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Smith, Chrystala, MEd, LPC

Ms. Chrystala Smith, MEd, LPC, is the Assistant Director of Student Health and Counseling Services at Lincoln University of Missouri. She is currently a PhD student with Grand Canyon University. With her colleague, Dr. James Smith, she began researching the relationship between electronic device use/social media, mental health, and relationship wellness to gain research experience for her doctoral studies. Together, Ms. Smith and Dr. Smith have read over 75 peer reviewed research articles exploring these relationships. Ms. Smith’s own doctoral research interest is in the experiences of African American women receiving mentorship in their careers as mental health professionals.

Presentation(s):

Pings of Power: The Relationship Between Electronic Device Use, Mental Health, and Relationship Wellness 

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Copeland, Jennifer, PsyD

Jenny Copeland, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with Ozark Center where she leads the Reconnect Eating Disorders treatment team. She is an active member of the Missouri Eating Disorders Council. Dr. Copeland has conducted studies on weight stigma among healthcare providers, and developed programming rooted in weight inclusive frameworks to help people pursue balance within and outside themselves to find freedom in their bodies. Her work has earned awards including the Research and Evaluation Fellowship at The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute and the inaugural NAAFA Health At Every Size Scholar Award.

Presentation(s):

Filtered Realities: Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Eating Disorders 

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Goldin, Gabrielle, MEd

Gabrielle Goldin, MEd, believes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counseling; each counseling journey is uniquely individual, and Gabrielle is eager to partner with clients on theirs. The goal is to work alongside clients to help them discover and experience the best version of themselves. Gabrielle hopes that counseling provides a safe space for clients to navigate the ups, downs, and challenges of life, reassuring them that they are not alone.
Gabrielle values the inherent worth of each client and finds joy in assisting them in learning more about who they are and who they want to be. Gabrielle strives to create an environment where clients feel seen, heard, understood, and safe, believing that a strong therapeutic relationship is key to achieving personal goals.
Gabrielle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri in 2020, during which time Gabrielle was also a member of the Mizzou Women’s Tennis Team. It was through this athletic experience that Gabrielle discovered a passion for mental health and counseling. Continuing at the University of Missouri, Gabrielle received a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership in 2022 and graduated in May 2024 with a second Master’s, an MEd in Counseling Psychology.
Passionate about the work, Gabrielle truly believes in the healing and transformative power of counseling.

Presentation(s):

A Break from Burnout: A Positive Psychology Approach 

 

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Alcohol and Harm Reduction for Risky Alcohol Use

Paradise Ballroom ABC

Speaker(s):

Rottnek, Fred, MD, MAHCM

Description

After the COVID public health emergency, opioid overdose rates have started decreasing. But death and illness related to problematic alcohol remain significantly elevated. In this session, Dr. Fred Rottnek, Program Director of the SSM Health/Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship, will discuss where we are today in prevention, screening, and treatment for individuals who want to abstain or just cut down their alcohol use. As a native Missourian, Dr. Rottnek understands the challenges we face in our state regarding culture and practices around alcohol use. All of us have a role to play in addressing problematic substance use, so this session is for all those involved in the delivery of services and support of these services along the full continuum of care.

Objectives

1. Discuss the impact of risky alcohol use on the U.S.in 2025
2. Identify risks factors for risky alcohol use in youth, adults, and older adults
3. Implement medication treatments for individuals with alcohol use disorder and problematic use
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Somatic Therapies and Trauma: Healing through the Wisdom of the Nervous System

Room Paradise B

Speaker(s): 

Gargis, Heather, MA, LPC, SEP

Description: 

Step into a compelling exploration of somatic therapies and trauma, where healing goes beyond traditional cognitive approaches. This presentation dives deeply into the wisdom of the nervous system, unraveling the complexities of trauma responses and embracing the body’s vital role in recovery. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the innate threat response cycle and its pivotal role in fostering resilience. This approach highlights the body’s profound capacity to heal and restore, offering a more holistic view of trauma recovery.

Through experiential exercises, participants will explore interoception, exteroception, and proprioception, cultivating a deeper connection to the landscape of sensation and movement. This lecture provides a roadmap to understanding the language of the body and integrating its wisdom into therapy. By learning how to attune to the nervous system and guide clients toward redefining their relationship with their bodies, practitioners will leave equipped to facilitate self-discovery, resilience, and holistic healing that extends beyond the boundaries of traditional talk therapy.

