WFBSA 2026
Save the Date!
April 29 - May 1

April 29th Keynote 10am-12pm

Andrew J. Schreier Clinical Director, ICS, CSAC, LPC, ICGC-II, BACC: Engagement & Retention: Strengthening Counseling and Treatment Outcomes

Engaging individuals in counseling and retaining them in treatment are ongoing challenges, particularly when working with co-occurring mental health and substance
use disorders. This breakout session explores evidence-based strategies for improving both engagement and retention by leveraging the critical role of family systems.
Participants will examine how family dynamics can either support or hinder treatment progress and learn practical approaches for involving families in ways that strengthen
relationships, increase motivation, and sustain recovery. The session emphasizes culturally responsive and person-centered practices that foster trust, improve communication, and reduce barriers to care. Whether you’re a counselor, clinical supervisor, or program director, this session provides actionable tools to enhance both individual and family engagement, leading to improved treatment
outcomes and long-term recovery success.​

​

April 29th Breakout Sessions 1pm-3pm​​

Carly Wallace, PsyD: Understanding the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

At least 70% of individuals experience a traumatic event in their lifetime. Research has shown early childhood trauma has adverse effects on a child's mental health, but also their physical health, as evidenced by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs). Despite the evidence supporting this claim, many individuals are unaware of the impact of ACEs on both physical and mental health. This session will highlight the significant impact ACEs have on individuals and their family systems. Additionally, participants will be able to identify specific interventions that can be implemented to help individuals who have experienced multiple ACEs. ​​

​

Andrew J Schreier: Breaking the Silos: Integrating Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, and Substance Use
Disorder Treatment Through a Family-Centered Lens

Mental health and substance use disorders often intersect in complex ways, yet treatment approaches frequently address them in isolation. This session explores the
importance of addressing anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders concurrently; and not just for individuals, but for the families who are impacted
alongside them. Participants will examine how these conditions affect family systems, communication, and relationships while learning evidence-based strategies to integrate
care and foster a holistic approach to recovery. The session provides practical tools for engaging both individuals and their families in treatment, highlighting how family involvement can improve outcomes and sustain long-term recovery. Whether you're a counselor, supervisor, clinical director, or community organizer, this session will equip you with actionable insights to break down treatment silos, enhance engagement, and strengthen family resilience in the face of co-occurring conditions.​

​

Jesse Jonesberg: Neuro-Affirming Care

This training will provide learners with a foundational understanding of the neurodiversity paradigm and how it can be incorporated into their practice. Concepts from Macro MI,
Liberation Psychology, Trauma Informed Care, and Cultural Humility will also be woven throughout the training. By the end of this training each learner will understand what neuro-affirming care is, how it fits within MI practice. Participants will walk away with tangible skills and resources to start their practice and continued development. Neuroaffirming care is not a specific modality of therapy like CBT, DBT, or EMDR. Rather it is a broader term used to describe a way of working with individuals that honors neurodiversity in the helping realtionship and
helping interventions. Much like trauma informed care (TIC) or cultural humility (CH), neuroaffirming care seeks to inform how we view, think about, and interact with the person we are serving from a place of acceptance. Neuroaffirming care challenges the idea of a “normal” way of being, growing, healing, or recovering. It instead seeks to honor the natural differences that humans have in how we think, communicate, feel, and experience the world. Through this acceptance, we are able to create a relationship where the individual feels free to take off their mask and show up with genuineness in their healing and recovery. The neurodiversity paradigm originated among the autism community, but this paradigm has since expanded to include the many ways in which neuro differences are common and natural among humans. Diversity in brains is a feature and not a bug among our human species. Neuroaffirming care seeks to embrace folks with
formal neurotype identities (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Dyslexia, etc.) as well as informal identities (such as being “awkward” or “weird,” etc.). By accepting and honoring these differences we can avoid an approach of trying to “fix” others, and we can avoid unintentionally enforcing compliance to a fictitious neurotypical normalcy.

​

April 29th Breakout Sessions 3pm-5pm

Andrew J Schreier: Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Family-Centered
Perspective for Helping Professionals

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is one of the most effective, evidence-based approaches for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), yet it is often misunderstood and

stigmatized—even among helping professionals. This session provides a foundational understanding of MAT, clarifying its role in recovery, reducing stigma, and exploring its

impact on both individuals and families. Participants will gain insight into how MAT supports long-term recovery, what medications are used, and why family education and involvement are crucial for improving outcomes. The session emphasizes practical strategies to engage families in supporting a loved one on MAT, addressing common myths, and fostering a more

compassionate, informed approach to care.

​​

Sean M. Inderbitzen, DSW, LCSW: Understanding autistic like behavior through the nervous system

​This presentation is for families and practitioners, and designed to be engaging and collaborative. Learning will be delivered in an experiential, dydactic, and conversational/socratic method, 
and will focuse on ‘autistic-like’ presentations of behaviors through the lens of the nervous system. To do this we will review presenations across diagnosis’ on what appear to be autistic like behaviors: 1. restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest or behavior, and 2. difficulty with social connection, withe emphasis on verbal and noverbal social communication. To make sense of these ‘autistic-like’ behaviors we will discuss the three principles of polyvagal theory (neuroception, hierarchal organization of the nervous system, and co-regulation), and understand these behaviors through a Polyvagal lens. Finally we will explore ways for families to intervene using strategies called applied neural exercises from Dr. Inderbitzen’s book Autism in Polyvagal Theory, with specific attention to evidence based practices from mindfulness and sensorimotor psychotherapy. 

