2026 Keynote Speaker: Katie K. May is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and group practice owner. She founded Creative Healing, a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area, and wrote the #1 Amazon best-seller You’re On Fire, It’s Fine. Her second book, Teen DBT in Practice teaches clinicians her framework for treating high-risk teens. Katie is one of the few Linehan Board Certified DBT Clinicians in Pennsylvania, which is the gold standard treatment for self-harm and suicidal behaviors. She equips parents and clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to decode behavior as survival and create lasting change.

Dr. Rachel Paige Feldwisch, PhD, MA, LMHC, ATR-BC is a faculty member and Interim Dean at the University of Indianapolis. She earned an M.A. in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an M.S.Ed. in Counseling and Counselor Education from IU Indianapolis, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University—Bloomington. She is a licensed school counselor and LMHC. Dr. Feldwisch has primarily worked with adolescents, young adults, and women, specializing in the treatment of trauma and disordered eating.

Jama Diener is currently pursuing her master's degree in mental health counseling at the University of Indianapolis. Before earning her master's degree, she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Indianapolis and worked as a third-grade teacher for four years. She is currently an intern at Integrative Wellness, where she works at an outpatient facility with youth and adolescents.

Makayla Grimes is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Indianapolis. Her research interests focus on how technological advancements influence mental health. Makayla serves as the President of the Counseling Student Organization, where she advocates for student engagement and professional development. She is committed to empowering her future clients with a person-centered approach, and integrating evidence-based skills gained through her academic training and internship experiences.

Megan Flinn, PhD, LMHC, is an Assistant Professor and the Practicum and Internship Coordinator in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. Dr. Flinn holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Indiana. Her professional background spans mental health counseling, non-profit consultation, international consultation, and over a decade of community development work. Dr. Flinn’s research focuses on outcomes in counseling and prevention, alongside qualitative studies related to clinical practice, clinical supervision, and trauma treatment. With extensive experience in counseling and behavioral science, she brings a practical and scholarly lens to mental health education and counselor training. She is dedicated to advancing clinical practices and preparing the next generation of mental health professionals through integrative research and instruction.

Matt Halvorson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Group Psychotherapist. He earned his Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. Before founding Halvorson Counseling, his private practice in Indiana, Matt spent eight years as a therapist at a group practice in Austin, Texas, including three years serving as the Director of the Master’s Internship Program. Matt developed his expertise in group psychotherapy through a year-long co-leadership experience with his mentor, Jev Sikes, and subsequently founded and led two long-term interpersonal process groups, each meeting weekly for more than five and a half years. He currently works with individuals, couples, and groups and provides clinical training and supervision to emerging mental health professionals. His clinical work and teaching are shaped by the belief that meaningful growth happens in connection with others.

Cindi Miller, MS, LCMHC, LMHC, LPCC is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in eating disorders, perfectionism, and the mental health of athletes and high-achieving individuals. She is licensed in North Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio and works with adolescents, collegiate athletes, and adults navigating the intersection of performance culture, body image, and mental health. Prior to becoming a therapist, Cindi spent seven years as a Division I collegiate volleyball coach and has over 15 years of experience coaching athletes across levels while also competing in high-level sports herself. This experience informs her clinical work supporting athletes and high performers whose identities are closely tied to discipline, achievement, and performance environments. Cindi is a speaker and educator who presents on topics including perfectionism in athletes, body image in sport, and mental health in high-performance cultures. She frequently presents to clinicians, athletes, and athletic programs on perfectionism, body image, and mental health in sport. She brings a unique perspective that bridges athletics and psychotherapy, offering clinicians practical tools for supporting athletes and high-achieving clients in eating disorder recovery.

Dr. Angela D. Jackson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Indiana and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois. She is the owner of Culturally Competent Therapy PLLC, a telehealth private practice serving adults, couples, and families through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and faith-integrated counseling approaches. Dr. Jackson earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and brings both clinical and teaching experience to counselor training and development. Her professional interests include career counseling, professional orientation, and identity development in counseling, anxiety, self-compassion, relationship wellness, and leadership development. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Jackson is a speaker and author of The Cultural Awareness Journal. She is passionate about supporting future counselors through practical, relational, and growth-oriented learning experiences.

