TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 – VIP DINNER

Time

Event

CE's

Location

5:30 -
6:00  PM           

Registration and Check In            

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

6:00 PM

Welcome

 Union Ballroom 314 AB 

6:15 PM

Dinner Served

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

7:00 PM

VIP Speaker: Trent Shelton
Topic: Know your Worth

 Union Ballroom 314 AB 

8:00 PM

Conclusion

 Union Ballroom 314 AB 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 – DAY ONE

Time

Event

Location

8:00 AM

Registration Opens                                          

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

8:15 AM

Exhibits Open
Continental Breakfast Served

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

9:00 –
10:15 AM

Keynote Session
Speaker: Noah Levine

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

10:15 AM

Networking Coffee Break

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

Breakout Sessions
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Topic: Addiction: What Children and Family Need to Know
Presenter: Kyle Pilans, B.A.
Presentation Description: Addiction is a disease that impacts everyone in the family. Family members need as much help and support as the primary individual experiencing a substance use disorder. Sometimes the family members can begin the treatment process for everyone involved. No matter who in the family takes the first steps toward recovery, often children are not included in the process. Children are usually the first hurt and the last helped in the midst of this disease. This presentation will teach a professional or family member how to address the disease of addiction with children ages 6-12. Once children have an understating of addiction and a language to discuss it, they can begin the process of recovery for themselves. The magic of this presentation is that it allows adults involved to focus on key concepts that often get lost in the chaos of this disease.

Union 332 Senate Room

Topic: Advocating for Black Males in Specialty Courts: Clients' Reports of Treatment
Presenters: Bryan Stare, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Presentation Description: Presenters conducted a phenomenological study of black males, age 18-40, who currently receive mental health diversion treatment provisions. Black males of this age-group disproportionately experience high risk for involvement in the criminal justice system and lack of access to mental health resources. Presenters will briefly discuss participant selection, research questions, methodology, and their research team before thoroughly discussing research findings. They will explain data analyses and coding discoveries in summarizing participants’ reported lived experiences receiving treatment in a mental health court diversion program. Participants will discuss findings as they relate to present and historical themes of oppression within the context of mental health treatment and social justice advocacy.  Participants will also discuss implications for counselors and counselor educators as well as directions for future research and improved clinical practices.

Union
333 A

Topic: Lessons learned from Portugal’s War on Drugs: Social Policy and Reform
Presenter: Rachita Sharma, Ph.D., LPC-S, CRC
Presentation Description: In 2001, Portugal radically changed its drug policy by decriminalizing drug possession and use. Until 1999, Portugal had the second-highest rate of drug abuse in Europe, with nearly 1% of its population at the time using or known to have already experienced heavy drug use. With consumption and trade rising, drug-related crimes were seen as a major national security problem, and prisons were being flooded with people convicted of drug-related offenses. The government shifted from a traditional punishment approach to a revolutionary treatment model that serves as a case study on drug policy. Participants in this seminar will learn about the complexity of this issue through a lecture presentation and personal anecdotes of the presenter who engaged in a 10 day seminar accessing the institutions, charities, and specialists who helped navigate the many different sides of the war on drugs in Portugal.

Union
333 B

Breakout Sessions
1:15 –
2:30 PM

Topic: Substance Use, Process Addictions, Family Systems and How They May Help or Hinder Recovery
Presenters: Jennifer Alfert, IGCG-II, MS, IMH
Presentation Description: Examines the similarities and differences between substance use and problem gambling while identifying direct correlations to Axis II personality traits. Inform and educate attendees on compuldive spending, shopping and stealing and their relationship to Axis II personality traits as well. How does the family system play a part with these and other addictions? Are they helping, hindering or are they more or less educated than their children?

Topic: Women of Color in Recovery
Presenters: Chandra Donnell Carey, Ph.D., CRC
Presentation Description: Women are the fastest-growing segments experiencing substance use in the United States. In fact, according to the SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, about 2.7 million women in the United States experience substance use issues. Until recently, the public faces of recovery in the United States have been those of privileged white men and women. Mental health resources geared specifically toward women of color are scarce. This presentation seeks to discuss the role of recovery in the lives of women of color and describes strategies aimed at increasing recovery prevalence and the quality of life in recovery for women of color. 

