Pre-Convention Workshops: (12-3 pm on Friday, April 15th)
~ Positive Psychology – The Integration of Ideology into Practice
Presenter: Dr. Stephen Birchak
In principle, counselors should be the happiest people on earth… but are we? Are we actually exercising and modeling an aptitude for happiness? In a very distressing world, our goals (for our clients as well as in our personal lives) need to include the art of flourishing. How do we go beyond merely removing symptoms of distress and actually finding happiness? This workshop will examine several models for using positive psychology in our daily practice, and more importantly- how can we, as therapists become masters of positive influential skills? Are we really exercising positive psychology principles and bringing happiness to our everyday lives… our personal relationships… our jobs… and our everyday mundane world? If a therapist isn’t finding happiness- what hope is there for the rest of the world? This workshop will utilize reflection, exercises, and evidence based practices for becoming more calm, stress-resistant, resilient, and joyful in everyday life. Emphasis will be placed on how we integrate these skills into our therapeutic model.
~ Booking Your Private Practice Solid!
Presenter: Deborah Legge. Ph.D, CRC, LMHC
This is a workshop for entrepreneurial clinicians interested in taking the "leap of faith" into Private Practice. It is meant to provide information,
guidance, and support regarding the many facets of running a successful business.In this workshop, we will explore the business of "doing business"
as a private practitioner. You will learn what it takes to build a private practice from the ground up.
~ Licensure 101
Presenter: Paul Schwartzman, MS, LMHC & Diane Spizzirro, LMHC
This seminar will provide a comprehensive overview to the licensure process. Topics will include: an historical perspective on licensure, eligibility,
supervision issues, exam preparation, the exam, and working with the NYS Office of Professions, and the new continuing education requirement for
licensed mental health counselors. Internship and job seeking will also be discussed. Time will be allocated for discussion and every effort will be
made to address individual needs and circumstances.
~ A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Approach to Working with Gender Nonconforming Youth and their Families
Presenter: Maria Manna, LMHC,
This workshop will provide a Dialectical Behavior Therapy based approach to working with transgender/gender nonconforming youth and their families through the coming out, exploration and transition process’. Focused on best practices, the role of the counselor, concrete tasks, the exploration
process, assessment, outcomes and risk management.
~ Transforming Embodied Stories: Integration of Yoga and Narrative Therapies to Promote Awareness and Change
Presenters: Megan M. Seaman, PhD
Dayna White, Master's Student
Heather Kilmnick, Master's Student
Narrative yoga therapy is a new strategy for counselors to help individuals suffering from mental health problems. Anxious and depressed storylines
are lodged in thoughts declared to self and represented by rigidity in bodily systems. Integrating mind and body feedback can foster awareness of
limiting story lines and facilitate transformation.
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Poster Sessions
Saturday 10:30-11:45am:
Six Words Say It All: Mini Memoirs in Counseling Practice
Masha Arius
Amanda Karam
Miosha Bryant
This presentation will introduce the use of six word mini memoirs as a therapeutic tool for counselors. Learn how to use mini memoirs in a cognitive-behavioral and resiliency focused framework. Join us to add your own mini memoirs to the poster.
Mental Health Counselors as Part of a School District’s Improvement Plan: Innovative Responsive Services
Tami Sullivan, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Mental health counselors and trainees partner with a public school in need of improvement to provide responsive interventions designed to empower students. This poster will demonstrate how the use an empirically derived model for designing change-sensitive measures that assess progress as a result of mental health interventions, improved the social, emotional and academic success of at-risk students.
Crossing the bridge for comprehensive care: How mental health training programs can help school counselors navigate student's psychosocial needs
Hennessey Lustica, MS, CAS, MHC-LP
Sisi Chen, MS, NCC
Advanced training in mental health counseling allows for a deeper understanding of child and adolescent social and emotional needs within the school setting. Mental health counselors are at the forefront of assisting school staff in advocating for informed therapeutic support. The bridge from school counseling to mental health counseling makes this possible.
