
Clinical Implications towards Intersecting Religious/Spiritual and Queer Identities
Thomas Killian, PhD
Kerry Gatins, Masters Candidate
Those simultaneously embracing queer and religious/spiritual identities, the lack of affirmation and exposure to abusive messaging can lead to conflict influencing one’s ability to successfully negotiate and integrate these inherent identities. Self-categorization theory offers counselors a framework for understanding these intersecting identities towards culturally-informed assessment and conceptualization practices.
Clinical Interventions for Complicated Grief or Prolonged Grief Disorder *Double Workshop/2.5 CEUs*
Kimberly Gordon, LMHC, CT
Complicated Grief is a common condition that responds well to interventions designed by Katherine Shear at the Columbia Center for Complicated Grief. This workshop will help clinicians identify complicated grief, understand the thoughts, behaviors and emotions that impede the natural grief process and practice using interventions to help grieving clients.
SAFER Suicide Awareness and Intervention Skills Training *Double Workshop*
Gary Bisogna, MA, LMHC, CEAP
What were you taught to do when you encounter a suicidal client? What about a suicidal colleague, or friend? This workshop will offer a simple, sequential intervention model that has been successfully applied by emergency responders.
Sunday July 19th Workshops 10:30 – 11:45 am
Zero Overdose: Working with Patients At-Risk for Accidental Overdose
Thomas McCarry, LMHC
This engaging session will present latest trends, research, tools and an integrated approach towards managing patients at risk of overdose. Attendees will learn about innovative ways safety planning and population health approaches are being applied to address risk of overdose in counseling treatment.
Applying Identity Process Theory to Women Transitioning After Mid-to-Late Life Divorce
Jacqueline Baer, LMHC
Women in mid-to-late adulthood who experience marital dissolution is steadily increasing. The current body of research identify risks to functional domains surrounding psychological wellness. The use of the Identity Processing Model has shown effective in conceptualizing the adjustment to aging and addressing the impact of mature life transitions. Counselors informed about the complexities of identity assimilation, identity accommodation, and identity balance can help divorced women reestablish identity, regain agency, and increase psychosocial balance.
The Intersections of Marginality: Working with Queer, Trans, and Gender-Expansive People of Color
Juan Eric Arévalo, MA, LMHC, NCC
Learn how to do your best work with queer, trans, and gender-expansive people of color while avoiding recreating problematic pitfalls and harmful patterns in session. This workshop will focus on key concepts, terminology, and best practices for working with people at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities.
Licensure 101
Paul Schwartzman, LMHC
This workshop will help to prepare students and new graduates with information that will be helpful when they apply for limited permits and licenses as mental health counselors. Questions about licensure requirements, finding a job after graduation and how to navigate the process with the NYS Office of Professions will be addressed.
Poster Sessions - Saturday 2 - 2:45 pm (No CEUs)
A Comparison of Grief Experience between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Students at a Northeast Urban, Religious College
Lindsay Fernandez, BA
Jennifer Gullesserian, PhD.
This study compared the grief experience of students from Hispanic and Non-Hispanic ethnic groups within a Northeast Urban, Religious College. This poster will discuss the history of grief, different ways in which grief is explored according to cultural norms, and research on the various approaches to grief related to culture and individual beliefs.
Stigmatized Sexualities: Clinical Considerations for Working with BDSM and Kink Practitioners
Christina Scalise, Counselor in Training
Nouna Jalilzadeh, Counselor in Training
Sexual expressions have been assessed as sexual pathology in many cases. Unfortunately, many counseling professionals do not feel adequately trained to work with kink and BDSM practicing clients, leading to potential misdiagnosis. This presentation will overview the counselor’s attitudes and biases toward this population, as well as evidence-based interventions.
A Mixed-Methods Study on Self-Compassion Training during the Practicum Experience
Vrinda Vrinda, Counseling Graduate Student
Jennavieve Steinbach, Counseling Graduate Student
Graduate counseling students learn extensive knowledge and skills, but how well are they prepared for intense emotional difficulties that associate with compassion fatigue? This poster describes the effects of self-compassion training on empathy, anxiety, sense of belonging, and self-compassion for two Practicum classes.
Interpersonal Influences on Young Adults’ Suicidal Ideation: A Cross-Cultural Comparison
Nikita Kirshnan, PhD Student
Suicide continues to be a major mental health concern globally, with almost one million people dying by suicide every year and many more people attempting suicide each year. In a nation like India, societal structure and specific stressors have a significant impact on suicidal behavior. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the literature on suicidal ideation in India by addressing whether cultural differences between the United States and India can explain variations in the rate of suicidal ideation
Addressing Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care in CACREP-Accredited Counselor Education Programs
Kayla Casper, MS Student
Claudette Brown-Smythe, PhD, CRC, NCC, ACS
Trauma is currently the buzz-word in the field of mental health. However, counseling degree programs offer limited education and training on trauma and TIC. This poster analyzes CACREP-accredited counseling degrees in NYS and serves to raise awareness to counselor educators that trauma is a needed component of LMHCs’ education.
A Comparison of Attitudes on Marijuana Between Young Adults Attending and Not-Attending a Small, Private, Religious College in the Northeast
Lee Seguin, MS Student
Comparing the attitudes of marijuana between young adults attending and not-attending a small, private, religious college in the northeast. The sample consisted of 446 male and female young adults between the ages of 18-25 years of age. The Attitudes on Marijuana Survey (Q Market Research, 2015) was administered in this study.
Am I a Survivor? Illness Identity, Centrality, and Well-Being Among Cancer Survivors
Minerva Guerrero, PhD
Paul Griffin, PhD
Anthony Mancini, PhD
Surviving cancer often involves identity reconstruction and the integration of the experience into one’s identity. This poster will illustrate findings associated with illness centrality and identity labels among cancer survivors and its relationship to well-being outcomes. These findings can assist counselors in designing effective, patient-centered interventions that acknowledge unique cancer experiences and lead to better adjustment post cancer.
Relevance of Including Transgender Competencies in Mental Health Counseling Graduate Programs
Shakuntala Melissa Ramdas, PhD, LMHC
Mental health graduate programs with an affirmative stance currently provide students perceived transgender counseling competencies. This study explored the influence that affirmative counseling training had on mental health graduate students’ transgender counseling competencies and knowledge. The results indicated that students’ affirmative counseling training does correlate with students’ transgender competencies.
Passing the Keys: Establishing Gatekeeping Practices Early in the Counseling Profession
Theresa N. Eaves, Clinical MHC MS Candidate
Tyce Nadrich, PhD
Gatekeeping is the process by which counselor educators promote ethical practice and training by regularly assessing students on both skill and disposition. However, gatekeeping practices can vary. In this poster, I will discuss the importance of gatekeeping within the counseling profession and provide recommendations for students and emerging gatekeepers.
What's the Word? Co-Active Therapeutic Theater with Persons in Aphasia Recovery
Francesca Jannello, BS
Laura Wood, PhD, LMHC, LCAT, RDT/BCT, CCLS
This study examined the experience of caregivers, and/or family members who witnessed their loved one with Aphasia participate in a Recovery Through Performance (RTP) production. Using the Co-Active Therapeutic Theater Model (CoATT), individuals with Aphasia explored the theme of slowing down. This resulted in The Gift, an original piece that participants performed for the community. Using semi-structured interviews and Likert scale ratings, data from caregivers and/or family members was collected to examine the impact of the CoATT model. Additional discussion about the use of creativity in counseling will be included.