​

Michelle Vande Hei: Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) Principles & Practice for Direct Service Providers

​To address compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout, participants are experientially guided through the principles of TCTSY: 1) Invitational Language, 2) Choice Making, 3) Interception, 4) Shared Authentic Experience, 5) Noncoercion. Embracing these principles supports providers to practice self-care and care for their clients.

​

April 30th Keynote 9am-12pm

Shawn Smith: Healing Focused Care: The Origin, What, Why, and How

In this keynote, we will share the origins, intentions and evidence base for Healing Focused Care as an integrated matrix of approaches including: Trauma Awareness, Motivational Interviewing (MI) as a trauma-informed communication style, Team Wellness (to address compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, and burnout), and Reflective Supervision. As desired, we are happy to incorporate Cultural Humility as well. We will conclude with the importance of an implementation mindset and simple pathways to integrating a Healing Focused Care approach.

​​

​

April 30th Ethics and Boundaries 1pm-5pm

Dana Johnson: The Future is Here: Ethical What If's of Artificial Intelligence in the Helping Professions

A.I. is here and evolving quickly. We will explore how we interact and use technology at present and examine the future in how tech is moving towards generative A.I. and evolving towards Artificial General Intelligence. We will examine morality tied to the use of A.I. to solve complex human social problems, while maintaining individual rights. How will we address the impact A.I. will have on the families we serve? How will A.I. help us professionally be more adept in our work? How will we serve populations whose reality is based on relationships with machines - - are those relationships real or artificial? Lastly, we will explore the crisis of geopolitical conflicts, income inequality, climate and mental health challenges, and the role of hope in our future interventions. Let’s explore the ‘what if’s’ together.​​

​

​

April 30th Breakout Sessions 1pm-3pm

Nick Dillon, MS, MA: Self-Preservation and Self-Care: The Foundation of Resilient Families and Communities

In community-based practice, family services, and behavioral health, the ability to support others begins with the ability to support yourself. This session explores how intentional self-preservation and self-care are not selfish acts, but strategic investments in the resilience of families and the community system. Drawing from neuro-science, emotional intelligence, and practical frameworks, participants will discover how to shift from burnout, compassion fatigue, and overwhelm toward vitality, sustainability, and thriving. This presentation demonstrates how supporting one’s own wellbeing strengthens capacity to serve families, reinforces teamwork, and fosters a community culture of mutual care, the very heart of being “Stronger Together.”

​

Shawn Smith: Addressing the Implicit Power Imbalance in Service Relationships Part 1

During this presentation, we will experientially explore: 1) How to address the implicit power imbalance in service relationships by sharing information and educating in partnership. 2) Our own values to ensure we are maintaining healthy boundaries and avoid implicitly foisting our values onto those we serve. 3) How to leverage a served person's values to develop discrepancy regarding decision making and/or behavior change while respecting their self-ascribed identity.

​​​

April 30th Breakout Sessions 3pm-5pm

​

Maggie Sutton: It's Not Always Lights and Sirens: Social Work in the Fire Service An Innovative Approach in Community Risk Reduction 

Traditionally, fire departments have focused on responding to emergencies — lights, sirens, and immediate crisis intervention. However, not all calls for service can be solved with fire suppression or medical care alone. Increasingly, social and behavioral health factors such as aging, substance use, mental health challenges, homelessness, and hoarding are driving repeat 911 calls and placing strain on emergency systems. In this session, participants will explore how integrating social work into the fire service can transform community risk reduction. Drawing from her experience building the Greenfield Fire-Rescue case management program from the ground up, Maggie Sutton, CSW, will share real-world insights on bridging gaps between emergency response and social services. Attendees will learn how a trauma-informed, person-centered approach can reduce high utilizers, enhance collaboration across public safety and health departments, and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents​

​

Shawn Smith: Addressing the Implicit Power Imbalance in Service Relationships Part 2

During this presentation, we will experientially explore: 1) How to address the implicit power imbalance in service relationships by sharing information and educating in partnership. 2) Our own values to ensure we are maintaining healthy boundaries and avoid implicitly foisting our values onto those we serve. 3) How to leverage a served person's values to develop discrepancy regarding decision making and/or behavior change while respecting their self-ascribed identity.

​

​

May 1st Keynote 9am-12pm

​​

Nick Dillon, MS, MA: Stronger Together, Building Resilient Communities

Resiliency is not built in comfort; it is forged in crisis. In this dynamic keynote presentation, participants will explore how the BELIEVE acrostic, rooted in breakthrough, emergence, reflection, influence, endurance, value, and essential identity, becomes a roadmap for strengthening individuals and communities during challenging times. Drawing from the expertise of Nicholas Dillon, our speaker, this highly interactive engagement guides participants to confront barriers, extract wisdom from adversity, activate personal and collective influence, and cultivate the endurance required for long term resilience. Attendees will examine the value they bring to their communities and understand why their presence, voice, and contribution remain essential in times of disruption. Through experiential activities, reflective exercises, and group collaboration, participants will leave equipped with a renewed mindset, practical tools for crisis navigation, and an empowered belief that communities grow stronger when individuals rise together.

​