Conference Schedule 2026
Mental Health Beyond Borders: From Crisis to Connection
Mediterranean Region Counselors Association (MR-CA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7006. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Mediterranean Region Counselors Association (MR-CA) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
March 05, 2026
0800-0900-Beyond Borders of Disconnection: Cultivating Connection and Multicultural Competence in Supervision Through Relational-Cultural Theory
(1.0 CE)
Ms. Courtney Conway, MS, LSC
La Perdiz
0800-0900-Centering Clinical Supervision as an Ethical Imperative: Protecting Clients, Supporting Counselors, and Elevating the Profession.
(1.0 CE)
Dr. Matthew R. Shupp
Inglaterra
0800-0900-From "Checkbox" to Connection: Applying Broaching Strategies to Build Trust Across Cultural Borders (1.0 CE)
Ms. Yun-Zhuo (Zoey) Liu
Imperial
0800-0900-Unburdened Beyond Borders: Reimagining Mental Health Through Advocacy and Connection (1.0 CE)
Dr. Baines
Alanda
1000-1100- From Crisis to Connection: Addressing Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Clinical Practice (1.0 CE)
Emily Spencer, MS, LPC (PA), LCPC (MD), NCC, PMH-C, BC-TMH
Inglaterra
1000-1100- Global Pathways to Healing: Counseling Strategies for Children and Caregivers Affected by Parental Incarceration (1.0 CE)
Dr. Avon Hart-Johnson, Mr. Geoffrey A. Johnson
La Perdiz
1000-1100- Supervising Grief Work Across Cultures: Navigating Global Expressions of Loss (1.0 CE)
Dr. Miriam Campos
Imperial
1000-1100-When politics become personal: Supporting clients experiencing political anxiety (1.0 CE)
Dr. Jimena Schroeder PhD, LPCC-S
Alanda
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LUNCH-1200-1300
Keynote/Awards @12PM (Buffet Lunch)-Viapol
Paid directly to hotel.
Keynote: Mental Health Beyond Borders: From Crisis to Connection : Cry with Me (1.0 CE)
Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Annetta Benjamin Guillen Garcia, MA, LPC, NCC
1230-Poster Presentations
1300-1400- Implementing a Trauma Informed Lens in Clinical Practice: Experiences from the Field (1.0 CE)
Maya Khan, MA, NCC, LPC, Ailish Riggs Dermody, MA, NCC, Greta Christ, MA, LPC, NCC
Inglaterra
1300-1400-The NASW Code of Ethics/Professional Ethics as it relates to the use of AI in social work/mental health practice (1.0 CE)
Dr. Lara Vanderhoof
La Perdiz
1300-1400-When Intelligences Combine: Ethical Applications of AI in Counseling Research and Education (1.0 CE)
Greta Christ, MA, MA, LPC, NCC
Imperial
1400-1600-The Double Strain of Distance: Mental Health Support for OCONUS Military Families During Deployment (2.0 CEs)
Dr. Danielle Winters, Ms. Samelia Spencer, LPC, LSATP, Danielle Postemski
La Perdiz
1400-1600-Family Systems and Intergenerational Trauma: Parenting, Attachment, and Emotional Patterns in African American Households (2.0 CEs)
Jared Washington, LPC
Imperial
1400-1500-Crossing Systems, Holding Stories: An Autoethnographic Study of Interdisciplinary Behavioral Health in Children and Adolescents
(1.0 CE)
Dr. Stephanie Chalk, PhD, LPC, NCC
Alanda
1400-1500-Fostering Wellness: Building authentic connections for managing crisis outcomes (1.0 CE)
Dilani Perera, PhD, Rebecca E. Michel, PhD
Inglaterra
1500-1600- Centered & Seen: Affirming Counseling Practices for Transgender Survivors Sexual Assault Survivors (1.0 CE)
Dr. Adrienne Graham, PhD, LPC, NCC
Inglaterra
1600-1700-From Crisis to Connection: The power of EMDR and IFS integration to cross internal and external borders (1.0 CE)
Dr. Paige Bentley
Alanda
1600-1700-Healing the Healers: Evidence-Based Approaches to Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Mental Health Practice (1.0 CE)
Dr. Sr Hellen Khisa
Imperial
1600-1700-Wellness Without Healthism: Navigating Wellness Counseling Values with a Critique of Healthism (1.0 CE)
Lyndsay Deal, LPC
La Perdiz
1600-1700-Building Trauma-Informed Approaches in Correctional Environments (1.0 CE)
Kirill Martynov, MS. Ed., LMHC, NCC, CASAC
Inglaterra
March 06, 2025
0800-0900-A Discourse Analysis into the Motivators of a diaspora during a Crisis (1.0 CE)
Dr. Philippa Chin, Dr. Yahyahan Aras
Imperial
____________________________________________
0800-0900-Developing Competent Bilingual Counselors: Clinical Best Practices (1.0 CE)
(1.0 CE)
Kristin Lee, MS, LPC, NCC, Dr. Yenitza Guzman, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, PEL
La Perdiz
_______________________________________________________________
0800-0900-Bridging Neurodiversity Gaps: Connecting Counselor Educators, Counselors, and Clients (1.0 CE)
Dr. Rosanna Sanchez John, Ed.D., LCPC, ACS, NCC, Ms. Hajira Baig
Inglaterra
0800-0900-Training Counselors in Spiritual and Religious Competence (1.0 CE)
Dr. Jesse Fox, PhD
Alanda
_______________________________________________________________
Coffee Break-0900-0930 AM.-Viapol
0930-1030-5 Crisis Helpers & Hurts: Identifying healthy ways to cope and connect during a crisis (1.0 CE)
Mrs. Annetta Benjamin Guillen Garcia, MA, LPC, NCC
Imperial
0930-1030-An Integrated Relational approach: Utilizing EFT Strategies and a Sociocultural Attuned Therapy for Perimenopausal Sexual Problems in Couples with a Woman of Color
(1.0 CE)
Dr. Philippa Chin, Dr. Beda Bjorn, PhD, LMHC, QS
La Perdiz
0930-1030-Navigating the Supervision Maze: What to Look For, What’s Required, and How to know if a supervisor is a good fit.
