Browse the sessions agenda by date/time.
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Wednesday, October 29
Pre‑Conference Workshops
Wednesday, October 29
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM
| Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 – An Ethics Buffet! Legal & Ethical Guidelines to Address a Smorgasbord of Practical Topics! | Mary Steiner Iiames - Winebrenner Theological Seminary Michael Hochwalt - Hochwalt & Thorp LLC | Workshop – CE Hours 3 (Ethics) | |
| P2 – Clinical Techniques for Managing Suicidal Clients | Darcy Haag Granello - The Ohio State University Paul Granello - The Ohio State University Sacha Cheng - The Ohio State University | Workshop – CE Hours 3 | |
| P3 – Counseling Should Be Fun: Why Play Belongs in the Plan | Marisa Cargill - More Light Counseling, LLC Victoria Frazier - Arbor Sana Counseling and Wellness | Workshop – CE Hours 3 | |
| P4 – Mind-Body Skills to De-Stress Your Students (and Yourself!) | Alisa Kaczorowski - AK Educational Consulting | Workshop – CE Hours 3 | |
Pre‑Conference Workshops
Wednesday, October 29
2:15 PM – 5:30 PM
| Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| P5 – Enhancing the Cognitive Complexity of the Supervisee - and the Supervisor! | Darcy Haag Granello - The Ohio State University | Workshop – CE Hours 3 (Supervision) | |
| P6 – Grief and Ethical Responsibility: Diagnosing Complicated Grief and Knowing When to Refer | Kailey Bradley Ph.d, LPCC-S, NCC - Refuge Counseling, LLC Nancy Baur - Hopewell Health | Workshop – CE Hours 3 (Ethics) | |
| P7 – Introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy | Charles Potter - Mindfully Academy | Workshop – CE Hours 3 | |
| P8 – Let's Get One Thing Straight: I'm Not | Monica Burbank - Mindfully | Workshop – CE Hours 3 | |
Breakouts Block A
Wednesday, October 29
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
| Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 – Addressing Political and Social Oppression Toward AFAB Queer Clients Through Advocacy | Katherine Vanke - Grow Well Cleveland Pete Finnerty - Grow Well Cleveland | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| A2 – Bridges to Belonging: Connecting Families, Schools, and Communities for Lasting Impact | Jacie Womack - Montgomery County ESC | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| A3 – Cultic Trauma: Supporting Clients Who Have Been Members of Cults | Laura Caputo - John Carroll University Alexis Gilan - John Carroll University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| A4 – Let's Talk About Ethics in Counseling Private Practices | Mary Steiner Iiames - Winebrenner Theological Seminary Kari Taylor - Cornerstone of Hope Lima | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| A5 – Promoting The Mind-Body Connection With Clients Experiencing Non-Suicidal Self-Injury | Estrellaasia Ciptak - Wellness Grove Paige Wallace - Wellness Grove Jessica Headley - Wellness Grove | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| A6 – Promoting, Preparing, and Preserving Spiritual Wellness in Counselor Trainees | Alysha Blagg - Liberty University Derek Parker - Liberty University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| A7 – Supporting International Students with Adverse Childhood Experiences: Clinical Considerations | Sacha Cheng - The Ohio State University Yiying Xiong, Ph.D. - Johns Hopkins University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| A8 – Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Counseling Supervision | Joshua Francis - Wright State University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
Breakouts Block B
Wednesday, October 29
7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
| Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 – Behavioral Health Navigators: Enhancing Wellness and Support for Counselors in SUD & BH Treatment | Martina Moore - John Carroll University Tanya Middleton - The Ohio State University Alexis Gilan - John Carroll University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| B2 – Ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework for Mental Health Practice and Client Wellbeing | Yegan Pillay - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| B3 – Improving Mental Health Through Physical Wellness | Michelle Murphy - Holistic Wellness Counseling | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| B4 – It’s all About Cattitude: Ways to Develop Well-being Through Integration of Cat Assisted Therapy | Michael Scoville - Cadence Care Network | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| B5 – Promoting Supervisee Self-Care and Wellness Through the Transtheoretical Model of Supervision | Yue Dang - The University of Akron Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich - The University of Akron | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| B6 – Smooth Sailing Ahead: Using ACT to Navigate Stormy Seas & Chart a Course to Counselor Wellness | Victoria Frazier - Arbor Sana Counseling and Wellness Chase Morgan-Swaney - Baldwin Wallace University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| B7 – Somatic & Polyvagal Practices for Reducing Counselor Burnout & Compassion Fatigue | Julia M. Wedemeyer, MA, LPC, NCC, CTP, ISTT - InnerVision Resources LLC | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| B8 – Values Exploration: A Power Tool for Living in Uncertain Times | Michael Miller - Meeting Point Conseling | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
Thursday, October 30
Welcome/OCA Awards
Thursday, October 30