Admissions Requirements & Diversity Recruitment Information: A Survey of CACREP Master's in Clinical-/Mental Health Counseling Program Web Sites
Peter M. del Rosario, PhD
Students ask about admission requirements for masters programs in clinical-/mental health counseling (C-/MHC). Counselor educators seek qualified, diverse applicants, and employ various recruitment strategies. The web pages of all CACREP-accredited masters in C-/MHC programs were surveyed to find the prevalence of the types of admissions requirements and diversity recruitment information.
Best Practices for Child-Centered Play Therapy in Community-Based Settings
Kait Sessler
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a frequently used intervention for practitioners working with children. Even though many clinicians use CCPT in community-based settings, there is limited research regarding CCPT in an environment other than a playroom. This presentation focuses on best practices for CCPT therapists in community-based settings.
Saturday 2:15-3:30 pm:
Factors Contributing to Therapist Selection among Young Adults: A Qualitative Inquiry
Errol Rodriguez, PhD, CRC
Narcisa Craciun, MA, LMHC
Christina Stanco, MA, LMHC, CASAC-T
Pre-treatment expectations among young adults and its impact on the therapist selection process is an understudied phenomenon. This study explored the significant factors contributing to the decisional process of selecting a therapist by young adults and it offers implications for counseling professionals.
Mastering the Matrix of Dementia Care: A Proposed Family Systems/Ecological Model for Adult Sibling Dementia Caregivers
Megan M. Seaman, PhD, NCC, RYT
The proposed family systems/ecological model brings together family system themes into an ecological framework that presents a structure through which to understand complicated interconnections of dementia caregiving systems. Understanding dynamics of existing family mesosystems can help adult siblings, counselors, service providers, educators, and researchers rethink and readdress dementia care.
Leaving the Flock: The experience of individuals leaving religious structure
Jason Thomas Duffy, PhD, NCC, ACS, MHC
Porschia Johnson, MS Candidate
This poster presentation explores the process that individuals experience when they choose to leave the structure provided by religion, a structure that has assisted them in making sense of the world around them and themselves. Existing literature as well as a study currently being conducted will be discussed.
The Effects of Confidentiality in Group Counselor Training
Poonam Doshi, MA, MS, LMHC, CCMHC, PhD Candidate
Paul Griffin, PhD
Ross Robak, PhD
Alfred Ward, PhD
This study examined the effects of confidentiality in group counselor training. After participating in a group counseling course, trainees (n=52) who adhered to confidentiality reported greater changes in counselor self-efficacy over time. Levels of self-disclosure, which correlated with confidentiality, also predicted perceived benefits from the group experience.
Counselor Attraction to Clients: Developing awareness for Professional Counselors
Harvey Peters, MS, NCC
The vast majority of mental health professionals report experiencing sexual attraction to a client; however these same professionals reported limited training or discussion regarding attraction. Participants will explore protecting clients and preventing counselor-client sexual relationships through normalization of attraction and education of ethical processes for addressing attraction when it occurs.
Sunday 9:00-10:15 am:
Exploring Whiteness: Increasing Awareness of White Privilege in Counselors
Ellie Law, MS Candidate
Sofia Pavan Macias, MS Candidate
We are counselors in training eager to increase awareness about the prevalence of whiteness in the counseling profession. This session proposes that for white counselors, effective cross-cultural communication begins with the counselor’s introspection of the privileges white skin provides. Our poster will draw on current literature addressing how whiteness pervades the counselor-client relationship.
“Let's Talk” Brief Consultation Counseling
Shirley Retz, MHC Grad Student
Robin McAleese, LMHC
Let’s Talk is a brief, informal, drop-in consultation counseling program currently used in over 33 college campuses across the country. Used as a means to reach students who may not have otherwise sought out counseling, our statistics show an increase in student utilization.
