September 8th, 2023- Identifying and Diagnosing Substance Use Disorders

Speaker: Kemeako Dillard-Sullivan, LPC/S, LAC

 

Bio: Kemeako Dillard-Sullivan, LPC/S, LAC, CS is a native of Greenville, SC. Kemeako completed her
undergraduate at USC Upstate and graduate level at Webster University. She is the Clinical
Supervisor/Services Coordinator at Anderson-Oconee Behavioral Health and Affiliate Therapist with
Renewal Life Counseling, LLC. Kemeako’s background of clinical work extends from working with
individuals with substance use disorders, dual diagnoses, trauma, and mental health issues. Kemeako is
passionate about helping new clinicians in counseling become competent in the areas where they may
struggle. She affirms that “to reach one is to teach one.”

 

This training is designed to help counselors understand and develop a skill set with diagnosing clients
with substance use disorders and creative ways to help their patient navigate to recovery. Through this
training attendees will get some hands-on experience through discussions on substance use, two case
studies to diagnose, and apply a therapeutic intervention to use.
Learning objectives
I. Explore myths about alcohol and drug use as well as working with this population.
II. Identify commonly used drugs.
III. Examine the DSM-5-TR 11 substance use criteria with severity levels and specifiers.
IV. Learn creative therapeutic interventions to use with clients.

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October 13th 2023 - Strategic planning life skills for adults in training

Speaker: Debra A. King, PhD, LPC, LPCS, LCMHC, NCC, LAC, CEAP

 

Now Licensed as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia and a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, Dr. King began her career working with severely emotionally disturbed children, earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia and progressed to become a psychology professor. Dr. King is in full-time private practice and has expertise in grant writing, practice management, healthcare administration, clinical supervision, undergraduate and graduate level teaching, assessment, and individual, group, and family counseling. 

 

Objectives

1. Provide background and rationale for family/parenting tools that support age-appropriate developmental goals for offspring

 

2. Discuss the issues that pertain to helping tweens, preteens, and teens develop a plan for lifelong learning, higher education, or trade school and future career success

 

3. Examine the issues that are the main basis of challenges that this age group will face

 

4. Discuss case studies of outcomes for authoritarian, democratic, and laissez-faire parenting and the impact on adults in training.

 

 

Brief summary 

In South Carolina, children can legally work at the age 14. Some parents have reported that they believe this age is too young or that their children do not seem ready for the responsibilities that are necessary for entering the workforce. This has led to many discussions and conversations about how to help children gain readiness.

 

More and more parents have reported that they’re very concerned that their children may not be learning some of the life skills and lessons needed to navigate a successful life in the future, but the conflict has occasionally occurred in that the children are not responsive to the parental discipline, house rules and requests of their home life. Parents have sought professional guidance to address these concerns.

 

One of our professional recommendations is for parents to help the children develop an adulting plan to improve communication, reduce conflict, and put in motion a proactive approach towards helping the children plan for what is ahead. This workshop will include real-life experiences of parents and present various tools that professionals can use to assist concerned parents with their process — helping their offspring — future adults, move into adulthood with less stress.

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November 10th, 2023- Transgenerational Trauma: The Burdens That We Are Not Meant to Carry

Presenter: Terance Dawkins LISW-CP

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Speaker Biography:

Terance Dawkins is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Independent Social Worker-Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Terance achieved both his Undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Social Work from Winthrop University, empowering him with the knowledge and skills to excel in his profession. He holds dual licenses as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in South Carolina and North Carolina, reflecting his commitment to providing exceptional care across state lines. Terance is deeply connected to his roots, having grown up in the very community where he now operates his own private practice, Missing Pieces Counseling Services. Terance's aspirations reach beyond his private practice; he also works at the Counseling Center at Furman University, where he continues to touch lives and make a difference. Terance sits on the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Advisory Board and a non profit entitled Wellness & Recover Retreats. Terance recognizes the profound impact of family interactions and daily experiences on one's beliefs and life lessons. This realization sparked his interest in Transgenerational Trauma, inspiring him to explore its implications across multiple generations. Destigmatizing mental health is a core belief for Terance, and he aims to break down self-imposed barriers that prevent individuals from seeking essential mental health services.