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Welcome/OCA Awards | Carmella Hill - The University of Mount Union DoHee Kim-Appel - Heidelberg University | The Ohio Counseling Association invites you to the 2025 OCA Awards Presentation. This is an opportunity to stand together in recognizing and celebrating your peers and colleagues for their significant achievements and contributions to the counseling profession. Join us in acknowledging their hard work, dedication, and professionalism! |
Keynote Address
Thursday, October 30
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYNOTE – Taking Control of Your Daily Life | Tessa Todd Morgan - Triessence | Tessa Todd Morgan offers simple tools that can help anyone to manage daily stress in minutes, before it turns into prolonged burnout. Are you ready to re‑energize, re‑center, and re‑boot your body, mind, and spirit? Tessa is your guide in light participation, including breathing exercises, simple stretching for the workplace, and action plan coaching to help you focus on proactive behaviors that support your emotional and physical wellness. Learn about ways to fight fatigue, increase concentration, maximize energy, elevate creative thinking, and train your brain to be more resilient in face of daily stresses at work and at home. | Session – CE Hour 1 |
Breakouts Block C
Thursday, October 30
11:00 AM – Noon
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 – Expanding Clinical Practice: Applying Functional Mental Health Principles for Deeper Client Healing | Kaela Vance - Self-Employed - Teal Saguaro Wellness, Inc. | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| C2 – Exploring the Positive Humanities’ Role in Human Thriving | Kristin Chamberlain, Ph.D. - Ohio University Laura Harrison, Ph.D. - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| C3 – Fostering Wellness for College Students with ASD | Neslihan Karakan Can - Ohio University Sahaj Vohra - Counseling Psychological Services at Ohio University Chanhoon Park - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| C4 – Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Ethics and Legal Considerations for Counselors | Victoria Kress - Youngstown State University Madeleine Stevens - Youngstown State University Cailin Chumita - Youngstown State University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| C5 – Psych-AI: Screening and Smart Referral for Mental Health Care | Stephen Duraney - Lumin Counseling Paul Granello - The Ohio State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| C6 – The Tug of War Between Grace and Gatekeeping: Tools to Settle the Score and Foster Wellness | Brandy Gilea - Walden University Nicole Bradley - Walden university Elizabeth McDonald - Walden University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| C7 – There’s Strength in Asking: Addressing Help-Seeking Barriers Among Counselors | Melanie Kautzman - University of Akron Shannon O'Mara - Portage Path Behavioral Health Shaylee Douglas - Red Oak Behavioral Health | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| C8 – Utilizing a Queer Feminist Narrative Therapy Model to Engage in Affirming Restorying | Pete Finnerty - Grow Well Cleveland Katherine Vanke - Grow Well Cleveland | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
Breakouts Block D
Thursday, October 30
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 – Counselor, Heal Thyself: The Power of Self-Compassion in Preventing Burnout | Rachael DuBose - Be the Light Clinical Supervision and Consulting | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| D2 – Creative Ways To Therapeutically Engage with Kids & Teens | Terry DeHamer - Christian Counseling Associates | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| D3 – Fostering Wellness, Equipping Counselors: Best Practices for Gender Expansive Client Care | Kelsey Ward - Adams State University Adrianne Johnson - Wright State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| D4 – Gambling Disorder Treatment and Application | Rachel Johnson - EmpowHer Consultation Solutions Maryann O'Malloy - EmpowHer Consultation Solutions | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| D5 – More Than Lip Service: Building a Private Practice Where Wellness Leads the Way | Katie Gamby - The Wellife Michael Desposito - The Wellife | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| D6 – Social Justice Advocacy in Counseling: A Supervision Framework for Developing Advocacy Skills | Hillary Mugabo Mukula - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| D7 – Suicide Assessment and Treatment Planning in a Correctional Environment | Ashley Brinkman - Educating Healers Consultation & Wellness Kristen Kelly - Educating Healers Consultation & Wellness | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| D8 – Training Counselors to Become Certified Wellness Counselors | Paul Granello - The Ohio State University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
Breakouts Block E
Thursday, October 30
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 – A Program That Works: Utilizing The Wellness Wheel As An Informal Assessment For Clinical Services | Jessica Headley - Wellness Grove Mike Tornow - Wellness Grove | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| E2 – Best Practices for Incorporating Trauma-Informed Principles into Clinical Supervision | Heather Fye - Bowling Green State University Eric Baltrinic - Bowling Green State University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| E3 – Building Belonging & Creating Connection to Support College Student Wellness | Caitlin Kraus - Ohio University Barbara Makumbi - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| E4 – Decolonizing Counseling Frameworks to Foster Wellness and Equip Counselors | Stacey Diane Arañez Litam - Cleveland State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| E5 – Interactive and Creative Treatment Planning for Clients of All Ages | Jen Yensel - The Cole Center / YSU | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| E6 – Self-Care and Wellness Strategies for Eating Disorder Counselors | Valerie Ashby - The Emily Program Jessica Rock - The Emily Program | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| E7 – Tales from the Trails: Hiking, Ecotherapy and Existential Wisdom in Mental Health Practice | Scott Hall - University of Dayton Alan Demmitt - University of Dayton | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| E8 – Using Solution Focused Brief Therapy to Help Clients Navigate Daily Life Challenges | Carmella Hill - The University of Mount Union Lillian Williams - The University of Mount Union Julie Thornberry - University of Mount Union Ozzy Chaney - The University of Mount Union | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
