Blog

Janice has worked within the mental health field for the past 9 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, is a Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Board Certified Counselor.  Janice currently teaches the Counselor in Training classes for Gibson Recovery Center where she helps new counselors learn about their duties, rights, responsibilities, tools, and techniques to succeed in their positions.  Janice has presented at local Bipolar Support Alliance groups, local community fundraising groups, is a past conference presenter, and has spoken to case managers, nurses, and other staff at various agencies about best practices in the area of mental health and substance use disorders.

Presentation(s)

What is Self-Medicating and How to Encourage Change Talk

Julia Peters provides therapy for adolescents, couples and families at the Covenant House Missouri. She graduated from Columbia University with her Masters of Science in Social Work. Julia has extensive advanced training from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA) in Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Prolonged Exposure Adolescent (PE-A).  She is also certified in training for adoption competency through Center for Adoption Support and Education in Washington, DC. She has advanced training in other evidence-based treatments including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Training and Complicated Grief Therapy.

Presentation(s)

Mental-Physical Health Integration (MPHI) Program Overview: Working with At-Risk Adolescents Who Have Experienced Trauma and Loss

Craig McAndrew, MA, LPC, LCAC is a Counselor in Private Practice in the Kansas City area. He works as a therapist specializing in addictions, stress, anxiety and depression as well as PTSD and other disorders. Craig works with his clients to obtain balance in their lives physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially. His approach helps clients to empower themselves. Craig is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addictions counselor. He recently became a certified power coach in the 8 to Great process for powerful change. Craig has written two books in a trilogy and has the third book in the works. The title of the first book “Forgiving Judas – A Man’s Journey to Forgive His Brother” is available from Family Affair Publishing as well as through Amazon. The second book, “Forgiving Our Fathers, Forgiving Ourselves” is only available through Family Affair Publishing at this time. He also developed and produced a meditation CD with guided meditations of Forgiveness and Progressive relaxation.

Presentation(s)

Post Traumatic Growth – Good News for Trauma

Colleen Loehr, M.D., graduated from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry. She works at Fulton State Hospital as a psychiatrist for the New Outlook Program for Behavior and Mood Self-Management. She is also facilitator of the SORTS RESPECT Institute at Fulton State Hospital. Dr. Loehr has studied with a number of mindfulness and qigong teachers: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Robert Peng, Patricia Gerbarg MD, Richard Brown MD, Gabor Mate, MD, James Gordon, MD. Dr. Loehr has presented workshops on mindfulness and qigong at annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association.

Presentation(s)

Art of Self-Care: Vitalizing Practices of Mindfulness and Qigong to Prevent Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Patrick Finder, MS, has been a licensed psychologist in the State of Missouri since 1989. He was employed at Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, MO for eleven years, initially as an out-patient therapist and then as Clinical Supervisor. Subsequently he opened Evergreen Behavioral Services and worked in this practice for nineteen years offering psychological evaluations, counseling, consultation, and training to individuals through contracts with the Children’s Division, Department of Mental Health, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, various school systems and other entities. Currently he is employed by Corizon Correctional Healthcare and provides services at both male and female institutions.

Presentation(s)

 From the Crime to Doing the Time:  What is it Like to Receive Mental Health Care in Prison

Jennifer White, LPC: has a masters degree in counseling and has been an LPC since 2008. She has been working in corrections since 2010 and runs the mental health department at Jefferson City Correctional Center. The primary function as Chief is to train staff on how to work with incarcerated individuals and to lead the mental health team in the appropriate provision of services to that population as well as supervising provisionally licensed staff. She also has a degree in Elementary Education and is an instructor of human service courses at Columbia College teaching classes on counseling and mental health disorders.

Presentation(s)

 From the Crime to Doing the Time:  What is it Like to Receive Mental Health Care in Prison

Tara Lusby, M.Ed., LPC, provides psychotherapy services to adolescents, adults and families. Her areas of specialty include anxiety disorders, trauma, family therapy and personality disorders. She is especially committed to those marginalized and under-served populations. She is currently Vice-President and co-founder of Kiessling & Associates

Presentation(s)

Effects Across Development and Effective Intervention

Anita Kiessling-Caver, MSW, LCSW, Ph.D has over 20 years of experience both delivering psychotherapy services as well as developing clinical programs for individuals and families otherwise under -served. Areas of specialization include personality disorders, trauma, violence and anxiety disorders. She is currently the president co-founder of Kiessling & Associates.

Presentation(s)

Effects Across Development and Effective Intervention

Neal DeSha was raised in Quincy, Illinois, but has lived in Missouri for over 37 years. He has worked in Social Work for over 8 years and Corrections for over 13.  During these 13 years, he has spoken to thousands of incarcerated offenders about their relationships with their fathers.  He and his wife have been married for over 23 years and together have 2 adult sons and 1 teenage daughter.  He loves being a husband and father, and loves to hike/camp, canoe, hunt and shoot guns.

Presentation(s)

The High Costs of Fatherlessness

Brenden Christensen, MSW.-After earning his Masters in Social Work From St. Louis University, Brenden served as a Teen Outreach Program Specialist at Wyman Center Saint Louis. He has joined the team at MIMH as the Project Coordinator for Mental Health First Aid where he utilizes his expertise in community education to create awareness about mental health in the community.

Presentation(s)

Watch Your Language! Reducing Stigma by Recognizing the Power of Language