Social Work Workshops

Workshop A: Family in Flux: Help Clients Navigate Divorce and Restructure with Intention
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Instructor: Ben Stich, Mediator, LICSW, MEd

Divorce can feel like the end of a family—but for social workers, it’s a chance to help clients reshape what family looks like moving forward. This interactive workshop offers tools to support clients through the emotional upheaval of divorce and the stress of decision-making and negotiation. We’ll review divorce basics and common process options so clinicians can help clients make informed choices without giving legal advice. Participants will learn how to support clients through the grief and opportunities that accompany divorce, guide parents in reducing harm to their children, and offer practical strategies to improve co-parenting. With a focus on both loss and possibility, this workshop equips social workers to support families in flux with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn the most important protective factors for children whose parents are separating or divorcing.
2. Participants will learn at least three practical strategies they can teach parents to support collaborative co-parenting.
3. Participants will identify key questions to ask clients going through divorce to support informed and intentional decision-making.

Workshop B: Integrating Somatic Therapy into Clinical Practice
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Instructor: Elizabeth Deborah Joseph Johnson, LCSW

Clinicians will learn how to effectively integrate trauma-informed meditation and breath work techniques into their practice to support clients. We will explore evidence-based mindfulness and breathing exercises tailored for clinical settings, focusing on stress reduction, emotional regulation, and nervous system support. Participants will discuss the cultural origins of these practices, and learn strategies for introducing these tools within therapeutic relationships. We will also discuss how to appropriately use somatic tools when working with clients experiencing racism and systemic discrimination and the impact of racism/discrimination on the body. Whether you work in mental health, healthcare, or community wellness, this workshop provides practical approaches for incorporating mindfulness-based interventions into patient care. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of guided practices to support themselves and their clients.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn about the origins of meditation and breathwork in yoga and somatic therapy through a decolonial lens.
2. Participants will practice leading trauma-informed meditations and breathwork using scripts and cues.
3. Participants will deepen their own practice to cultivate compassion, enhance client connection, and strengthen therapeutic relationships.

Workshop C: Internal Family Systems: Getting to Know Therapist Parts
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Instructor: Jessica Fonzi, LCSW

This experiential workshop will include a basic overview of the main concepts of Internal Family Systems, including: self, protector parts, and exiles, as well as the basic assumptions and guiding tenets of the intervention. Internal Family Systems clinical tools will be modeled, including: introducing and modeling parts language, identifying parts and polarizations, and understanding and working with the parts of the therapist. This workshop will include guided meditations and creative practices that will help participants increase their access to clarity and perspective in all levels of social work practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will discover the basic concepts of Internal Family Systems.
2. Participants will learn introspective mindfulness and meditation skills.
3. Participants will become aware of how to increase clinical self-awareness and efficacy and reduce burnout.

Workshop D: Providing Affirmative Care to LGBTQ+ Clients
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Instructor: Julien Craig, LICSW

This workshop will teach providers best practices when working with LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) clients. LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience positive mental health outcomes when working with providers who are affirming and knowledgeable of their identities. It increases client retention and satisfaction and supports positive identity development. There will be a focus on using gender-affirming language, how to discuss names and pronouns when they differ on insurance or other documents, and how to support positive identity development. Participants will be able to practice these skills through role play, and will debrief afterward. Providers will also learn how to write letters of support for gender-affirming surgery, and how to speak about natural supports in ways that do not assume a nuclear family structure. Training will be split between lecture and small group discussions that allow practical application of skills being taught.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn to implement affirmative care in their practice.
2. Participants will learn best practices when working with gender expansive clients.
3. Participants will be trained in writing letters of support for gender affirming surgery.
4. Participants will learn to incorporate minority stress into their holistic view of clients and to consider it when treatment planning.

Workshop F: Using Intuition to Support Trauma Healing
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Instructor: Beth Craft, LICSW

Clients who report a history of trauma often struggle to have healthy adult relationships and can be drawn to people who recreate the traumatic dynamics of their past. Despondency and depression can become all-encompassing. In using an amalgam of CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and intuition, this workshop seeks to present a framework for helping clients to identify relationships that are not healthy, hone discernment, and develop an array of action skills to end or manage troubled relationships. By using vibrant images that can be conjured even while triggered, clients can learn to change their behaviors and mindset. With each success, clients report feeling calmer, more centered, and in control. The workshop includes a video of a mock client interview to help participants readily apply the material presented.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain a framework for helping clients to recognize and name detrimental dynamics in important relationships.
2. Participants will develop an array of vibrant images that can be used repeatedly to help clients access their nascent skills even while on the verge of getting triggered.
3. Participants will learn how to utilize a variety of tools that can be readily implemented with clients to help them attain healthy self-love.

