Breakout Session Topics

Topic:  Risk Mitigation in Telemental Health

Presenter: Susan Meyerle, PhD, LIMHP, CEAP, CFLE

Abstract: The pandemic changed the world, including the world of counseling. More counselors than ever have engaged in telemental health. Is the genie out of the bottle? Is telehealth here to stay? In what ways? How is your counseling practice impacted by ongoing changes to telemental health regulations?

Description: This is an interactive discussion lecture updated this year to reflect changes in telemental health statutes and regulations. We will review the impact of the conclusion of the PHE and the ongoing care of clients receiving services. The impact of the Counseling Compact will also be addressed as it relates to the provision of telemental health services.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify regulations impacting telemental health practice.
•  Determine their risk level in providing telemental health services.
• Delineate steps to mitigate risk when providing telemental health services

NBCC Content Area: Telemental Health

Presenter Information:

Susan Meyerle, Ph.D., LIMHP, CEAP, is a trendsetter in the world of ethics education. With her experience as an educator, regulatory board member, therapist, author and inspirational speaker, she makes reviewing ethical protocols interesting, engaging, current and relevant.

Topic:  Self Care: Take Your Own Advice

Presenter: Patricia Dixon, MSW, LMSW Clincial & Macro, ACSW | Anne Di Iorio-Fitzpatrick, MSW, LMSW Clinical | Sheila Lewis, LPC CAADC Crisis Specialist | Charmain Allen, MSW Intern 

Abstract: An interactive experience for counselors to build self-care skills and answer the question why don't we do what we tell our clients to do? Each participant will get the chance to share how they do self-care and learn at least three new skills.

Description: This experiential discussion will explore what gets in the way of counselors doing self-care. It will provide an overview of self-care activities, encouraged participate discussion and include practice of self-care that can be done in the office and on the go.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and use at least three selfcare activities
• Assist clients to identify self-care activities that promote holistic mental health 
• Develop treatment planning that enhances awareness of the need and use of self-care

NBCC Content Area: Helping Relationship, Wellness and Prevention

The primary presenter is an Associate Director of Afterhours Program with Counseling and Psychological Services Office at WSU. Embedded in the College of Pharmacy and Health Services. Has a BSW from Central Michigan University, 1982 and an MSW from Wayne State University in 1989. She earned a PhD certificate in Social Work Research and Evaluation from Wayne State University in 2019. Prior to working at WSU she worked in Community Mental Health for over 25 years. She began her career as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Liberia West African in 1982. While working at WSU she has volunteered with the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, Board Member of the Michigan Crisis Response Association, member of the National Association of Social Workers and an instructor for the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports Certificate Program. She also provided crisis response training for the School of Social Work’s Health Care Worker COVID-19 Crisis line. She provides support and mental health services to WSU Students as the first embedded CAPS Counselor. She worked closely with the Academic Advising Staff and Faculty to provide counseling and education for students needing mental health support throughout the Pandemic and before.

The second presenter is one of the inaugural clinicians of the Counseling and Psychological Services Afterhours Program at Wayne State University. Anne graduated with a BA in Theater and a BA in Psychology from The University of Detroit Mercy in 2011, and a MSW from Wayne State University in 2019. Since completing her graduate degree, Anne has worked in both community mental health with runaway, at risk and homeless youth and in clinical private practice serving adolescent girls and women. She has volunteered with the WSU President’s Commission on the Status of Women, is a volunteer for the Michigan Crisis Response Association, and a member of the National Association of Social Workers. In her current role, she provides afterhours clinical crisis support to WSU students experiencing mental health emergencies as well as individual counseling, group therapy and community outreach.

Topic:  Using Art and Movement to Regulate Children

Presenter: Amber Withrow, MA LPC, NCC, Trauma Certification, DBT certification

Abstract: This breakout session will connect current research on ways to stimulate full brain thinking and improve mood, processing, and impulsivity in children.

Description: This program is interactive and experiential to provide education and connection on children's mental health. Focus will be placed on interactively utilizing fine and motor gross skills to explore methods that enhance brain functioning in order to improve intrapersonal awareness and extend to interpersonal interactions, decrease impulsivity, and enhance processing of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Emphasizing movement and identifying resources found within the natural body coincides with the holistic theme.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe an understanding of current research on the benefits of specific movements or processing tools that enhance regulation in all ages, but particularly children
• Apply learned tools and techniques into their people-helping profession
• Express familiarity and empathy toward the common influences that impact dysregulation

NBCC Content Area: Human Growth and Development, Counseling Theory

The presenter has over a decade of experience working with children through home-based services and in private practice. Treatment has been provided for trauma, academic difficulties, and mood, behavior, and emotion dysregulation. In addition to mental-health service, the presenter is an adjunct professor at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI.

Topic:  Sexual Beliefs Beyond Your Bedroom

Presenters: Sarah Watson, MA, LPC, AASECT

Abstract: Attendees will evaluate their own bias about sexual health and be able to identify what is scientifically accurate information. Attendees will discuss their thoughts and beliefs about sexual health in medically accurate way being able to use this discussion in their relationships and clients. Attendees will be able to recommend medically accurate learning resources.