Suzanne Shonkwiler, LMHC, works as a Licensed Clinician at the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center in the Stabilization, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) program for adults with identified intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Suzanne is passionate about educating counselors on working with neurodiverse populations. Prior to becoming a mental health counselor, Suzanne studied music and music therapy and worked in the special education field. She is also the proud sibling of a young man with Down Syndrome and mother to 3 neurodiverse children. Suzanne brings her knowledge and experience of working in these varied fields and with these special populations into her work in the STARS program.

Bria Atkins, MA, LPC, is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Adler University. Bria brings clinical experience providing therapy to adults presenting with concerns such as depression, anxiety, and substance use across a range of settings, including private practice, residential facilities, and community mental health agencies. Culture is not only central to how Bria understands her clients' stories, but also grounds her research, which aims to enhance clinical practices for Black women's body image concerns. Outside of her professional pursuits, Bria enjoys reading, exploring new restaurants, and traveling.

Rachel Goodwin, LCPC, LMHC, LCAC, CEDS, is an experienced Clinical Director and Psychotherapist with a demonstrated history in the mental healthcare industry, having provided services across every level of care — inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient — at organizations including SunCloud Health and Alera Via Healing Centers. She has specialty training in eating disorders, addiction, and trauma treatment. Rachel is skilled in adolescent and adult therapy, various addictions recovery models, DBT, CPT, and is EMDR trained.

Ron Gardner is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Indiana, with nearly a decade of experience in both community-based settings and private practice. He is the founder, clinical director, and lead therapist of Effective Therapy Services, LLC, where he provides evidence-based therapy to individuals with diverse mental health needs. Ron is passionate about educating, supervising, and providing support to counselors at all stages. Ron believes that effective and intentional supervision leads to skilled clinicians and the best possible client outcomes. Ron believes that therapy should be intentional and that starts with competent counselors who have received the best available supervision. Ron holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision from National Louis University, Florida, and a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. His clinical training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and he holds credentials as a Certified Sexually Abusive Youth Clinician (CSAYC), demonstrating his specialized expertise in working with adolescents exhibiting sexually maladaptive behaviors.

Jessica Kueterman, B.S. (Psychology), is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern completing her master's degree at the University of the Cumberlands. She provides counseling to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, with clinical interests in trauma, personality disorders, attachment, and counselor development. Jessica's work emphasizes integrating evidence-based practice with authentic therapeutic relationships, believing that meaningful connection remains at the heart of effective counseling. Before entering the counseling profession, Jessica worked in education and behavioral intervention, experiences that continue to shape her practical, collaborative approach to working with clients and families. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of counselors and exploring how emerging technologies can enhance, rather than replace, the human elements of the counseling profession. Outside of counseling, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and can usually be found in the kitchen cooking or baking something from scratch. She believes some of the best conversations happen around a shared meal.

Lauren Lehman, MA, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor providing outpatient counseling services for children, adolescents, and adults in Northern Indiana. She also serves as an intake coordinator in an inpatient behavioral health setting, conducting crisis assessments and facilitating access to mental health care. Lauren's clinical interests include perinatal mental health, integrated behavioral health, health psychology, and the relationship between physical and mental health. She is particularly interested in improving collaboration between medical and behavioral health providers to support whole-person care. Lauren is pursuing opportunities for advanced training and research focused on the intersection of psychological and physical health outcomes across the lifespan.

Emily Ervin, MA, LMHC, LPC, NCC is a counselor, counselor educator, clinical supervisor and a current doctoral student. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and a 2025 NBCC Doctoral Minority Fellow. She is currently serving as the President of the Indiana Counseling Association. She is an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University teaching future counselors, and acts as the clinical director at RoundTable Wellness, a multidisciplinary clinic committed to providing client centered, trauma-informed, gender- and weight-inclusive treatment. She is a co-founder of Center for ARFID Training that is focused on training counselors and other disciplines in the treatment of Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Her research is focused on eating disorder assessment development, counselor self-efficacy treating eating disorders, and advocating for clinician education and training in eating disorders.