Workshop G: Clinical Applications of Polyvagal Theory
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Instructor: Vicky Brandt, LMHC

Polyvagal Theory provides a framework for working with a client's dysregulated nervous system. It allows us to understand the biological drive for safety and connection, and ways in which people adapt when those things aren't available. Trauma can get locked in the body, and sometimes verbal interventions aren't enough. This workshop will provide education on the guiding principles of Polyvagal Theory, and will guide you through exercises that you can do with clients who might have more habitual survival responses. In learning the concepts of autonomic hierarchy, neuroception, and co-regulation, you will walk away with tools to immediately apply to clinical practice. You will also learn how to use your own nervous system to help your clients access safety and regulation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain an understanding of the main tenets of Polyvagal Theory and how to apply it in clinical practice.
2. Participants will walk away with clinical interventions for helping clients increase their ability to regulate their nervous systems.
3. Participants will engage in exercises to gain firsthand experience of the interventions.

Workshop H: Journeying Through Grief – Finding Purpose in the Pain
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs)
Instructor: Laurine Voltaire, EdD

This interactive workshop explores the multifaceted nature of grief and provides a supportive space to understand and navigate the grieving process. Participants will be guided through the emotional journey of mourning, with a focus on how to "grieve well"—honoring their loss while moving toward healing and eventual purpose. The session will compare and contrast key models of grief, including Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s Five Stages of Grief, The Dual Process Model, and Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning. Each model will be examined for its strengths, practical applications, and limitations within counseling and real-life scenarios. Participants will gain insight into how these frameworks can support healthy grieving, while also understanding that grief is not linear or uniform—what works for one person may not work for another.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn how to support the individuals they serve in embracing the grieving process—a journey that can be both wearying and beautifully complex.
2. Participants will apply grief theories to real-life scenarios, helping them understand that grief is deeply personal and multifaceted.
3. Participants will explore ways to help others navigate pain, find meaning in loss, and provide support throughout their grief journeys.
4. Participants will learn how to transform their own pain into purpose by guiding those who will one day experience similar suffering.

Workshop I: Normalizing End-of-Life Care and the Dying Process
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs)
Instructor: Danielle Carney, LICSW

Aging and dying are a natural part of the human life span. Due to the painful nature of loss, clients and families often shy away from this topic. However, actively discussing, planning, and preparing for the anticipation of aging and the end of life can support healthier, more holistic end-of-life narratives. Social workers should have a strong understanding of common themes and needs clients face during this period to provide support adequately. This workshop will explore common themes around the aging and end-of-life period, such as anticipatory grief, unexpected loss, ambiguous loss, and prolonged grief, while equipping clinicians with tools to integrate into clinical practice. Participants will engage in discussion around case studies, utilize small group activities, and end with a large group discussion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will become familiar with the range of end-of-life care trajectories, including the difference between palliative care and hospice care.
2. Participants will learn about the intersection of an individual's vision of what quality of life means to them, how that impacts advanced care planning, and how to engage clients/families in discussions around goals of care.
3. Participants will identify various differing grief responses, how that impacts coping, and strategies to support individuals and families in processing grief.

Workshop J: Healthy Teen Social Media Use: Breaking Down Barriers and Focusing on Potential
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Instructor: Kaleigh Cornelison, LMSW, LCSW

Technology and social media shape the identities, worldviews, relationships, and sexual health of today’s teens (ages 13-19). Unfortunately, many professionals fall short when they solely focus on what is problematic about social media use and ignore its positive aspects. This workshop will start from the ground up, beginning with definitions and a roadmap of technology commonly used by young people. From there, we will examine how technology influences teen sexuality and relationships, and the ways relationships and identity can be strengthened by technology. Finally, the workshop will focus on how to work with and relate to teens through the lens of technology.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify social media platforms that are commonly used among adolescents.
2. Participants will describe the difference between a tech-negative and tech-positive approach to adolescent social media use.
3. Participants will explain positive and problematic adolescent social media use.
4. Participants will practice strategies for engaging with youth through a tech-positive framework.