Will to Meaning: Building an Existential Song Tool Kit to Support the Exploration of Core Concepts in Existential Counseling
Laura Wood, PhD, LMHC, RDT, CCLS
Lori McAndrew, BS
Bari Glickman, BS
In this poster presentation the core concepts of existential therapy are explored and paired with song selections relevant to each concept, which can be used in session or as homework with clients to aid the process of examining existential struggles and provide a catalyst for the meaning-making process.
Bad News Delivery: Theory-Based Guidelines for Counselor Education
Kailey Horan, MS, MHC
Sara Juncaj, MS, MHC
Angela M. Legg, PhD
Within clinical settings, counselors recognize the importance of giving bad news well. However, few counselors receive training in bad news delivery. This presentation will provide a theory-based overview of best practices in bad news delivery. Our recommendations will focus on counselor attributes, news characteristics, and dyadic characteristics.
Mental Health Counseling within Integrated Healthcare Settings
Gabriella Pelosi, MSEd Counseling Student
Brenda Whelan, MSEd, LMHC-P
Christopher Siuta, PhD, LMHC
This session will discuss the importance of integrating mental health counseling into medical practices and healthcare settings. Mental health counselors are necessary treatment providers within these holistic medical settings to assist with mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs to individuals across the lifespan, from birth to adulthood.
Workshops and Presenters:
Double Workshops
Saturday 9:00-11:45 am:
Community Mission: Support of Military Transitions
Advanced
Barbara Trolley, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, CRC
Gabriella Pelosi, Grad Student, HS Admissions Counselor, GA
Chelsea McBee, Grad Student, RD, Student Worker
Military members and their families face numerous transitions such as deployments, geographical moves, and changes in roles, schools, jobs and health. This didactic and experiential workshop will address psychosocial, family, educational, vocational, legal, and spiritual concerns confronting this military population, highlight their assets, and provide a gamut of integrated resources.
Saturday 2:15-5:00 pm:
Addictions: Alcohol to Zoloft
Basic
David Stone, PhD, LMHC
John Conteh, Ed.D, ACS, NCC, DCC, LPC
Ryann Hunt-Bila, MSEd
The presentation addresses alcohol/substance use disorders. Considers incidence and prevalence of the disorders among African-Americans, Latinos, LGBTQ, women, elderly, the disabled, and veterans. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning are addressed with particular attention being paid to empirically sound best practices in treating those with the disorders.
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Workshops
Saturday 9:00-10:15 am:
Emotion Regulation and Positive Behavior Support In The Treatment of Childhood Conduct Problems
Advanced
Jill Rothar, MEd., Certified School Counselor
In this interactive presentation, we will explore the idea that parents' emotion regulation and their discipline techniques are both causal factors and effective treatment options for children with conduct problems. Participants will learn the latest research findings, as well as, engage in round table discussions.
Living with Dying
Basic
Bob Ranieri, LMHC, CCMHC
Death is an integral part of life, and yet as a society we do not address the issue very well. Instead we dance around the issue or ignore it altogether. This workshop will look at the societal, psychological/emotional, physical, planning and legal aspects of dying.
Expanding into Expression: Using Intermodal Expressive Arts for Self-Supervision & Client Care
Basic
Karen L. Mackie, PhD, NCC, LMHC
Rebeka Radna-Crasna, CAGS, MS, MSEd, NCC
This session orients mental health counselors to the possibilities introduced by intermodal expressive arts principles and practices when applied to self-supervision and clinical work. A brief experience with the arts modalities of collage, movement and poetry combined with reflection on the art-making process for self-of -the therapist development and self-supervision will be facilitated and implications for therapy discussed.
Assessment and Treatment for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Advanced
Laurie Bonjo, PhD, NCC, PSC
Maura Sabini, MA
This presentation will provide a model for assessment and treatment for non-suicidal self-injury. Participants will learn factors which distinguish NSSI from suicidal ideation, how to tell if NSSI is escalating or otherwise putting clients at increased risk for suicide, and strategies for intervention with individuals who engage in NSSI.
