Overdose Education and Naloxone Training | In-person | Presented by Teagan Ferraresi of Liv4Lali
2026-01-08 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1.5 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA
Summary
Attendees will learn what opioids are and how they work, the opioid overdose epidemic, identify the signs of an opioid overdose & learn how to respond and reverse it, all about Naloxone, a little about Harm Reduction, and overdose prevention and policies.
Presenter
Teagan Ferraresi (she/her) is an Outreach Coordinator in McHenry County. With personal experience with Substance Use Disorder, her desire to make a change locally brought her to Live4Lali. After volunteering for a year, she joined the team as a SMART Recovery Facilitator and Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) trainer. She’s a fierce believer in harm reduction and destigmatization through community education, and is passionate about helping others with anything from peer support to treatment navigation.

A Trauma Informed Approach | Virtual | Presented by Gary Rukin, LPC, MA, MS
2026-01-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual, IL
This is not a series. The same session is repeated monthly.
REGISTER HERE!

Free: 1.5 CEUs for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA.

The presentation, A Trauma Informed Approach, is replacing the monthly ACE Interface Trainings provided by the McHenry County Mental Health Board and differs in several respects. While it incorporates information from the ACE Study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and the Center for Disease Control, it also explores other causes of childhood and adult adverse experiences. These include the role of genetics and epigenetics in transmission of trauma reactions from one generation to the next, environments in which violence is commonplace, behaviors which result from trauma, and begins to delve into ways to mitigate these reactions, and how we can do better as individuals, organizations, and as a society.
Presenter:
Gary Rukin, LPC, MA, MS, has worked in Community Mental Health for the past thirteen years. He serves as the Trauma-Informed Coordinator for the McHenry County Mental Health Board, and has presented trainings on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Understanding Psychosis, Understanding and Treating Emotional Trauma, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Thresholds, The Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Recovery Conference, Northwestern University Hospital, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Suicide Assessment and Management | Virtual | Presented by Jason Washburn, PhD, ABPP
2026-02-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual, IL
The Mental Health Board and the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs have partnered to offer this training opportunity for our Behavioral Health network.
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and ISBE CPDU’s for School Professionals
SUMMARY
This webinar will focus on understanding the current suicide epidemic facing the United States, including how risk varies across different populations. The webinar will also discuss general risk factors, theoretical models for understanding how suicidal ideation escalates to suicidal behavior, as well as best practices for assessing suicide risk. Finally, the webinar will discuss interventions for ongoing assessment and management of suicide risk.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Increase appreciation of the trends and current rates of suicide across populations
Understand current theoretical models for understanding how suicide risk escalates to suicidal behavior
Develop skills in screening and assessing for suicide risk
Review science-based treatments for monitoring and managing suicide risk

PRESENTER
Jason J. Washburn, PhD, ABPP, is a Professor and Chief of the Division of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies for the MA and PhD programs in Clinical Psychology and the Director of Northwestern University’s Faculty Wellness Program. He is a licensed clinical psychologist (IL) and boarded in clinical child psychology. He conducts inpatient and outpatient assessments within Northwestern Medicine’s Neuropsychological Service. His interests include non-suicidal self-injury, suicide, and other high-risk behaviors, as well as measurement-based care, innovative science-based practices, and education and training in clinical psychology.

A Trauma Informed Approach | Virtual | Presented by Gary Rukin, LPC, MA, MS
2026-02-12 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-09 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-07-09 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-10-08 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-12-10 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual, IL
This is not a series. The same session is repeated monthly.
REGISTER HERE!
Free: 1.5 CEUs for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA
Summary:
The presentation, A Trauma Informed Approach, is replacing the monthly ACE Interface Trainings provided by the McHenry County Mental Health Board and differs in several respects. While it incorporates information from the ACE Study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and the Center for Disease Control, it also explores other causes of childhood and adult adverse experiences. These include the role of genetics and epigenetics in transmission of trauma reactions from one generation to the next, environments in which violence is commonplace, behaviors which result from trauma, and begins to delve into ways to mitigate these reactions, and how we can do better as individuals, organizations, and as a society.
Presenter:
Gary Rukin, LPC, MA, MS, has worked in Community Mental Health for the past thirteen years. He serves as the Trauma-Informed Coordinator for the McHenry County Mental Health Board, and has presented trainings on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Understanding Psychosis, Understanding and Treating Emotional Trauma, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Thresholds, The Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Recovery Conference, Northwestern University Hospital, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Boundaries and Ethics in Supervision | In-Person| Presented by Katherine ("Katie") Atkins, PhD, LCPC, NCC, ACS
2026-02-13 09:00 - 16:00 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTER HERE!
1 hour lunch on your own.
FREE: 6 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, and Psychologists
SUMMARY