(1.0 CE)
Ailish Riggs Dermody, MA, NCC,
Inglaterra
0930-1030-Turning Crisis into Connection: WDEP with Suicidal Youth on the Spectrum (1.0 CE)
Patricia A. Robey, Ed.D., LPC, CTRTC, Ahmet Can, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Neslihan Karakan Can
Alanda
Inglaterra
1030-1130- AND....ACTION! Using Creative Therapy and Expressive Arts Media to Navigate Race Based Trauma (1.0 CE)
Dr. Eugenie Joan Looby, PHD, LPC, NCC, ACS, Jasmine Carter, MS, P-LPC, NCC, Kimberly Gray
Imperial
1030-1130-Where are the Superheroes? How labyrinths are utilized in counseling (1.0 CE)
Kathleen Jones-Trebatoski, LPCS
La Perdiz
1030-1130-Bridging Systems of Support: School Counselors’ Advocacy in Promoting Mental Health Beyond Borders (1.0 CE)
Dr. Jung (June) H. Hyun Ph.D., LPC (GA), LMHC (WA), ACS, NCC, Dr. Szu-Yu (Darlene) Chen, Dr. Zachary Pietrantoni
Inglaterra
1030-1130-The Intimate Partner Violence Stigma Scale: An Overview and Implications for Counselors in the US and Spain (1.0 CE)
Dr. Allison Crowe, Dr. Lara Murvartian Carrascal
Alanda
_______________________________________________________________
LUNCH-1130-1230
1230-1330-Culturally Informed Rural Mental Health Advocacy: Barriers, Challenges, and Solutions. (1.0 CE)
Dr. Eugenie Joan Looby, PHD, LPC, NCC, ACS, Khyla Barnes, Jasmine Carter, MS, P-LPC, NCC
Imperial
1230-1330-The Game of Managing Stress (1.0 CE)
Kathleen Jones-Trebatoski, LPCS
La Perdiz
1230-1330-The Use of Sociodrama for Relational Violence Prevention in Adolescents and Young Adults (1.0 CE)
Dr. Tara Jungersen
Inglaterra
1230-1330-Supporting Survivors to Rise Above Coercive Control and Break Relationship Cycles (1.0 CE)
Maya Khan, MA, NCC, LPC
Alanda
___________________________________________________________
1330-1430-The Courage to Challenge: Psychological Safety in Educational and Counseling Spaces (1.0 CE)
Dr. Patrick R. Mullen
Inglaterra
1330-1430-Interdisciplinary and Multicultural Review of Violence Against Women, Best Practices for Global Interventions (1.0 CE)
Dr. Shelly Aboagye
Imperial
1330-1430-Envisioning the Next Chapter: Expressive Arts Interventions for Retirement Adjustment and Identity (1.0 CE)
Elizabeth Brokamp, PHD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH,
La Perdiz
1330-1430-How AI Is Redefining Career Readiness in Mental Health (1.0 CE)
Dr. Amber Dato
Alanda
Inglaterra
1430-1530-Global Perspectives on Suicide Prevention: Integrating Clinical Best Practices Globally (1.0 CE)
Ms. Amy Vogel, LMHC
Alanda
1430-1530-Identity Rootlessness and Belonging during developmental Crisis: Implications for the Family (1.0 CE)
Dr. Philippa Chin, Dr. Yahyahan Aras
Inglaterra
1430-1630-Empowering Adults to Manage Meltdowns (2.0 CEs)
Hayden Ahlbrandt, LPC, LCMHCA
Imperial
1430-1630-Moving Beyond Survival: Strategic Self-Care Planning for Professional Longevity and Ethical Practice. (2.0 CEs)
Dr. Lara Vanderhoof
La Perdiz
_______________________________________________________________
1630 MRCA Executive Board/Member Meeting