Private Practice Essentials: Building Your Foundation for Success

Date/Time: August 20th, 9:00 am - 12:30pm MST

Trainer: Francisca Mix, LPC, BC-DMT, ACS

Description

This training equips mental health professionals with the skills to transition from clinician to successful business owner. Participants will explore key elements of private practice, including developing a business owner identity, clarifying vision and values, and creating a business blueprint. The program also covers marketing fundamentals, brand building, and navigating the client journey. By the end, attendees will gain the tools and confidence to launch, market, and grow their private practice with clarity and purpose.

Fee: $150

Building Competence & Protecting Against Liability in Suicide Intervention

Date/Time: August 20th, 9:00 am - 12:30pm MST

Trainer: Dr. Gregg Elliott, Ph.D., LPC, ACS

Description

Intervening with suicidal clients remains one of the most professionally worrisome and anxiety-provoking clinical issues for both counselors and counseling supervisors. Limited training on working with suicidal clients in graduate programs has been compounded by staggering increases in major depression and serious psychological distress over the last decade and a half (Twenge et al., 2019). Meanwhile, major counseling insurance carriers like HPSO have reported an increase in claims against counselors for suicide malpractice, citing a failure by counselors to meet the minimum standard of care (Flynn et al., 2024). Counselors and counseling supervisors are faced with having to identify how to remedy gaps in training and how to consistently meet the minimum standard of care in working with suicidal clients. This workshop will help participants identify areas where improvement is needed, and participants will develop a professional development plan for improving self-efficacy and competence in working with suicidal clients.

Fee: $175.00

Introduction to Play Therapy Skills Training: Learning the Basics Before the Journey to Certification

Date/Time: August 20th, 9:00 am - 12:30pm MST

Trainer: Dr. Krystyne Mendoza, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, RPT

Description

Play therapy unlocks a world of magic where the therapist and child harness the transformative power of play. Yet, many may not realize that this modality extends far beyond toys and a playroom—it is a powerful tool that fuels imagination, wonder, and creativity, much like Arthur’s Excalibur in the battle against trauma, pain, and emotional turmoil. In this training, participants will explore what makes play therapy unique and distinct from other therapeutic approaches. Through hands-on practice and guided supervision from Dr. Krystyne Mendoza, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT, participants will learn some of the core skills in child-centered play therapy. This workshop is designed to provide counselors with foundational skills in play therapy while offering insight into the certification process to become a Registered Play Therapist. Join us for this pre-conference workshop, where play becomes the pixie dust that inspires transformative change

Fee: $175

Supervisory Excellence: Principles and Practices for Establishing and Maintaining High-Quality Clinical Supervision

Date/Time: August 20th, 9:00am-12:30pm MST

Trainer: Dr. Ryan Kennedy, PsyD, LP, LAC, LMFT, LPC, ACS

Description

Though clinical supervision is an expected aspect of clinical training for all counselors, very few of us receive any direction on how to maximize the experience of receiving supervision, and even fewer of us receive any training on how to provide effective supervision. Clinical supervision, however, should be viewed as a specialty within the mental health disciplines provided by an experienced practitioner whose aim is to facilitate the growth and development of supervisees using models and tools specific to the practice of supervision. When these concepts are in place, clinical supervision shifts from simply focusing on whatever topic or theme is brought up each week to intentionally situating the supervisee in an arc of training that not only addresses immediate concerns but also locates them in a developmental trajectory that supports the supervisee’s emerging skills and identity as a professional counselor. One crucial way to support this shift from accidental intervention to deliberate oversight is for clinical supervisors to develop systems and processes early in the supervisory relationship that facilitate the counselor’s integration of administrative requirements, clinical proficiencies, and emerging professional identity. Participants in this pre-conference workshop will become familiar with many of the principles and practices associated with supervisory excellence and leave with lifetime access to a variety of practical tools and digital resources.

Fee: $150

Designing Your Integrative Approach to Counseling Practice

Date/Time: August 20th, 10:30am-12:30pm MST

Trainer: Keynote Speaker, Dr. Gerald Corey, Ed.D., ABPP

Description

This presentation is based on contemporary counseling theories, with an emphasis on the practical applications to counseling. The program is aimed at helping participants formulate their personal perspective on counseling practice. Counselors working with diverse client populations in a variety of settings need to be familiar with a range of theoretical approaches to best serve the needs of their client group. This integrative perspective draws from the following theoretical orientations: psychodynamic approaches, experiential and relationship-oriented approaches, and cognitive behavioral approaches. The integrative model demonstrates ways to employ a variety of techniques at the various stages of counseling – from the beginning of the counseling relationship to the evaluation and termination of the therapeutic process. The presenter will explain his personal perspective on developing an integrative approach. The presenter welcomes questions during the presentation.

Fee: $150

Conference Recording Registration Fee

For those who are not able to attend the conference live, the CCA has you covered. The CCA will record five breakout sessions, and the Keynote, Dr. Gerald Corey, earning you six continuing professional development hours. These recordings will be made available by September 30th, 2025.

Meal Ticket

Please note: Meal tickets do not grant access to the preconference workshops or the conference. The CCA offers meal tickets at cost based on Keystone's pricing. If you have purchased a conference registration, meals for the days you are registered for are covered in your registration (excluding Wednesday). This meal ticket option allows you to have guests who are not attending the conference to dine with you. We have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-sensitive options available.