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 12:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 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 E: Healing Beyond Harm: Addressing the Relationship Between FGC and Mental Health
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (3 hours; 3 CEUs - Anti-Discrimination)
Instructor: Mariya Taher, MSW, MFA; Caitlin LeMay, LCSW

This workshop is an in-depth exploration of the psychological and emotional consequences of female genital cutting (FGC). Beginning with an overview of FGC and physical health implications, the workshop delves into survivor responses, including shame, guilt, amnesia, and disenfranchised grief, offering culturally competent approaches to support. Participants will examine trauma and its physiological effects, covering PTS, PTSD, CPTSD, betrayal trauma, and intergenerational trauma. A dedicated portion explores psychosexual consequences, including chronic pain, anxiety, and the neurobiological impact on sexual arousal. The final section equips attendees with trauma-informed interventions, addressing dissociation, flashbacks, and physiological stress responses. Survivor stories from the Voices to End FGM/C project are integrated throughout. This workshop is essential for professionals supporting FGC survivors in mental health, social work, and healthcare settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain an introductory understanding of what female genital cutting (FGC) is and a detailed understanding of its effects on physical, psychological, and psychosexual health.
2. Participants will learn specific interventions to address common survivor responses to FGC.
3. Participants will build a comprehensive understanding of trauma and be equipped with the tools to support survivors experiencing trauma from FGC effectively.

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: From Concept to Launch: Leveraging Strategic Planning to Design a Program
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (2 hours; 2 CEUs)
Instructor: Tatiana Schettini, MBA, MSW, LCSW

This interactive workshop introduces social workers to essential strategic planning and project management tools for effective program development. Using the Logic Model and SWOT analysis, participants will learn how to build a program that supports the mission, objectives and goals of an agency while assessing its capacities to operate in its current social service environment. Participants will learn 5 basic phases of project management: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure. Grounded in macro social work values, the workshop blends planning frameworks with real-world application. The workshop encourages collaboration, peer learning, and guided Q&A. Attendees will walk away with practical tools they can immediately apply.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn the basic elements of building a program.
2. Participants will learn the basics of leveraging strategic planning tools and frameworks.
3. Participants will learn how to build a basic budget proposal aligned with goals and outcomes.
4. Participants will learn about basic project management tools.

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.