Workshop K: The Legal Immigration Landscape and Its Impact on Immigrant Clients
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Racism)
Instructor: Kelly Morgan, JD, MSW

The immigration legal system has increasingly become a topic of both flashy news headlines and nervous private conversations among anyone who has or cares about people who have connections to other countries. Even immigration processes that once seemed simple now cause a great amount of stress and uncertainty, which can be felt throughout families and communities. This workshop aims to provide attendees with a foundational understanding of the legal systems with which noncitizens interact; an overview of key legal updates from the past year; an explanation of immigrants’ legal rights in various settings; and ways in which service providers and legal professionals can collaborate to support noncitizens navigating this new landscape.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will understand the basic structure of immigration legal proceedings and at least three key legal updates from 2025 that directly affect immigrant clients.
2. Participants will identify and communicate the basic legal rights of immigrants in common scenarios involving immigration enforcement, and understand how legalized discrimination limits these rights.
3. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for collaboration between legal professionals and social service providers that promote the needs of immigrant clients, rooted in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.

Workshop L: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Social Work Practice
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination; Anti-Racism)
Instructor: Karen Lynn Fortuna, PhD, LICSW

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping health care and human services, offering new opportunities—and raising critical questions—for social work practice, research, and education. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to emerging applications of AI in social work, including predictive analytics, natural language processing, and digital peer support tools. We will explore both the promise and pitfalls of AI, emphasizing issues of equity, ethics, and the importance of human-centered design. Participants will engage in case discussions highlighting how AI can enhance service delivery, improve access, and address social determinants of health while also considering risks such as bias, privacy, and misuse. The workshop will prepare social workers to thoughtfully engage with AI as advocates, collaborators, and innovators.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify emerging applications of artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to social work practice, research, and education.
2. Participants will evaluate the potential benefits and risks of AI for advancing equity, ethics, and client well-being in human services.
3. Participants will develop strategies to engage as advocates and collaborators in the responsible design, implementation, and use of AI tools in social work settings.

Workshop M: Neurodivergent Therapy: Effective Therapy Practices for ADHD & Autism
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Instructor: Scott Thomson, LICSW

The term neurodivergence has been gaining popularity in the past several years. A lot of information has been distributed about the topic, which can be accurate or pop psychology. This workshop will take an in-depth look at neurodiversity and how to adapt traditional therapy models to make therapy better suited for neurodiverse clients. Participants will learn what neurodivergence looks like, how it shows up in various domains of a client's life, terminology to help describe neurodiverse experiences, effective interventions for neurodivergent clients, and effective strategies to implement in therapy for neurodiverse clients. Participants will take away helpful practices for clients with ADHD and Autism.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will develop a better understanding of the presentation of ADHD and Autism, and how those presentations show up in various domains of life.
2. Participants will learn skills, interventions, and best practices for therapy with neurodivergent clients.
3. Participants will learn ways to adapt therapy to make more effective therapy matches with neurodivergent clients.

Workshop N: Trabajo integral con trauma: cuerpo y mente utilizando IFS y Somatic Experiencing (En español)
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Instructor: Paola Bustani, Clinical Psychologist

Descripción:
A lo largo de este taller de tres horas, revisaremos algunos conceptos fundamentales para el tratamiento individual del trauma e integraremos estos conocimientos en un modelo sencillo que podrás incorporar a tu práctica clínica. El enfoque teórico se basará en modelos como la teoría del apego, la teoría polivagal, la terapia somática, y el modelo IFS. Durante el taller aprenderemos a través de ejercicios experienciales individuales y en grupo. El taller se impartirá en español.

Objetivos de aprendizaje:

1. Las personas participantes aprenderán conceptos teóricos de diferentes modelos utilizados en la intervención con personas que han vivido trauma, lo que facilitará la conceptualización de casos y la elección de intervenciones.
2. Las personas participantes adquirirán un modelo que integra diversas herramientas terapéuticas para intervenciones clínicas.
3. Las personas participantes experimentarán un espacio de aprendizaje informado por el trauma, considerando el funcionamiento del sistema nervioso.