Angie Arreola, MA, LCPC, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the founder of Benchmark Counseling, a private practice specializing in the treatment of child and adolescent mental health. Angie specializes in the treatment of childhood anxiety, PANS/PANDAS, and OCD and its related disorders. She has expanded her clinical expertise to include the treatment of eating disorders and body image concerns. She also serves as Past President of the Indiana Counseling Association. She is a co-founder of Center for ARFID Training that is focused on training counselors and other disciplines in the treatment of Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

Brooke Randolph, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC, LPCC-S, is a therapist, author, speaker, and trainer passionate about investing in therapists to raise the bar for adoption therapy. She is founder and Executive Director of Counseling at The Green House, a boutique group practice that focuses on working with the adoption constellation, licensed in several states. Her specialties are Adoption Therapy & Brainspotting. She is an Approved Brainspotting Trainer & Consultant, Certified Trauma-Informed by the Attachment & Trauma Network, and a TBRI practitioner. She is a contributing author to Adoption Therapy: Perspectives from Clients and Clinicians on Processing and Healing Post-Adoption Issues (2014), organizing editor of It’s Not About You: Understanding Adoptee Search, Reunion, & Open Adoption (2017), and author of a series of children’s books. She has also authored adoption education materials for parents and therapists Brooke currently serves on the Board of Directors for Adoption Knowledge Affiliates and Mallory’s Mission. She was a founding member of MLJ Adoptions, Inc., where she served as the VP of Social Services for seven years. She was a Young Professionals Advisory Board member for The Villages, which is Indiana’s largest not-for-profit child and family services agency, serving over 1,400 children and their families each day. She was also the Interim Vice President of PR, Outreach, and Communication for KidsFirst Adoption Services. Brooke adopted an older child internationally as a single woman through a pilot program and works to maintain an open inter-country adoption. She is also a kinship care guardian. Brooke is passionate about promoting excellence in therapy, family preservation, and openness in adoption.

Dr. Dominic Augustin PhD, CRC, NCC has professional experience counseling elementary and high school students, crisis counseling, counseling college students, counseling people with disabilities, counseling people from a variety of racial backgrounds, and counseling adults. He also has experience working in a student disability resource office, college counseling clinic, a high school setting as a mental health counselor, and a psychological counseling clinic. He is passionate about supporting historically underrepresented and marginalized clients in spaces where they can improve their material reality such as universities and the work place. He also cares deeply about equipping counselors and counselors in training with the skills they need to make positive impacts in their community.

Spencer G. Murphy, PhD, began his career in mental healthcare as a case manager for a community mental health clinic. Feeling incompetent in his ability to reach his clients before they had experienced profound trauma, he turned to the source of his many referrals, counselors, and figured he would become one to learn how to stop the bleeding. Since entering the field, Dr. Murphy has worked in college counseling centers and community clinics, but a bulk of his experience and expertise is in corrections counseling. Inspired by existential theory, Dr. Murphy strives to understand his clients’ material conditions, and to identify the oppressive structures which are responsible for inflicting trauma so they may be dismantled. To do that, Dr. Murphy fiercely advocates for collective action, state power, and an organized working class. He presently researches the efficacy of client advocacy models and the relationship between counseling and capitalism. Dr. Murphy teaches at Butler University and has held leadership positions within several local and national coalitions, both within and without the field of counseling, such as the National Political Education Committee (NPEC) of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the Legislative Review Committee of the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counseling (IAAOC).

Gerrimy Keiffer, MSW,CSW has been involved in social work for 15 years. He is experienced in several different facets of emerging topics of social work and counseling, namely, video and internet gaming addiction, communication, and disordered gaming. He is the Director of Community Health Evaluations with RiverValley Behavioral Health, an adjunct professor of social work with Brescia University, and the external mental health consultant with Project RICOCHET in Lexington.

