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Author: Kayla Bunch

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Smith, Chrystala, MEd, LPC

Ms. Chrystala Smith, MEd, LPC, is the Assistant Director of Student Health and Counseling Services at Lincoln University of Missouri. She is currently a PhD student with Grand Canyon University. With her colleague, Dr. James Smith, she began researching the relationship between electronic device use/social media, mental health, and relationship wellness to gain research experience for her doctoral studies. Together, Ms. Smith and Dr. Smith have read over 75 peer reviewed research articles exploring these relationships. Ms. Smith’s own doctoral research interest is in the experiences of African American women receiving mentorship in their careers as mental health professionals.

Presentation(s):

Pings of Power: The Relationship Between Electronic Device Use, Mental Health, and Relationship Wellness 

By

Copeland, Jennifer, PsyD

Jenny Copeland, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist with Ozark Center where she leads the Reconnect Eating Disorders treatment team. She is an active member of the Missouri Eating Disorders Council. Dr. Copeland has conducted studies on weight stigma among healthcare providers, and developed programming rooted in weight inclusive frameworks to help people pursue balance within and outside themselves to find freedom in their bodies. Her work has earned awards including the Research and Evaluation Fellowship at The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute and the inaugural NAAFA Health At Every Size Scholar Award.

Presentation(s):

Filtered Realities: Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Eating Disorders 

By

Goldin, Gabrielle, MEd

Gabrielle Goldin, MEd, believes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counseling; each counseling journey is uniquely individual, and Gabrielle is eager to partner with clients on theirs. The goal is to work alongside clients to help them discover and experience the best version of themselves. Gabrielle hopes that counseling provides a safe space for clients to navigate the ups, downs, and challenges of life, reassuring them that they are not alone.
Gabrielle values the inherent worth of each client and finds joy in assisting them in learning more about who they are and who they want to be. Gabrielle strives to create an environment where clients feel seen, heard, understood, and safe, believing that a strong therapeutic relationship is key to achieving personal goals.
Gabrielle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri in 2020, during which time Gabrielle was also a member of the Mizzou Women’s Tennis Team. It was through this athletic experience that Gabrielle discovered a passion for mental health and counseling. Continuing at the University of Missouri, Gabrielle received a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership in 2022 and graduated in May 2024 with a second Master’s, an MEd in Counseling Psychology.
Passionate about the work, Gabrielle truly believes in the healing and transformative power of counseling.

Presentation(s):

A Break from Burnout: A Positive Psychology Approach 

 

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Alcohol and Harm Reduction for Risky Alcohol Use

Paradise Ballroom ABC

Speaker(s):

Rottnek, Fred, MD, MAHCM

Description

After the COVID public health emergency, opioid overdose rates have started decreasing. But death and illness related to problematic alcohol remain significantly elevated. In this session, Dr. Fred Rottnek, Program Director of the SSM Health/Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship, will discuss where we are today in prevention, screening, and treatment for individuals who want to abstain or just cut down their alcohol use. As a native Missourian, Dr. Rottnek understands the challenges we face in our state regarding culture and practices around alcohol use. All of us have a role to play in addressing problematic substance use, so this session is for all those involved in the delivery of services and support of these services along the full continuum of care.

Objectives

1. Discuss the impact of risky alcohol use on the U.S.in 2025
2. Identify risks factors for risky alcohol use in youth, adults, and older adults
3. Implement medication treatments for individuals with alcohol use disorder and problematic use
By

Craghead, Levi, MD, MPH

Levi Craghead is a 4th-year Psychiatry resident physician at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). He received a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health before completing medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Throughout his graduate medical education training with UMKC Psychiatry, Dr. Craghead has worked with a variety of patients at the Center for Behavioral Medicine and University Health – Truman Medical Center. Academic works encompass management of substance use disorders and public health policy.

Presentation(s):

The State of Cannabis – 2025 

 

 

By

Theison, Larissa, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW

Larissa Theison, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW, holds a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Over the years, Larissa has received extensive training and experience in evidence-based therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Larissa has worked in both long- and short-term treatment environments.
Drawing on both lived and professional experiences, Larissa wrote and published a workbook titled Securing Serenity: Surviving a Loved One’s Addiction, aimed at helping those who love someone struggling with addiction.

Presentation(s):

Supporting Clients Impacted by Loved One’s Addiction: Developing Clinical Skills, Strategies, and Compassionate Care 

 

 

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Cannon, Valerie, BS, MS

Valerie Cannon is currently in the Human Development and Family Sciences M.S. program at the University of Central Missouri. She previously obtained her B.S. degree in HDFS from UCM as well and spent a semester studying abroad in Denmark. Valerie has a background in early childhood education and was previously an early childhood program director in Overland Park, Kansas. At the moment, Valerie is a social worker for KVC Health Systems and thoroughly enjoys her work. Additionally, Valerie has experience with CITI training and has research interests pertaining to the social work field.

Presentation(s):

PACEs: How Protective and Compensatory Experiences Influence ACEs 

 

 

By

Rongey, Kori, BSCS, MSWc

Kori Rongey holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at Park University. She is interning at the Samaritan Counseling Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, where she works with clients of all ages and facilitates a monthly grief support group for teenagers. With a passion for trauma-informed care and youth mental health, she focuses her work on helping children and adolescents navigate emotional regulation, grief, and behavioral challenges. Drawing from both clinical training and her lived experience as a mother of five daughters, Kori brings a unique blend of empathy, insight, and creativity to therapeutic work. Her approach emphasizes practical, compassionate strategies that meet young clients where they are and promote lasting resilience.
Kori joins Dr. Moran to co-present on the impact of trauma on the brain, how to foster trauma-informed practices that support emotional regulation, and how to implement tiered interventions to address disruptive behaviors in youth.

Presentation(s):

Navigating Trauma: Understanding the Brain and Building Supportive Strategies for Emotional and Behavioral Growth