| Alverno College has been approved by NBCC as an approved continuing education provider, ACEP No. 7133. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Alverno College is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. (Click titles for details about each session.) |
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12-1:15 pm: Opening Keynote - "Punk Rock
Therapy": Building Healing Community in Times of Isolation by Kristin Belkofer, LPC, CLARA Healing Institute
and Punk Rock Therapy
*This keynote is eligible for continuing education (CE) credit.
1:30-2:20 pm: Concurrent Sessions – Round 1
Self-Sabotage into Self-Comparison
Ally to Community: Bridging the Gaps that Cause True Divide
2:20-3:00pm: Networking and Sponsor tables
3:00-3:50 pm: Concurrent Sessions – Round 2
Compassion Resilience in the Fight for Equity
CLARA Healing Institute: Creating a Holistic Model for Clinical, Educational and Community Work
Co-creating a Vision for Change Using Art
9-10:15 am: Keynote – The Importance of Community
in Supporting Mental Health Needs by
Danell Cross, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges
*This keynote is
not eligible for continuing education (CE) credit.
10:30-11:20 am: Concurrent Sessions – Round 3
Using Creative Therapies in the Success Center - Panel
Finding Community Online: How Digital Communities Can Provide Support for Mental Health
11:30-12 pm: Networking and Posters
12-12:50 pm: Concurrent Sessions – Round 4
Mental Health and the Pandemic: Understanding and Addressing Individual and Collective Suffering
Law Enforcement Mental Health as a Social Justice Initiative
12:50-1 pm: Closing Remarks
(Click presenters' names to see their bios.)
Opening Keynote - "Punk Rock Therapy": Building Healing Community in Times of Isolation
Presenter: Kristin Belkofer, MS, LPC, CLARA Healing Institute and Punk Rock Therapy
CE Hours: 1
Punk Rock Therapy is a community that started as a playful forum to connect therapists, artists, musicians, and folks who embrace the healing potential of music and art. When the PRT Facebook group was featured in a national ad campaign, membership and interest exploded, leading to amazing moments of connection and painful conflict and divisiveness. This presentation tracks the evolution of this intentional community, with discussion of the benefits and challenges of utilizing social media as a mental health professional.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about the development of an intentional online community with mental health themes and considerations, using it as a model for the critical development of online healing spaces. Participants will learn about benefits and challenges to this model, especially related to ethics and boundaries as mental health professionals. Participants will receive guidelines for "creating healthy communities," which can be applied to online forums, clinical and community groups, and clinical culture.
Self-Sabotage into Self-Compassion
Presenter: Dr. Dominique Pritchett, PsyD, LCSW, Beloved Wellness Center
CE Hours: 1
Self-sabotaging can present itself actively or passively especially during stressful experiences. When self-sabotaging is not challenged, it may increase the likelihood of layered trauma, fear and loss of self-compassion. Through my personal story of being a peaceful protester then attacked by the police, you will learn about the causes and effects of self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors that almost caused me to let fear win. The GROW Method™ will offer an opportunity to explore acceptance and commitment in order to make self-compassion a priority even during chaos.
Learning Objectives: Participants will increase awareness and understanding of trauma and its impact on mental wellness. Participants will challenge self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors to overcoming challenges to how they can be effective in their communities. Participants will integrate the acceptance and commitment approach into their daily lives to promote healthier habits towards self-compassion.
Collaborating with Other Organizations to Address Mental Health Needs – Wraparound and Women’s Center Panel
Presenters: Dr. Samantha Lavarda, PsyD, Maria Castillo, MA, Rada Drca, MA, LPC, Wraparound Milwaukee and Penelope Dixon, MS, LPC, Milwaukee Women’s Center
CE Hours: 1
Highlighting the work of 2 local community agencies, this panel will discuss the challenges and successes of providing needed services during a pandemic. Wraparound Milwaukee will discuss the holistic approach that they used to be effective allies and advocates for their clients. The Women's Center will discuss the sustainable practices that they utilized to help their agency and clients thrive during the pandemic. Together, these agencies demonstrate the strength and diversity of the services available to Milwaukee-area clients.?
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn how to collaborate with other organizations to address mental health needs. Participants will be able to identify signs of distress and manifestation of trauma symptoms. Participants will be able to apply de-escalation skills to help mitigate crisis. Participants will be able to create sustainable wellness practices for staff and clientele.
