2/28/2025 - 3/1/2025
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST


Location: Elements by the Odyssey and Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel, 16235 South La Grange Rd, Orland Park, IL 60467


Registration ends on 2/27/2025

IMHCA invites you to join us in Orland Park for our 2025 Annual Conference: Building Foundations to Flourish: Going Beneath the Surface of Social Justice and Mental Health. Our annual conference features Friday Keynote Camesha Jones, founder and clinician at Sista Afya Community Mental Wellness in Chicago, IL, as well as a variety of engaging breakout sessions. Earn up to 12 CEUs!


Breakout Sessions:

Friday, 2/28/25: 1pm-4pm
Workshop Title: Navigating Inclusivity: Best Practices for Working with Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals
Presented By: Autumn Gonzalez, LCPC/LMHC/CAADC/CCMHC/ACS and Jessica Ramos, MSEd., QMHP
Description: In this interactive three-hour session, attendees will explore best practices for supporting transgender and gender-diverse individuals within clinical and organizational settings. Emphasizing cultural humility and inclusivity, this workshop will equip masters-level counselors with the tools to address barriers, foster meaningful access to care, and provide affirming services for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, a group often underrepresented in clinical research and practice.

Through discussion, role-play, case studies, and small group activities, counselors will gain insight into the unique experiences and challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals. This session will also guide attendees on ways to incorporate gender-inclusive practices that facilitate a more welcoming, affirming environment, both in their clinical practices and within broader organizational structures


Friday, 2/28/25: 1pm-4pm
Workshop Title: Culturally Responsive Practices for Serving the Undocumented and Immigrant Populations
Presented By: Dr Pamela Fullerton, PhD/LCPC/CTTP/CCATP/C-DBT/ACS/NCC
Description: This session will educate and engage participants in the process of supporting undocumented and immigrant populations in equity minded services. The presenter will share a variety of theoretical frameworks, creative approaches, and practical applications to support school staff in gaining awareness of their own strengths and growing edges within this work. Participants should come prepared to engage in critical reflection of systems of oppression and implicit bias as they pertain to this special population, with some focus on educational and career implications.

This session will also focus on the process of facilitating family/community workshops on significant topics of mental health and well-being for immigrant populations. The need to involve the family and community is evermore significant since the pandemic, social unrest, and anti-immigrant sociopolitical policies, laws, and public sentiment have exacerbated mental health concerns amongst immigrant communities including increased depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors. Special attention will be paid to increasing advocacy and social justice skills while empowering students and their families/communities.


Saturday, 3/1/25: 9am-12pm
Workshop Title: The Root and Recovery of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Presented By: Leanne Goodwin, LCPC
Description: The workshop will explore the definition of trauma, the differences between PTSD and CPTSD, and the origination of complex post-traumatic stress in psychosocial development. It outlines the direct links between adverse childhood effects and CPTSD as well as ICD-11's addition of this diagnosis. Attendees will learn the symptomology of CPTSD in adolescent responses and how they develop into two specific symptom clusters in adulthood. CPTSD is universal and the data translates across all cultures, genders, and other identifiers. Participants will use case conceptualization to better understand real-world applications for the treatment of CPTSD and how understanding therapeutic identity and person-centered therapy in new ways contributes to meeting clients' recovery needs.


Saturday, 3/1/25: 1pm-4pm
Workshop Title: Training Counselors to Uncover Grief: Tools for Revealing Hidden Layers in Client Work
Presented By: Katie Atkins, PhD, LPC (WI), LPC (IL), NCC, ACS, PEL: School Counseling, CAGCS and Sonya Lorelle, PhD, LCPC, NCC, RPT-S
Description: In many counseling sessions, grief remains unspoken or hidden beneath other presenting issues, yet it profoundly impacts clients’ well-being and healing processes. This workshop, Training Counselors to Uncover Grief: Tools for Revealing Hidden Layers in Client Work, equips counselors with innovative strategies and tools to identify and address unrecognized grief in their clients. Participants will explore the nuances of grief that may be stigmatized, minimized, or masked by other emotions and behaviors. Through interactive exercises, case studies, and practical techniques, counselors will learn to create safe spaces that encourage clients to surface unspoken losses, fostering a more holistic approach to healing. This session is ideal for those seeking to deepen their capacity to support clients through the complex layers of grief, loss, and healing.