This 6-hour intensive training is designed for Illinois-licensed counselors and supervisors seeking to strengthen ethical decision-making and boundary management in clinical supervision. Grounded in the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), Sections F.1–F.10 and aligned with CACREP 2024 supervision competencies and Illinois supervisor requirements, this workshop addresses power dynamics, dual relationships, documentation, gatekeeping, and technology-related boundary risks. Through applied case analysis, ethical decision-making models, and supervision contract development, participants will gain practical tools to support ethical, legally sound, and effective supervision practice.
OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:

Identify common ethical and boundary risks in clinical supervision.
Apply an ethical decision-making model to supervision dilemmas.
Develop supervision contracts and documentation aligned with Illinois standards.

PRESENTER
Katherine (“Katie”) Atkins, PhD, LCPC, NCC, ACS is a licensed professional counselor in Illinois and Wisconsin, a National Certified Counselor, an Approved Clinical Supervisor, and holds a Professional Educator License in School Counseling. Katie holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and has extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision, and counselor education. She has authored or co-authored a textbook for counselors, numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, delivered over 65 professional presentations, and is the recipient of multiple teaching awards. She is also the co-founder of Blooming Life Institute, LLC.

Bridging the Gap: Best Practices for Supporting Students returning to School After Extended Leave | Virtual | Presented by Dr. Shelley Fisher, LCSW and Jacqueline Rhew, LCPC
2026-02-27 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual, IL
The Mental Health Board and the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs have partnered to offer this training opportunity for our Behavioral Health network.
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and ISBE CPDU’s for School Professionals
SUMMARY

This session provides a comprehensive framework for helping students successfully transition back to school following hospitalization, illness, medical leave, or school refusal. Attendees will explore strategies to re-engage students, create supportive transition plans, and collaborate eﬀectively with families and teachers. The session emphasizes emotional safety, academic readiness, and sustained support through intentional planning, follow-up, and teamwork.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Develop individualized transition plans with appropriate accommodations and supports for students returning from extended absences.
Collaborate with teachers, families, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure consistent communication and shared responsibility.
Implement ongoing follow-up and aftercare systems to monitor progress, address barriers, and promote long-term reintegration and success.

PRESENTERS
Dr. Michelle (Shelley) Fisher, LCSW, earned her Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, a Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College, and a Doctorate in Social Work from George Williams College of Aurora University. Her 25+ year social work career includes child protective services, adoption, medical and forensic social work, teaching at the Master’s level, private practice, and, since 2009, school social work.
Dr. Fisher’s passion for advocating for vulnerable children and adolescents led to her doctoral research, which focused on supporting transgender students and their families within the academic setting. She continues to provide professional development and consultation around accommodating transgender students within the educational environment to administrators, teachers, and staff members in multiple school districts. Additionally, Dr. Fisher has presented on a variety of topics focused on the mental health and social-emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents, both virtually and in-person, to parents, administrators, teachers, coaches, executive directors, camp directors, and camp counselors.
Jacqueline Rhew, CADC, LCPC, is the co-founder of the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs. She is an expert in her field and is called upon by hundreds of school districts, family agencies and mental health facilities — locally and nationally — for consulting staff to better serve their youth. Jacqueline served as a Clinical Consultant for AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital for many years, and previously served as Assistant Director for the School Anxiety/School Refusal Program — a program she was instrumental in creating and developing. She has facilitated 300-plus workshops for professionals and parents — locally and nationally — on topics ranging from anxiety, school refusal, parenting, and self-injury.