Ally to Community: Bridging the Gaps that Cause True Divides
Presenters: Benetria McGowan, SAC-IT, Aspired Ink and Vanessa Hintz, LCP, PsyD, Vivid Insights Consulting, Alverno College and Cornerstone Counseling Services
CE Hours: 1
This workshop will explore the impact of ally’s in the fight of systemic racism and oppression over the years. We will look into various instances where ally’s and minorities were able to work together to bring about real change. We will then explore different models of community and how this could be the missing piece for the ally. This work shop will look at how being in community with one another can maximum impact on the fight for justice.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to analyze and critique current methods of the ally in the fight against racial injustices. Participants also will be able to discuss and evaluate various models of community and distinguish key aspects that may be missing from the current method of the ally in order to formulate a more effective partnership between the ally and the POC.
Compassion Resilience in the Fight for Equity
Presenters: Jessica Langill, MA, and Hanna Maechtle, Rogers Behavioral Health
CE Hours: 0
Knowing what compassion fatigue looks like is key in understanding yourself and others and maintaining positive morale and productivity in the workplace. But, compassion fatigue is a normal response to the injustice in today's world and the instances of inequity we hear about from those we serve. Compassion resilience "is the ability to maintain our physical, emotional and mental well-being while responding compassionately to people who are suffering."
Learning Objectives: Recognize compassion fatigue in self and others. Apply Compassion Resilience tools when experiencing compassion fatigue in equity work. Discuss the role of majority group members in equity work.
CLARA Healing Institute: Creating a Holistic Model for Clinical, Educational, and Community Work
Presenter: Kristin Belkofer, LPC, CLARA Healing Institute and Punk Rock Therapy
CE Hours: 1
This presentation will provide an overview of a holistic three part model that aims to integrate clinical, therapist education, and community work. The overview will explain how the Institute was both intentionally and organically formed, and how the facets of the practice work together to provide healing experiences across ecosystems of services.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn 2-3 ways that Community Psychology theories and frameworks can can be translated into mental health private practice and program development. Participants will engage in a visualization/ journaling process related to creating their own vision for personal and community healing, and integrating the two. Participants will apply 3 principles of self-leadership to development of their professional identities.
Co-Creating a Vision for Change Using Art
Presenters: Kelly Henckel, DAT, ATRL-BC, LPC, Alverno College and Audrey Burghardt, MSCP, Freespace Innovation
CE Hours: 1
Creating momentum for shared action in diverse groups requires each participant to see their unique perspective and values represented in the vision for change. This session will equip practitioners with an approach to create shared vision through facilitation and the use of art. Participants will engage in a facilitated workshop using art as a tool to reflect on the vision of a healing community. Please have some general drawing materials accessible for use. This might include pens, markers, colored pencils, or oil pastels.
Learning Objectives: Participants will engage in participatory learning of a brief group facilitation method used to create inclusive, shared vision for change among diverse groups with divergent thinking, experiences and beliefs. Participants will learn engage in an experiential art making process to co-create a tangible vision of a healing community. Participants will learn how art can be used as a reflective tool to envision change.
Opening Keynote Presentation - The Importance of Community in Supporting Mental Health Needs
Presenter: Danell Cross, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges
CE Hours: 0
The Metcalfe Park Community Bridges program provides a wide array of services to the Milwaukee community. Their strong focus on building strong, healthy community connections highlights the importance of community in supporting mental health needs in the community. Danell Cross, the Executive Director of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, will share how their organization has grown and promoted community connection and health in an area of Milwaukee that has been overlooked and underresourced in the past.
Using Creative Therapies in the Success Center - Lutheran Social Services and MPS Panel
Presenters: Valerie Becke, MS, LPC, Lutheran Social Services, Andrew deLutio, Milwaukee Public Schools, William Maryland, MA, Marquette University, Emily Nolan, DAT, LPC, ATRL, BC, Haley Stozek, and Imani Jalil, Milwaukee Public Schools Success Center
CE Hours: 1
The Success Center within the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), in partnership with Lutheran Social Services, is a therapeutic program that offers art therapy, dance/movement and drumming, and yoga in addition to traditional mental health therapy. The program targets 4-12th grade students under-functioning academically with several disciplinary interventions. A restorative model is enacted through creating healthy relationships to prevent further conflict and behavioral concerns. The program focuses on repairing harm, helping the student build success, and then transition back to their school of origin. The program is empathetic and embraces a restorative approach enacted through focus on creating healthy relationships to develop trust and navigate conflict. This workshop will present information about the use of creative therapies in the Success Center.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about the successes and challenges associated with developing a program that integrates mental health support and traditional schooling. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from community partners about their experiences providing supports through the Success Center Program. Participants will have an opportunity to develop further awareness of creative and expressive therapies offered within the MPS program at the Success Center. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in multiple creative therapeutic experiences similar to those offered at the MPS program at the Success Center.