The Sacredness of the Mandala: Analyzing the Intimate Arena of the Soul Through Art and Expressive Language
Basic
Jo Coppola, GHA, MA, LMHC
Mandala art unleashes a sacred core of healing power that addresses the understanding of the subconscious mind’s need to feel right about self, and to feel connected to life that is all around us. This workshop will address how the mandala can be used as a tool of symbolic analysis; through art within the space of the circle of self-discovery and inner peace.
Saturday 10:30-11:45 am:
Express Yourself: Using expressive art techniques in counselor education
Basic
Dawn Hudak, EdD, LMHC, CCMHC, NCC
Paola Cadet, MS
Student learning can be enhanced in counselor education courses through the use of expressive arts such as art, music, poetry, play, drama, and photos. Counseling students may improve their self-awareness, creativity, skills, and knowledge. Participants will review rationale for using expressive arts in counseling courses in this experiential workshop.
Implications of Facebook
Basic
Douglas Paul Rodriguez, PhD, LMHC
Lynda Lapertosa, LMHC, NCC, ACS
The Implications of Facebook on Counseling in the 21st. Century- For Clinicians and Researchers interested in developing an understanding of the social network phenomena as it relates to therapeutic practice.
Enhancing Your Competence: Clinical Practice With Transgender Adolescents, Young Adults & Families
Advanced
Nicole Borzelleca, LMHC
A growing number of transgender young people are disclosing their gender incongruence at an earlier age. Both they and their families are reaching out for guidance. There is a need for therapists willing to become experienced in this area. Our competence with this population is paramount to their wellbeing.
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder: Prepare to identify and treat a proposed complicated grief disorder
Advanced
Eileen McCormick, LMHC, FT
This workshop will explore a proposed condition in DSM-5, Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) and will differentiate PCBD from Major Depressive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The proposed criteria and diagnostic features of PCBD and its validity will be reviewed. Current treatment options and a case study will be discussed.
Post infidelity Trauma, Theoretical and Treatment Implications
Basic
Portia Allie-Turco, LMHC, NCC
The discovery of a partner’s infidelity is one of the most painful events in a couple’s relationship. Partners report that what hurts the most is that their trust and belief in the person closest to them has been shattered; that the meaning that guides their life has been destroyed. This workshop aims to increase professional knowledge and skills and suggests useful interventions for clinicians.
Saturday 2:15-3:30 pm:
Disability Competencies as part of Diversity Training for Counselors and Counselor Educators
Advanced
Laura B. Kestemberg, PhD
Diana Abourafeh, MT-BC
Individuals with various disabilities have historically been marginalized in all aspects of society (Fleisher & Zames, 2001). Disabilities can be understood as a social justice issue. This workshop will assist participants in developing ways to integrate competency training principles in disabilities as a crucial component of counselor training courses.
Expanding Your Horizons: Becoming the Clinical Supervisor You Would Like to Have
Advanced
Karen L. Mackie, PhD, NCC, LMHC
Tamara Sullivan, PhD, NCC, LMHC
Seniority as a practicing mental health therapist brings opportunities to facilitate the learning and clinical abilities of newer counselors during supervision sessions. In this session we will share a strengths-based, collaborative practice model for developing your supervisory capacities that builds on professional standards and that you can use throughout your clinical career.
Creating Attunement in our Relationships through Awareness and Feedback Modalities
Advanced
Susan E. Antelis, MPS, BCB, BCN, LCAT, LMHC
Kristi DeName, MS, BCB, MHC
Biofeedback and Neurofeedback modalities empower an individual to accomplish self-regulation through developing a mind-body connection. Non-invasive, fun and complementary, they can be utilized with clients of all ages in a variety of therapeutic settings. This workshop will guide you through adding simple versions of these techniques to your practice.
