58th Annual PCA Conference

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2:00pm EST

A Framework for Counseling Emerging Adults: Results and Implications from a Grounded Theory Study

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Emerging adulthood (ages 18–29) represents a critical developmental period with specific mental health and developmental needs. Counselors often receive limited training on developmentally responsive approaches for working with emerging adult clients. This session presents the findings from a grounded theory study which developed a framework for working with emerging adult clients. The model highlights establishing safety, validating age normative experiences, providing psychoeducation and processing young adults’ identity development and values. Attendees will learn to apply developmentally informed conceptualizations and counseling techniques that can be integrated into clinical practice with emerging adult clients.

Speakers

Arsh

Doctoral Candidate, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

I received my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During that time, I worked as a graduate assistant in the Department of Counseling and in an Autism Spectrum Support Lab. My role for the graduate assistantship at the Department... Read More →

Katie Bucher

Masters Student In Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Katelyn Bucher, BA, MA is recent graduate of the CACREP-accredited counseling program at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During her time at IUP, she served as the President of the Iota Upsilon Pi Chapter of the Chi Sigma Honor Society. Her research interests include emerging... Read More →

Ella Durst

Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC), Counselor Education and Supervision PhD Student, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Ella Durst is a graduate student in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) Counselor Education and Supervision PhD Program. She graduated with their master’s in clinical mental health counseling from IUP and formerly served as the president for their local CSI chapter, Iota... Read More →

Matthew L. Nice

Associate Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Matthew L. Nice, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, is an associate professor with the Department of Counseling and Human Development at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and chapter faculty advisor for IUP’s Chi Sigma Iota Chapter, Iota Upsilon Pi. He is a licensed professional counselor, a... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

ADHD Into Adulthood: Past The Typical Years

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This learning module examines ADHD across the lifespan, emphasizing its persistence into adulthood and associated functional impacts. It explores factors contributing to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis—particularly among women and marginalized populations—and highlights the importance of distinguishing ADHD from commonly co-occurring conditions. The module also reviews evidence-based assessment tools and diagnostic strategies, including retrospective symptom evaluation, and integrates strengths-based, neurodiversity-informed approaches to support effective and holistic ADHD management.

Speakers

Les Jones, NCC, LAPC

Les Jones, NCC, LAPC, is a mental health counselor at Connect Counseling in Gettysburg, PA, and a group facilitator for the online IOP Charlie Health. He specializes in men’s mental health and complex trauma. He is completing his EdD in Counselor Supervision & Education at Shippensburg... Read More →

Alicia Duhon, MA, MA, LPC, NCC

Alicia Duhon, MA, MA, LPC, NCC, is a doctoral student at Shippensburg University, where she is advancing her training in counselor education and supervision. She holds two master’s degrees and is both a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC... Read More →

Rosie Owoc Hromanik, LAPC, NCC

Rosie Owoc Hromanik, LAPC, NCC is a trauma informed, psychodynamic therapist at LifeStance Health in Warrington, Pennsylvania, providing compassionate and evidence-based care to individuals and families creating a supportive space where clients can navigate challenges and develop... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Am I a Therapist or a Counselor? Defining Professional Identity for Advocacy and Action in Clinical and Public Settings.

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

The counseling field has long struggled with inconsistent professional language and identity which has led to a misunderstanding of who counselors are and how we are the same and different from other helping professions. This session will focus on two studies spanning eight years reporting the differences in counselor language that is used throughout the field. The studies show an inconsistency throughout the field that questions counseling unity and the confusion that we are showing the world. Counseling unity affects all parts of the field including how we see ourselves, how our clients and the public interact us and our field, how third-party payers use vague language to lower reimbursement rates, and the future of teaching and supervising in our field. We will discuss best practices for educators and supervisors to use to help create a stronger and more unified identity for the counseling profession.