Intergenerational Trauma: A Narrative Analysis of the Historical Disenfranchisement of African American Clients
Presenter: Vanessa Hintz, LCP, PsyD, Vivid Insights Consulting, Alverno College and Cornerstone Counseling Services
CE Hours: 1
The goal of this presentation is to describe the role of intergenerational trauma in the lives of African Americans in the United States. In addition to outlining operational definitions of “Urban Trauma,” “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome,” and other aspects related to intergenerational trauma, the presenter will describe strategies for addressing intergenerational trauma in therapy. Narratives found in popular culture that provide insight into historical disenfranchisement will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives: Identify concepts and terminology associated with equity and inclusion, to include “Urban Trauma,” as well as “Posttraumatic Slave Syndrome.” Evaluate the influence of popular cultural narratives on understandings of intergenerational trauma. Identify and/or evaluate culturally responsive clinical practices aimed at addressing intergenerational trauma, specifically with African American clients.
Finding Community Online: How Digital Communities Can Provide Support for Mental Health Concerns
Presenter: Rachel Reinders-Saeman, PsyD, LPC, and Pryscilla Balladares, Alverno College
CE Hours: 1
In the past year, many traditional sources of support, such as social gatherings, have become unavailable. The role that virtual communities play in providing support has become more evident as everything moved online. This support takes many forms, including formal groups, chat rooms, or therapeutic advice profiles. This presentation seeks to highlight several examples of how these online communities function, how clients may seek out and find supportive communities, and how clinicians can work with clients to supplement their work with these communities.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about the various types of online communities available and how each may provide different types of support. Participants will identify the research surrounding informal sources of support and online communities. Participants will discuss how these online communities may supplement formal therapeutic interventions.
Mental Health and the Pandemic: Understanding and Addressing Individual and Collective Suffering
Presenter: Ryan Larkey, LCSW, SAC, Compassionate Clinical Services
CE Hours: 1
The current Covid-19 pandemic has had a global impact on the emotional well being of individuals and communities. As caregivers are working to adapt and develop supportive responses, we can look backwards at previous societal changes to anticipate the long-term effects of this pandemic. Individuals dealing with illness and long-term recovery are experiencing Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), medical trauma and grief. We will review models of treatment directed towards individuals and address how communities have adapted in times of upheaval to better understand how we can heal and support those affected by this pandemic.
Learning Objectives: Participants will develop an understanding of how communities have adapted and healed in past instances of collective loss and grief. Participants will recognize the short-term and long-term mental health effects communities experience following illness and public health crises. Participants will identify strategies to support individuals in long-term recovery. Participants will distinguish between medical, mental health and community-based responses to the pandemic and identify a range of resources available to meet the needs of those affected by the pandemic.
"COVID-19 Pandemic: Grieving for a Lost Culture while Embracing the Advances, Advantages, and Aspects of Next Steps Within Our Culture"
Presenter: Dr. Tony Thrasher, D.O., DFAPA, Milwaukee County and American Association for Emergency Psychiatry
CE Hours: 1
A comprehensive discussion of how COVID-19 has affected us culturally, and how this reaction is similar to handling grief in general. This includes looking at past pandemics/disasters and examining how we have created innovations in those scenarios. This talk covers aspects of resilience, vulnerability, burnout, and cultivating a positive approach to next steps in handling said pandemic!
Learning Objectives: Participants will process how pandemic have occurred previously and note what positive outcomes emerged longitudinally. Participants will be able to relate how the process of living through a pandemic approximates the stages of grief first noted by Kubler-Ross. Participants will be able to report symptoms to be aware of that signify warning signs of burnout (tied to said pandemic). Participants will be able to discuss how stressors from the pandemic can affect not only individuals in the community but also have a specific focus on healthcare providers and/or counseling staff in said sector.
Law Enforcement Mental Health as a Social Justice Initiative
Presenters: Nikki Hensler, MS, LPC Perspectives Consulting and Lou Schaefer, MS, Advocate Aurora.
CE Hours:1
This session will offer a perspective of law enforcement mental health as a social justice initiative by describing the microtraumas and moral injury that law enforcement officers encounter on a daily basis and how this influences their encounters. The neurobiology of trauma complicated by crisis response, paired with a lack of mental health resources, can lead to biases on the job. During this session, we will also offer therapists an opportunity to reflect on their own biases toward law enforcement.