Monday, June 22, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Workshop A: Complex Grief and Loss in LGBTQIA+ Communities
Instructors: Jen Brown, MSW, LICSW; Sarah Eley, MSW, LICSW

Complex Grief and Loss in LGBTQIA+ Communities
When learning about grief and loss in clinical programs, general aging, death, and relationships ending (divorce, breakups, etc.) are the focus. For 2SLGBTQIA+ people, grief can take on additional significance. This may include: changes in sense of belonging to community, family, role(s), perceived identities, and for some, a change in relationship to privilege or marginalization, loss of home and place. Common experiences of grief may be complicated for 2SLGBTQIA+ people due to barriers to accessing affirming spaces to mourn and grieve; concerns of rejection; loss of status and identity for older LGBTQIA+ adults who lose a partner; and more. This training aims to provide context for how grief impacts 2SLGBTQIA+ people, often under- or unacknowledged in traditional discussions about grief and bereavement.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify three ways that grief/loss uniquely impacts LGBTQIA+ adults.
2. Participants will be able to use two different approaches to help clients identify and label what they are experiencing as grief responses.
3. Participants will be able to explain the relationship between layers of oppression, marginalization, and grief using a trauma-informed lens.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Racism)
Workshop B: Being In-Between: the Unseen Immigrant Experience
Instructor: Jason Ri, MA, LMHC

Being In-Between: the Unseen Immigrant Experience
Working with people from immigrant backgrounds reveals a layer of nuance to the practice of clinical mental health (and other helping professions) that deserves special attention and training. This workshop aims to assist all clinicians and helping professionals in furthering their understanding and being able to effectively work with those from immigrant backgrounds, particularly those who are adult children of recent immigrants. This workshop will consist of a lecture using accessible concepts from existential philosophy and psychology, and experientially facilitated discussions. The workshop will include small- and large-group discussions based on course-relevant prompts and brief exercises.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be exposed to existential philosophy to help them understand the immigrant experience in a perhaps novel way.
2. Participants will consider how the clinician/helping professional is positioned vis-à-vis their relative privilege and/or lack thereof with their client or with people they wish to work with.
3. Participants will consider how clinical treatment from this philosophical and diversity-related perspective can proceed effectively, given the concepts and experiences from this workshop.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Racism)
Workshop C: Social Work, Sports and Society
Instructor: Qur-an Webb, LMSW

Social Work, Sports and Society
This workshop explores the dynamic intersection of social work, sports, and societal issues, focusing on how athletics can serve as a platform for addressing social challenges. Participants will examine the mental health needs of athletes, the impact of race and gender in sports, and the crucial role of social work in supporting athletes, coaches, and officials. Topics include mental health awareness, resilience-building, and relationships within athletics.

The workshop will also consider race while preparing participants to foster positive societal change through the lens of sports and social work. Additionally, the session will include an interactive activity designed to engage participants in applying key concepts and fostering meaningful discussion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will explore the role of social work in athletics and the fundamentals of mental health in sports.
2. Participants will discuss the importance of fostering healthy relationships amongst the spectators, athletes’ coaches, and officials.
3. Participants will develop strategies for managing goals, their impact on motivation, maintaining focus, and achieving long-term success.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Workshop D: Clinical Care for Trans Identity Development
Instructor: Luke “Tt” King, LICSW

Clinical Care for Trans Identity Development
This workshop will explore the six stages of Gender Identity Development in transgender adults, including stages ranging from self-awareness to medical and social transition, from safety concerns to systems navigation. Through the use of small and large group case studies, participants will explore specific clinical and socio-cultural concerns across developmental stages, including biopsychosocial, existential, and diagnostic considerations from an anti-oppressive, gender affirming lens. Participants will leave ready to assess clients for their current stage of identity development, will understand the clinical and socio-cultural considerations at every stage, and will practice interventions from somatic, dialectical-behavioral, and relational theories at every stage.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify the stages of transgender identity development and the specific tasks of these stages.
2. Participants will be able to identify at least one support need at each stage of transgender identity development.
3. Participants will be able to identify at least one clinical intervention at each stage of transgender identity development.

Thursday, June 25, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Workshop E: Ethics in the Changing World of Private Practice
Instructor: Katie Silversmith, MSW, LCSW

Ethics in the Changing World of Private Practice
Owning a private therapy practice today looks different than it did in decades past. From telehealth, Headway, and AI to a rapidly changing marketing landscape, today’s social workers face ethical challenges that require more than traditional guidance. Ethics in the Changing World of Private Practice grounds these modern dilemmas in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, with a focused review of relevant standards and an engaging look at how to update your policies, refine your practices, and embrace innovation while staying firmly rooted in ethical care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain an understanding of how to navigate the use of emerging technologies in their private practices while adhering to ethical standards within the field of social work.
2. Participants will gain an understanding of key pitfalls they can avoid in their modern-day private practices by adhering to the guidance within the NASW Code of Ethics.
3. Participants will gain an understanding of how to uphold the ethical value of “competence” in their practices by defining and continually honing a clinical niche.

