AGENDA

This panel presentation will provide an overview of what peer run respite is, some background history, and how it can benefit individual experiencing emotional distress. An ample opportunity for questions will be provided.

Paula Verrett holds an MSW from UW Oshkosh and is a Certified Peer Specialist.  As a survivor/thriver, she has a particular interest in trauma and mental health and is the Director of NAMI Fox Valley’s Iris Place Peer Run Respite. 

Autumn Shaffer has been a certified peer specialist, since 2010, with SOAR Case management Inc. in Madison Wi. . Autumn’s passion for her work comes from her belief that recovery is possible, with the support of others who have lived experience, through hope and empowerment.

Caitlin Clifford is currently the House Manager at Solstice House Peer Run Respite in Madison, WI. Caitlin is new to the Certified Peer Specialist community having previously held a job as a Case Manager at SOAR Case Management Services, INC. 

The experiences as an activist, minister, and trauma survivor all inform Victoria Welle’s current work of creating space for healing as Program Director of Monarch House Peer Run Respite in Menomonie, Wisconsin. 

Amanda Farrell is a certified peer specialist, a  survivor living with PTSD and works at Nami Fox Valleys Iris Place as a peer companion.

More information to come on Paula Verrett.

Reach Counseling with the assistance of Dynamic Family Solutions has designed and developed a program that directly addresses the issues of sexting amongst our youth. Will discuss how the program is now being utilized as a Diversion Program within Winnebago County to help offer an educational approach to sexting versus a punitive one.

Bryan Wright, BA in Criminal Justice, is the half time Prevention Educator with Reach Counseling and half time with Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services. Bryan has worked to develop several programs over the years, including the Family Dynamics Program.  Through Christine Ann, he has developed curricula for students grades 1-12, and a six week program addressing anger and aggression in teens.  

Elizabeth Van Abel, MA in Counseling, is a Prevention Education Coordinator at Reach Counseling  educating youth and adults around topics of sexual and dating violence with a message of empowering individuals  who have been impacted by sexual violence.

This workshop examines how and why it is beneficial to adhere to Trauma Informed Care (TIC) approaches and will explore pathways to overcome barriers to trauma informed responding. This presentation will include discussion on how operating from a TIC framework adheres to potential responsivity barriers consistent with the Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) Model. Clinician and system responsibilities will be considered including the prioritization of self-care.

Brook Seume, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Edgewood College. While working at SRSTC, Brook developed and implemented curriculum aimed at helping patients understand how shame relates to sexual offending risk factors. 

This presentation will describe research on the role of perceived control in coping with stress and recovering from trauma, including an empirically-supported web and smart phone interventions developed to help survivors focus on what they can control.

Dr Patricia Frazier is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Minnesota. She has written extensively on the psychological effects of trauma with a focus on resilience and growth as well as technology-based interventions.

Trauma informed yoga and why it’s so effective. Attendees will be able to experience the benefits of yoga through a trauma informed perspective and will gain a general view of how the science can be effectively used as a resource for those suffering from trauma.

Peggy Brinkman is a middle school Counselor in the Appleton Area School District, has a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, a Masters Degree in Counseling and a specialist license in School Counseling. She is also a Certified Yoga Teacher and a Trauma Sensitive Schools facilitator in the Appleton Area School District.

If you are healing from trauma or in the role of helping others heal it is essential you understand how the brain responds and reacts to trauma over time. Trauma interferes with the rhythmic balance of nervous system actions. Dr. Ford will discuss this process and ways toward healing. 

Dr Julian D. Ford, Ph.D., is a board certified clinical psychologist and tenured Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and School of Law where he is the Principal Investigator and Director of two Treatment and Services Adaptation Centers in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. 

This presentation will focus on understanding trauma and the effects on sex trafficking individuals, how trauma and exposure to violence/sexual violence affects the brain and decision-making process, and how to build a better Trauma-Informed care response at your agency.