Learning Objectives: Participants will understand the neurobiological effect of trauma during the crisis response. Participants will identify the various situations in which LEOs face potential micro trauma and moral injury. Participants will explore the potential barriers to law enforcement access to mental health care. Participants will reflect on their own biases toward law enforcement.
Pryscilla Balladares pryscilla.balladares@alverno.edu
Pryscilla Balladares is an Academic Advisor at Alverno College. She has an undergraduate degree in Political Ccience with a concentration in law from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. Currently, she is a graduate student at Alverno studying in the Community Psychology program. Outside of the college, she is a creative artist, with her focus in creative writing and collage art. She is also the Creative Director of a Milwaukee-inspired t-shirt brand that her husband and she own. When she's not working on creative projects, she likes to binge watch good shows on Netflix with her two doggies and listen to crime podcasts.
Valerie Becke, MS, LPC valerie.becke@lsswis.org
Valerie Becke is the Milwaukee Regional Director at Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. She is a Marquette and UW-Milwaukee graduate and has been in the field for more than 20 years. She has worked in most facets of mental health treatment and program development, including corrections, community case management and crisis intervention.
Kristin Belkofer, MS, LPC kbelkoferlpc@gmail.com
Kristin Belkofer is a psychotherapist, mental health activist, and the founder of CLARA Healing Institute in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, attachment issues, trauma and sexual abuse, ADHD, disordered eating, self injury, conduct disorders, and family/couples issues. Clinically, she is passionate about integrating interpersonal neurobiology, attachment theory, imagery, and somatic therapies to help clients heal and thrive. Her research interests include the intersection of food insecurity and mental health outcomes, and she has presented locally and internationally on this topic.
Audrey Burghardt, MS audrey@freespaceinnovation.com
Audrey Burghardt, a 2014 Alverno alumni, is the founder of Freespace Innovation, a social services, healthcare and community consulting firm that helps programs reach goals through creative improvement, strategy development, program design and implementation support. Audrey is trained in inclusive facilitation and has expertise in population health, health equity, social determinants of health, and cross-sector partnerships. Audrey holds a Master of Science in Community Psychology.
Maria Castillo, MA maria.castillo@milwaukeecountywi.gov
Maria Castillo is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Wraparound Milwaukee. Maria enjoys working with community partners to exchange resources and provide learning opportunities to enhance what they already offer. Maria has extensive knowledge in the area of First Episode Psychosis and informing the community about the need for early intervention. Maria’s strength is engaging youth who have had their onset of psychosis to participate in CORE Programming.
Danell Cross dcross@metcalfepark.org
Danell Cross is the Executive Director of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges (MPCB), a neighborhood-based, nonprofit organization that focuses on lifting the collective power of residents to build a neighborhood that reflects residents’ desires to improve the fates of those who live there. Among its many accomplishments under Cross’s leadership, MPCB has developed a mutual aid society that has provided needed resources for community residents throughout the COVID epidemic.
MPCB was created through the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program, a federal initiative developed by the Obama administration to engage residents of poor communities in four cities across the country to work together with resource brokers and city leaders to develop, fund and implement resident-led rehabilitation plans to address resident-identified visions in four cities across the country. Cross was selected as the resident coordinator of Metcalfe Park and tasked with engaging residents in her community to develop a vision and plan to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the Metcalfe Park Community. After serving in this capacity for a few months, she was promoted to co-director of the program working with residents across her community to identify their fears, hopes and dreams for their community and develop a plan to address them. She also worked with local grant makers, the business community and city government whose support they would need in realizing the community’s vision. Cross became the founding executive director of MPCB in 2015 when the organization was given nonprofit status. A fierce proponent of fairness, racial equity and women’s rights, Cross is the mother of six children.
Andrew deLutio delutiac@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Andrew deLutio, a former Milwaukee Public School (MPS) high school teacher coordinates the Milwaukee Public Schools Success Center Program, a partnership between MPS and Marquette University’s Center for Peacemaking. The Success Center team is a dedicated group of mental health professionals, teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and school support staff who coordinate with families and schools to prioritize the social and emotional health of students and equip schools to better support each student in collaboration with their families. Prior to this role, Drew served as the Restorative Practices Coordinator on the MPS Violence Prevention Team, working to implement Restorative Practices across MPS schools while simultaneously offering coaching and support to teachers and administrators.