Thursday, June 25, 2026
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs)
Workshop F: Both/And: DBT Strategies for Cancer
Instructor: Tegan O'Neill, LICSW

Both/And: DBT Strategies for Cancer
A cancer diagnosis often brings profound emotional distress, uncertainty, and complex family dynamics. This workshop introduces a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed framework for supporting patients and families across the cancer care continuum, from diagnosis through survivorship or end-of-life care. Participants will explore practical strategies for strengthening emotional regulation, increasing distress tolerance, and fostering effective communication during high-stress medical experiences. Emphasizing the core DBT dialectic of acceptance and change, the course provides clinicians with tools to validate suffering while promoting adaptive coping. Designed for social workers working in healthcare and community settings, this training offers structured, skills-based interventions that can be immediately integrated into oncology, palliative care, and behavioral health practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles unique to the emotional and psychosocial challenges of oncology care.
2. Identify specific DBT skills to support patients and families navigating diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life transitions.
3. Engage with dialectical concepts key to a DBT-informed approach and discuss practical applications to work with patients across health care and community settings.

Friday, June 26, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination; Anti-Racism)
Workshop G: Misaligned Success – Identity, Values & Career
Instructor: Rachel Spekman, LICSW, MSW, MBA, MEd

Misaligned Success – Identity, Values & Career
Many professionals experience psychological distress not because they are failing, but because their work no longer aligns with who they are becoming. As values shift through burnout, parenthood, leadership changes, or health challenges, staying on autopilot can lead to anxiety, emotional exhaustion, grief, and identity fragmentation. Three Strategic Career Pivots: Refine, Rebuild, or Redesign introduces a values- and identity-centered framework that reframes career dissatisfaction as identity tension—not just a job problem—equipping therapists to recognize misalignment clinically and guide clients through psychologically safe career decisions that support integration and sustainable well-being.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will conceptualize career dissatisfaction through an identity and mental health lens and distinguish situational burnout from deeper values and identity misalignment.
2. Participants will apply the Refine, Rebuild, and Redesign framework to support regulated, values-centered career exploration.
3. Participants will guide clients in translating identity and values clarity into practical, psychologically sustainable decisions around boundaries, role scope, impact, compensation, and next steps.

Monday, July 13, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs)
Workshop H: Reframing Burnout: A Narrative Approach
Instructor: Aaron Jones, LICSW

Reframing Burnout: A Narrative Approach
This workshop seeks to reduce burnout in participants by reconceptualizing symptoms of burnout through the framework of Narrative Therapy. Starting with an invitation to connect with the story of the “why” behind their work, participants will externalize the problem of burnout to separate it as a force to be opposed rather than a personal failing, deconstruct its roots and effects in their lives, and re-author the story of burnout by challenging faulty beliefs and reimagining new solutions through identifying personal “unique outcomes” (moments of resilience). Participants will engage in the workshop by personal reflection along with group discussion to apply the concept to their lives and work.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will externalize the problem of burnout in their lives by using a Narrative Therapy framework.
2. Participants will “re-author” unhelpful thoughts and beliefs which might lead to burnout by replacing them with personally significant strengths-based ones promoting resilience.
3. Participants will conceptualize how implementing this framework will help reduce burnout in those they work alongside and serve.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Racism)
Workshop I: Trauma-Informed Practice in an “Always-On” World
Instructor: Nedra Cannon, LCSW, ACSW

Trauma-Informed Practice in an “Always-On” World
This workshop explores clinical strategies for regulation, resilience, and recovery in an “always-on” culture using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and ethically grounded approaches. Participants will examine how chronic digital exposure, systemic stressors, and identity-based oppression affect nervous system regulation, mental health, and help-seeking behaviors across diverse populations. The workshop integrates both clinical and macro perspectives. It highlights how racism, discrimination, and structural inequities shape individual and community well-being. Through case vignettes, experiential exercises, and reflective dialogue, participants will strengthen skills in ethical decision-making, boundary-setting, culturally responsive assessment, and sustainable anti-oppressive practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will analyze how racism, oppression, and systemic inequities contribute to chronic stress, trauma responses, and disparities in mental health outcomes.
2. Participants will examine the impact of discrimination and identity-based marginalization on emotional regulation and access to care.
3. Participants will apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive clinical and macro-level strategies that promote regulation, resilience, and recovery.
4. Participants will integrate ethical decision-making and anti-oppressive principles to support equitable and sustainable mental health practice.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination; Anti-Racism)
Workshop J: Mental Health Documentation: Audit Triggers, Clawbacks, and Ethical Issues
Instructor: Beth Rontal, LICSW

