The mental health crisis of youth and children is staggering. This presentation analyzes patterns and timing of precipitating events in 10,000 youth suicide deaths, focusing on key events and relationships that preceded these tragedies. Through comprehensive data...
Workshop Tracks
605 | Interrupting the Cycle of Addiction: Building Emotion Regulation Strategies for Compulsive Sexual Behaviors
Recent research on compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and problematic porn use (PPU) shows that difficulties in emotional regulation are strongly correlated with both the development and severity of these behaviors (Wizla & Lewcsuk, 2024; Lew-Starowicz et al.,...
606 | Going Beyond “The Talk:” Training Parents, Pastors, and Counselors on Key Age-Appropriate Conversations about Sexuality and Gender from a Biblical Worldview
Young adults, teens, and children cannot escape the sexual indoctrination, invitation, and allure of an “anything goes” sexual ethic. It is imperative to help these young willing Chrisitan clients develop a biblical sexual ethic that is uncompromising, grace-filled,...
607 | Secure Base in Marriage: Building Attachment Bonds in the First Three Years for Marital Longevity
In the past, counselors and ministry leaders often addressed the “7-Year Itch,’ a trend showing a spike in divorces at the seven-year mark. Today, however, couples are ending their marriages much sooner, often within the first three years. Psychologists, licensed...
610 | Too Little, Too Big: Emotional Regulation for Little People with Big Feelings
Using a trauma-informed approach, this workshop will explore the importance of emotional regulation through Erikson’s stages of development, attachment theory, neurophysiology, limbic system responses, and polyvagal states. It aims to increase knowledge about...
612 | Holy Secure -The 7 S’s of Secure Attachment
A debate has arisen among licensed mental health professionals between the focus on interconnectedness in Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and the individuality and self-reliance emphasized in Bowen’s concept of differentiation. In this workshop, licensed mental health...
614 | Play God’s Way: The integration of Faith and Play Therapy
Play is widely recognized as the natural language of children (Cochran et al., 2024), serving as a critical medium for emotional expression, cognitive development, and social learning. Empirical research demonstrates that play fosters problem-solving skills, emotional...
518 | Theistic Integration in Complex PTSD Treatment
Clients raised in abusive or neglectful environments may develop complex PTSD, resulting in deep psychological wounds (McCutchen et al., 2022). According to some willing Chrisitan clients, effective healing requires a Christ-centered, evidence-based approach across...
519 | Connection Matters: The Impact of Attachment on Individual Motivation, Performance, Resilience, and Flourishing in Sports and Life
There’s no question that the sporting arena has become an important and essential aspect of every culture and society. In this age of a sports explosion, individuals now use sports as a source of entertainment, pleasure, and opportunity to give meaning to one’s...
504 | Navigating Self-Injury and Suicidality: The Intersection of Assessment, Faith, and Holistic Care
Given the prevalence of hopelessness and depression in today’s culture, many people of all ages struggle with self-injurious behaviors or suicidality. This workshop is designed for licensed mental health professionals, and ministry leaders seeking to better understand...