Penelope Dixon, MS, LPC pdixon@camwc.net
Penelope Dixon is the VOCA Counselor at the Milwaukee Women’s Center, a division of Community Advocates. She specializes in offering accessible mental health care to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other adverse experiences. Penelope is committed to providing community education and professional development to help reduce the stigma of mental illness in the African American community.
Rada Drca, MA, LPC rada.drca@milwaukeecountywi.gov
Rada Drca is the Clinical School Liaison who collaborates with educators to identify and screen youth at a clinical high risk for developing psychosis. Rada received her BA in Psychology from Alverno College, a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Cardinal Stritch University, and is a LPC certified in TF-CBT who has provided therapeutic healing to families with emphasis in treating childhood trauma and attachment disruptions. Rada enjoys working with diverse populations.
Kelly J. Henckel, DAT, ATRL-BC, LPC kelly.henckel@alverno.edu
Dr. Kelly Henckel is a Board Certified, Registered Art Therapist (specialty in Psychotherapy), and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is the Assistant Professor and Program Director for the undergraduate Art Therapy program at Alverno College and also provides clinical supervision to both art therapists and professional counselors in-training through a private practice in Bayview.
Nikki Hensler-Gordon, MS, LPC Nicolena.gordon@gmail.com
Nikki Hensler is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree from Alverno College and EMDR International Association Certified Therapist and consultant, specializing in victims of violent and interpersonal crimes. Nikki’s background includes extensive work in community mental health and the collaborative family justice model. She has also been a part of sexual assault and domestic violence coordinated community response teams and assisted in developing a coordinated campus response team to enhance a college’s sexual assault victim services. Nikki provides consultation to local law enforcement and district attorneys’ offices regarding the neurobiology of trauma and victim focused best practices. Her own private practice located in Wauwatosa.
Vanessa Hintz, PsyD vanessa.hintz@alverno.edu
Dr. Vanessa Hintz is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her doctorate in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and is an active proponent of multicultural counseling and theory. She works dynamically to understand how individuals make meaning of the world within their various cultural contexts. She is also a self-proclaimed "Geek Therapist," and incorporates elements of popular culture into treatment and training, when beneficial. In addition to maintaining a private practice, Dr. Hintz also works as an Assistant Professor at Alverno College in the Community Psychology graduate program. She is an active member of the Wisconsin Psychological Association, where she currently serves on the Board of Directors and is the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Jessica Langill, MA jessica.langill@rogersbh.org
Jessica Langill is a lifetime Milwaukeean and a proud graduate of Alverno College and Claremont Lincoln University. Her academic career provided focuses in community and organizational leadership, psychology, civic engagement, and women and gender studies. Professionally, Jessica currently serves as the first Coordinator of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Rogers Behavioral Health. She also volunteers her time and expertise on the Board of Directors for the Brewcity Bruisers and Unity in Motion and is a program manager for Pridefest Milwaukee. She has dedicated her servant leadership skills to the nonprofit world in Milwaukee since 2010, when she served on the founding corps of City Year Milwaukee. Jessica has held various roles in nonprofit organizations since then, most recently as the Equal Rights Specialist for the City of Milwaukee since 2016.
Ryan Larkey, MA ryan@compassionateclinicalservices.com
Ryan Larkey is a licensed psychotherapist and substance abuse counselor practicing in the Milwaukee area. He has extensive experience working with individuals, couples and families navigating mental health and addiction issues. True to his social worker roots, Ryan is committed to working with and advocating for marginalized populations. Ryan has worked to educate and implement structural change for gender minorities. He has a personal and professional interest in advocating for and using his role as a therapist to help individuals that are facing unique challenges of navigating our government’s immigration system.
Samantha Lavarda, PsyD samantha.lavarda@milwaukeecountywi.gov
Dr. Samantha Lavarda is a psychologist for the Children’s Mobile Crisis (CMC) Team and Wraparound Milwaukee. She supervises CMC Team staff to provide guidance in complex situations, diagnostic clarification, and debriefing. She is certified in the Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes (SIPS). Additionally, Dr. Lavarda provides supervision and oversight for enrollment into all the Wraparound Milwaukee programs.
William Maryland, MA willie.maryland@marquette.edu
Willie Maryland has worked in education for 40 years. For several years, Willie worked as a teacher and dean of students. In 1999, he co-founded and directed Racine's first charter school, The REAL School. After earning a master’s degree in Administration, Willie created another Racine charter school, the Racine Civil Leaders Academy (RCLA), capitalizing on connections among minority leaders and community members. Willie believes that actions define a person and his or her true level of success. Willie demonstrates this belief through his dedication to providing meaningful opportunities for kids.
