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Home2022 Conference Sessions

2022 Conference Sessions
*** Denotes Ethics Session ***
Friday CEs Available - 4
Saturday CEs Available - 5

Friday Workshops
12:30pm - 5:00pm
Hors D'oeuvres will be served

12:30pm - 2:40pm 

Success From Session One: How To Structure Intakes For Maximum Impact
Presenter: Jacob Martinez, LPC

Struggle with clients who attend one session and then never return? Establishing rapport and setting goals for treatment early is vitally important for work to unfold. This workshop will show you how to conduct intake sessions that leave your clients eager to start their journey toward a vibrant & connected life.

Session description with learning outcomes: The initial session with a client is one of the most critically important moments in the therapeutic process, it has the potential to make or break the relationship between client and therapist. In many clinical settings the most common number of sessions is one, meaning clients attend one session but never return! This talk will provide key strategies for setting yourself up for success in the first session. Learn how to increase the likelihood that clients will be engaged in the work, generate their own achievable goals for therapy, and be excited to complete homework from the very first visit. Participants will learn how to set up expectations for the first session for newcomers to therapy, how to set the stage for ongoing clinical work, and how to use a collaborative treatment planning tool called the ACT Matrix to sidestep unworkable treatment goals and generate highly achievable therapeutic goals for treatment while also making assigning homework a breeze.

Participants will be able to: 1. Define the three types of clients that seek out therapy. 2. Structure the initial session to ease clients into the therapeutic context. 3. Facilitate the ACT Matrix activity for collaborative treatment planning.

2:50pm - 5:00pm 

Private Practice: Making Connections ***

Presenters:  Debra Murray Psy.D., CSAC ICS; Valerie Burns Cathers, LPC, CSAC, NCC; Jessica Abegglen, LPC

In this session, participants will explore the current scope of modern private practice, including issues such as telehealth, supervision, workforce development. A case study format will be included, along with a list of practical resources.

Session description with learning outcomes: This session will provide an overview of the current scope of modern private practice, highlighting opportunities, challenges, and potential ethical dilemmas associated with telehealth, supervision, and workforce development.

Measurable objectives: 1. Review the basics for starting a private practice 2. Examine potential workforce opportunities such as interns and QTTs 3. Examine best practices in supervision for novice professionals. 4. Practice application of ethics via case studies. (small groups)

Saturday
Breakout Session 1
9:45am - 10:45 am


1) Ethical Dilemmas: Working with Professionals Following Different Codes ***

Presenter: Amy Evans, PhD, LPC (WI), LPCC (MN)

We are trained in the ethical codes applicable to our own training and licensure. However, we often work with professionals licensed in other fields and at times may be supervised by those with different licensures. This presentation will focus on the ACA Code of Ethics in comparison to other licensed professional's codes to deepen our consideration of ethical decision making.

 

 

2) Using Pedagogy to Address Equity Gaps in Counselor Education

Presenter: Kelly J. Smith, Ph.D, LPC, NCC

Increasing numbers of students of color are pursuing higher levels of education in counseling; however, there remains a dearth of support for their academic success. This session leverages undergraduate approaches to address equity in counselor education programs. This session could benefit counselor educators and supervisors.

 

 

3) The Clinical Use of Collaborative Games in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Clinical Mental Health for Children, Adolescents, and Families

Presenter: Ashleigh Bruns, PhD, LPC

This session will demonstrate the use of the game Forbidden Island in building rapport, increasing communication skills, reinforcing client problem-solving, providing treatment towards clinical goals, and ongoing management of symptomology in clinical disorders. Interventions to facilitate in-person and/or tele-health use of games in counseling will be discussed.

Breakout Session 2
11:00am - 12:00pm

1) Using Metaphor to Support Client Expression

Presenters: Julie Bates-Maves, PhD, LPC; Alex Bruning, LPC-IT

Metaphors are a bridge between the abstract and the concrete. It's useful to convey internal experience and helps describe the indescribable. Metaphors put story to feeling and provide insight into emotional states and how one views themselves. This session will briefly review literature on the use of metaphor in counseling, offer examples of client and counselor-generated metaphors, discuss strategies for incorporating this skill into sessions, and knock your metaphorical socks off.



2) The ABCs for Collaborative Relationships with School

Presenters: Debra A Murray Psy. D; CSAC,ICS; Tracy Lipinski, LSC; John Pereda, LSC; Cara Wood, LC

Many school districts have been able to successfully partner with community agencies to provide mental health services in their buildings. Three school counselors from different school types will provide insights and tips to assist the clinician in understanding the nuances of the school environment to ensure successful partnerships to meet the shared goal of providing needed mental health services to students.



3) Self Care for Balanced Career

Presenter: Donna Schelfhout, LPC

Are you sure you're getting the self care you need? Come be part of brainstorming ways to be creative in making self care a part of your regular career path.

Breakout Session 3
2:00pm - 3:00pm

1) Tell Me the Latest! Trends in Counseling Research ***

Presenters: Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, PhD; Angela Mensink, EdD; Amanda Falkers, EdD

If you’ve struggled to find time to read the latest research in counseling or you’re just curious...this session is for you! You will hear from three dynamic researchers, each with a different emphasis. From counselor education and supervision to clinical practice, you will be informed of evidence-based practices.



2) Helping families build relationship among each other, using a Restorative Practices Lens

Presenter: Lakiesha Russell, LPC

Through this session participants will experience a Restorative Practices circle to help better understand the importance of connection and community building to help the families you work with build, maintain and repair their relationships.



3) Kink, Poly & Swingers: Oh my! Sexual and Relational Wellness for BDSM/Kink and Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) Clients

Presenters: Nichole Fritts, M.A., LPC-IT; Natalie Noyes, J.D., M.A. LPC

This evidence-based presentation promotes multicultural competence on identities & relationship structures of BDSM/CNM. These groups encourage communication, consent, & negotiation, but historically have been stigmatized, pathologized & marginalized with assumptions of members being united by trauma. This presentation focuses on practical awareness of myths vs. realities for clinicians & educators.

Breakout Session 4
3:15pm - 4:15pm

1) Bridging the Gap: Supervision and the Opioid Crisis

Presenter: Debra A Murray Psy. D., CSAC,,ICS; Bill Bakalars MS, LPC, CSAC; Jessie Latten, Ph.D.

Opioid use in the United States has been called a public health crisis, of which counselors are at the forefront. Thus, it is essential for clinical supervisors to examine evidence best practices. Therefore, various models of clinical supervision will be discussed in this context, such as competency-based, treatment-based, developmental and integrative. Furthermore, a creative exchange of ideas, methods and techniques will be provided, which can be incorporated with any supervision model to bridge the gap between the classroom and the clinic for counseling opioid using clients.

 


2) Advocacy for Counselors

Presenter: Emily Berge, MS, LPC

The mission of the WCA Advocacy branch is to empower Wisconsin Counselors to be legislative advocates and advance policy issues that impact the counseling profession. Join this session to learn more about Government basics, why advocacy is important for counselors, what policies are facing Wisconsin counselors currently and what we can do about it



3) TRAUMA in 20/20: The Healed Lens Effect ™

Presenter: Marrika Rodgers, MS, LPC

The Healed Lens Effect is a new therapeutic model for addressing trauma. During the session, participants will be provided with effective tools to help their clients unpack past / present trauma, more efficiently. Participants will acquire new techniques on how to hone their assessment skills by identifying the root causes of their client’s trauma. The goal of the session is to train clinicians on how to help their clients transform the trauma lens to healed lens from a holistic approach.