Winter Virtual Conference! DAY 1
Presenter:
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 1, January 14, 2025
10:00 am to 1:00 pm EST
Select one of the following classes
Class A
Spirituality and Clinical Interventions: Ethical Considerations (3 CE Credits - Ethics)
Spirituality is a globally acknowledged concept which involves a sense of connection to something greater than oneself. It reflects how individuals seek to fulfill their life's purpose, search for meaning, and cultivate a sense of connectedness to the universe and others. Research strongly indicates that spirituality provides many clients with a valuable framework for coping with life's challenges in meaningful ways.
Clinicians have increasingly recognized the importance of spirituality and religion within the therapeutic relationship, striving to integrate these elements while upholding ethical principles. By fostering open, respectful dialogue, we can navigate these sometimes challenging dynamics and support clients in ways that honor their spiritual beliefs and enhance their overall well-being.
(Tonya Logan, LCSW-C, LICSW, Founder and CEO of Kayla’s Village, has over 30 years of clinical experience in conflict resolution and trauma care. She has worked extensively in D.C. and Maryland, helping families achieve permanency through reunification, adoption, or independent living, and leading programs to stabilize at-risk families. A certified grief recovery specialist, Ms. Logan has facilitated grief groups for homicide survivors and served as a supervisory social worker for students with learning and emotional challenges. She now offers virtual counseling for individuals and couples.)
Class B
This new training offers a comprehensive exploration of trauma therapy modalities, highlighting the key distinctions between cognitive and somatic approaches. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how these distinct modalities engage different neurological processes to address trauma. Cognitive therapies, such as CBT, focus on reframing thoughts, while somatic approaches, like Somatic Experiencing, target trauma stored in the body. Through the lens of neuroscience, this session will provide participants with insights into the underlying mechanisms of these therapies and their differing impacts on trauma recovery.
Additionally, this presentation will introduce foundational concepts related to Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), including the role of memory reconsolidation and bilateral eye movements in trauma treatment. While attendees will not be trained to use these modalities, they will leave with a deeper understanding of how these techniques work to support trauma processing and healing
(Trainer, Marsha Mandel is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Newburgh, NY. She has over 14 years of experience, providing neurodiversity-affirming care and specializing in trauma and anxiety. A certified Master ART clinician and national trainer, she also holds certifications in Rational Living Therapy and as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II (CCTP-II). She has presented at conferences for the New York Mental Health Counselors Association, National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, and Alliance for Rights and Recovery, formerly the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) on topics including trauma, ART and CBT.
1:45 pm – 4:45 pm EST
Select one of the following classes
Class A
Digital Lives: The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Development and Mental Health (3 CE Credits)
Social media plays an increasingly influential role in the lives of adolescents, shaping their social interactions, self-identity, and mental health. This training explores the complexities of adolescent development in the digital age, with a focus on how social media impacts the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of young people. Participants will gain insight into the neuroscience of adolescence, understanding how social media platforms capitalize on brain vulnerabilities to maximize engagement.
In addition to examining the mental health risks associated with social media, such as anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying, this training will highlight the potential benefits, including social connection and creative expression. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and practical strategies, participants will learn to identify harmful patterns of social media use and foster healthy digital habits among adolescents. This session will deepen your understanding of the digital landscape and equip you to help adolescents navigate social media responsibly.
(Trainer, Janelle Martinez, LCSW-C, LICSW, is the Founder and CEO of Guided Growth Professionals, LLC and is an expert in services and programs geared toward children, adolescents, and families. Janelle has over fifteen years of experience working with individuals and families dealing with trauma, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, homelessness, teen parenting, emotional and/or behavioral disorders, attachment issues, and sex trafficking. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults involved in public systems as well as the criminal justice system and has been dedicated to improving their overall well-being through advocacy and support.
Janelle is the Deputy Executive Director at The National Center for Children and Families, overseeing 24 programs that provide services to vulnerable children and adults in DC and Maryland. She also serves as the Administrator for The Black Physicians and Healthcare Network which which promotes integrated wellness in the Black communities of Montgomery County, MD.
Class B
Trauma Begins in the DNA (3 CE Credits)
Explore the profound ways trauma is inherited through both genetic coding and environmental influences. This session examines how historical and cultural traumas have shaped entire populations, with their effects rippling through generations. Participants will gain insights into how societal biases, media narratives, and collective histories perpetuate cycles of trauma within and between communities, often fueling misunderstanding and division.
Through engaging discussions and real-world vignettes, the class will uncover the mechanisms of inherited trauma, the interplay between individual and collective experiences, and the role of belief systems in shaping identity and self-esteem. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how implicit bias impacts healing and will be equipped to foster acceptance and empathy in addressing generational and population-level traumas.
(Trainer, Tzipora Frager, LCSW-C, has been a Social Worker and facilitator of groups and continuing education classes for over 25 years. Ms. Frager's experience includes case management, various therapies, and supervising staff. She worked as the Statewide Director of Reentry (Maryland) for Centurion Health Care. She has also worked in the Johns Hopkins Out Patient Clinic as a Health Behavioral Specialist. Mrs. Frager specializes in helping fellow professionals master using the DSM 5-TR Manual.)
Evening Sessions
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Class A
Recovery from experiences ranging from minor injuries to severe trauma—such as interpersonal conflict, sexual violence, war, or other acts of violence—follows similar psychological processes. The mind and body must "organize" these events and achieve a kind of "reset" to prevent them from draining mental and emotional resources. Trauma often operates like a device overloaded with apps, perpetually sapping energy and impairing essential functioning.
The presenter in his dissertation and extensive work with veterans, survivors of rape, and even criminal perpetrators, has integrated evidence-based tools from CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, gratitude, forgiveness, and other clinical frameworks. His approach equips clinicians with actionable strategies to address trauma efficiently—whether in a single 90-minute inpatient session or over the course of outpatient therapy. By rapidly addressing trauma symptoms, these methods pave the way for clients to focus on rebuilding their lives and overcoming entrenched patterns of depression and anxiety, leading to profound and lasting transformation.
(Dr. Fernando Alessandri earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 2016. His training included an internship at the VA Medical Center in Honolulu and a postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Medical Center in San Diego. Dr. Alessandri has extensive experience working with diverse populations, including in community mental health, a maximum-security prison in California, a forensic hospital in New York. He provide psychotherapy for employees of Apple, Facebook (Meta) and Dell.)
Class B
Coupling AND UNcoupling: What Clinicians need to know about Divorce (3 CE Credits)
This innovative training takes the Psychobiologic Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) into new territory by exploring how its principles can be applied not just to fostering healthier relationships, but also to guiding couples through the process of separation and divorce. While PACT traditionally aims to achieve “secure functioning” in relationships, this course offers therapists a framework for helping couples maintain these principles even as they uncouple.
The course integrates Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) to illuminate the natural tensions and contradictions present in all relationships, such as autonomy vs. connection, openness vs. closeness, and predictability vs. novelty. Participants will gain theoretical insights and practical tools for bridging therapy and divorce mediation, equipping them to help couples navigate the complexities of uncoupling while fostering emotional health and secure functioning.
(Trainer, Joy Dryer, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist, Psychoanalyst and a Divorce Mediator. She works with individuals, couples, and families, and maintains a private practice in NYC and New Paltz New York. As a retired Adjunct Associate Professor in NYU’s Master Psychology program, she continues to teach and to supervise. Dr. Joy specializes in couples therapy using PACT, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy. She integrates PACT’s powerful principles in her divorce mediation work where she often focuses on helping couples decide whether to stay, or to separate.)