Benetria McGowan, SAC-IT mcgowaby@alverno.edu
Benetria McGowan is the founder of Gifted Youth Plaza, Inc., a nonprofit that helps youth discover their talents and abilities. She is also the owner of Aspired Ink, a business that specializes in creating sustainable shirts and futures by teaching the youth and families social emotional intelligence through arts and entrepreneurship. Benetria earned a bachelor's degree in Community Leadership and Development from Alverno College. She is currently pursuing her master’s in Community Psychology at Alverno and holds a SAC-IT.
Hanna Maechtle Hanna.Maechtle@rogersbh.org
Hanna Maechtle works at Rogers Behavioral Health as an outreach and training specialist. In this role, Hanna works to promote Rogers’ clinical services in the Sheboygan community and trains community partners to implement Rogers InHealth programming, such as Compassion Resilience, Up to Me, and Safe Person. Hanna has been with Rogers for several years, first as a residential counselor and then as a behavioral specialist in the OCD and Anxiety Center children’s residential care. With her clinical experience, Hanna has deep understanding for the needs of a potential patient. Hanna earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point and is currently completing a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Development at Lakeland University.
Emily Nolan, DAT, LPC, ATRL, BC emilynolan@bloomtherapies.com
Dr. Emily Nolan is a professor of practice and practicum/internship coordinator at Syracuse University, a licensed professional counselor, and a licensed art psychotherapist. In 2012, she created Bloom: Center for Art and Integrated Therapies, LLC, a community oriented, clinical art therapy practice in Milwaukee, WI. She sees clients in private sessions there as well as develops and oversees the community art therapy programs. Dr. Nolan is dedicated to working with people who have experienced trauma and have been marginalized to feel seen, heard, and understood.
Dominique Pritchett, PsyD dpritchett@belovedwellnesscenter.com
Dr. Dominique Pritchett is a licensed mental health therapist, speaker, wellness consultant and media contributor. She has been featured locally, nationally and internationally on BBC London Radio, Shondaland, Women’s Health Magazine, The New York Times and more. Dr. Pritchett’s goals are to engage, educate and empower others through thought-provoking stories and actionable steps to live holistically well. She is the CEO at Beloved Wellness Center, a private mental health practice in Kenosha, Wisconsin where services are curated for Black women and girls.
Rachel Reinders-Saeman, PhD, LPC rachel.reinders@alverno.edu
Dr. Rachel Reinders is an assistant professor and program director in the Community Psychology program at Alverno College. She is a licensed psychologist and counselor who specializes in conducting psychological evaluations. She is passionate about teaching and mentoring graduate students, as well as providing opportunities for clinicians to come together to share resources and knowledge. Dr. Reinders is the incoming president of the Wisconsin Psychological Association and serves on the mentoring program committee for the National Latinx Psychological Association.
Lou Schaefer, MS l.schaef@yahoo.com
Lou Schaefer received her master’s degree in Community Psychology from Alverno College in 2019 and retired from the Milwaukee Police Department in 2020, after serving as for 25 years. Lou currently serves on the board of the Traumatic Incident Resource (TIR) and previously served as the chairperson of the Police Officer Support Team (POST). As a trainer for the Milwaukee Police Department, Lou was principal in the development and implementation of the department’s Crisis Intervention Team.? She also served as the department’s Early Intervention Program coordinator and worked with the department’s Mental Wellness Team. Lou’s experience as a law enforcement officer, a peer supporter, and a mental health provider give her valuable insight into the first responder culture, cumulative trauma and traumatic stress.
Tony Thrasher, DO, DFAPA tony.thrasher@milwaukeecountywi.gov
Dr. Tony Thrasher is a board-certified psychiatrist employed as the medical director for the Crisis Services branch of the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. He received his psychiatric training from Washington University in St. Louis / Barnes Jewish Hospital, and is the current President of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry (AAEP). He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and currently serves as the President Elect for the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association (WPA). Additionally, Dr. Thrasher enjoys teaching as a clinical associate professor with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and serving as the chair for the Wisconsin state task force combining leaders in emergency medicine in psychiatry on topics affecting improving the patient experience! Most recently, he was inducted into the American College of Psychiatrists, elected to the NAMI Wisconsin Board of Directors, and is fortunate to work with Psychiatric Times on a series of Mental Health Minute web episodes!
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