Speakers

Ryan Bowers, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CAADC, CSOTP

Assistant Professor and Program Director (IU) / Clinical Director (HFP), Immaculata University / Hearthfire Psychology, PLLC

Ryan Bowers is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program at Immaculata University, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania, a National Board-Certified Counselor, a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug... Read More →

Nicole Yoder

Ph.D. Student (IU) / Clinical Counselor (MC), Immaculata University / Magnolia Counseling

Nicole Yoder is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a second-year student in Immaculata Univeristy’s Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program. Nicole graduated from Kutztown University’s CACREP-Accredited Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling program. Nicole... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Cultivating Cultural Competence: A Master’s Level Intervention

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Students’ ability to apply the MSJCCs could be aided by practice. The current study investigates the alterations within students that participate in a process group designed to assist them in increasing their multicultural competency. Presenters will describe how a group designed like the one under study could aid counselor educators in meeting CACREP standards and preparing their students to enact ethical standards. The hypothesized outcome students will obtain when going through the group will be described. The group’s framework and intended outcome will also be detailed.

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Finding the Words: Mental Health Clinicians’ Experiences with Disclosing Cancer Diagnoses

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This presentation will discuss the findings of a phenomenological study that examined how mental health professionals navigate receiving cancer diagnoses while working clinically with clients. Specifically, this presentation will focus on themes related to the lived experience of these individuals and their experiences of broaching self-disclosure during this challenging time. The themes will examine the decision to disclose or not disclose to clients, the impact of self-disclosure to clients, how the clinicians navigated conversations with their employers about their diagnosis, and what could have made the participants' experiences of navigating their professional life better during this time. The presenters will also explore the clinical implications and suggestions for colleagues, supervisors, and those who might find themselves in a similar situation navigating a medical disclosure.

Speakers

Em Boring

Counselor in training, Lebanon Valley College

Em is a recent graduate of Lebanon Valley College who is beginning her career as a counselor.

Dr. Shannon Strohl

Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Lebanon Valley College

Dr. Shannon Strohl is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) with a clinical focus in EMDR, CPT, trauma, and attachment. Dr. Strohl is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lebanon Valley College... Read More →

Amya Tuckey

Amya is a recent graduate of Lebanon Valley College who is beginning her career as a counselor.

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

From Canvas to Counseling: Cultivating Competent Counselors Through Creative and Experiential Methods.

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This session explores the integration of creative, experiential, and art-based techniques to support counselors in training to have reflective experiences in the classroom. The need for this learning supports the CACREP standard 3.A. 11. “self-care, self-awareness, and self-evaluation strategies for ethical and effective practice” (CACREP, 2023). These later could be techniques that they then use with clients to support their clients. There is research that shows that utilizing creative-based techniques, especially with vulnerable and special populations, can improve the counseling process. This session explores the integration of creative, experiential, and art-based techniques to support counselors in training to have reflective experiences in the classroom. The need for this learning supports the CACREP standard 3.A. 11. “self-care, self-awareness, and self-evaluation strategies for ethical and effective practice” (CACREP, 2023). These later could be techniques that they then use with clients to support their clients. There is research that shows that utilizing creative-based techniques, especially with vulnerable and special populations, can improve the counseling process.

Speakers

Miranda Weaver M.S. LPC

Duquesne University

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than a decade of specialized experience in inpatient behavioral health. I currently serve as the Manager of Clinical Care Services at UPMC Northwest, where I oversee the Extended Acute Care program and provide consultation on clinically... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

From Self‑Efficacy to Employment: Practical Social Cognitive Career Theory Strategies for Disability-Inclusive Counseling

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This presentation will explore the career-related needs of individuals with disabilities from a systemic perspective, paying special attention to multifaceted organizational, personal, and systemic barriers. Presenters will highlight with relevant case examples how to apply Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994) in career counseling with this population and practical strategies to enhance client self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals. Contextualized by structural and systemic inequities, presenters will discuss the core tenets of SCCT and provide strategies for applying SCCT when conducting career counseling with clients with disabilities.

