WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: Practical Ethics for Counselors (Two Hours)
Key themes: Counseling Ethics, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Intended audience: Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s), All counselors interested in
broadening their understanding of counseling ethics.
Program summary: This program is designed to be a broad, case base focused, counselor ethics
training session delivered in a way sure to entertain. Attendance at both sessions will earn the
participant two hours of ethics training that can be applied toward LPC licensure maintenance.
Presenter: Emer Broadbent, Ph.D., Retired, The University of Memphis
Title: The Young & The Restless: Using Choice Theory With Younger Nursing Home Residents
Key themes: Choice theory, life transition, nursing homes
Intended audience: Community/mental health/geriatric counselors, psychologists, public health
administrators, nursing home staff
Program summary: Based on current population trends, by 2050, 1.5 million people under the
age of 65 will reside in nursing homes and 450,000 will be under the age of thirty. These figures
help to illustrate how important it will be to have knowledgeable counselors available to meet the
demands of this burgeoning population. Choice theory psychology can be used to help this
population transition into these facilities.
Presenters: NaKeshi “Nikki” Dyer, MS, NCC, Doctoral Student, The University of Memphis, Jonie
Yvette Snipes Oliver, MS, Doctoral Student, The University of Memphis
Title: Trauma and Eating Disorders: The Relationship and Treatment Implications
Key themes: Eating disorders, trauma
Intended audience: Community/mental health counselors, college/university faculty, school
counselors, private practice, nutritionists/dieticians, massage therapists
Program summary: The relationship between trauma and the development and maintenance of an
eating disorder is an important correlate in the treatment of disordered eating sequelae. Childhood
attachment injuries, post-traumatic stress, acute and long-term developmental loss, physical trauma to
the body, and patterned and/or repetitive re-traumatization will be covered. Implications for
interdisciplinary clinical treatment and training will be offered.
Presenters: Nancy Johnson, EdD, LPC/MHSP, The Transformation Center, Cordova, TN, Paul
Berkes, MS, LPC/MHSP, The Transformation Center, Cordova, TN, Alison Bigelow, PhD/HSP, The
Transformation Center, Cordova, TN
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WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: Ten (10) Strategies Proven to Inspire & Engage EVERY Student
Key Themes: Social and emotional education
Intended audience: Community/mental health counselors, school psychologists K-12, school
counselors K-12
Program summary: Want to engage every student in your classroom? This session will
demonstrate 10 strategies proven effective at building resilience, strengthening relationships,
grabbing attention, and inspiring every student in your classroom. These strategies have helped
over 2 million students gain social and emotional skills in 16,000 K-12 schools and organizations
worldwide.
Presenter: Christian Moore, LCSW & Founder of WhyTry, Provo, UT
Title: Behavior Interventions that Work!
Key themes: Classroom management, positive behavior support
Intended audience: Classroom teachers / counselors – elementary to high school
Program summary: Spend more time teaching and less time disciplining students. Be proactive
rather than reactive. A different approach to student discipline has emerged in the last few years.
School districts are using evidence-based strategies to teach appropriate behaviors in the classroom.
This session examines these strategies that deal with problematic behavior in the classroom.
Presenters: Clinton Smith, Ed.D., BCBA-D, Assistant Professor of Special Educational, University of
Tennessee at Martin
Title: The Communication App: Three Applications for Better Parent Teen Communication
Key themes: Communication, conflict
Intended audience: Community/mental health counselors, mental health professionals in private
practice, those working with families of tweens and teens
Program summary: There are just THREE simple underlying motives that affect parents’
communication with their teens. Case examples will be used to demonstrate how understanding
these motives can be applied (by both parents and teens) to facilitate improved communication
and decrease conflict within the family.
Presenter: Gaye B. Vance, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist & owner of Shelby Psychological
Services, Pelham, Alabama
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WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: Self Care - Considerations for Practicing what we Preach
Key themes: Self care, burnout, stress management
Intended audience: Community/mental health counselors, school psychologist, college/university
faculty, elementary, middle or high school counselors, private practitioners, church counseling
centers and marriage and family therapists
Program summary: Care of the self is a vital skill, regardless of what you do or who you are.
Unfortunately, those in our own profession often neglect this lesson. In order to maintain our
effectiveness as counselors, we must learn to care for ourselves. Self-care is not a matter of selfindulgence; it is a matter of self-preservation.