Opioid Overdose Prevention & Reversal: Overdose Responder Training | In-person | Presented by Teagan Ferraresi of Liv4Lali
2026-03-05 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-07-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-10-08 13:00 - 14:30 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States

Trauma 101: Key Principles and Practical Approaches | Virtual | Presented by Gary Rukin, LPC
2026-03-12 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-06-11 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-08-13 14:30 - 16:00, 2026-11-12 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual, IL
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1.5 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA

SUMMARY

This training covers basic trauma-informed principles. It distinguishes developmental trauma—chronic, relational, and attachment-based—from shock trauma, caused by sudden overwhelming events. Participants learn how each influences emotional, cognitive, and physiological functioning.
The presentation covers the normal stress-response system and how trauma disrupts it, leading to hyperarousal, hypoarousal, and dissociation. It highlights the roles of biology, genetics, epigenetics, and environment, emphasizing that trauma reactions stem from neurobiology rather than character or willpower.
Attendees are introduced to mindful, expressive, and somatic interventions that support stabilization and nervous-system regulation. The training concludes with an overview of effective and evidence-based trauma therapies.
Participants leave with an understanding of trauma foundations and some practical tools to support clients safely and effectively.
OBJECTIVES

Differentiate between developmental trauma and shock trauma, including their origins and clinical presentations.
Explain the functions of the normal stress-response system and its role in maintaining safety and regulation.
Describe how the stress-response system becomes altered under traumatic conditions.
Discuss how biology, genetics, epigenetics, and environment interact to shape trauma responses.
Apply mindful, expressive, and somatic-based interventions to support trauma recovery in clinical settings.
Identify evidence-based therapeutic approaches effective in treating both shock and developmental trauma.

PRESENTER
Gary Rukin, LPC, MA, MS, has worked in Community Mental Health for the past thirteen years. He serves as the Trauma-Informed Coordinator for the McHenry County Mental Health Board, and has presented trainings on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Understanding Psychosis, Understanding and Treating Emotional Trauma, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Thresholds, The Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Recovery Conference, Northwestern University Hospital, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Building Emotional Resilience: Teaching Regulation Skills and Strengthening School-Family Partnerships | Virtual | Presented by Dr. Melissa Katz and Andrew Sanchez, LCPC, LCPC
2026-03-13 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual, IL
The Mental Health Board and the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs have partnered to offer this training opportunity for our Behavioral Health network.
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and ISBE CPDU’s for School Professionals
SUMMARY

This interactive session equips educators, counselors, and mental health professionals with strategies to teach emotional regulation skills using grounding tools, coping skill toolkits, and mindfulness techniques. Participants will explore ways to engage students managing emotional or behavioral challenges, strengthen school–family communication, and collaborate with therapists and community supports. The focus is on creating cohesive systems that nurture emotional health, strengthen relationships, and build resilience among children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Teach and integrate emotional regulation strategies that build coping, self-awareness, and resilience in students.
Partner with families and caregivers to reinforce emotional learning and support students experiencing stress, behavioral challenges, or low engagement.
Collaborate with educators and mental health providers to design coordinated support systems that promote the well-being of students, families, and schools.

PRESENTERS
Dr. Melissa Katz, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a child and adolescent specialization from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She is proud to provide excellent clinical training to graduate students through our residency program at the Center. Her areas of expertise include youth with neurodevelopment disorders such as ADHD and ASD, early childhood interventions, pediatric anxiety and mood disorders, OCD, parenting work and school consultation. Melissa combines evidence-based practices with systemic and dynamic approaches that focus on the unique needs and strengths of every child and family. In addition to clinical work, Melissa leads the charge towards integrative behavioral health care in our community. She is active in reducing barriers that might inhibit services and expanding the behavioral health care network into medical, school and community settings. She is a member of our clinical training team and has served as adjunct faculty at several clinical programs throughout the Chicagoland region. Melissa serves on the McHenry County Board of Health, the NAMI Board (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and is a founder of the Youth Empower Alliance (YEA).
Andrew Sanchez, LCPC, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from DePaul University and a Master’s Degree in community counseling from National Louis University. Andrew has extensive experience working with adolescents and adults with mental health and substance abuse issues. Andrew speaks Spanish fluently and has worked in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings, treating children, adolescents, and adults. He empowers individuals to overcome obstacles and improve their lives by using an empathetic and collaborative approach to therapy.