Speakers

Aaron Redis

Graduate Student, University of Scranton

Aaron has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration on mental health at Southern New Hampshire University and a master’s in organizational leadership from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. He currently works full-time as a Crisis Specialist in the greater Scranton... Read More →

Megan Whitbeck

Assistant Professor, University of Scranton

Dr. Megan A. Whitbeck is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Program at the University of Scranton in the Department of Counseling and Human Services. Dr. Whitbeck has a PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of North Carolina... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

2:00pm EST

Generative Conversational Artificial Intelligence (GC-AI) and Attachment

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This session addresses the unique aspects of generative conversational artificial intelligence (GC-AI) systems in relation to users’ personal consultation and/or emotional connection, unique viewpoints of GC-AI systems users regarding acceptable uses for GC-AI, and how individual attachment patterns of GC-AI systems users may influence types of use and individual mental health outcomes. Attendees will learn of the unique viewpoints of GC-AI systems users in the study, how attachment styles may influence how individuals use GC-AI systems, potential mental health outcomes of regular GC-AI systems use for personal consultation and/or emotional connection, and potential strategies for addressing clients’ over-reliance on GC-AI systems for personal consultation and/or emotional connection resulting in lack of a human support system or poor mental health outcomes.

Speakers

Robin S. Archer, PhD., LPC

Assistant Professor, Gannon University

Robin S. Archer is an assistant professor of clinical mental Health counseling at Gannon University, where she serves as the Clinical Experiences Coordinator. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly two decades of clinical experience. Robin is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist... Read More →

Mei Miyatake

CMHC Graduate Student, Gannon University

Mei Miyatake is a master’s student at Gannon University and an international student from Japan, studying clinical mental health counseling with a strong passion for mental health advocacy. Her academic interests include parenting styles, attachment patterns, and trauma, with a... Read More →

Micki Webster

Gannon University

Micki Webster is a master’s student at Gannon University from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, studying clinical mental health counseling, with a strong passion for supporting mental health and wellness across diverse populations. Her academic interests include child and adolescent grief... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

I’m so Bored with the PCA! How Boredom Can Help Us Be Better Counselors?

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

“Mom I’m bored!” “This is sooo boring!” Who has not said or heard these phrases? This 60-minute roundtable discussion will explore the history of boredom as a construct in the psychology and counseling literature and how reframing boredom might actually be generative of stronger therapeutic alliance, provide increased safety for our clients, and yield immense clinical value.

Speakers

Joseph Van Hannak, MA, LPC, NCC

Counselor/Faculty, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Joseph Van Hannak, MA, LPC, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, licensed in Pennsylvania and a National Certified Counselor with over a decade of experience in diverse positions. Joe brings a wide array of work history and clinical training. Joe currently works as a tenure-track... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Integrating Mindfulness into Student Support: Practical Strategies for Higher Education Professionals

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

College students face growing amounts of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, especially at times when they are transitioning. In this session, you will learn accessible, applicable mindfulness skills that higher education professionals can use while working directly with their students. The presenter has worked with first-year college students teaching mindfulness practices and will share with participants some of those same exercises (e.g., body scan, using your senses to ground yourself, cultivating self-compassion, practicing gratitude). By the end of the session, participants should have useful resources to help support the overall health and wellness of their students and create a more mindful atmosphere within their campus community.

Speakers

Amy Patton

Associate Director of Admissions, Wilkes University and Graduate student seeking a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Scranton, University of Scranton

Amy works in admissions at Wilkes University, where they support prospective students through the college search and transition process. They are currently a graduate student at the University of Scranton pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Their professional... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

It Takes a Campus: Building a Collaborative Model to Support Students with Disabilities

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

College students with disabilities often face greater academic distress, lower campus engagement, and limited social support compared to their peers. This roundtable will highlight the Student Disability Support Collaborative (SDSC), an initiative that trains counseling students to connect peers with psychosocial, academic, and career resources. Participants will explore strategies for building cross-campus partnerships, strengthening competencies in disability support, and expanding equitable services. The discussion will also review current outcomes and practical approaches for developing collaborative care models that improve student success, inclusion, and career readiness.