Description: "Only 18 states in America require medically accurate sexual education. That statistic is detrimental to the culture in health of the United States. Most individuals struggle to understand and communicate their sexual needs and desires. Most therapists lack education in sexual health.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and evaluate their engrained beliefs about sexual health
• Explore if the beliefs are based in medically accurate information or “back of the bus” learning
• Evaluate how the lack of information might have led to ignoring sexual health as an individual or part of a partnership
• Describe and apply how to communicate desires, needs and eroticism to others

NBCC Content Area: Helping Relationship

The presenter is a seasoned LPC and certified sex therapist. With over 10 years in the field the presenter has the extensive experience in working with all people struggling with sexual health including other professionals. The presenter is highly dedicated to providing accurate sexual health to all people.

Topic:  Bridging the Gap between Mental Health Professionals and Ministerial Clergy in Serving the Community

Presenter: Reuben M. Mwangi, PhD, LPC, CAADC

Abstract: This presentation explores ministerial clergy-counselor partnership possibilities that would benefit the underserved communities. Although the clergy primarily focus on the religious-spiritual dimension of human development, it is necessary to incorporate mental health component and psychoeducation to foster a holistic outlook on overall well-being.

Description: This presentation will use educational-lecture format to share knowledge and experience of working with minority populations who struggle to access mental health services, particularly within the faith community. Presenter will highlight barriers that prevent minorities from accessing mental health services, thus reaching out to ministerial clergy for help. In this case, the ministerial clergy may be rightly regarded as first responders to address mental health concerns of their parishioners. The clergy are not adequately trained to address mental health and behavioral concerns, much less competently identify individuals who might be struggling with mental health concerns. This scenario may present a dilemma to most clergy who would like to effectively serve their communities.

However, the clergy can be a crucial link to supporting and serving the underserved in rural and urban centers. Consequently, mental health professionals could learn how to bridge existing gap between faith communities and mental health professionals. Hopefully, this could yield positive outcome when communities are reached and served. Additionally, there are potential opportunities for providing mental health literacy and psychoeducational events. Mental health professionals could also provide trainings for pastors in basic mental health and wellness initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe holistic health that includes self-care and enhance overall well-being
• Discuss structural and common barriers of accessing mental health services among the underserved communities
• Explore ministerial clergy-counselor collaborative effort to provide psychoeducation to faith communities and training opportunities to clergy

NBCC Content Area: Wellness and Prevention

The presenter has worked extensively with diverse populations, primarily providing clinical mental health and substance abuse counseling in a variety of settings, including integrated health care and college counseling. His research interests include help-seeking attitudes, substance use, spiritual well-being, and mental health treatment approaches among immigrants and people of African ancestry.

Topic: Counselors as Clients: An Exploration of Personal Counseling for Counselors and Counseling Students

Presenter: Brad Imhoff, Ph.D., LPC (OH) | Robert Switala, MA, CSAT Candidate | Jeff Mazzone, MA

Abstract: Research shows many benefits for counselors receiving personal counseling and the majority report satisfaction with the experience. This presentation explores benefits of counselors receiving counseling, as self-care and a protective factor against burnout. Obstacles to engaging in personal counseling will be presented, and solutions to overcome these will be discussed.

Description: Counselors and counseling students are required to have the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to work effectively with clients (CACREP, 2016). While formal education provides much of this, receiving personal counseling has been shown to have many positive effects on counselors and students, including enhancing personal development, increasing belief in the efficacy of counseling, promoting professional development, managing compassion fatigue, and increasing self-care, among others (Byrne & Ost, 2016; Kalkbrenner et al., 2019; Orlinsky et al., 2011; Stevens et al., 2020). Even so, some studies suggest much less engagement in personal counseling by students than by practicing counselors (Kalkbrenner et al., 2019). This presentation will explore this divide, review and discuss the benefits of personal counseling for counselors and students, and discuss the obstacles that may prevent the use of personal counseling. In previous iterations of this presentation, it has been in an engaging lecture format with opportunities for self-reflection, brainstorming, and offering feedback on the part of the participants. It would make for an excellent roundtable discussion with participants invited to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas related to the topic. The presentation also aligns very well with the conference theme because it discusses how counselors can utilize their own personal counseling for increased wellness, which, in turn, positively impacts their work with clients and the community.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the potential benefits of engaging in personal counseling for themselves and/or for the counseling students they educate or supervise
• Examine obstacles related to counselors and students receiving personal counseling and brainstorm ways to navigate these challenges
• Evaluate the role of personal counseling in the prevention of burnout and its overall self-care benefits

NBCC Content Area: Helping Relationship, Wellness and Prevention, Counselor Professional Identity and Ethical Issues

Presenter 1 is a Counselor Educator and has done this presentation eight times in 18 months with excellent feedback. The presentation arose from using personal counseling as a means of self-care and personal growth. Counseling literature is consulted to demonstrate the benefits of and obstacles to receiving personal counseling as counselors.