A Matter of Life or Death: Strategies and Techniques for Treating the Suicidal Client
Basic
Thomas J. Nardi, PhD
Kristin Kiggins, MS
One of the most critical - and stressful - areas of counseling is that of the suicidal client. The cognitive-behavioral theories of depression, typical beliefs of suicidal clients, and specific cognitive-behavioral treatment interventions will be presented.
The Importance of Meaning and Purpose in Counseling
Basic
Shannon Hodges, PhD, MS, LMHC, ACS
Meaning in life and purpose in life have been identified in the professional literature as important factors in life satisfaction and in counseling efficacy. The Purpose in Life presentation will overview PIL and how to develop in clients.
Saturday 3:45-5:00 pm:
Demystifying Dialectic Behavioral Therapy: Clear Directions for Implementation in Treatment Programs
Basic
Fredrick B. Dombrowski, MA, LMHC, CASAC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS, DCC, HS-BCP
Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is gaining ground in popularity in treatment of individuals suffering from various diagnoses. With numerous treatment modules and addition of mindfulness this form of treatment may be difficult to fully understand. This workshop will review the basic concepts of DBT identifying application strategies for clinical settings.
Best Care Practices for People Living with HIV
Basic
Karen Keys, LMHC, CASAC
HIV continues to infect and affect people around the world. People living with HIV/AIDS seek help for depression/anxiety, addiction, isolation and shame, immigration, and sexual identity and orientation. You will learn information and interventions to help you more effectively and confidently treat diverse clients affected by HIV.
Teaching Leadership and Advocacy for Professional Counseling Practice
Basic
Robert Dobmeier, PhD, LMHC, CRC
Summer Reiner, PhD, NCC, LMHC
Participants will learn about a course designed to help professional counselors and students recognize their leadership potential and advocacy skills. Scope of practice, Medicare reimbursement, and hiring of professional counselors in VA settings are issues for which counselors need to exercise leadership and advocacy. Experiential exercises will be offered.
Playful Approaches to Working with Children: 15 Play Therapy Activities for the Busy Counselor
Basic
Tami Sullivan, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Are you a busy counselor who works with kids? Are you doing more with less? Do you value the importance of play in childhood? Learn respectful and healing approaches that honor the culture of childhood. Release your inner-child utilizing FUN techniques that meet the needs of the children you counsel!
The Deity Literally Spoke to Me: Addressing Negative Religious Symptomology
Advanced
Daniel M. Linnenberg, M.Div., Ed.D., LMHC, NCC
There are times when the clients’ symptoms may hold religious content that is a hindrance to their psychological well-being. This presentation will provide clinicians the knowledge and skills that can be used to assist clients having religious and spiritual psychopathological symptoms that are a hindrance to their well-being.
Sunday 9:00-10:15am:
Counseling for Job Loss: The role of grief and loss and existentialism
Basic
Patricia Goodspeed-Grant, EdD, LMHC, NCC
This workshop will focus on the grief process that accompanies loss of employment. The presenter will demonstrate several activities that have helped clients grieve the loss, reclaim their work identity, and come to terms with finding new work.
High and Hurting: A Look at the Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Self-Injury
Advanced
Marie Ribarich, PhD
Susan Conte, PhD
Substance abuse and self-injury are behaviors prevalent among persons who have experienced significant trauma in their lives. This workshop will provide mental health counselors a comprehensive overview of the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for these behaviors with special emphasis on treatment for clients with comorbid symptomatology.
The Role of Attachment in Counseling Survivors of Domestic Violence with a History of Childhood Sexual Trauma
Basic
Aviva Bauer, MA
Childhood sexual abuse is in the history of many more clients than we dare to imagine. Attachment to unsafe caregivers impedes the capacities for Affect-regulation, Mentalization, and a coherent Sense of Self. This workshop will explore longterm effects of unresolved trauma and the role of Attachment in conceptualizing treatment.
