VIP Exhibitor Showcase Breakfast Add-On Option for $15

Philosopher Nietzsche famously said, "A person who has a why to live can can bear almost any how." Renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl indicated that discovering why provides a sense of purpose, enabling us to thrive in the midst of unavoidable life pain. This keynote address focuses on discovering and sustaining your why as a human service professional and helping clients discover and sustain their why in order to maintain recovery.

Topics covered include: discovering, sustaining and expanding your why as a counselor, case manager, recovery support specialist; nurturing the why by finding joy; the 6 sources of joy; wellness and sustaining the why; exercises drawn from positive psychology and Logotherapy to help clients discover their why in recovery.

Presenter: Mark Sanders

Movement Break with Amy Giles
Description: Realign your mind, body and spirit through a series of fluid martial arts based movements to allow the energy in your body to flow...releasing muscle tension, mental fatigue while promoting a feeling of inner peace. The movements are gentle, effective and easy to follow.

Breakout Session Options:
1-Good Grief: Helping Clients with Substance Use Disorders Cope with Loss led by Mark Sanders, LCSW CADC and Bob Carty, LCSW CADC
Session Description: Clients with substance use disorders experience a number of losses which if unaddressed can lead to negative consequences. Some of the losses include separation and divorce; loss of custody of children; father hunger; mother hunger; death of loved ones; the loss of job; the loss of physical functioning; the loss of dignity and self-respect and the loss which accompanies discontinuation of drug use etc. Topics covered in this presentation include: the difference between grief and mourning; stages of grief; gender differences in grieving; factors contributing to complicated grief for clients with substance use disorders; helping clients with substance use disorders cope with loss; what grief counselors do; non-traditional methods of coping with loss; the 6th stage of grief: helping clients find meaning in loss; helping clients with substance use disorders turn the pain of loss into purpose; healing past losses; the use of the termination phase of counseling to help clients cope with loss.

2-Listening to Kids in a Dangerous World (Part One of Series) led by Nancy Phillips, MS-Psy, CAADC, CFPP and Pamela Woll, MA, CPS
Session Description: Listening to Kids in a Dangerous World Pamela Woll, MA, CPS and Nancy J. Phillips, MS-Psy, CAADC, CFPP Children and youth are as vulnerable as they ever were, but the world that surrounds them and the world that waits for them hold threats and complexities that no child should ever have to process—much less process without comfort and support. In this highly interactive workshop, we will focus on the skills and benefits of deep listening and explore together the resources of children and caregivers who have faced severe adversity and found wisdom and humanity.

3-Effective Collaboration with Recovery Support Staff led by Tanya E. Cooley and Dr. Ricardo Anderson
Session Description: Join us for an engaging training session designed to enhance collaboration with Recovery Support Staff. We'll dive into the critical roles and responsibilities of recovery support, broken down by domain, and explore ways to create a psychologically safe environment and cultivate a recovery-oriented culture. We'll also cover the fundamentals of ""what is recovery support"" and highlight the diverse career opportunities available with the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential in Illinois, including positions in Mobile Crisis Teams and Living Room Programs. This training is tailored to provide a thorough understanding of how to effectively integrate recovery support into your organization, utilizing the CRSS credential to make a meaningful impact.

Breakout Session Options:
1-Drivers and Dimensions: Getting Ready for the Updated ASAM Criteria led by Michael Moran, MA CAADC, ATE
Session Description: Changes in the revised ASAM criteria will require clinicians to become familiar with updated dimensions and newly established dimensional drivers to determine level of care recommendations. Previous levels of care have been updated and revised, requiring clinical staff to re-think their recommendations in light of these new criteria. This workshop provides participants with an overview of the changes found in the 4th edition of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria to begin the transition to the new ASAM criteria.

2-Engaging Kids in a Dangerous World (Part Two of Series) led by Nancy Phillips, MS-Psy, CAADC, CFPP and Pamela Woll, MA, CPS
Session Description: Engaging Kids in a Dangerous World Nancy J. Phillips, MS-Psy, CAADC, CFPP and Pamela Woll, MA, CPS With the messages they receive every bit as confusing as the world they navigate, many children struggle to find their way. In our efforts to help them, it is easy to forget that much of their natural resilience is rooted in the body, and in the curiosity, creativity, and connection that are part of their natural birthright as human beings. So, in this highly interactive workshop, we will play! We will explore ways of building resiliency and protective factors through age-appropriate (their ages, not ours) creativity, activities, and interactions. Each participant will be given the opportunity to explore or develop an activity for future use with kids.

3-The Importance of Asking Why, or Not; That is the Question led by Diane Adair Hopewell, BA, CRSS
Session Description: Communicating with others from our “WHY” is the foundation of how we can authentically connect with others, avoid burnout, and recapture our purpose.

Breathwork by Diane Adair Hopewell, BA, CRSS

Breakout Session Options:
1-Complexities of Relapse Prevention with Compulsive Processes led by Brian Lengfelder, LCPC, CAADC, CSAT-S, CCTP, CCJP, SAP, MAC, CMAT-S, ACRPS
Session Description: Compulsive processes affect individual’s body, brain, mind, and spirit. When individuals engage in compulsive use of substances or practices like gambling, pornography, sexual fantasies/behaviors, eating, shopping, and video gaming it affects their biological, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Many clients who enter treatment for substance use disorders have been utilizing these behaviors to mitigate traumatic experiences. The overall impact of these behaviors and how they relate to trauma can be reasons for individuals to relapse or struggle with establishing long-term recovery. This workshop is designed to introduce substance use disorder counselors to the evidence-based understanding and therapeutic interventions that will impact their clients to establish long-term recovery.