Presenter: Jake Morris, Ph.D., LPC-MHSP, Professor of Psychology and Counseling, Lipscomb
University, Lindsey Gilliam, B.A., Masters Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Lipscomb
University
Title: The Introduction of a Task Model for Crisis Intervention
Key themes: Crisis intervention, intervention models
Intended audience: All counselors
Program summary: Crisis intervention tasks are different from those in standard counseling
models and do not occur in a linear manner. This presentation will explain a Task Model and the
audience will learn how to identify the primary tasks used in crisis intervention.
Presenters: Richard James, Ph.D. Professor of Counseling, The University of Memphis, Pete
Prakongpan B.S., Master’s Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, The University of Memphis,
Michael Skirius B.S., Master’s Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, The University of
Memphis
Title: Infusing Common Core into Developmental School Counseling Programs
Key themes: School counseling, common core
Intended audience: School counselors all levels
Program summary: The Common Core standards have been adopted by 45 states in a
comprehensive effort to raise college and career readiness by streamlining standards in
Mathematics and English Language Arts from kindergarten through to 12th grade. The purpose of
this presentation is to demonstrate how comprehensive, developmental school counseling
programs overlap with the Common Core and identify strategies and opportunities for integration.
Presenters: Chloe Lancaster, Ph.D., Assistant Professor for School Counseling & School
Counseling Coordinator, The University of Memphis, Jo Epstein, Ed.D., Adjunct Professor of
School Counseling, The University of Memphis
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WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: Therapeutic Disclosure of Marital Infidelity
Key themes: Infidelity, Marital therapy
Intended Audience: Community/mental health counselors, college/university faculty, private
practice
Program summary: Many couples struggle to heal after infidelity. Professionals working with
such couples may find themselves navigating between confidentiality issues and ethical clinical
practices in terms of disclosure of secrets. This presentation explains the ethical tenants,
attachment theory principles, and pragmatic arguments to support an operationalized model of
disclosure.
Presenter: Jeff S. Morgan, LMFT, CSAT, CMAT, Relational Healing, Brentwood, TN
Title: Examining Spiritual Identity as a Developmental Process in Millennials
Key themes: Spirituality, religion, spiritual identity development, Millennial, adolescents, young
adults, college students
Intended audience: College/university faculty, school counselors, school psychologists, pastoral
counselors, mental health counselors, multicultural counselors, counselor educators
Program summary: Current research suggests Millennials (born early 1980s-early 2000s) may
be less religious than older Americans, but endorse high levels of spirituality. Attendees will
distinguish religiosity from spirituality, consider spiritual identity as a developmental process, and
examine generational differences in the endorsement of spirituality and religiosity. Implications for
practitioners and educators will be discussed.
Presenter: A. Elizabeth Crunk, MS, Counseling Doctoral Student, The University of Memphis,
Mae-Lynn Germany, B.A., Counseling Masters Student, The University of Memphis
Title: The Ethics of Spirituality in Counseling: Attending to Intersecting Identities
Key theme: Spirituality, ethics
Intended audience: Community/mental health counselors & rehabilitation counselors
Program summary: This presentation will address the impact of spirituality and religion on mental
health, diagnosis, assessment, and the counseling process. The ACA and CRC ethical codes will
be used to demonstrate the ethical responsibility a counselor has to consider religious and spiritual
influences in the development of a client’s worldview.
Presenters: Stephanie Gotay, M.RC., CRC, Doctoral Student, The University of Memphis,
Donnalin Constantin, MS, Doctoral Student, The University of Memphis
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WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: Evaluating the Effects of a Career Exploration Unit in a First Year Experience Course
Key themes: Retention/persistence of college students, first year experience course, career
assessment, career interventions
Intended audience: College and university advisors, career counselors, college and university
faculty interested in student retention/persistence
Program summary: This presentation examines the impact of a career exploration unit in a first
year experience course at The University of Memphis. Attendees will learn about career-related
factors linked to retention/persistence, the development of the career exploration unit, and the
retention/persistence of 715 freshmen students tracked for a three-year period.
Presenters: Clay A. Woemmel, M.S., Doctoral Student, Associate Director Career Services, The
University of Memphis
Title: Holistic Career Counseling: Engaging Students Here and Now for Future Successes
Key themes: Career/college counseling
Intended audience: Grades 3-12 school counselors
Program summary: Qualitative assessment activities are effective career counseling tools that
gather important information from adult clients, but they have had limited use with youth. This
session will explore how to make career lessons fun for elementary, middle, and secondary
students. Participants will receive activities that promote career awareness, exploration, and
planning.