Andrew has also developed a particular expertise in working with adolescents struggling with academic, social, and family problems through his experience in school, mental health, and hospital-based settings. Adolescents and adults find Andrew to be compassionate, caring and easy to open up to during the therapeutic process.
As Clinical Director, Andrew also provides training and support to staff. He is involved in the supervision and training of Master’s level students during their internship at The Center. Andrew regularly connects and networks with community leaders, businesses schools, doctor’s offices, and other members within the community.

The Lingering Shadow: Navigating the Depths of Traumatic Grief | In-Person| Presented by Gary Rukin, LPC
2026-03-20 09:00 - 12:00 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTERATION IS CLOSED. **Please email Kris Doherty at kdoherty@mc708.org to be added to the Waitlist.
FREE: 3 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA

SUMMARY

This presentation examines traumatic grief as a profound and often disabling response to sudden or violent loss that disrupts the natural grieving process and overwhelms identity, meaning-making, and emotional regulation. It differentiates traumatic grief from normative grief and PTSD, emphasizing how trauma fragments memory, arrests emotional processing, and freezes aspects of identity. The presentation explores how cultural, spiritual, and contextual factors shape grief experiences, as well as the acute aftermath of loss, which may include shock, intense sadness, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Healing is framed as a compassionate, trauma-informed process that supports narrative reconstruction, mindfulness, self-compassion, and creative expression. The presentation underscores the importance of self-care, professional boundaries, and supportive networks for both clinicians and those they serve.
OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:

Define and Understand Traumatic Grief
Describe Traumatic vs. Episodic Memory
Explain Why Traumatic Loss is an Identity Crisis
Describe the Importance of Cultural, Spiritual & Contextual Factors
Characterize the Immediate Aftermath of a Traumatic Loss
Delineate likely long-term effects
Understand Multifaceted and Compassionate Approaches to Healing
Identify Useful Therapeutic Modalities
Apply Self-Care Practices for Yourself & Clients
Evaluate Ceremonial Healing practices

PRESENTER
Gary Rukin, LPC has worked in Community Mental Health for the past thirteen years. He serves as the Trauma-Informed Coordinator for the McHenry County Mental Health Board, and has presented trainings on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Understanding Psychosis, Understanding and Treating Emotional Trauma, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Thresholds, The Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Recovery Conference, Northwestern University Hospital, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Gambling Disorder, Loved Ones, Affected Others and Treatment | Virtual | Presented by Michelle L. Malkin, JD, PhD
2026-03-27 09:00 - 10:30
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1.5 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA (Pending)

SUMMARY

Research shows that an individual with gambling disorder affects on average 5-7 additional people. For some, the number is even higher. This impact on others can have major consequences on their lives, including financial, mental health, social, legal, and more. This presentation will explore the outcomes of gambling disorder on others and the need for treatment and resources centered on their experiences.
OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to identify the potential gambling-related harms on loved ones and affected others.
Participants will be able to screen affected others in terms of their individual needs.
Participants will be able to provide the appropriate assistance and treatment for affected others.

PRESENTER

Michelle L. Malkin, JD, PhD, directs the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative (GRPI) at East Carolina University, where she also serves as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Her research examines how gambling affects individuals, families, and communities — with a focus on behavioral risks and gambling-related harms in under-studied populations. Dr. Malkin’s scholarship bridges research, policy, and practice to promote evidence-based responses to gambling harm. She has earned national recognition, including awards from the National Council on Problem Gambling and multiple honors from ECU for innovation, research excellence, and community engagement. She is the creator of the Gambling-Motivated Crime Diversion Checklist, an innovative tool used to guide criminal justice interventions and diversion programs, and co-creator of the Emerging Adult Gambling Screen (EAGS), a gambling-related harm screening tool specifically designed and validated for adults under the age of 25.

Building the Supervisory Relationship | In-Person| Presented by Sonya Lorelle, PhD, LCPC, RPT-S, NCC and Katherine ("Katie") Atkins, PhD, LCPC, NCC, ACS
2026-04-10 09:00 - 16:00 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTER HERE!
1 hour lunch on your own.
FREE: 6 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, and Psychologists
SUMMARY

This 6-hour intensive workshop supports Illinois-licensed counselors and supervisors in developing effective, ethical, and culturally responsive supervisory relationships. Aligned with the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), Sections F.1–F.10, CACREP 2024 supervision standards, and Illinois supervision expectations, the training focuses on supervisory alliance development, feedback delivery, rupture-repair strategies, and parallel process awareness. Participants engage in skills practice, role-plays, and structured observation to enhance relational safety, accountability, and supervisee growth across diverse clinical contexts.
OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:

Describe key components of the supervisory alliance.
Demonstrate effective feedback and rupture-repair strategies.
Apply multicultural and power-aware approaches to supervision.