2-A Gen-X G Perspective: LGBT Recovery led by Christopher Boyster
Session Description: Christopher Boyster, a person of lived experience and a proud member of Generation X, has been living openly as a gay man since 1992. In this engaging and heartfelt presentation, Christopher will share his unique journey through the world of recovery, offering insights from his personal experiences. Although he is not a clinician, Christopher brings a wealth of knowledge, strength, and hope drawn from his life as an openly gay man navigating recovery. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in recovery, as well as the importance of embracing one's identity on the path to healing.

3-IDHS/SUPR Gambling Services: Becoming a Gambling Informed State led by Kellie Gage, MS, CAADC and Arya Gadekar, Intern
Session Description: Are you aware that over 1 million people in Illinois experience problem gambling or are at risk for problem gambling? Gambling is prevalent in Illinois through the lottery, video gaming terminals, casinos, and sports betting. However, it's important to understand that what starts as a recreational activity can for some, escalate into a significant problem. Signs of problem gambling include irritability, anxiety, secrecy, and financial dependence. Individuals with substance use disorders or mental health issues may be more prone to developing problematic gambling behaviors. Since the early 2000s, IDHS/SUPR has provided extensive problem gambling training, intervention, and public awareness in Illinois. This session updates participants on the state's gambling services in 2024 and outlines IDHS/SUPR's goals to become a Gambling Informed State.

Breakout Session Options:
1-Understanding and Addressing Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder led by Brian Lengfelder, LCPC, CAADC, CSAT-S, CCTP, CCJP, SAP, MAC, CMAT-S, ACRPS
Session Description: This workshop aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) and equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to address and support individuals affected by this disorder. The workshop will cover various aspects of CSBD, including its definition, diagnostic criteria, underlying factors, and best practices for treatment approaches.

2-Empowering Youth and Adult-Based Prevention Strategies led by Natalie Maggiore, Program Marketing Manager & Rachel Decosola, Prevention Specialist, Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH)
Session Description: In this presentation, we will explore the benefits of youth and adult partnerships that enable communities to foster proactive prevention strategies led by youth. Youth and adult partnerships create a system of both mentorship and positive peer support that lead to healthy and long-lasting cycles of effective and evaluated prevention efforts at the local level. We will explore the use of SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and how it can used to develop a strong infrastructure for school or community-based health approaches. We’ll hear success stories from two statewide prevention programs – Operation Snowball, Inc. and the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI) – in utilizing prevention strategies that acknowledge how youth are part of the solution. This presentation is hands-on and will leave you with tangible resources for bringing these tools to your own programs and communities.

3-Level of Care Decisions: Getting Ready for the Updated ASAM Criteria led by Michael Moran, MA, CAADC, ATE
Session Description: Changes in the revised ASAM criteria include the establishment of updated and revised levels of care that will require clinical staff to re-think their recommendations in light of the new criteria. This companion workshop provides participants with an overview of the significant changes to levels of care found in the 4th edition of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria and the relationship between the revised ASAM dimensions and level of care recommendations.

Breakout Session Options:
1-Burnout, Is It Real? Session led by George K. Rafeedie, CSADC
Session Description: Burnout is it real? Burnout how do you deal with it as a therapist or a supervisor? Are there ethical issues and responsibilities related to burnout? Post Covid burnout is real and maybe as destructive to Behavioral Healthcare Systems as the actual Covid was. Let's explore the causes of burnout and how to counteract the negative effects of Post Covid burnout.

2-Building Resilience in Veterans and Service Members led by Joseph E. Troiani, Ph.D, CADC
Session Description: This presentation will start of by briefly examining the history and current status of programs aimed at building resilience in those men and women who are still serving on active duty, on in the Reserves, or National Guard and Veterans. Treatment models, techniques, and current best practices will be reviewed. Outcome studies will also be examined. New and emerging techniques for building resilience will be presented. Practical techniques that can be utilized by substance use counselors will be presented and demonstrated.

3-Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace and Beyond led by Janice Glenn
Session Description: This will be a dialogue on what is DEI. Why is there a backlash against DEI? What are the individual concepts and how do they fit together in your workplace? We know that cooperation and honest discussion are essential in solving ongoing issues of inequality. When professionals, academics, practitioners, etc. can better advance DEI by sharing their expertise and bringing insights back to their workplace everyone will be encourage and supported in a sustainable environment.

Breakout Session Options:
1-Integrative Care Session led by Amanda Lake, SUPR, Substance Use Disorder Senior Policy Advisor

2-ICB Credentials Overview led by Dianne Williams, Associate Director of Certifications, Testing & Operations
Session Description: This workshop will cover all professional credentials offered through ICB. Dianne will explain in detail, the application process, exam process and how to maintaining your credentials once they are acquired. This workshop will also include information on how to transition a current counselor certification to the international/Reciprocal level. This will be an excellent opportunity to get more familiar with ICB and to ask questions about furthering your professional credentials.

3-The Y of Utilizing the Four Agreements Working With Justice Involved Individuals led by Dona Howell, MS, CRADC/CODP II & Timothy O'Boyle MS, CADC
Session Description: This session will utilize both didactic as well as participatory elements in applying the work of Dom Miguel Ruiz to clients with a justice involved background. In order for people to maintain their recovery, changes in cognition, reaction, and belief systems need to be examined and supportive mechanisms made available so that the justice involved individual experience success.

MacKenzie Phillips

I have spent my entire life being chased by dreams, rather than me chasing them. As somebody who never had a certain direction I wanted to go in, or a path I burned to follow, or even a calling I wanted to follow, I somehow found myself living a life abroad, running my own business and travelling to places I never even ventured to dream of as a child. Through a social entrepreneur course and some deep introspection, I discovered the “Who and the Why” of me. I’d love to share my candid stories of my jumps and bumps along the way, coupled with tangible advice and exercises you can take with you in order to unlock your own growth mindset.