Speaker

Home > Blog > Speaker

Category: Speaker

By

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 

 

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 

 

 

By

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 

 

 

By

Moran, Ricki, DSW, LCSW

Ricki L. Moran, DSW, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor at Park University and a licensed mental health professional specializing in behavioral and therapeutic interventions for children and families through her private practice, Bright Solutions. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Certified Play Therapist, and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Dr. Moran earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Park University, her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas. She is also the co-author of a chapter in The Art of Becoming Indispensable: What School Social Workers Need to Know in Their First Three Years of Practice, which was honored with the SSWAA 2022 Book Award.
Her professional focus includes supporting children who have experienced trauma, promoting self-care practices for professionals, and using Child-Centered Play Therapy to foster healing and resilience. Dr. Moran has delivered trainings and presentations on topics such as self-care, emotional and physical safety, suicide prevention, and cultivating compassion without fatigue.

Presentation(s):

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