Dr. Keith Miller (he/they), MSW, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor and MSW Program Director at the University of Indianapolis in the Phylis Lan Lin School of Social Work and Counseling. Grounded in social epidemiology and social capital frameworks, Dr. Miller’s work bridges clinical practice, community-engaged research, and educational technology to promote health equity. He co-founded Pathway LLC to increase mental health access in Central Indiana and has extensively consulted with state and regional organizations on behavioral health policy, data analysis, and program evaluation. In higher education, Dr. Miller emphasizes liberatory pedagogy and innovative instructional design. He established UIndy’s High-Impact Hybrid Immersion MSW format and actively leads initiatives through the university’s AI Faculty Extenders program, delivering research and training on the ethical integration of AI and LLMs in academic and clinical settings. Dr. Miller holds an MSW and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the Indiana University School of Social Work. His overarching mission is to cultivate community belonging and health equity through relationship, creative innovation, and science.

STEPHANIE T. BURNS, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision at a large Midwestern university with over 18 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor who provides supervision. In addition to teaching master’s and doctoral students about the legal and ethical aspects of clinical counseling practice, she has presented on the legal and ethical aspects of clinical counseling practice regularly over the past 11 years. She has assisted counselors in responding to licensure board complaints and in litigation as an expert witness for 12 years. She has provided forensic psychological mental health evaluations for court cases for judges and attorneys as well as psychological mental health evaluations for State Vocational Bureaus, K-12 schools, employers, and mental health clients for over 14 years. She has authored over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, seven of which and two book chapters have focused on counselor ethics. She has published and worked with clients in the areas of trauma and stress responses, guilt and shame responses, workplace mistreatment, neurofeedback, biofeedback, ethical decision-making, counseling outcomes, program evaluation, the psychometrics of career interest inventories, counselor professional identity, and supervision.

Guolin Zhang, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at The Pennsylvania State University, Behrend. Bringing clinical experience across hospital systems, community mental health centers, and university counseling settings, she specializes in culturally responsive interventions for marginalized and diverse populations. Her research centers on emotion suppression, cross-cultural emotion regulation, Global South psychology, and the development and assessment of multicultural competencies. As an educator, researcher, and supervisor, Dr. Zhang is dedicated to equipping mental health professionals with the cultural awareness, empirical insights, and practical skills needed to strengthen the therapeutic alliance and improve clinical outcomes.

Arlene Donnelly, LPC, CAADC, CCS, CCTP, ACS, NCC has worked in the mental health field for over 12 years. She has her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Waden University. Arlene is a certified Substance use supervisor as well as a supervisor of Limited License Professional Counselors. She has experience working within inpatient, CMH, and other agencies within the mental health field specializing with OCD. Additional she has her own practice. She is certified in Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, DBT, ERP, PE, HRT, and CBT for Hoarding. She is licensed in MI, TX, WY, ND, and PA.

Lisa Wells, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Indiana. Passionate about helping clients build self-worth and identity, she especially loves to work with individuals with borderline personality disorder, trauma, and intellectual and developmental disabilities along with their family members. Lisa serves as the Outpatient Clinical Director for NewDay in Indianapolis, Indiana. Prior to this role, Lisa served as Executive Director of Down Syndrome Indiana for 16 years. She is also the founder of CounselingMetrics.com. Lisa holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Huntington University as well as a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership and Design from the University of Indianapolis. She is also pursuing her doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision (CES) from Regent University. With over 20 years of experience in the field of human services, Lisa's dedication to her clients and her innovative approach make her a valuable resource in the field of mental health.

Rob Kern, LMHC, is the Clinical Director and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center, Inc. He holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Purdue University. Rob founded The Cabin's Adventure Therapy program, combining evidence-based counseling with outdoor experiences including hiking, fly fishing, kayaking, and mountain biking. He currently serves as Chair of the Indiana Counseling Association's Child & Adolescent Division and is a former Secretary of the Association. Rob also facilitates retreats for Reel Recovery, a nonprofit that provides free fly-fishing retreats for men with cancer. A dedicated community member, he volunteers with the Lebanon Fire Department, the Lebanon Arts Council, and the Kiwanis Club of Lebanon.

Isabella Neiling is a master’s-level counseling intern pursuing a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Indianapolis. She has worked with youth experiencing homelessness, and also has experiences working with organizations that highlight trauma-informed care and address systemic barriers to treatment. She is interested in continuing her work with trauma-informed care, as well as working with individuals who experience anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Isabella is especially interested in the impact of the therapeutic alliance within the counseling setting.

