Winter Virtual Conference!

January 14 – 15, 2025
2 Days, 18 CE Credits!

Join us for our

Winter Virtual Conference!

This Conference will take place completely online.
This 2 Day Program is jam-packed with training and will
provide you with up to 18 Live Interactive CE Credits
The full conference includes 6 Hours of Ethics trainings,
cultural competence, Trauma training, and lots more!

You can attend the full conference or select specific classes to
attend.

Winter Conference Schedule 2025

Day 2, January 15, 2025

10:00 am to 1:00 pm EST

Select one of the following classes

Class A 

Social Work Ethics and the Law (3 CE Credits - Ethics) 

This workshop explores the critical role of values, ethics, and the law in guiding professional behavior. Participants will delve into the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (revised 2021), gaining a deeper understanding of professional, legal, and ethical standards and their application to competent social work practice. The session also addresses instances where legal and professional standards may conflict, providing strategies for resolution.

Through this workshop, participants will enhance their self-awareness of how personal values intersect with professional behavior. Engaging with real-world ethical dilemmas, attendees will learn to apply a structured decision-making model, equipping them to navigate complex ethical challenges with confidence and clarity.

(Trainer, Dr. Shirley Newton-Guest, LICSW, LCSW-C, is the Director and Co-founder of New Perspective Transcultural Therapeutic and Training Consultants, LLC. Before establishing this organization, she developed and provided leadership to private and non-profit comprehensive community-based mental health facilities. She served as a full-time social work professor for 25 years.)

Class B

Prescriptions Without Pills: For Relief from Depression, Anger, Anxiety and More (3 CE Credits)  

Nearly all psychotherapy clients experience some combination of depression, anger, and anxiety. This webinar introduces an innovative framework for understanding the root causes of these emotional states and strategies for resolving them. Dr. Heitler’s “Bump Theory,” illustrated with her “Hand Map,” provides a clear and practical model for identifying the sources of these emotions and guiding clients back to a state of well-being.

In addition to learning the theory and techniques, participants will have the opportunity to practice these methods during the session. By the end of the webinar, attendees will feel confident in applying these strategies immediately in their clinical work.

 (Trainer. Susan Heitler, PhD is a renowned clinical psychologist and author of several books including Prescriptions Without Pills: For Relief from Depression, Anger, Anxiety, and More and The Power of Two: Secrets to a Strong and Loving Marriage. Her innovative therapeutic approaches have gained widespread recognition, with over 100,000 copies of her books sold, nearly 2 million views of her TEDx talk, and more than 26 million readers of her Psychology Today blog posts.  A graduate of Harvard University with a doctorate from NYU, Dr. Heitler currently focuses on therapy techniques that enhance effectiveness and efficiency while adhering to the highest ethical standards. Her work emphasizes minimizing potential harm (maleficence) and maximizing therapeutic benefits (beneficence). Currently based in Raanana, Israel, Dr. Heitler continues to practice and develop cutting-edge techniques in psychotherapy, particularly in relationship dynamics and marital therapy. In 2016, she delivered the keynote address at the inaugural meeting of the Pan-Arab Psychological Association in Beirut, presenting a talk titled "Conflict Resolution: My Way, No MY Way.")

1:45 pm – 4:45 pm 

Select one of the following classes 

Class A 

Religious Trauma and Black Families: Considerations for Mental Health Providers (3 CE Credits – Cultural Competence/Trauma)

Explore the complex interplay between religious trauma and Black families within the context of mental health. Through a comprehensive examination of religious trauma, participants will gain a deeper understanding of its definition, contributing factors, and unique manifestations within Black communities. Special attention will be given to the intersectionality of religion and culture, illuminating the ways in which religious trauma impacts cultural identities and beliefs within Black families. This new class will equip mental health clinicians with culturally competent assessment techniques, intervention strategies, and ethical considerations for effectively addressing religious trauma in their clinical practice. Participants will be equipped with practical tools and insights to enhance their clinical practice and better support the mental health needs of Black individuals and families impacted by religious trauma.