Nancy Irizarry, LCSW, has been in the Social Services field for 35 years, providing services in: community programming, mental-health care, child welfare, cultural and Hispanic outreach services, migrant and refugee services, legal immigration, special needs services, Corrections and is providing services within the Department of Health and Human Services. She is currently the Social Services Director at the Wisconsin Resource Center.

Brainspotting is a powerful, focused brain/body relational psychotherapy method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of challenging symptoms. This presentation will explore how the brain regulates itself through the attachment cycle, how trauma impedes this process and how Brainspotting can support a person’ s neurobiology in moving from dysregulation to regulation.

Cherie Lindberg LPC, NCC, is the owner of Get Connected Counseling & Consulting, LLC. She has been in the counseling field for more than 20 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, Brainspotting Trainer & Consultant. She is also certified in Imago Relationship Therapy and trained in EMDR. 

This presentation will describe research on the role of perceived control in coping with stress and recovering from trauma, including an empirically-supported web and smart phone interventions developed to help survivors focus on what they can control.

Patricia Frazier is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Minnesota. She has written extensively on the psychological effects of trauma with a focus on resilience and growth as well as technology-based interventions.

Trauma informed care can be defined in many different ways, which include both philosophy and practices. At SaintA, we believe the following elements are helpful in understanding what trauma informed care is and how to implement it.

Michael Joranger, LCSW, is a Staff Development Coordinator at SaintA, where he brings the organization’s Trauma Informed Care philosophy to a wider audience.  Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint John’s University and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

This workshop will be a blend of experiential practice and an examination of Mindfulness-based therapies as evidenced-based practices. Participants will experience movement-based and sitting meditation practices. The literature regarding beneficial neurobiological changes promoted by mindfulness practice will be reviewed and some cautions identified. Application of these practices in the treatment of trauma will be addressed as will the role of mindfulness practices in promoting resilience and self-care for clinicians.

Susan McDonald, PsyD, is the owner and president of Community Psychological Services, LLC (est. 1996). She is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked with criminal justice populations and the issues of interpersonal violence, sexual violence, gender inequity, and trauma for 37 years. She has worked with clients who perpetrated acts of sexual and interpersonal violence in various settings – state and federal prisons, forensic hospital, community based corrections, and outpatient therapy programs. 

The research done by Robert Enright and colleagues with Forgiveness Therapy as treatment for numerous kinds of traumatic unjust wounds (child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, infidelity, divorce, and bullying, for some examples) has demonstrated the wonderful and statistically significant relief of pain, toxic anger, depression, and anxiety along with increases in self-esteem, empathy, meaning, and hope. 

Dr. Gayle Reed, a former psychiatric nurse, received a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 2004 in Educational Psychology. Dr. Reed’s research on forgiveness has demonstrated that a forgiveness recovery program resulted in psychological benefits for women with a history of spousal psychological abuse.

Brainspotting is a powerful, focused brain/body relational psychotherapy method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of challenging symptoms. This presentation will explore how the brain regulates itself through the attachment cycle, how trauma impedes this process and how Brainspotting can support a person’ s neurobiology in moving from dysregulation to regulation.

Cherie Lindberg, LPC, NCC, is the owner of Get Connected Counseling & Consulting, LLC. She has been in the counseling field for more than 20 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, Brainspotting Trainer & Consultant. She is also certified in Imago Relationship Therapy and trained in EMDR. 

Religion or spirituality may provide a source of support or a source of shame and guilt for trauma survivors. This session will explore ways in which a client’s religious or spiritual beliefs help them find meaning and move toward healing or may exacerbate their traumatic symptoms and prolong recovery. The religious or spiritual beliefs of the service provider may influence service delivery.

Arnitta Arnitta is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Speaker, Educator, Consultant. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Law Studies as well as a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University. 

Trauma informed care can be defined in many different ways, which include both philosophy and practices. At SaintA, we believe the following elements are helpful in understanding what trauma informed care is and how to implement it.