Dr. Rhemma Payne holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies. She is a licensed mental health counselor in Indiana with years of clinical experience across diverse settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, community mental health, in-home intensive services, and college counseling. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations using individual, family, and group modalities. Dr. Payne is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), Board-Certified Telemental Health Provider (BC-TMH), and a 2020 Doctoral Fellow with the National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (NBCC-F). She also serves as a Subject Matter Expert for NBCC’s national counseling certification and licensure examinations. Dr. Payne is trained in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting (BSP), and Beginning II in Somatic Experiencing (SE). Her clinical approach is grounded in cognitive-behavioral and relational-cultural theoretical orientations, which she integrates into her conference presentations alongside the topics of clinical supervision, ethics, and professional identity development.

Dr. Mandy Kellums Baraka - PhD, LCPC (Illinois), NCC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor- is a clinical mental health counselor, counselor educator, and supervisor based in the Chicagoland suburbs. Dr. Baraka serves as Associate Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Wheaton College, where she trains emerging counselors in reflective, developmentally attuned practice. Her clinical and teaching experience spans work with children, adolescents, and adults, with particular focus on supervision, multicultural considerations, play therapy and creativity in counseling, and cultivating confident, ethically grounded clinicians.

Dr. Jenna L. Taylor, PhD, LMHC, NCC, Certified CCPT-S/T, CCGPT-S, CPRT-S/T, earned her doctorate in Counseling with a specialization in Play Therapy from the University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Child-Centered Play Therapist Supervisor and Trainer (CCPT-S/T), Child-Centered Group Play Therapist Supervisor (CCGPT-S), and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Supervisor and Trainer (CPRT-S/T). Before becoming a counselor, Dr. Taylor worked as a special education teacher, an experience that continues to inform her compassionate and developmentally responsive approach to working with children and families. Dr. Taylor is the owner of Playful Pathway Counseling and Consulting. She provides counseling services to children ages 3 and older, adolescents, and adults. She has extensive clinical experience in private practice, community mental health, and school settings. Her clinical work focuses on supporting children, adolescents, and their families through challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, neurodivergence, and disabilities. She also has advanced training in partnering with caregivers, parents, and educators to strengthen children's emotional and behavioral well-being. Dr. Taylor also supervises clinicians seeking their CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT certification(s). In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Taylor is an assistant professor and clinical coordinator, researcher, and author dedicated to advancing the counseling profession. She also enjoys speaking and presenting, sharing her expertise on play therapy, child and adolescent mental health, parenting, and counselor education through conferences, school programs, and continuing education trainings. Dr. Taylor serves on the boards of the Indiana Association for Play Therapy, the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, and the North Carolina Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling. She is a graduate of the Association for Play Therapy’s Leadership Academy and is involved on several committees and task forces within APT.

Brooklyn Dearth, MA is currently a second year student in the University of Indianapolis’ Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling - Art Therapy program. In 2025, she graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Art, and a Pre-Art Therapy certificate. She is currently interning at a non-profit organization specializing in providing supportive care to young adults experiencing housing and job insecurity. Her professional interests include utilizing art therapy interventions in individual and group settings, and working with diverse populations, including adolescents and young adults who have experienced complex trauma, and those who are LGBTQ+.

Bailey Strawhorn is a graduate student at the University of Indianapolis, obtaining his masters degree in mental health counseling and art therapy. HIs current internship has him working with youth and young adults who are experiencing trauma, PTSD, homelessness and home instability.

Stephen Nichols is currently a PhD candidate in counseling education and supervision at University of the Cumberlands. He holds a BS from Indiana University Kokomo and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. He is licensed in the state of Indiana, nationally board-certified, and a suicidologist with AAS. His research interests are suicide cognition and the history and systems of suicide theories. He guest lectures at several universities on these subjects. He holds honor society memberships in counseling (Chi Sigma Iota) and psychology (Psi Chi). Stephen is the clinical director for a county-level juvenile detention/emergency adolescent shelter facility. He provides consultation and emergency intervention services for various non-profits and agencies, including coroner departments, an Air Force base, and legal offices needing expert testimony regarding suicide.