Speakers

Sheba Antony

Doctoral Student and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Pennsylvania State University

Sheba is a South Asian American licensed mental health counselor, specialized in the treatment of eating disorders and co-occurring concerns. With five years of clinical experience and a current doctoral student in counselor education and supervision, Sheba advocates for fat-positive... Read More →

Thor Larson

Graduate Student, Herr Clinic/Student Disability Collaborative Intern, Graduate Assistant - Student Disability Resource Center, Pennsylvania State University

Thor is a Counseling Education student and graduate assistant with the Student Disability Resource Center at Pennsylvania State University. He holds an MA in Urban Planning from the University of British Columbia and has a background in community art engagement, special education... Read More →

Maria Elfrida, M.Ed

Doctoral Student in Counselor Education Program, Graduate Research Assistant, Doctoral Supervisor for Counseling Practicum, Pennsylvania State University

Maria is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education program at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her master's degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Penn State in 2023. Her research focuses on global mental health, including mental health... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Leading Through Change and Transition: Creating Psychological Safety for LGBTQ+ Counseling Students

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

How can counselor educators lead through change and transition while supporting LGBTQ+ counseling students? This session highlights the role of psychological safety in the classroom and introduces the AUIP framework, offering practical, actionable strategies to reduce harm, increase inclusion, and create affirming learning environments that support student growth and engagement.

Speakers

Bridget D Van Cook

Bridget Van Cook is a counselor and clinical director with a focus on trauma-informed care and inclusive practice. Her work emphasizes psychological safety, cultural responsiveness, and supporting marginalized populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals. She is passionate about counselor training and fos... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Master-Level Students’ Journeys Through Change and Transitions

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This topic applies to first-year and currently enrolled master-level counseling students in a graduate school program - facilitating conversations about their expectations for personal and professional development and their responsibilities as counselors-in-training (CITs), along with implications for counselor educators.

Speakers

Amber Conner, M.A.

Psychotherapist, Doctoral Student, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

My name is Amber Conner, and I was born and raised in New Jersey. In order to fully pursue my dreams, as a counselor and counselor educator-in-training, I decided to move out of state, and attend one of the best universities. With that said, I am a first-year doctoral student studying... Read More →

Chinar Mehta, MSc

Psychotherapist, Doctoral Student, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

The presenter is a second-year Ph.D. student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Indiana University of Pennsylvania . She has over three years of experience as a mental health therapist, working with first responders diagnosed with PTSD, as well as with elderly and general populations... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Memory Distortions and Cognitive Bias in Couple Conflict: A CBT Approach

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This session explores how memory distortions and cognitive biases shape conflict in romantic relationships. Drawing on cognitive psychology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), it highlights how partners reconstruct past interactions in ways that intensify negative beliefs and communication patterns. Participants will be introduced to practical CBT-based strategies to identify and restructure biased relational narratives, promoting healthier communication and relationship functioning.

Speakers

Sera Sezgin

Clinical Psycholoogy Master's Student, Penn State University Harrisburg

Ms. Sera Sezgin is a Penn State Harrisburg master's student studying clinical psychology. She is currently conducting research at the Personality and Stigma Labs, where she focuses on psychological and cognitive processes associated with mental health and memory. Her areas of interest... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Migration as Meaning: An Existential Approach to Counseling Latin American Immigrants

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Latine immigrants experience significant psychological stressors relating to migration like acculturative stress, identity conflicts, and discrimination. Because of these, approaches in mental health services need to be crafted in a way that both honors Latine cultural values and supports the individuals themselves. This session posits existential therapy as a culturally responsive approach for Latines seeking mental health services. Specifically, it will explore the concepts of meaning-making, responsibility, identity development, and authenticity and how those are congruent within traditional Latine culture. The presentation will explore how the existential therapeutic framework can be implemented in sessions with immigrant clients who are facing issues surrounding their relationships, cultural identities, and sense of purpose and meaning.