Michael Joranger, LCSW, is a Staff Development Coordinator at SaintA, where he brings the organization’s Trauma Informed Care philosophy to a wider audience.  Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint John’s University and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

Laura will offer a compelling mix of personal insight, cutting-edge research, personal stories, and countless New Yorker cartoons to help us understand the cumulative toll of being exposed to suffering over time and gain the skills needed to reconcile it.  

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, MS, is the founder and director of The Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of Trauma Stewardship:  An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others. 

Wright to Heal: Writing can be a powerful tool for healing. This workshop will weave storytelling, advocacy, and empowerment to put tools for healing into the hands of survivors.

Karen Iverson Riggers, CPS, is a writer, survivor, advocate, entrepreneur, and community volunteer. She owns two business, Reinvent Ferment founded in 2018 with her partner Eric, and a nonprofit consulting practice. She was most recently the founding director of Iris Place, the first peer run respite in the state of Wisconsin. 

Developed by Dr. David Berceli (Tension, Stress & Trauma Release Exercise) is a series of 7 exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. A practice, that safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating, releasing muscular tension, and calming the nervous system. Reported benefits include: better sleep, decreases anxiety, raises resilience, decreases reactivity, more energy, helps with PTSD symptoms.

Christine Varnavas’, MS, E-RYT, TRE Provider, 30-year professional background in education and training and her passion for fitness and wellness blend together in her work. Both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees are from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She believes deeply that the body is the missing piece for some of us attempting to heal, work through challenges and understand ourselves.

What is post traumatic slave syndrome and why can’t people just “get over it?” How does historical trauma have contemporary impact on community and how do micro-aggressions perpetuate racial trauma?

Marijke van Roojen, MPH works with the non-profit Fit Oshkosh, Inc., Because Race Matters, a racial literacy organization in Wisconsin, as the white half of a cross-race consulting and training team. She is an Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator (https://idiinventory.com/) and also serves as the Program Coordinator for a youth to youth Leadership initiative (Y2Y Advocates for Justice at Oshkosh West High School) focused on gender-based violence prevention, using a race equity and intersectional lens.

Tracey Robertson is Cofounder and Executive Director of Fit Oshkosh, Inc., a grassroots, nonprofit social justice organization whose mission is to promote social transformation through Color-Brave conversations, education, advocacy, and research in order to achieve race equity and justice within the community.

Dogs have an amazing ability to help those who have experienced trauma. However, a PTSD Service Dog is only one alternative to consider. This session will explore what tasks a service dog, emotional support dog or therapy dog can perform and how the skills may provide assistance. The session will end with a discussion of criteria to use to indicate if a dog might be beneficial as well as when the responsibilities of a dog might be counterproductive.

Brenda Cirricione is Cofounder and President of Journey Together Service Dog Inc., a 501(c)3 that raises, trains and matches Service Dogs for WI Residents with PTSD. Brenda has assisted with the training and/or placement of over 25 service dog teams as well as dogs that are working as facility dogs or therapy dogs. 

Presentation is on healing trauma from a client’s point of view and also shares resources of the nonprofit Healing TREE, which was founded as an extension of the speaker’s healing process. Participants should walk away with tools to help build resiliency, a better understanding of a client’s perspective on how it feels to be severely traumatized and then to process that trauma and a better understanding of the blocks their clients may be facing and what they can do to help.

Marissa Ghavami is an actor, singer, voice over artist, model, creator and advocate. As an advocate, she is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit Healing TREE (Trauma Resources, Education & Empowerment), which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming how society responds to abuse and interpersonal trauma. 

[www.marissaghavami.com]   [instagram.com/marissaghavami ]   [www.healingtreenonprofit.org]   [instagram.com/healingtreeorg ]

This presentation will include what it means to be trauma informed, how to identify Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the impact they have on students success. You will discuss ways to support trauma sensitive practices and compassion-resilience for staff.

Dr Mike Altekruse, Ph.D. has been the Mental Health Coordinator at Neenah Joint School District since 2015. He graduated from Indiana University in 1993 with his doctorate in Counseling Psychology. 

