WC25 Program_LR 8

AFTERNOON PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

Summary Military training builds soldiers to face any situation, endure any hardship, overcome any threat, and defeat the enemy with endurance and persistence. This requires operating as a team, unlearning civilian social behaviors, and forsaking per sonal gain toward an ethos of courage, honor, commitment, and duty. These new skill sets are invaluable for optimal mil itary efficiency and psychological resilience against trauma. Massive or continuous stress/trauma can overwhelm even the strongest person, contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality, depression, and dysfunctional relationships. Despite these varied challenges, one’s faith and psychological resiliency positively impact how service members and their families face these difficult times with hope. This workshop, geared toward psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, medical professionals, and min istry leaders, describes problems unique to this population, as well as early intervention and treatment strategies to man age hurdles of reintegration. Evidence-based practices are presented, integrating the nexus between psychological and faith-based practice research. Special attention is focused on pre-military history and cognitive, emotional, and behavior al patterns contributing to symptom patterns. Interventions are also described to redefine and restore resilient life goals and build community and workplace support. Learning Objectives 1. Recognize how military training shapes soldiers’ abilities to handle extreme situations, endure hardships, and operate as a cohesive unit while also understanding the psychologi cal resilience required to manage trauma and stress 2. Describe the unique mental health issues faced by military personnel, including PTSD, depression, and suicidality, and explore protective factors, early interventions, and treatment strategies to support reintegration and mental well-being 3. Outline evidence-based practices that combine psycho logical and faith-based approaches to support the short term and long-term mental health of service members and their families, focusing on pre-military history, cognitive and emotional patterns, and building community and workplace support, with short-term and long-term 040: Bridging the Divide: Navigating Familial

licensed mental health professionals, coaches, and ministry leaders will explore the multifaceted nature of estrangement, including its causes, emotional impact, and pathways to healing. Participants will be able to describe the complexities of estrangement and its rising prevalence within families. The presenter will provide guidance for navigating estranged relationships using Restoration Therapy (RT), an approach to therapy that utilizes techniques from attachment theory, emotional regulation, and mindfulness to promote behav iors that foster agency in life and relationships. Participants will gain practical tools to build bridges in challenging family relationships, gain insight into effective conflict resolution, and establish healthy boundaries that promote connection and reconciliation. Learning Objectives 1. Describe the cultural, psychological, and societal shifts that contribute to the rising prevalence of family estrangement 2. Identify the various factors that contribute to family es trangement, including communication breakdown 3. Apply practical strategies and tools to effectively support clients who are navigating estranged relationships 041: Internal Family Systems Therapy Anchored in Faith: How to Develop Healthy Boundaries for Your Soul 3 credit hours Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop: APA, ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling Level: Advanced Kimberly Miller, M.Th., M.MFT Leading Wholeheartedly Summary Painful burdens can hold clients back from building the lives they want to live. This experiential workshop is designed for psychologists and licensed mental health profession als working with Christian clients, offering practical guid ance on integrating key principles from the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy. With an emphasis on a Christian perspective, participants will learn how to help clients befriend parts of their souls burdened with unwanted thoughts and emotions. Based on IFS, the “Five Steps of Tak ing a You-Turn” framework will be introduced to help clients develop healthy boundaries and secure attachments with challenging thoughts and feelings. Through didactic lessons, guided exercises, and dyad practice, participants will learn to empower clients to cultivate “self-leadership” and lead their internal parts with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This approach aims to help clients avoid being overwhelmed by Ann-Marie Bowen, M.A. Bowen Counseling

Estrangement 3 credit hours

Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop: ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, NAADAC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling Level: Intermediate

Dyonette Mayer, D.Min., LCSW The Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University

Summary Family estrangement is a complex and often painful issue that affects many individuals and families. In this session,

2025 AACC UNITED WORLD CONFERENCE

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