Presenter 2 works as a counselor in Endicott, NY and is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) Candidate with plans to achieve full CSAT certification. He previously worked as a professional engineer with over 20 years of experience.

Topic:  Creating a Culture that Prioritizes Team Wellness and High Quality Clinical Care: Practical Strategies to Promote Wellness for Therapists, Clients, and our Community

Presenters: Jennifer Korenchuk, Ph.D., LPC, TF CBT-CT | Stacey Vatter, MA, LPC, CAADC, TF-CBT-CT | Colleen Reveley, LMSW

Abstract: The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of empirically-supported, practical strategies implemented by a team of CMH Clinical Supervisors in an outpatient setting to promote a culture that prioritizes both clinician wellness and high quality clinical care for children, their families, and the community.

Description: "Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are prevalent among mental health practitioners (Dreison et al., 2018), including professional counselors. Pre-pandemic studies suggested between 21-67% of mental health practitioners experienced burnout (Morse et al., 2012). Although more recent literature is limited, one study showed 91% of college counselors endorsed symptoms of burnout (Walden et al., 2021). Burnout and STS negatively impact client outcomes, quality of care, and counselors’ mental and physical health (Acker, 2010; Fye et al., 2020). Additionally, they contribute to unhealthy work culture (Cook et al., 2021), increased ethical dilemmas (Litam et al., 2021) and turnover rates as high as 50% in CMH settings (Paris & Hoge, 2010). Further, practitioners who work with trauma survivors (Craig & Sprang, 2010), in community mental health settings (Green et al., 2013), and those with minority identities (Viehl et al., 2017; Basma et al., 2021) are at even higher risk for burnout and STS. Despite the well-known and costly implications of burnout and STS for practitioners and clients, there is a lack of research about how to effectively prevent or treat these symptoms (Bercier & Maynard, 2015).

During this 60-minute interactive discussion, presenters will provide an overview of empirically-supported, practical strategies implemented by a team of CMH Clinical Supervisors in an outpatient setting to promote a culture that prioritizes both clinician wellness and high quality clinical care for children, their families, and their communities. Presenters will also briefly discuss the CE-CERT Model, an empirically-supported intervention designed to mitigate clinician burnout and STS, and their team’s pilot study examining the efficacy of this model. Presenters will invite attendees to join a movement to transform outdated, unsustainable mental health care practices to one that emphasizes holistic wellness for counselors, clients, and their communities.

Upon completion, participants will: 1) understand the necessity of creating a culture that prioritizes both clinician wellness and high quality clinical care for clients, their families, and their communities; 2) be able to apply practical, culturally-responsive, and empirically supported strategies to mitigate burnout in clinical and academic settings; and 3) understand the implications of the CE-CERT model for counseling students, educators, counselors, and supervisors."

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the necessity of creating cultures that prioritizes both clinician wellness and high quality clinical care for clients, their families, and their communities
• Apply practical, culturally-responsive, and empirically supported strategies to mitigate burnout in clinical and academic settings
• Describe the CE-CERT model, identify the five model components, and discuss the implications of the CE-CERT model for counseling students, educators, counselors, and supervisors

NBCC Content Area: Helping Relationship, Social and Cultural Foundations, Wellness and Prevention, Counselor Professional Identity and Ethical Issues

Jennifer Korenchuk PhD is a Clinical Supervisor for the Intensive Outpatient Team at Easterseals MORC and adjunct faculty member at Oakland University. Jennifer has 20 years experience working with children and families in non-profit CMH settings. Her research interests include evidence-based practice implementation, practitioner wellness, and research-practitioner collaboration.

Stacey Vatter is a Clinical Supervisor for the Internship Program at Easterseals MORC. Stacey received her Master's Degree in Counseling from Oakland University in 2013. She is passionate about teaching others the craft of clinical therapy, enjoys camping with her family, and takes pride in being a lifelong learner.

Topic:  Exploring Implicit Bias in the Counseling Relationship*

Presenters: Mary Thomas, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS 

Abstract: This presentation is designed to explore personal identities and the role of implicit bias in the counseling relationship, focusing on microaggressions. The impact of implicit bias will be explored as well as strategies to support eliminating bias within the therapeutic relationship.

Description: This presentation is designed to explore personal identities and the role of implicit bias in the counseling relationship, focusing on microaggressions. The impact of implicit bias will be explored as well as strategies to support eliminating bias within the therapeutic relationship.

Learning Objectives:

• Acknowledge and evaluative their identities
• Understand implicit biases and how they shape our behavior and perceptions
• Discuss strategies and the impacts on client experiences
• Discuss research related to psychotherapy services

NBCC Content Area: Counselor Professional Identity and Ethical Issues

Mary holds a doctorate in counseling education and supervision, masters in counseling, a masters and a masters in clinical psychology. Thomas has presented locally as well as nationally. Her work focuses on stress and burnout, adolescent development, and reduction of bias in the counseling relationship.

*Approved for 1 hour of Implicit Bias Training in accordance with MI Admin Rule R 338.7004*