Objectives

1. Define “somatic” therapies: Establish a professional understanding of the conceptual framework within trauma treatment
2. Identify the neurobiological impact of trauma on the nervous system and its role in healing
3. Analyze the phases and methods for completing the threat response cycle to enhance resilience and healing

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When Client becomes Colleague: The Peer Movement and Ethical Considerations

Room Paradise A

Speaker(s): 

Cooley-Bennett, Terri, BSW, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW, CCDP-D, TTS

Description: 

Individuals who are former or current clients are obtaining jobs or roles as peers on a more regular basis (Krumm et al., 2022). As clinicians, educators, and supervisors, it is important to be aware of ethical considerations regarding peers in the workplace, who may be former clients. Ethical dilemmas may arise due to the potential for dual relationships. As clinicians, it is important to be compliant with applicable laws and ethical codes, cooperate with agencies and boards, and be ethically responsible. A critical aspect is being client-centered and not harming clients. This workshop will provide an overview of ethical obligations as they pertain to colleagues or peers, ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality. Issues such as vicarious liability will be discussed and potential ethical conflicts that may occur will be examined. Finally, strategic ways of managing ethical conflicts will be examined.

Objectives

1. Provide a brief overview of ethical codes and considerations that pertain to Dual Relationships, Boundaries, and Confidentiality
2. Examine the current research regarding peer support services
3. Define Vicarious Liability

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Pings of Power: The Relationship Between Electronic Device Use, Mental Health, and Relationship Wellness

Room Paradise C

Speaker(s): 

Smith, James, PhD, LPC

Smith, Chrystala, MEd, LPC

Description: 

Facebook was launched in 2004, and the first iPhone was released in 2007. Even before these massive shifts in communication, mental health researchers were interested in the relationship between internet usage, communication technologies, mental health, and relationship wellness. Dr. Smith and Ms. Smith completed a qualitative thematic review of research literature published since 2004 to better understand these relationships. Together, they reviewed over 75 research. In this presentation, they will summarize research published since 2014 and share the insights this research provides.

Objectives

1. Discuss the relationship between electronic device use/social media, mental health, and relationship wellness
2. Review the interactions of personal dispositions, content engaged, and time spent on electronic devices
3. Apply the information to clinical considerations when working with mental health care clients

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Filtered Realities: Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Eating Disorders

Room

Speaker(s): 

Firebaugh, Marie-Laure, MSW

Copeland, Jennifer, PsyD

Description: 

Body image dissatisfaction is a leading factor in the development of eating disorders, which are serious mental illnesses associated with numerous health and psychiatric comorbidities. The use of social media has increased body dissatisfaction among women, men, and teens. Additionally, recent studies suggest that people in rural areas may spend more time on social media making them more susceptible to body dissatisfaction. Media and more recently the use of social media has been shown to contribute significantly to increased body dissatisfaction, thus the importance on training people to become mindful media consumers. Additionally, helping people develop healthier relationships with their bodies is crucial, as improving body image can significantly reduce the risk of developing an eating disorder. In this session, we will discuss strategies to create an environment that promotes healthy body image by focusing on the following areas: 1) introducing the concept of body acceptance and understanding its benefits in fostering an inclusive and positive environment, 2) exploring how diet culture influences societal norms and body image, including reviewing information on the potential harms caused by social media, and 3) providing actionable steps that providers can take in their practice as well as resources in Missouri for eating disorders screening, prevention, and treatment as well as training for professionals help their clients develop healthy body image and reduce their risk of developing an eating disorder.

Objectives

1. Review the concept of body acceptance and its benefits in creating a healthy body image culture
2. Describe the impact of diet culture and social media on societal norms and body image
3. Identify concrete, actionable steps that can be implemented to improve body image

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Experiential Approaches to Reveal Nine Types of Couples

Room Windgate 60-61

Speaker(s): 

Carpenter, John, MSW, LCSW

Description: 

By using experiential exercises, visual symbolic props, emotional age designations, and metaphors, a therapist can begin to reveal the actual dynamics among relations in a couple and their subsequent family.  It also becomes undeniably clear to the clients and bypasses resistance and unspoken issues.  By making the issues visible and tangible, treatment ideas become clearer as well.  This presentation will demonstrate how these techniques reveal nine different types of couples.

Objectives

1. Describe effective exercises to help assess issues
2. Incorporate visual symbolic props
3. Create a visual display of relationship dynamics

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A Break from Burnout: A Positive Psychology Approach

Room Windgate 62-63

Speaker(s): 

Goldin, Gabrielle, MEd

Description: 

All professionals experience burnout at some point in their career. In the helping field, it often feels like burnout is part of our job. But is it? Does it have to be?

Take a break from burnout and come together to receive support, encouragement, and education about preventing future compassion fatigue. This presentation will be an interactive, practical session for practitioners to explore self-care strategies beyond deep breathing and “taking a walk.” Working from a Positive Psychology approach, Gabrielle will provide a refreshing take on helping ourselves in order to help others.

Objectives

1. Recognize symptoms of burnout vs. daily stress
2. Learn how strategies to combat clinician burnout have changed over time
3. Develop a self-care plan utilizing the Positive Psychology approach