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• The Tangled Web of Human Trafficking, Trauma, and Addiction

  • When
    26 Feb 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    86

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  Description: This workshop will delve into the complex intersection between human trafficking, substance use, and trauma, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of these interconnected issues. We will explore how traffickers often use substances to lure, manipulate, coerce, and control their victims. Additionally, we will examine how survivors may turn to substance use as a coping mechanism for the trauma they experience. Participants will gain an overview of trauma and its related responses, including a brief introduction to Trauma-Coerced Attachment (TCA) and its implications for affected individuals. We will present data on the prevalence of human trafficking both in Florida and nationally, providing context for the scope of this critical issue. The workshop will equip behavioral health professionals with practical tools for identifying victims of human trafficking and connecting them to essential community resources. Best practices for working with survivors, addressing their trauma, and supporting their recovery will be discussed in detail. Join us to enhance your understanding and skills in addressing these urgent issues and contribute to more effective support for individuals affected by human trafficking.

  CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1241970

  This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748
  

  Learning Objectives:

  1.  Describe the connections between Human Trafficking, substance use and trauma.
  2.  Summarize the prevalence of Human Trafficking in Florida.
  3. Describe how to identify human trafficking victims seeking help for behavioral health reasons.
  4. List best practices in treating trauma specifically related to trafficked individuals.

  About the Presenters:

  Gina Costa, LMHC, MCAP is a behavioral health consultant at TBD Solutions Inc., a national consultancy. Gina received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Florida State University and her Masters in Mental Health Counseling at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. Gina is an experienced executive clinical leader with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health. She has been an innovator in growing agencies and programs to meet the needs of those they serve. Gina has developed trauma programs, designed crisis services, and been a leader in working in community behavioral health. Her attention to detail and quality is exceptional. Her teams have received multiple multi-year CARF accreditations, and she also led a team that scored 100% on over 4000 standards, which is only achieved by 2% of all agencies internationally. Gina has also been instrumental in writing and receiving large grants that have led to new and innovative services such as integrated primary and behavioral health as well as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Gina is passionate about seeing the success of others. She served as the executive director of the Victim Service Center of Central Florida for many years and was chair of the Orange and Osceola Sexual Assault Response Teams. Currently, Gina serves on the Board of Directors for Samaritan Village – a Human Trafficking agency where she chairs the program committee. Gina is also an accreditation site examiner for the American Association of Suicidology. 

  Myranda Green, MSW is a behavioral health consultant at TBD Solutions Inc., a national consultancy. Myranda is a dedicated social work professional with a robust academic and practical background. She earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Grand Valley State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University. Myranda has extensive experience in developing and managing crisis services systems, where her leadership and commitment to building meaningful relationships have been pivotal. Myranda's passion for accessible crisis services and her advocacy skills have led to significant legislative changes in Michigan, including the historic dual licensing of crisis residential units as withdrawal management programs. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to breaking down barriers to service access and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services that lead to positive outcomes for individuals. In addition to her advocacy work, Myranda excels as the Programming Chair for CrisisCon, the annual Crisis Continuum Conference. In this role, she successfully brings together professionals from across the field, furthering collaborative efforts and advancing the standards of crisis intervention and management. Myranda continues to be a proactive force in her field, seeking opportunities to foster connections and drive impactful change in crisis services.

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• Teen Screen Addiction: Impact on Brains & Behavior - Mental Health Solutions for Parents and Counselors