Speakers

Vanity Hernandez

Ms. Vanity Hernandez is a current graduate student in the MA Clinical Psychology program at Penn State Harrisburg. A graduate of Hollins University, Ms. Hernandez earned her B.S. in psychology and focused much of her undergraduate research on Latin American children and families... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Reentry, Equity, and Healing: Supporting Justice-Involved Youth Through Counseling Practice

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Justice-involved youth experience high rates of mental health needs, trauma exposure, and systemic barriers that can complicate successful community reentry. This session examines reentry as a critical transition point and highlights the evolving role of counselors in supporting youth across systems. Grounded in current research, participants will explore how structural inequities shape outcomes and how trauma-informed and developmentally responsive practices can promote healing and reduce recidivism. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary collaboration and continuity of care to better support youth navigating the shift from detention to community, aligning with the counseling profession’s need to adapt to complex and changing client needs.

Speakers

Divine Lipscomb, M.Ed., NCC, LAPC

Graduate Assistant, Penn State University

Divine Lipscomb, M.Ed., NCC, LAPC, is a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Penn State University and a licensed mental health therapist serving rural Central Pennsylvania. A TEDx speaker, published researcher, and the first Black and first formerly incarcerated... Read More →

Stefanie Rene Salyer, Ed.S., LBS

Doctoral Candidate, Pennsylvania State University

René Salyer, Ed.S., LBS is a Ph.D. candidate in Special Education: ABA and a master’s student in Clinical Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling at Pennsylvania State University. She is a licensed behavioral specialist and former K–12 special education teacher with extensive... Read More →

Teree Lipscomb

Graduate Assistant, Penn State

Teree Lipscomb is a graduate student in the Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Schools and Communities program at Pennsylvania State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Rehabilitation and Human... Read More →

Joy Gray, PhD, LPC

Adjust Professor, Pennsylvania State University

Joy Gray is a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania who received her doctorate degree in Counselor Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 2024. She currently works as an outpatient clinician in community mental health and as an adjunct professor teaching practicum... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Reframing Religious/Spiritual Abuse: A Structural Family Therapy Approach

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Religious and spiritual (R/S) abuse is increasingly recognized as a significant source of psychological, relational, and spiritual harm; however, clinical approaches to treatment remain underdeveloped and largely focused on the individual. This presentation conceptualizes R/S abuse as an inherently relational and systemic phenomenon enacted through patterns of authoritarian leadership, boundary violations, social isolation, and enforced obedience. Using Structural Family Therapy (SFT), we conceptualize the relational harm of R/S abuse, demonstrate how these patterns mirror dysfunctional family patterns, and outline a path towards healing using principles from SFT.

Speakers

Kaylee Van Gent, MA, LAPC, NCC

Graduate Research Assistant, Penn State University

Kaylee Van Gent is a second-year doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at The Pennsylvania State University. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Slippery Rock University (2022) and brings 4 years of clinical experience from both private... Read More →

Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Sarah Shrewsbury-Braxton (Dr. SB) is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Penn State. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University, her M.S. in School Counseling, Pre-K – 12, from Tennessee State University, and her B.S. in Psychology... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

The Resilient Mind: Holistic Strategies for Socialization and Healing in Later Life

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

In the United States, about a quarter of adults 65 and older experience social isolation, meaning they have few or no social relationships. This is different from loneliness, which is the feeling of lacking meaningful connections, and the two do not always occur together.
According to the United Health Foundation (2025), Pennsylvania has a social isolation risk score of 57 among adults 65 and older, indicating a moderate level of risk based on factors such as poverty, living alone, disability, and marital status; higher scores mean greater risk.
This poster presentation presents a comprehensive proposal to support the aging population by focusing on geriatric counseling. Current single modality approaches often fail to capture the multi-dimensional nature of aging, which encompasses identity loss, physical decline, social isolation, and technological displacement.
I am advocating for an assimilative-integrated approach, a flexible model that maintains a theoretical core with a person-centered approach while integrating the most effective tools from various therapeutic disciplines. The proposed poster will visually map this model, showcasing a tiered support structure:

Foundational Support: Through a structured psychoeducation for both elderly clients and their families, fostering understanding of the aging process.
Specialized Interventions: Focusing on individual counseling specific to cases of grief and trauma, incorporating group counseling for shared experience, and combating isolation.
Creative & Experiential Therapies: Proposing the strategic inclusion of music therapy for cognitive stimulation and laughing therapy in group sessions for physiological and psychological release.
Social & Generational Bridging: Finally, the poster illustrates practical methods to help the elderly socialize, share feelings and sentiments surrounding transitions in late adulthood, identify what has helped them cope with changes, and identify elements of hope for the future.
Highlighting the importance of holistic care, through meditation to navigate complex negative thoughts pertaining to life as an elderly person. This poster presents a compelling, professional roadmap, essential for practitioners, researchers, and advocates dedicated to implementing innovative, compassionate approaches that effectively empower the elderly population.

Speakers

Harsha Erumbassery

Graduate Assisstant, Graduate student, Shippensburg University

Current Master's student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a background in Bachelor's of Homeopathic Medicine from Rajive Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India. Passionate about Geriatric Counseling, Couples and Family Counseling using an Assimilative Integrated Theory... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as an Outcome of Child Sexual Abuse

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This presentation examines how a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be linked to the manifestation of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adulthood. It explores how trauma-related themes, such as control, responsibility, contamination, and safety, can shape and cause obsessions and compulsions. Emphasis is placed on understanding OCD symptoms as responses to earlier experiences linked to trauma, with implications for further trauma-informed care and research.

Speakers

Romina Gamarra

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student, University of Scranton

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student at the University of Scranton

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session

global Y

2:00pm EST

Unraveling Mysteries of Adolescent Substance Use: Reviewing the ABCD Study Findings

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

This presentation will explore some of the findings that have emerged from Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD). This National Institute of Health (NIH) study has been designed to do a deep dive into the cognitive development of the adolescent brain with some focus involving substance use. This study offers some ground breaking outcomes on the trajectory of developmental change throughout the adolescence period. The ABCD Study is the largest long-term study involving the adolescent brain ever conducted. It consists of 21 different sites across the United States and includes 11,885 child/adolescent participants. These adolescent research subjects were recruited when they were 9 or 10 years old. According to NIH, understanding the relationship between alcohol, substance use and other mental health issues in adolescents is becoming evermore critical to this understudied segment of the population. The study is attempting to track these participants throughout their adolescent years and into young adulthood. The overall aim of this research investigation is ambitious in the form of seeking to establish the baseline standards for what should be considered normal brain development. It addition to understanding substance use development in this segment of the population, it is also attempting to provide further understanding sex and gender influences involving adolescent brain development, as well as adolescent cardiovascular and hematologic health. This workshop is designed for clinical mental health counselors, school counselors, and any Counselor involved in the health, well-being, and success of children. The presentation will use study results to help contextualize issues and findings of the development of alcohol and substance use over time, and to facilitate questions and answers for attendees.

Speakers

Esther Ye

Taylor Reynolds

Abigail Kassalen

Student, Geneva College

Ms. Kassalen is a student in the Master of Arts in Counseling program at Geneva College. She earned a bachelor's degree from Duquesne University in 2023.

Kerry Gragg, M.A., NCC, LPC

Substance Abuse Counselor, Gateway Rehabilitation Center

Kerry Gragg is a full time substance abuse counselor for Gateway Rehabilitation Center. She has been in this role for the past few years, and has extensive experience in providing group counseling. Ms. Gragg is currently enrolled in Liberty University's Counselor Educator Education... Read More →

James K. Matta, Ed. D., NCC, LPC

Professor, Geneva College

The primary presenter is currently the track coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and program director, in the Master of Arts in Counseling at Geneva College. He formerly served as the Senior Research Principal at the Pittsburgh Adolescent Alcohol Research... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

Poster Session