PRESENTERS
Sonya Lorelle, PhD, LCPC, RPT-S, NCC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, registered play therapist-supervisor, and counseling professor with a deep passion for human development, healing, and creative expression. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education from Old Dominion University and her MS in Counseling from Missouri State University. With over 25 years of experience in clinical and academic settings, Sonya specializes in grief and loss, play therapy, clinical supervision, and integrating neuroscience into the counseling process. She is the co-developer of the Transcending Model of Loss, a developmental, lifelong approach to understanding grief in all its forms, including invisible losses like identity shifts, divorce, and estrangement. She is also the co-founder of Blooming Life Institute, LLC.
Katherine (“Katie”) Atkins, PhD, LCPC, NCC, ACS is a licensed professional counselor in Illinois and Wisconsin, a National Certified Counselor, an Approved Clinical Supervisor, and holds a Professional Educator License in School Counseling. Katie holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and has extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision, and counselor education. She has authored or co-authored a textbook for counselors, numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, delivered over 65 professional presentations, and is the recipient of multiple teaching awards. She is also the co-founder of Blooming Life Institute, LLC.

Understanding ADHD and Executive Functioning: Practical Strategies for Children, Teens, and Adults – Part 2 | Virtual | Presented by Jacqueline Rhew, LCPC and Lauren Hart, MA, LB1
2026-04-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual, IL
The Mental Health Board and the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs have partnered to offer this training opportunity for our Behavioral Health network.
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and ISBE CPDU’s for School Professionals
SUMMARY

Attention-Deﬁcit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) aﬀects individuals across all stages of life, inﬂuencing attention, organization, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. Central to ADHD are challenges with executive functioning—the skills that allow us to plan, prioritize, initiate, and sustain eﬀort toward goals. This session provides a comprehensive look at ADHD and executive functioning in children, adolescents, and adults, oﬀering insight into how symptoms may appear diﬀerently across ages and environments. Participants will learn practical, evidence-based tools to help individuals strengthen executive skills, improve focus and organization, and build conﬁdence through a strengths-based, neurodiverse-informed lens.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe the relationship between ADHD and executive functioning and how challenges manifest across developmental stages and settings.
Apply practical, evidence-based interventions to improve organization, attention, emotional regulation, and self-management in individuals with ADHD.
Utilize strengths-based and neurodiversity-aﬃrming strategies that promote self-awareness, independence, and success at school, home, and work.

PRESENTERS
Jacqueline Rhew, CADC, LCPC, is the co-founder of the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs. She is an expert in her field and is called upon by hundreds of school districts, family agencies and mental health facilities — locally and nationally — for consulting staff to better serve their youth. Jacqueline served as a Clinical Consultant for AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital for many years, and previously served as Assistant Director for the School Anxiety/School Refusal Program — a program she was instrumental in creating and developing. She has facilitated 300-plus workshops for professionals and parents — locally and nationally — on topics ranging from anxiety, school refusal, parenting, and self-injury.
Lauren Hart, MA, LBS1, has been a teacher for the past 18 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education and a Learning Behavior Specialist Certification (LBS1). Before choosing to invest her time fully into building the company in response to community need, she spent the 12 years prior as the Clinical Supervisor of Patient Education at Ascension- Alexian Brothers Behavioral Medicine, overseeing nine programs at two locations. Before leading her team at the hospital, she taught at the middle school and high school level, in the general education setting as well as in a therapeutic day school and alternative high school program.

Untethered Connections: Navigating Emotional Regulation, Parenting, and the Path to Healing | Virtual | Presented by Doug Bolton, PhD
2026-04-24 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual, IL
The Mental Health Board and the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs have partnered to offer this training opportunity for our Behavioral Health network.
REGISTER HERE!