  • When
    27 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    77

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  Description: Gaming disorder, also known as video game addiction, refers to compulsive engagement in video games leading to negative consequences in adolescent’s life. This condition is characterized by changes in brain matter, loss of executive functioning, poor decision-making, impulse control issues, emotional regulation challenges, lack of motivation, lack of social skills, lack of hygiene, obesity, an increased risk of substance abuse and some even say violence toward peers. The diagnostic criteria described in DSM-5-TR for gaming disorder are: · Being preoccupied with online/offline gaming · Experience of unpleasant symptoms when gaming is taken away · Need to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in games · Unsuccessful attempts to control participation in games · Loss of interest in previous hobbies and entertainment except for games While there is research showing gaming can provide some cognitive benefits, such as improved attention control and rapid decision-making ability; behavioral scientists at the CDC have shown excessive gaming can pose serious health risks, especially for boys. Clinical data cited by the APA is pointing to gaming disorder as being a significant factor related to depression, anxiety, social phobia, conduct problems and lower academic achievements. ""Gaming has been associated with sleep deprivation, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders, depression, aggression, and anxiety. There has also been concern that exposure to extreme violence commonly found in video games can desensitize teens and young adults to such violence, causing emotional problems and even leading to young people committing acts of violence."" - Harvard Medical School Screen addiction is not limited to boys. Pew Research has been tracking the sharp rise in mental health issues among young women since 2010 and discovered: • 97% of teens say they use the internet daily, and many are on social media platforms like TikTok, where 67% of teen girls report usage. • 70% of teenagers have reported being cyberbullied on social media, while 50% have experienced symptoms of depression due to excessive social media use. • Youth who spend more than 5 hours a day on social media are twice as likely to develop mental health issues. • Emergency room visits for self-harm rose by 188% among teenage girls and 48% among boys since 2020. Social media apps have become an integral part of everyone’s life and can offer connectivity, or information, they also pose significant risks, especially for female teen users. Among these risks, screen addiction stands out as a high-risk issue, leading to mental health crises and even suicidal thoughts. During this intensive training, we will map how screen dependence traps young people and discuss proven behavioral steps to break free from the desperation they feel to find real life again. Young brains are prone to endless scrolling that keeps female users engaged, leading to hours of mindless browsing and feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem from comparing their real lives to the carefully curated online personas and highlight reels of others’ lives. This is fueled by the pursuit of validation through likes, comments, and shares, which becomes addictive from the release of dopamine providing instant gratification, followed by heightened anxiety and even depression leading to more compulsive checking and even higher anxiety levels. For others, social media opens the door for virtual attacks, cyberbullying, body shaming, or negative comments which take a negative toll on mental health when young people, especially girls don’t feel they measure up to the beauty standards and lifestyle of the influencers they follow. There are logical steps to guide youth away from the desperation of screen addiction, chronic loneliness, and anxiety. The interactive training guide given to all participants will map signs of addiction, and emotional dependency on social media. Screen addiction is a real threat to youth mental health. By understanding the trap screens present and taking deliberate steps, young people can regain control, protect their well-being, and find healthier ways to engage with technology for their life ahead. This training is about the risks of screen addiction and more importantly how to navigate those risks. Those working with unmotivated, socially anxious or depressed adolescent males will especially benefit from this training which blends clinical research with solutions to break free from the risk of addiction. 

  CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1245858 

  This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748
  

  Learning Objectives:

  1.  Understanding the risk factors of screen addiction on brain development, particularly on delayed maturation and impaired social skills
  2. Understanding the risk factors of screen addiction on brain development, particularly on delayed maturation and impaired social skills Identify how heavy social media usage fuels feelings of isolation and chronic loneliness plaguing America’s youth
  3. Ability to identify the connection between screen usage and mental health symptoms
  4. Develop a process to guide youth from struggling with chronic loneliness, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, toward socialization in real time with relational connection instead of screens.

  About the Presenters:

  

  Dwight Bain is a Nationally Certified Counselor who has spoken to thousands of audiences about mental health and behavioral change. He has influenced organizations like Disney, Toyota, DuPont, The United Way, Advent Health, the Florida Department of Education, and the United States Army. Bain is an author interviewed on over 500 radio and television stations; quoted in over 20 books and 100 newspapers/websites including: New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal, Orlando Sentinel, FoxBusiness.com, MSNBC.com and Yahoo! Dwight’s skill as a communicator led Toastmaster to select him as one of the best speakers in Florida. He is a lifelong resident of Orlando where he lives with his wife Sheila and an assortment of rescue pets. After 30 years together they always have suitcases packed ready for their next adventure.

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• Addressing the Underlying Roots of Anxiety: A Neurobiological and Holistic Approach

  • When
    03 Mar 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    90

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  Description: The underlying neurobiological origins that manifest as anxiety can be linked in many circumstances to unresolved traumas, not only severe trauma; but also, more pervasive difficult or “undigested life experiences”, collective trauma as seen since the Covid-19 pandemic, and cultural trauma experienced daily by marginalized groups. This is a global problem impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of people who are offered limited means to find relief, usually in the form of medication that masks the symptoms but never addresses the cause. Mental health treatment often attempts to directly address the content of symptom but not the underlying reason why the person has anxiety. This presentation will ask the question “what is the root of the anxiety symptom?” and offer various possibilities to understand this very common symptom from a new perspective along with evidence-based techniques to rebalance the nervous system and treat the whole person

  CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1242044

  This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748
  

  Learning Objectives:

  1.  Define two types of trauma and the resulting neurobiological functions that manifest in feelings of anxiety
  2. Describe at least 3 other physiological conditions that can be confused with anxiety
  3. Demonstrate a meridian tapping technique for rebalancing homeostasis in the nervous system
  4. Summarize the research findings supporting the efficacy of meridian tapping as an evidence-based approach

  About the Presenters:

  

  Hillary is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH13684) and qualified supervisor in the state of Florida, with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She has 12 years of private practice experience utilizing a holistic approach to psychotherapy with mind/body integrative healing. Her treatment approach is based on treating the underlying issues that contribute to unwanted symptoms. Additionally, Hillary has completed extensive training in Integrative mental health, Energy Psychology, Emotional Freedom Techniques, and Healing From the Body Level Up. She is now offering training and mentoring in the areas of mind/body healing and holistic psychotherapy.