Union
333 A

Topic: Motivational Interviewing Techniques for Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders
Presenters: Eluterio Blanco, MAC, LCDC and Kim Nguyen-Finn, LPC-S
Presentation Description: Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based technique designed to elicit positive change. The approach has especially demonstrated efficacy for substance use disorders, however, emerging research has found MI to be also effective with other mental disorders (Carroll, 2004; Craig, et al., 2008; Drake, O’Neal, & Wallch, 2008). Of particular interest of the proper application of MI would be for clinicians who serve clients with COPSD and increase their commitment for recovery and engagement in the assessment process (Martino, Carroll, Nich, & Rounsaville, 2006). To emphasize the benefit of clinician training on MI techniques, Schoener and colleagues (2006) provided community mental health therapists with demanding caseloads with clients who have co-occurring disorders with training on motivational interviewing techniques. The authors found a statistically significant improvement in MI-consistent behaviors and reduction in MI-inconsistent behaviors following training. This session presents evidence-based MI techniques and describes its application with clients with COPSD.

2:30 –
3:00 PM

Networking Coffee Break

3:00 –
4:15 PM

KeyNote Session
Speaker: Margaret K. Glenn, Ed.D., CRC
Topic: Recovery and Disability
People with disabilities are the largest minority in this country. For many, their disability and associated life experiences placed them at risk for developing a substance use disorder. Others find themselves living with significant disabling conditions as a result of their history of use.  In this presentation, participants will discover the factors related to disability that intersect with substance abuse, learn from real life stories of interventions, treatment and recovery, and develop their knowledge of ways to work toward being inclusive in recovery efforts.

Union Ballroom 314 AB

5:00 –
6:00 PM

Refuge Recovery Meeting led by UT Dallas Center for Students in Recovery

UNT CRP
Chilton Hall 130

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 – DAY TWO

Time

Event

Location

8:00 AM   

Registration Opens                                     

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

8:00 AM

Mindful Meditation led by Timothy Trail, UNT Substance Abuse Resource Center, Coordinator

Union 411

8:15 AM

Exhibits Open
Continental Breakfast Served

 Union Ballroom 314 AB

9:00 –
10:15 AM

Keynote Session
Speaker: John Kelly, Ph.D.
Topic: Are 12-step Programs Religious, Spiritual, Neither? Findings from 25 Years of Mechanisms of Behavior Change Research

Union Ballroom 314 AB

10:15 AM

Networking Coffee Break

Union Ballroom 314 AB

Breakout Sessions      
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Topic: Addressing Treatment Needs for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders and a History of Child-Maltreatment
Presenters: Justin Watts, Ph.D., NCC and Deirdre O'Sullivan, Ph.D., CRC
Presentation Description: The experience of child-maltreatment is often the precursor to many negative health related outcomes including: substance use disorders, mental health related issues, trauma and disability. Individuals who experience early trauma are often subjected to impoverished relational environments that contribute to negative coping skills and developmental deficits which are significantly related to later substance using behaviors, and often interfere with treatment when intervention is sought. This presentation outlines rates of trauma history including child-maltreatment histories among individuals who are seeking substance use treatment, and summarizes results from several studies examining the relationship between child-maltreatment and negative health outcomes which are intended to guide the development of individualized treatment plans addressing the complex nature of presenting issues for this population.

Union 332 Senate Room

Topic: Mental Health Stigma and Access Gaps are Contributing to Delayed Help-Seeking and Substance Use
Presenters: Rakima Parson, LPC
Presentation Description: Because of common barriers to accessing community mental health services, individuals that do not get the care they need often continue a cycle of distress. Research asserts that the onset of many mental health concerns presents around ages 18-24, which is typically considered the traditional college age range. With access to alcohol and other drugs more readily available near college campuses and access to mental health services limited or stigmatized, sometimes college students misuse or abuse substances in an attempt to cope. We will explore how the lack of well-being not only impacts an individual student, but also the implications this has for the campus community. Based on quantitative and qualitative research, this presentation will identify external and internal barriers to mental health services, including social and cultural factors that negatively influence help-seeking behaviors. We will also explore how clinicians, university staff, and community members can potentially address or minimize some of the obstacles faced by students in need of mental health support and resources.

Union
333 A

Topic: Drunkorexia on Campus: Deciphering Between Substance Use, Eating Disorder, or Comorbid Concerns
Presenters: Casey Tallent, Ph.D. and Robyn Cruze, MA
Presentation Description: Drunkorexia is intentionally restricting or excessively exercising prior to drinking excessively. Effects may include: higher rates of blacking out, sustaining physical injuries, death, increased likelihood of developing a partial or full-blown eating disorder, and increased likelihood of developing a substance use issue.

Union
333 B

12:15 –
1:30 PM

Keynote Luncheon
Speaker: David L. Atkinson, M.D.
Topic: ADHD and Substance Use

Union Ballroom 314 AB