FREE: 1 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and ISBE CPDU’s for School Professionals
SUMMARY
Join Dr. Doug Bolton, clinical psychologist, educational leader, and author of Untethered: Creating Connected Families, Schools, and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation, for an interactive exploration of the emotional challenges children and families face today. Through personal stories and practical strategies, Dr. Bolton highlights how understanding stress responses—not just behavior—can transform relationships at home and in schools. Participants will learn tools to foster emotional regulation, resilience, and connection throughout life’s transitions, including parenting.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify the impact of stress and emotional dysregulation on children’s behavior and relationships within family and school systems.
Apply practical strategies to foster emotional regulation and resilience in children and families.
Promote healing and connection by integrating stress-responsive approaches into parenting, education, and community relationships.

PRESENTER
Doug Bolton, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and educational leader who has focused his career on supporting students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges since 1987. Dr. Bolton worked in therapeutic schools as a school psychologist before spending the next fourteen years as principal of North Shore Academy, a K−12 public therapeutic school on the north shore of Chicago. He currently maintains a private practice and consults in schools with leaders that want to enhance their ability to support their students with mental health issues. Through keynote addresses, professional development workshops, and individual consultations with teachers and students, Dr. Bolton empowers educational teams to create school communities that foster resilience for our most vulnerable students.

The Shadow’s Gift: Healing Shame and Reclaiming Your True Self | In-Person| Presented by Gary Rukin, LPC
2026-05-15 09:00 - 15:30 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 5.5 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA

SUMMARY

This transformative presentation guides participants through the complex landscape of shame—an emotion that shapes identity, relationships, and mental health, yet often remains hidden and unspoken. Drawing on the pioneering work of Carl Jung and contemporary neuroscience, the session explores how shame creates the shadow self, influencing behavior and perpetuating cycles of self-rejection.
Through vivid imagery, practical exercises, and compassionate guidance, attendees learn to recognize and integrate their shadow, transforming shame from a source of pain into a pathway for healing and authenticity. The presentation offers actionable strategies for therapists and individuals alike, including somatic grounding, vulnerability practices, self-compassion exercises, and guided imagery.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of shame’s origins, its impact on the psyche, and a toolkit for fostering resilience, connection, and wholeness. Whether you are a clinician, educator, or someone seeking personal growth, this presentation provides a roadmap for turning the darkness of shame into the gold of self-acceptance.
OBJECTIVES

Define shame and distinguish it from guilt in psychological contexts.
Explore the developmental origins and social factors contributing to shame.
Analyze the impact of shame on mental health and trauma responses.
Summarize Jung’s concept of the shadow self and its clinical relevance.
Explain neurobiological mechanisms underlying shame and its physical manifestations.
Illustrate the interactive cycle between shame and the shadow self.
Identify evidence-based healing practices for addressing and transforming shame.
Discuss the therapeutic importance of vulnerability, empathy, and compassion.
Apply strategies for integrating shame resilience into personal and professional practice.
Evaluate methods for reclaiming strengths and “harvesting gold” from the shadow.

PRESENTER
Gary Rukin, LPC, MA, MS, has worked in Community Mental Health for the past fourteen years. He serves as the Trauma-Informed Coordinator for the McHenry County Mental Health Board, and has presented trainings on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Understanding Psychosis, Understanding and Treating Emotional Trauma, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Thresholds, The Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Recovery Conference, Northwestern University Hospital, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Fragmentation and Dissociation in the Wake of Complex Trauma | In-Person| Presented by Becky Carter, LCPC
2026-05-29 09:00 - 15:00 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTER HERE!
*There will be a 1 hour lunch break on your own.
FREE: 5 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA (Pending)

SUMMARY

Fragmentation and dissociation are the protective and adaptive responses to trauma – especially when escape, resistance, or external support is unavailable. Survivors of trauma, particularly those abused in early childhood, create ways to minimize pain and preserve functioning.
Understanding dissociation as a survival response and recognizing fragmentation in the therapy process is essential when working with survivors of trauma like abuse, neglect, torture, domestic violence, oppression, and combat. Dissociated experiences create immense shame for survivors and are often underreported, unrecognized, and underassessed in the therapeutic relationship.
This training explores the spectrum of dissociation, from numbing and disconnecting to severe disruptions in consciousness, body sensation, awareness, memory, identity, and perception. This training will include an exploration of the connection between trauma fragmentation, different types of dissociative disorders, symptom presentation, as well as contemporary treatment modalities.
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of training participants will:
1. Be able to identify dissociative disorders and associated criteria.
2. Gain an understanding of dissociative and fragmented responses in clinical interactions.
3. Identify conditions in which trauma leads to dissociation and fragmentation.
4. Learn at least two treatment approaches for working with dissociation.