In this two-part workshop, participants will gain a better understanding of the impacts of historical trauma on behaviors today. Through an assessment called the trauma web, participants will examine generational life experiences and connect it to the cycles we continue to see play out in our families and communities. Healing is the answer to trauma and the workshop will include strategies for healing at the individual, family and community levels. The workshop will be highly interactive, engaging and filled with tools to transcend trauma.

Theda New Breast, Blackfeet Ceremonial Society Member, MPH, is a founding board member and master trainer/facilitator for the Native Wellness Institute (NWI). She is one of the pioneers in the Native training field and an original committee member for the Men’s and Women’s Wellness gatherings.

What is post traumatic slave syndrome and why can’t people just “get over it?” How does historical trauma have contemporary impact on community and how do micro-aggressions perpetuate racial trauma?

Marijke van Roojen, MPH, works with the non-profit Fit Oshkosh, Inc., Because Race Matters, a racial literacy organization in Wisconsin, as the white half of a cross-race consulting and training team. She is an Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator (https://idiinventory.com/) and also serves as the Program Coordinator for a youth to youth Leadership initiative (Y2Y Advocates for Justice at Oshkosh West High School) focused on gender-based violence prevention, using a race equity and intersectional lens.

Tracey Robertson is Cofounder and Executive Director of FIT Oshkosh, Inc., a grassroots, nonprofit social justice organization whose mission is to promote social transformation through Color-Brave conversations, education, advocacy, and research in order to achieve race equity and justice within the community.

Adverse childhood experience(s) that occurred in the context of a child/caregiver relationship often results in complex trauma. Building secure relational patterns is essential on the journey of healing from complex trauma.

Nicole Milliren, MS, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Her focus is brain development, Trauma Informed Care, attachment disruptions for children and relational health over the lifespan.

Participants will learn about with the data collected at statewide Pridefests regarding intimate partner, sexual and hate violence tells us including data from the first large scale survey to look at hookup violence.

Kathy Flores started her career at Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 1993 focused on diversity and inclusion. Over the past 25 years, Kathy has worked in corporate, non-profit and government work. She helped start Harmony Café in Appleton as its first program director. She has worked in the anti-violence movement since 2002 when working for Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs and then founding the Fox Valley LGBTQ Anti-Violence Project.

Utilizing music therapy and art therapy in the treatment of trauma.

Sara Devine MT-BC, NMT-Member, LCSW is founder of Expressive Therapies LLC. Sara has 20 years of experience working with individuals and groups combining her passions of music and positive mental health together in her approach to optimize potential and promote wellness! 

In this two-part workshop, participants will gain a better understanding of the impacts of historical trauma on behaviors today. Through an assessment called the trauma web, participants will examine generational life experiences and connect it to the cycles we continue to see play out in our families and communities. Healing is the answer to trauma and the workshop will include strategies for healing at the individual, family and community levels. The workshop will be highly interactive, engaging and filled with tools to transcend trauma.

Theda New Breast, Blackfeet Ceremonial Society Member, MPH, is a founding board member and master trainer/facilitator for the Native Wellness Institute (NWI). She is one of the pioneers in the Native training field and an original committee member for the Men’s and Women’s Wellness gatherings.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers. Attendees of this session will receive an overview of this highly effective treatment model, as well as ideas for activities and tools that can be used for implementing each component of the treatment protocol.

Kim Hlavka, LPC, SAC, NCC, CCTP, Certified TF-CBT Therapist, is a therapist and clinic manager at Reach Counseling Services, where she has specialized in treating adolescents and adults with complex trauma issues for the past 11 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a Nationally Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Therapist.  

Adverse childhood experience(s) that occurred in the context of a child/caregiver relationship often results in complex trauma. Building secure relational patterns is essential on the journey of healing from complex trauma.

Nicole Milliren, MS, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Her focus is brain development, Trauma Informed Care, attachment disruptions for children and relational health over the lifespan.