Join us for a Lunch & Learn (noon-1pm) virtually or on the Atlanta or Chattanooga Campus for 1 FREE NBCC clock hour of Continuing Education! No Registration required. Questions?- contact Amy Estes at ContinuingEd@richmont.edu. We encourage confirming the date prior to arriving on campus as there are last-minute cancellations from time to time.

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Fit to Treat Part 1 – Identifying an Eating Disorder

Monday, April 7, 2025 / 12-1 PM Eastern / 1 CE available

Virtual: Join Teams meeting (Passcode: Zd3dM9AA)

The learning objective of this session is for participants to distinguish between overlapping issues within eating disorders. 

Presenter: Genie Burnett, Psy.D., CEDS-S

Presenter Bio: Dr. Genie Burnett has been a licensed clinical psychologist since 1999.  Since graduation, Dr. Burnett has specialized in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults suffering from eating disorders. She has provided services at every level of care (inpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, mental health center). She is the founder of Manna Treatment, a program under Manna Scholarship Fund, which is a nonprofit that provides access to mental health treatment for those who otherwise cannot afford it. Manna provides treatment for eating disorders, trauma, and adolescent mental health.

 

LAST SEMESTER

When the Problem is the Solution: Counseling adolescents with depression in a high-achieving culture

Thursday, January 23, 2025 / 12-1PM Eastern / 1 CE available

VIRTUAL: Join Zoom session

As the adolescent mental health crisis continues to worsen, mental health clinicians must meet the needs of teens in distress with skilled and effective treatment. An understanding of the relationship between the performance and social pressures faced by teens and impaired
functioning due to depression must include a consideration of the possible adaptive function of depression in teens struggling to belong in our high-achieving, status-driven culture. Without this understanding guiding intervention, depression in teens is more likely to persist. This workshop is designed to help clinicians design a compassionate, thorough, and effective treatment plan to care for teens experiencing depression.

Presenter: Mary Breshears, LPC, CPCS

Presenter Bio: Mary is a seasoned therapist with over 2 decades of experience in the fields of counseling and education. She has worked in private practice over the past 15 years where she has counseled individuals, couples and families facing an array of challenges. She has become a subject matter expert in counseling adolescent and adult women who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and difficult life transitions. Her current work focuses on helping women across the lifespan. Mary is skilled at creating safe and thoughtful ways to talk honestly about hard things. Using a psychodynamic approach, Mary draws primarily from her training in the models of Internal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as she conceptualizes clients’ struggles and creatively implements treatment interventions. In addition to her love of therapy, Mary has a growing passion for equipping and encouraging new therapists. She is eager to share her understanding of client suffering and the effective approaches she has found to bring relief and growth

Learning Objectives: To name a need and a fear common among teens experiencing depression; To identify a function of adolescent depression in a high-achieving society

 

Mind the Gap: 10 Essential Lessons for New Therapists

This lunch and learn session will provide an overview of crucial insights often overlooked in traditional graduate programs but essential for new therapists entering the field. Drawing from the mentorship wisdom of experienced professionals like Bianca Hughes, we’ll cover a range of topics including diversifying your role as a therapist, building a professional network, understanding the business side of private practice, recognizing the pervasiveness of trauma, and prioritizing self-care from the start. The session will offer practical advice and strategies to help new therapists navigate the challenges of starting their careers, avoid common pitfalls, and build a fulfilling, sustainable practice. We’ll emphasize the importance of continuous learning and personal growth in becoming an effective and satisfied mental health professional.

Presenter: Bianca Hughes ’15, LPC

Presenter Bio: Bianca Kesha Hughes is setting boundaries and breaking barriers. She knows how to navigate life and discover true identity while trusting in God. Known for authenticity and heart-work services, Bianca is the ultimate trailblazer in the mental health and wellness field as a speaker and therapist, inspiring her audience to let go of the illusion of perfectionism and align with their truth. Bianca created Authentically Be You Counseling & Wellness Studio, to help women dig deeper to uncover their greatest fears and tap into the inner turmoil rooted around perfectionism. Bianca continues to help women connect to their inner selves through self-awareness and vulnerability to essentially connect to their true selves and live authentically. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Bianca is the recipient of the Richmont Graduate University 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Learning Objective: By the end of this session, participants will be able to identify at least three key areas of professional development not typically covered in graduate programs and understand their importance in building a successful career as a therapist.