Mental Health Documentation: Audit Triggers, Clawbacks, and Ethical Issues
While some insurance audits and ethical complaints are random, many are triggered by identifiable patterns in documentation. Brought to life with case examples, registrants will learn the red flags that trigger audits, claw-backs, and ethical issues in mental health documentation, and strategies to avoid them. We will review five types of insurance audits, unintentional documentation mistakes that result in clawbacks, and clarify the line between honest errors and insurance fraud. With the increased need for client confidentiality for marginalized populations, protecting confidentiality while meeting compliance requirements has never been more critical. Private practice therapists, group practice owners, and supervisors will gain valuable insights and concrete examples on how to complete compliant, clinically strong, and ethically sound documentation that protects client confidentiality and your income.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify and analyze at least three red flags that could trigger an audit and a clawback.
2. Participants will recognize the line between honest documentation errors and insurance fraud.
3. Participants will identify two common documentation mistakes that breach client confidentiality.

Thursday, July 16, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs)
Workshop K: Early Childhood Traumatic Stress and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Instructor: Elizabeth Guerrant, MA, LMHC

Early Childhood Traumatic Stress and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
This workshop offers an in-depth introduction to early childhood traumatic stress, emphasizing the distinct ways trauma appears in children under six, who often show behavioral, developmental, and regulatory changes rather than verbalizing distress. Participants will examine how traumatic stress influences early brain development, attachment, and self-regulation, with attention to the critical role of early identification. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) serves as the central theoretical and clinical framework, highlighting its evidence-based focus on strengthening caregiver–child relationships and building effective coping skills. Attendees will learn practical, developmentally informed strategies that can be applied directly in clinical settings, including attachment-based caregiver interventions that support regulation and recovery. The workshop integrates foundational theory with applied practice to enhance providers’ capacity to foster resilience and healing in young children and their caregivers.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify behavioral or developmental indicators of traumatic stress in children under six, including how early traumatic stress impacts brain development, attachment, and self-regulation.
2. Participants will learn about the core components of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)’s theoretical grounding and its effectiveness for treating traumatic stress in young children.
3. Participants will identify strategies that can be used by caregivers to support the reduction in traumatic stress symptoms, and evaluate how attachment and positive attention can be integrated into their clinical practice to support trauma recovery for young children.

Friday, July 17, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (6 hours; 6 CEUs)
Workshop L: Integrating Solution-Focused Therapy Into Clinical Practice, Part 2
(Part 1 to be offered during the Summer 2026 Advanced Clinical Practice for Adults series of courses)
Pre-requisite: Participants should take Part 1 or have equivalent knowledge before taking this workshop.
Instructor: Susan Lee Tohn, MSW, LICSW

Integrating Solution-Focused Therapy Into Clinical Practice, Part 2
Solution-Focused work is ideal for these challenging times as the model meets the client's needs in fewer sessions than traditional models and applies to a culturally diverse clientele. Solution Focused Brief Therapy focuses on "change" not "problems" and applies to both the micro and macro levels of working with individuals, families, groups, and managed behavioral healthcare organizations. Solution Focused Therapy empowers people to create and realize their own solutions, and emphasizes strong rapport and active participation by both client and therapist.

This workshop will build on the Part 1 course that covered theory and an initial solution-focused session, and will provide participants with many hands-on techniques they will be able to incorporate immediately into their work. This Part 2 training will cover later sessions and how to create a unique intervention message that includes the client's homework.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will demonstrate the EARS technique.
2. Participants will explain how to utilize scaling to terminate with clients.
3. Participants will describe the three components of the solution-focused intervention message.
4. Participants will demonstrate asking the progress scale and the next step scale.
5. Participants will explain the three intervention pathways for when clients say nothing is better.
6. Participants will demonstrate creating a progress scale from the exception content.