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Objectives:

1. Define and identify transgenerational trauma.

2. Explore attachment styles that influence generational cycles.

3. Evaluate how behavior and language impact self-beliefs and perceptions of the environment; understand how these factors inform interpersonal interaction.

4. Examine and integrate strategies that aid in interrupting generational trauma.

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Summary:

Generations of slavery have caused African Americans to develop survival skill that was once utilized for survival but now leads to generational trauma, which impacts our daily lives. Through the historical lens of the African American experience with slavery and oppression, I would like to discuss further and evaluate how the behaviors, language, and covert teachings once developed for survival have impacted self-beliefs and perception of the world. Additionally, transgenerational trauma affects how attachments are formed, and these attachments can influence how future generations are raised and the teachings they will learn. To reduce this impact and break this cycle, strategies can be utilized to not only rid ourselves of the burdens that are not ours to carry but also to help free future generations from repeated traumas.  

Keywords: slavery, racial trauma, discrimination, oppression, segregation​

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December 8th, 2023 - BIG MESSY COURAGE: How Cultivating Creativity Can Bring Healing and Order to Complex Trauma

Speaker: Cheryl L. Childers, LISW-CPS, RPT, ATR-BC, LPC, CDWF

Location: In- Person, 

Address: 1527 Wade Hampton Blvd.

Greenville, SC 29609 

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Bio: Cheryl is a board certified art therapist and play therapist and certified daring way(TM) facilitator. She is available for utilizing these therapeutic approaches in your healing journey. Cheryl provides clinical supervision to social workers in NC, SC AND AK, and Counselors in SC. Cheryl is a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator and conducts  The Daring Way™ and Rising Strong™ workshops based on the research of Brené Brown. In 2020, Cheryl received her full Registered Play Therapy (RPT) credential from the Association for Play Therapy, and her full Registered Art Therapist (ATR) from the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
Lastly, in 2022, Cheryl completed the approved 40-hour Family Court Mediation Certification Training through the South Carolina Bar.
Cheryl is the owner and psychotherapist of Beauty for Ashes Counseling, LLC. She is licensed to practice clinical social work independently in  SC, NC, and AK. She is a clinical supervisor for master-level social workers in AK, NC, and SC, and a Licensed Professional Counselor supervisor candidate in SC.

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Being creative is not about what we do or produce—it's about who we are and how we got here. It's a
sharing of our soul. If that isn't frightening or messy, I don't know what is—Except for trauma work-Now
that's frightening and messy. Both take a great deal of vulnerability and a whole lot of courage.
Join art therapist Cheryl Childers in this interactive, experiential workshop exploring the relationship
between Cultivating Creativity and healing from complex trauma.
Gather your fear and your courage, and together we will get messy learning ways of cultivating

Creativity through an art experience that will promote internal and external self-expression, self-
awareness, and self-compassion.

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Art supplies are to be provided, but feel free to bring your own!

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• Participants will be able to describe the role of Courage, Shame, Resilience, and Vulnerability in

Cultivating Creativity and how they can promote self-compassion, self-empathy, and self-
acceptance in complex trauma.

• Participants will be able to name at least three ways they can cultivate Creativity in their
therapeutic journey/practice to reduce trauma reactions and to facilitate mind-body approaches
that integrate with trauma-informed practices.
• Participants will be able to list two or more creative interventions that explore internal
processes, dialogues, and dynamics while supporting trauma-informed care, integration, and
recovery with dissociative clients.
• Participants will engage in an interactive, experiential art process introducing creative
interventions supportive of trauma-informed care, integration, and recovery.