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• Using IFS, Play, and Expressive Therapy to Address Transference and Countertransference Issues in Supervision

  • When
    04 Mar 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    93

  Register

  
  

  Description: A didactic training will address the issues of transference and countertransference within the supervision relationship. Participants will earn strategies to help supervisees explore these issues within their caseload. Supervisors will also develop an understanding of how to process their own transference/countertransference issues within the supervisory relationship

  CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1242046

  This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748
  

  Learning Objectives:

  1.  Participants will learn IFS, play, and expressive therapy techniques to explore transference issues in supervision.
  2. Participants will learn IFS, play, and expressive therapy techniques to explore counter-transference issues in supervision.
  3. Participants will develop an understanding of how to use IFS, play and expressive therapy to manage their own transference and countertransference issues with their supervisees.

  About the Presenters:

  

  Stefani believes that the number one factor for success in therapy is in building a supportive relationship. Providing a genuine, non-judgmental, and predictable space is crucial to clients' growth. As a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor for over 20 years, Stefani sees all behavior as an effort for communication. Through the Internal Family Systems, a strength-based model, she provides the opportunity for a more positive experience in meeting needs. Stefani values each client and family's experience as a guiding map for therapy. Stefani is an experienced trainer, presenter and supervisor. She has presented on play therapy, expressive therapy, and IFS both nationally and locally. ​ Play is the child's form of communication. Through play and expressive therapy, clients of all ages are able to find their voice and work on challenges. Engaging the family, collaborating with community supports, and working with adolescents and young adults are also strengths of hers. ​ In a society that encourages individuals to "get over" their problems, Stefani believes that the more people understand themselves and their parts that are trying to help them, the easier it becomes to achieve their best selves. Stefani specializes in Play Therapy, IFS, Expressive Therapy, Sandtray, and supervision. She feels passionately about sharing her knowledge with others, both in the therapy room and through training and supervision.

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• When Is It About Me? Claiming Space For Yourself As A Mental Health Counselor

  • When
    05 Mar 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    96

  Register

  
  

  Description: If you are overbooked, overwhelmed, or just plain “over it”, this session may be for you! As Mental Health Counselors, we tend to place our clients and their needs above our own. Even outside of our sessions, worry, guilt, and frustration may pervade our lives. These powerful feelings leave us vulnerable to the risk of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Drawing from a strengths-based perspective, the presenter will help participants examine their current well-being, explore patterns which could impede professional longevity, and determine an effective plan to prompt positive change.

  CE Broker Tracking #:  20-1242050

  This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748
  

  Learning Objectives:

  1.  Differentiate between compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout
  2. Examine current status of well-being
  3. Determine patterns of thoughts, feelings behaviors that negatively contribute to occupational distress
  4. Identify an effective plan for protecting professional longevity

  About the Presenters:

  

  Dr. Bridget Glass is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor who specializes in treating secondary traumatic stress and burnout in the helping professions. Dr. Glass is proud to serve as Program Director and Assistant Professor for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at South University in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Glass has the great privilege of serving the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association as a member of the Executive Board in the role of Secretary. She continues to contribute to the field of mental health as a Counselor Educator, researcher, presenter, and private practitioner. Dr. Glass' self-care includes lots of playtime with her two Goldendoodles and exploring the world through travel with her husband of 23 years.

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• Developing Expertise in Clinical Supervision: Facilitating the Professional Growth of Therapists (Qualified Supervisor Training)

  • Start
    06 Mar 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    07 Mar 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    89

  Register

  
  

  Description: This course is designed for mental health professionals who are interested in developing their skills in clinical supervision and pursuing the Qualified Supervisor credential through the state of Florida. The course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively supervise therapists, including how to establish a collaborative relationship, provide feedback, and promote professional growth. 

  This course meets State of Florida education requirements for LMHCs, LCSWs, & LMFTs to become credentialed as Qualified Supervisor.
  

  CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1262553

  This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

  Learning Objectives:

  1. Become familiar with the definition of supervision & the major models of supervision
  2. Objective 2 Gain skills to develop a personal model of supervision drawn from existing models as well as from preferred styles of counseling/therapy
  3. Objective 3 Understand the co-evolving dynamics of counselor/therapist-client and supervision, therapist-client relationships
  4. Objective 4 Become familiar with the ethical, legal and regulatory issues of supervision

  About the Presenters:
  

  Logan Bell is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida. He works across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum helping patients navigate aspects of development and managing comorbid mental health concerns. Logan specializes in work with severe mood disorders, including bipolar disorder, active suicidal ideation, and death work, operating from a psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral lens. Logan also works with LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups and aims to help other clinicians better understand the law, ethics, and ways to help.

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