Presenters: Michael Bundy, Ph.D., NCC, CPC, Assistant Professor of Counseling, CarsonNewman University
Title: Solution-Focused Brief Counseling Techniques for School Counselors
Key themes: Counseling techniques for school counselors
Intended audience: All school counselors
Program summary: Curious about techniques that can help you quickly address student
problems? This interactive session will introduce you to the basic ideas of Solution-Focused Brief
Counseling and practice some of its techniques. Through presentation, discussion and practice
you will learn new, efficient ways to work with your students.
Presenter: David Dietrich, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The University of Tennessee at Martin
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WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: Nurturing Youth for Personal-Social-Emotional Wellness
Key themes: Resiliency
Intended audience: Family specialists, social workers, school counselors, teachers, parents
Program summary: Participants will be provided with a series of intervention strategies to assist
children and youth in maturing personally, socially and emotionally for succeeding in school and in
relationships at home and school. Strategies and activities will be parent and teacher friendly.
Presenters: Hattie Isen, Ph.D., Internship Supervisor, Freed-Hardeman University, LaSheryl
Askew, M.S., Family Specialist, Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA), Memphis, TN,
LaQuandra Rhodes, M.A., School Counseling Intern, Third Grade Teacher, Achievement School
District (ASD), Memphis, TN
Title: It’s Not Just for Kids! The Role of Imaginative Play in Counseling
Key themes: Creativity
Intended audience: All counselors
Program summary: This program will challenge the audience to think “outside the box” and
consider how the concept of Imaginative Play can be incorporated in counseling with a wide range
and ages of clients.
Presenter: Nancy Nishimura, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Counseling, The University of
Memphis, Anthony Perone, Ph.D., Visiting Professor in Educational Psychology, The University of
Memphis, whose research interests include the benefits of imaginative play as a cultural,
community-informed activity.
Title: A Brief Group Intervention to Promote Undergraduate Retention
Key themes: Groups, student retention, brief intervention
Intended audience: College counselors, high school counselors, community mental health
counselors, addictions counselors, clinical social workers, high school and university faculty.
Program summary: This program will introduce the positive psychology concept of GRIT and
discuss a brief group intervention shown to increase student engagement and achievement.
Presenter: Robert M. Cox, M.S., Doctoral Student, Counselor Education, The University of
Memphis, Rebecca Taylor, M.S., Doctoral Student, Counselor Education, The University of
Memphis
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WTCA 3rd Annual Summer Conference 2014 Break-out Sessions
Title: DSM 5 Changes and Concerns
Key themes: DSM 5 Diagnoses
Intended audience: Clinical mental health counselors and students
Program summary: The current DSM-5 includes substantial changes. Many mental health
professionals have questioned these changes. This presentation will highlight some of the more
controversial aspects of the latest DSM as well as professional implications, consumer impact and
ethical concerns. The presenters will include practice examples and offer case scenarios to better
examine the impact of the DSM 5 and the future of diagnosing.
Presenter: N. Dewaine Rice, Ed.D., LPC-MHSP, BBCCH (fellow), Assistant Chair & Director of
Counseling Programs, The University of Memphis, Pamela A. Cogdal, Ph.D., HSP, Licensed
Psychologist, Associate Clinical Professor, The University of Memphis
Title: Demonstrating the Efficacy of Animal-Assisted Therapy
Key themes: Human/animal bond, animal-assisted group therapy, adults with intellectual disabilities
Intended audience: Community/mental health counselors, psychologists, social workers, counseling
psychologists, etc., in addition to anyone working with adults with intellectual disabilities and anyone
interested in learning more about animal-assisted therapy.
Program summary: The research we will present / examine the effectiveness of an 8-week
animal-assisted therapy program we designed for use in groups with adults with intellectual
disabilities. We used a pre-posttest quasi-experimental design to evaluate the program’s
effectiveness on four behavioral domains in the sample: attention span, physical movement,
communication, and compliance.
Presenter: Chrisann Schiro-Geist, Ph.D., Professor, Counseling Psychology, The University of
Memphis, Lindsey Swanson, MS, Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student, The University of
Memphis, Katherine Brown, MS, Counseling Doctoral Student, The University of Memphis
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