Breakouts Block F
Thursday, October 30
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 – Addressing Work Trauma Among Clinical Mental Health Counselors | Adrianne Johnson - Wright State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| F2 – Faith in the Balance: Equipping Counselors to Navigate Pastoral Counseling Experiences with Clients” | Alexander Dolin - enlightened souls | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| F3 – Nurturing Neurodiversity: Supportive and Inclusive Interventions in Counselor Supervision | Valerie Ashby - The Emily Program Jessica Rock - The Emily Program | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| F4 – Power and Importance of Creative Grief Rituals for Death and Non-death Losses: Equipping Counselors | Marlise Lonn - Bowling Green State University Jennifer Pérez-Savage - Bowling Green State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| F5 – Staying Ethical, Staying Safe: Managing Counselor Liability with Confidence | Megan Mahon - Capella University Carrie VanMeter - Capella University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| F6 – Supporting the Well-being of Emerging Adults and College Populations | Annaleise Fisher - NEOMED, Ohio Program for Campus Safety & Mental Health Madison Gaskill - NEOMED, Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental Health | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| F7 – Supporting Trans* Clients in Clinical Practice Using Microaffirmations | Destin Cashdollar - Navigate Counseling Kimberlee Barrella - Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| F8 – The Power of Play: Cultivating Self-Care and Wellness Through Creative Exploration | Machen Champion - Wired to Bloom Therapy and Consulting, LLC/Xavier University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
Breakouts Block G
Thursday, October 30
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
| Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 – Being With, Not Running From: Using Immediacy to Disrupt Experiential Avoidance in Session | Lauren Collins-Knight - Navigate Counseling & Consultation Gena Hicks - Navigate Counseling and Consultation | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| G2 – Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor: Wellness Strategies for School-Based Mental Health Counselors | Aneesa Bhimani-Trimble - Warren County Educational Service Center | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| G3 – Digital Fortresses: Safeguarding Ethics, Privacy, and Professionalism in the Counseling Age | Melissa Smith - Liberty University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| G4 – Empowering Black Mothers: Prioritizing Mental Health, Resilience, and Care | Tanesha Rorie - Malone University Ciara Dennis-Morgan - Minority Behavioral Health Group | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| G5 – Psychodrama Warm-Ups: Equipping Group Counselors to Build Connection and Safety | Amanda Cole - The University of Akron | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| G6 – The Therapy Collaborative - A Private Practice Model to Support the Well-being of Therapists | Tara Hagan - Hagan Counseling Services, LLC Carolyn Wright - Navigation Counseling and Consulting, LLC | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| G7 – They Not Like Us: A Gaze into Black Men’s Grief | Ezekiel Peebles - Key Counseling and Consultation Carlos Bing - Key Counseling and Consultation | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| G8 – You Belong Here: Creative Tools to Help Supervisees Challenge Imposter Syndrome | Emily Dennis - Walsh University Charity Kurz - Liberty University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
Friday, October 31
Featured Presentation
Friday, October 31
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| FIND YOUR TRIESSENCE: A Three-Part Personal Growth Plan to Take Control of Your Daily Life | Tessa Todd Morgan - Triessence | Personal growth, empowerment, and the ability to reach our full potential are aspirations we all share. However, the barriers to achieving these desires are often self‑created, either through conscious decisions or through subconscious patterns we’re not aware of. This program is designed to help you recognize and eliminate both active and passive self‑sabotage, reignite your passion, and identify actionable steps to achieve your life goals using optimism and mindfulness. In this program, Tessa shares the tools and techniques she has gathered throughout her journey in finding true joy and fulfillment, overcoming self‑sabotage, and pursuing personal and professional growth. Through personal anecdotes and professional research, Tessa addresses all three areas of critical attention with light‑hearted grace. You will learn specific, mindful tactics to:
You will discover that you have the capability to achieve amazing things, yet you may also unintentionally limit your own successes. Tessa will help you recognize areas of your life that have the potential for growth and provide you with the tools to achieve results quickly. | Session – CE Hour 1 |
Breakouts Block H
Friday, October 31
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 – A Flowchart Model for Addressing Youth Behavioral Challenges: Practical Strategies | Brent Richardson - Xavier University Grace Bales - Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| H2 – Awareness to Action: Using New HB 322 to Equip Elementary Counselors in Grooming Prevention | Cathy DuBois - Westlake City Schools | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| H3 – Best Practices in Client Termination: Equipping Counselors from a Grief Perspective | Andrew Herbell - Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services Justin Keeney - Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| H4 – Fostering Autistic Wellness | Tiffany Shields - Ohio University Imani Yahya - Clintonville Counseling and Wellness | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| H5 – Holistic Mental Health Assessment: Emerging Tools for a Changing Environment | Joshua Francis - Wright State University Sophie Francis - Xavier University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| H6 – Professional Play: Why Fun Matters in Counseling | Victoria Frazier - Arbor Sana Counseling and Wellness Marisa Cargill - More Light Counseling, LLC | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| H7 – The Well Counselor: How Embracing Imperfection Fuels Wellness & Authentic Practice | Linda Marcel-Rene - BF Empowerment | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| H8 – Wellness Begins Within: Supervision Through the Lens of Self-Reflection | Mallory Wines - Divine Mercy University Kelly Younkins - Kelly Younkins Consulting | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
Breakouts Block I
Friday, October 31
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| I1 – Burnout & Boundaries for Socially Conscious Clinicians: Staying Well While Doing the Work | Kimberlee Barrella - Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services Savannah Drobnjakovic - Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services Destin Cashdollar - Navigate Counseling | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| I2 – Ditch the Diet, Fuel for Life: Eating Intuitively for Men’s Wellbeing | Conner Hicks - The Ohio State University Counseling and Consultation Service Janele Bayless - The Ohio State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| I3 – Embracing a Holistic Path to Wellness Through the Biblical-Wellness (B-Well) Model | David Jones - Liberty University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| I4 – Enhancing Perinatal Mental Health Support for Expecting and New Parents | Brooke Wilson - Empowered Wellness Connections PLLC | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| I5 – Explore How Client Tears Reflect Therapeutic Needs, Attachment Styles, and Personality Dynamics | Ana Berrios Allison - The Ohio State University Hanghang Li - The Ohio State University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| I6 – The Mindful Student: Building Balance Amid College Chaos | Sahaj Vohra - Counseling Psychological Services at Ohio University Edib Keskiner - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| I7 – Vitality and Supervision: Cultivating Supervisees’ Well-Being and Professional Sustainability | Alicia Hall - Lifestance Health | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| I8 – Whole Self Over Perfect Self: Creative and Holistic Interventions for Perfectionism in Young Adults | Tiffany Spisak - Navigate Counseling and Consultation Services Gena Hicks - Navigate Counseling and Consultation | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
Breakouts Block J
Friday, October 31
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| J1 – All Apologies: Implications of Internalized Sexism for Women-Identified Counselors | Dr. Sara Pickett - Western Kentucky University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| J2 – Building a Community Wellness Initiative | Meredith Montgomery - University of Dayton Kineta Sanford - University of Dayton Brittany Collins, Ph.D. - University of Dayton | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| J3 – Fostering Healing and Resilience: Empowering Clients and Clinicians Through Suicide Postvention | Amy Theodor - University of Dayton | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| J4 – Handling Ethical Issues: Strength-Based Support and Remediation Strategies for Supervisor | Jake Protivnak - Youngstown State University Victoria Kress - Youngstown State University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Supervision) | |
| J5 – Liberating Wellness: Embodied and Expressive Pathways to Decolonized Practice | Fawn Gordon - Ursuline College Kailey Bradley Ph.d, LPCC-S, NCC - Refuge Counseling, LLC Areka Foster - Ursuline College | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| J6 – Neurodivergence and Counseling Practice: Inclusive and Affirming Approaches Across the Life Span | Charity Kurz - Liberty University Emily Dennis - Walsh University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |
| J7 – Promotion of Wellness Within Counselor Education Programs: Counselor Educators as Role Models | Amaya Rakes - The Ohio State University Ildico Tamakloe - The Ohio State University Sacha Cheng - The Ohio State University | Session – CE Hour 1 (Ethics) | |
| J8 – Women’s Inclusive Mentoring Framework: Promoting Strong Women Leaders in the Counseling Profession | Stephanie Maccombs-Hunter - Ohio University Christine Bhat - Ohio University | Session – CE Hour 1 | |