Good for the Goose: Mindfulness Techniques for Mental Health Counselors
Basic
Mark I. Sirkin, PhD
Carolyn Cullen, PhD
Mindfulness techniques in psychotherapy have proliferated in recent years. Research suggests that mindfulness improves focus and concentration, reduces anxiety and emotional dysregulation, and improves empathy. We advocate teaching mindfulness techniques to early stage mental health counselors, both to learn these techniques and benefit from them. Opportunities to learn about, and practice, these methods will be presented.
What Do We Do Now: Addressing a Contentious Supervisory Relationship
Advanced
Christie E. Weidenhamer, Med, LMHC, NCC, BCPC, ACS
Daniel M. Linnenberg, MDiv, EdD, LMHC, NCC, CT/RTC, ACS
The relationship between supervisor and supervisee can be both tenuous and contentious at times. This presentation will address the development of contentious supervisory relationships and how one leads the situation back into a productive relationship. Instruction from a Choice Theory perspective provides the impetus for the successful supervisory relationship.
Human Diversity & Being Deaf: The Concept of Deaf Gain
Basic
Randolph L. Mowry, PhD, CRC
Counselors are oriented to work with an individual's strengths as a way to resolve problems, and promote growth and mental health. The assumption in working with culturally Deaf clients is often one of deficit. This workshop will review models of deafness from the hearing and Deaf perspectives, and will introduce counselors to the concept of Deaf Gain, the perspective that being deaf conveys advantages. The implications for counseling with culturally Deaf people will be presented.
Sunday 10:30-11:45 am:
Intervention: Psychological Strategies to Motivate Treatment-Seeking Behavior in Addiction
Advanced
Errol Rodriguez, PhD, CRC
RoseMarie Chatterton, MA, LMHC
The impact of substance use disorders on the family system has been well-documented. The emotional crisis that often ensues from one's loss of control over alcohol and other drugs compels families to seek clinical intervention to motivate them to accept help. Intervention offers immediate crisis treatment using collaborative clinical work.
Mental Health Counselor Training Level of Family Counseling in Coursework for NYS MHC Programs
Basic
Jill K. Daddona, MA Candidate
Vienna Costanzo, MA Candidate
Angeleen Richard, MA Candidate
New York State and CACREP declare scope of practice for Mental Health Counselors includes qualification to work with families; however, many programs fall short of adequate family training. Review of MHC programs reveals the proportion of institutions in NYS currently requiring/offering a family counseling or related course and its implications.
PTSD from Bullying Triggers Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Advanced
Sumi Mukherjee, Author, Speaker
This workshop is based on my book titled “A Life Interrupted – the story of my battle with bullying and obsessive compulsive disorder”. The presentation is a unique combination of a number of timely issues. It illustrates a definitive connection between bias-based bullying and its long-term devastating psychological impact.
Attachment and the Neurobiology of Prevention
Advanced
David W. Eckert, LMHC, NCC, CRC
"Attachment and the Neurobiology of Prevention": an interactive workshop highlighting the importance of safety, security, and predictability in healthy neurobiological development. The effects of poverty and the importance of healthy attachment are featured. A model for integrating behavioral health interventions in pediatric and other settings will be described in detail.
The Power of Metaphor: Using Journey Stories to Facilitate the Navigation of Transitions
Basic
Jason Duffy, PhD, MHC, NCC, ACS
This workshop will overview the use of metaphor in counseling, counselor training, and counselor supervision and presents innovative activities employing metaphoric stories that can be used for counseling and training purposes. Two recent qualitative studies examining the efficacy of the approach will be discussed.
NYMHCA Business Meeting
Dr. Robert Eschenauer, NYMHCA President
Judith Ritterman, Executive Director
During this business meeting NYMHCA members and convention attendees are invited to discuss anything related to the running of NYMHCA and the services we provide. Feedback on people's convention experience is encouraged.