 (Trainer, Dr. Alisha Powell, LCSW-C is a therapist and educator with extensive experience in the mental health field. She is the founder of Amethyst Counseling and Consulting. Dr. Powell earned her doctoral degree in Social Psychology from Walden University, completed her graduate studies in Social Work (MSW) at the University of Denver, and received her undergraduate degree in Social Work (BSW) from Oakwood University.

Dr. Powell has worked in various settings, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and residential centers, giving her a comprehensive understanding of diverse client needs and therapeutic approaches.)

Class B 

Building Resilience and Regulation Skills through Accessible Neuroscience and Connection Strategies (3 CE Credits)

Neuroscience shows that humans are born dependent, requiring consistent, compassionate care and co-regulation not just to survive, but to thrive. Dr. Louis Cozolino emphasizes that we are not products of "survival of the fittest," but rather "survival of the most nurtured." Resilience is not innate; it must be nurtured through co-regulation. Our need for compassionate care never diminishes—attuned and reciprocal interactions help us navigate challenges and rebound from adversity. 

In this session, we will explore the keys to fostering resilience and emotional stability through balanced regulation and co-regulation. Rooted in the principle that relationships come first, this session will highlight how just one safe, committed adult can significantly help a child heal and build resilience through the transformative power of co-regulation.

(Trainer, Ginger Healy, LCSW, is a passionate advocate for children and families with over 25 years of experience in trauma and attachment. She has worked as a child abuse investigator, school therapist, and social service supervisor at an international adoption agency. Currently, she serves as the Director of Programs at the Attachment & Trauma Network and co-hosts the podcast “Regulated and Relational.” A sought-after speaker and author, she focuses on trauma-sensitive education and therapeutic parenting.)

Evening Sessions

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm 

Class A 

Resilience in the Face of Sexual Abuse: The Power and Role of Dissociation for Adolescent Girls (3 CE Credits) 

This class explores how dissociation serves as a survival mechanism for adolescent girls enduring severe sexual abuse from male family members. Through dissociation, these girls mentally escape into intricate imaginative worlds—such as magical realms, poetry, or sensory experiences—that allow them to survive the unspeakable. By examining actual case studies, clinicians will learn how dissociation functions as both a protective emotional response and a cognitive strategy—highlighting how dissociation fosters resilience and enables girls to function in their daily lives. 

Clinicians will acquire skills to help survivors safely share their experiences of using dissociation positively to foster healing and recovery. Participants will learn specific interviewing techniques to create a secure therapeutic space, identifying dissociation as a coping strategy and applying this knowledge to treatment. Clinicians will better understand dissociation’s protective role in trauma recovery, enhancing their ability to support and guide survivors through their healing journey.

(Trainer, Patti Feuereisen, Ph.D., is a renowned psychotherapist and a trailblazer in the treatment of sexual abuse, with a particular focus on adolescent girls and young women. Based in Brooklyn, NY, she maintains a private practice and is the founder of Girlthrive, a nonprofit Thrivership Fund dedicated to honoring teen girl survivors of incest. Dr. Feuereisen is author of the groundbreaking book Invisible Girls: Speaking The Truth About Sexual Abuse now in its 3rd edition. Her website, Invisible Girls Thrive, is an international resource for young female sex abuse survivors.) 

Class B

Utilizing Emotional Intelligence Strategies to Treat Anger and Promote Psychological Wellness In Therapy (3 CE Credits) 

Gain effective tools to help clients manage anger and cultivate emotional well-being. This session focuses on Emotional Intelligence (EI) and its core skills—emotional awareness, self-regulation, and empathy—which are crucial for addressing anger-related challenges. Participants will explore how to identify emotional triggers, reframe anger-inducing situations, and develop regulation strategies to prevent escalation and foster healthier responses.

The program also highlights the role of emotional awareness and empathy in strengthening interpersonal relationships and reducing aggression. By guiding clients toward emotional balance and resilience, therapists can support long-term psychological wellness that extends beyond anger management. With a blend of theoretical insights and practical applications, this session equips clinicians to seamlessly integrate EI strategies into their therapeutic practice.

(Trainer, Linnea Willis, LPCC-S, LCPC, LPC is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia. She is the owner and lead therapist of her virtual private practice, LP Counseling & Therapy Services, in Cleveland, Ohio, which provides therapeutic care for adults, teens, and couples who struggle with anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues.)