PRESENTER
Becky Carter, LCPC, is a biracial, cisgender, transracially adopted female with West African and Sicilian ancestors. She has two black adopted children.
Becky has been a trauma therapist for over 20 years helping heal the wounds of relational trauma that occur in-utero and beyond. She is trained in Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Transformative Touch Therapy for the treatment of Developmental Trauma, and in the Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociation.
Becky works with adults, teens, couples, and groups with expertise in healing the wounds associated with Racial Trauma, Complex Trauma and Dissociation, Sexual Trauma and Issues of Trauma and Loss in Adoption. Becky facilitates groups for Male Survivors of Sexual Trauma. She also provides support and community education on Racial Trauma and Decolonizing Therapy Methods; with focus on the somatic impact of the chronic and sustained experience of oppression.

Deepening and Expanding Somatic Techniques: The Embodiment of Trauma and Stress Part II | In-Person| Presented by Becky Carter, LCPC
2026-07-17 09:00 - 15:00 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
REGISTER HERE!
*There will be a 1 hour lunch break on your own.
FREE: 5 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and IAODAPCA (Pending)

SUMMARY

This training is for practitioners seeking to deepen their connection with the somatic model and the impact of stress and trauma on the nervous system. It will assist those seeking to better understand the embodied stress experience across a variety of settings and treatment scenarios. This training offers a deeper immersion into somatic therapy principles and practices utilized by the presenter. Designed for clinicians and practitioners with some knowledge of somatic approaches, this course emphasizes the refined clinical skills of embodied presence and moment-to-moment attunement to nervous system dynamics. The presenter will demonstrate methods of titration into somatic witnessing for shame reduction.
Participants will expand their awareness of ways to support somatic inquiry and sensation awareness for those with body disconnection or dissociation, sensation fear, and body sensation overwhelm which can be features of the neurodivergence that trauma often creates. Through experiential activities, participants will gain a better understanding of the arc of a somatic session and methods of resourcing, sensing activation states and feeling awareness while supporting body capacity and wisdom. The presenter will discuss the importance of somatic self-resourcing on the part of the embodied witness, therapist, helper, teacher, and crisis supporter and explore methods for coping with vicarious somatic stress and fatigue.
OBJECTIVES

Demonstrate increased understanding of embodied presence as a core clinical skill in somatic practice.
Apply principles of titration and somatic witnessing to support shame reduction and greater client safety.
Explain the arc of a somatic session, including resourcing, sensing activation states, and supporting feeling awareness while honoring body capacity and wisdom.
Cultivate greater awareness of practitioner self-resourcing and responses to vicarious somatic stress and fatigue.

PRESENTER
Becky Carter, LCPC, is a biracial, cisgender, transracially adopted female with West African and Sicilian ancestors. She has two black adopted children.
Becky has been a trauma therapist for over 20 years helping heal the wounds of relational trauma that occur in-utero and beyond. She is trained in Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Transformative Touch Therapy for the treatment of Developmental Trauma, and in the Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociation.
Becky works with adults, teens, couples, and groups with expertise in healing the wounds associated with Racial Trauma, Complex Trauma and Dissociation, Sexual Trauma and Issues of Trauma and Loss in Adoption. Becky facilitates groups for Male Survivors of Sexual Trauma. She also provides support and community education on Racial Trauma and Decolonizing Therapy Methods; with focus on the somatic impact of the chronic and sustained experience of oppression.

Behavioral Health Resource Fair for School Professionals | In-Person
2026-08-07 09:00 - 11:00 | McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
This is an opportunity for school professionals to connect with area providers and learn about the helpful resources and services available in our community. Boost your ability to provide information and referrals to the families and individuals you work with. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Community Connections Summit | In Person
2026-09-11 09:00 - 15:00 | McHenry County College, Luecht Auditorium, 8900 US-14, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
VISIT OUR SUMMIT PAGE
