Presenter: Renee Seff, LMHC, LPC, ACS

As clinicians, we are only as effective as our own self-awareness and education. The conversations we have with clients can only go as deep as the ones we have with ourselves, and our knowledge base. The emotional parts within us that go unnoticed can create countertransference in session, hindering the therapeutic progress and sending negative messages to the client. It can give clinicians a false sense of “I’ve done everything I can do,” resulting in over prescription of higher/alternative levels of care and psychopharmaceutical intervention. Unrecognized countertransference can result in burnout or feelings of ineffectiveness as a professional.

In this training, participants will learn the essential principles of countertransference. There will be a review of egostate basics, primarily through an IFS lens (essentially 2 trainings in one!). We will then, through lecture and various exercises, learn how to apply these learnings to our self and clinical practice.

Learning Objectives

After attending this workshop, participants will have met the following learning objectives.

1. Learn the history and terminology associated with countertransference
2. Learn the basics of egostate work
3. Recognize personal egostate parts, and their experiences during clinical session
4. Describe how egostates can create countertransference in session
5. Consider alternative egostate parts that are better suited for the clinical environment
6. Construct a plan for self-care and continued growth of self-awareness
7. Recognize when to utilize countertransference in session with a client, and how to do so properly.

Presenter: Dr. Taiesha Wooten, LCSW, CASAC-2

Pregnant individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to experience disproportionate harm due to systemic inequities, punitive policies, and stigma. These barriers which are rooted in racism, gender bias, and institutional neglect—undermine access to quality care, perpetuate poor health outcomes, and erode trust in healthcare systems.

Lift Every Mother is an evidence-informed training initiative developed by Dr. Taiesha Wooten that equips interprofessional healthcare and social service providers with the awareness, tools, and collaborative frameworks needed to confront systemic inequities through trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and integrated approaches to care.

Through guided mindfulness, interactive discussions, and case-based learning, participants will explore how systemic and individual-level factors intersect to create barriers for pregnant individuals who use substances. The workshop emphasizes real-world applications; helping attendees design actionable strategies to disrupt bias, improve engagement, and strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration.

By the end of the session, participants will have concrete tools to develop and sustain integrated, trauma-informed care models that center dignity, trust, and patient empowerment, laying the foundation for systemic transformation in maternal health and substance use treatment.

Learning Objectives

After attending this workshop, participants will meet the following learning objectives.

1. Identify and analyze systemic barriers that impact pregnant individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs).
2. Examine the influence of bias, stigma, and punitive policies on patient care and trust.
3. Apply culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies to foster equitable care.
4. Explore the elements of integrated care models and their effectiveness in enhancing outcomes for pregnant individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs).
5. Develop actionable plans to sustain integrated care models that align with organizational missions and patient needs.

Presenter: Maria Georgopoulos, LMHC, FT

People who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives can be quite disoriented by the experience. Grievers can benefit immensely from the help of clinicians who have specialized training in grief.

This workshop will focus on several key aspects of grief: historical psychological perspectives of grief and their present-day relevance, current theoretical models of grief, identifying different types of grief, myths surrounding grief, and effective ways to work with grieving individuals.

Participants will have an opportunity to understand contemporary grief theories such as the Dual Process Model, and Meaning Reconstruction, among others, while highlighting the growing importance of somatic approaches in grief work. We will also discuss how these theories provide a framework that informs best practice goals and interventions in grief counseling.

Learning Objectives

After attending this workshop, participants will achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Understand of the current theoretical models of grief through definitions, examples, and discussion.
2. Be equipped to assist grievers with identifying how grief is manifesting in their bodies and provide them with at least two somatic resources to help them develop a mindful dialogue with their grief.
3. Identify at least three different types of grief, including disenfranchised grief and suffocated grief.
4. Understand how to counsel people who are grieving through the use of group interactions and discussion.

Presenter: Dr. Thomas Murphy, LMHC-D, NCC, ACS

This course will provide guidance to identify ethical dilemmas and make informed decisions that protect mental health practitioners from ethical and legal violations and protect clients from harm. This course meets the requirements for NYS Licensed Professionals ethics and boundaries training - required to be completed once per every registration period per the NYS Education Department Office of the Professions.

Learning Objectives

As a result of attending this workshop, participants will achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Describe the ethical and legal responsibility of mental health practitioners to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with their clients.
2. Recognize and describe dual relationships.  
3. Implement systems and practices that will avoid the development of dual relationships whenever avoidable.  
4. Implement systems and practices to minimize hard to clients and the practitioner whenever dual relationships are not avoidable.  

Presenter: Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis, LMHC

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), is the pioneering cognitive approach created by Albert Ellis PhD, the late husband of the presenter, and heralded in the cognitive revolution in psychotherapy. It is a holistic, active-directive approach infused with compassion. Many of us in the healing professions can succumb to burnout when we immerse ourselves in our roles of helping others, and in-so-doing  neglect ourselves. Prevention is vital for our health and well being, and doing so also models healthy behaviors for our clients. 

In this workshop Dr Debbie Joffe Ellis will present the main principles, methods and techniques of REBT - describing their contribution in enabling individuals in the mental health professions to mindfully create and maintain stability & wellbeing, and providing some of the main tools and techniques that can help clients achieve their healthy therapeutic goals in elegant and effective ways during challenging times in their lives. Currently many peoples' distress in their everyday lives is exacerbated by much that is uncertain and disturbing in our world. There may never have been a more important time to know and apply simple and effective ways for creating stability.
Additionally in the workshop a live demonstration of the REBT approach will be given with a volunteer from the attending audience, and pivotal points of the REBT framework that are applied in therapy sessions and in daily life will be discussed. 

Attendees will also be given opportunities to self reflect, and to participate in activities in pairs or small groups. Discussion will be welcomed and questions answered. 
Without maintaining our mental and emotional wellbeing, and remembering & mindfully applying the means for achieving it, we can dilute the potential for more joy, better health and the ability to better help more people more of the time. REBT is one of the means for minimizing misery and maximizing joy both in the work place and in our personal lives!

Learning Objectives

After attending this workshop, participants will achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Apply the tools of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy to their professional and personal lives.
2. Describe the difference between rational and irrational thinking.
3. Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy negative emotions.
4. Apply techniques that prevent burnout and stress.
5. Address and cope with challenging people (clients, coworkers and others) and circumstances more effectively.
   

Presenter: Steven Perdek, MBA, LMHC-D, NYMHCA President