Program Description

Through the use of interactive discussion, case studies, and multimedia, participants will discuss Generation Z and how adolescent development and needs remain the same, while the world around them has changed significantly. The focus will be on understanding family dynamics and strategies to help parents build resilience with their kids and connect with them, while maintaining structure within the home.

Learning Objectives

1. A better understanding of the current adolescent generation;
2. Identify and understand family dynamics as cyclical and not linear;
3. Specific strategies to help parents create an open dialogue with their kids to build connection;
4. Specific strategies to help parents help their kids problem solve to build resilience;
5. The balance between relational therapy and behaviorism in family therapy.

About the Presenter

Michele graduated from Monmouth University with her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling in 2012, with a specialization in addictions. She spent six years at one of the largest child and adolescent outpatient programs in NJ moving through various clinical and supervisory roles, including Program Director. Within those six years, she additionally opened her own private practice, True Triumph Counseling, and went back to school to train at the Ackerman Institute of Family Therapy in NYC. In 2018 Michele merged her practice with her fiancé John’s practice, Blueprint Mental Health and became a co-owner alongside him. Their practice is in Somerville and treats children, teens, young adults and their families, providing individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy and parent coaching. Michele additionally continues to supervise other clinicians.

Michele specializes in child and adolescent family therapy and parent coaching. When kids shut down or act out, it leaves a parent lost as to what’s going on with their kid, what to do, and how to talk to them. Through gaining a strong rapport with the whole family, she helps them acknowledge what’s going on, and build skills to talk to each other differently. Basically, she helps families understand each other and like each other again.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify various criminal justice settings and counseling opportunities;
2. Identify the role of authority/power conflicts, and counseling resistance that may occur;
3. Identify legal and/or ethical dilemmas that may occur and how to safeguard against them.

About the Presenter

Markim Shakur-Purvis, a long time resident of Monmouth County, is a graduate of Monmouth University’s Counseling Program. His professional experiences encompass substance use disorder treatment counseling, behavioral health counseling, criminal justice settings, and community treatment settings. Mr. Shakur-Purvis proudly owns and operates his own private counseling agency, Urban Life Skills Academy, which provides intensive in-home counseling and assessment services to youth and families.

Having previously spent a number of years working as a counselor and unit supervisor for the NJ Juvenile Justice Commission providing counseling to delinquent youth, Mr. Shakur-Purvis currently serves as a Program Specialist with the NJ Department of Corrections. He also has served as a clinical supervisor for a number of private drug treatment programs.

Mr. Shakur-Purvis is an approved CADC/LCADC course instructor by the Addictions Professional Certification Board of NJ and currently teaches courses in management concepts for Rutgers University Certified Public Managers Program. Complimentary to his experience, Mr. Shakur-Purvis has extensive education and credentialing in fields of substance abuse treatment, counseling, and management, of which he is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, a Certified Clinical Supervisor, and a Certified Public Manager. He completed his graduate education at Monmouth University, earning a Master’s Degree in Psychological Counseling, and completed a Post Master’s Certificate in Professional Counseling. Mr. Shakur-Purvis completed his undergraduate education at Thomas Edison State College earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Humans Services (specializing in mental health and rehabilitation).

Program Description

The purpose of this presentation is to provide education regarding the therapeutic model of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. During this presentation, Lindsey Capelli and Katelin Weisser of Living Well Counseling Center LLC will provide information on how DBT has been shown as an evidence based model. Information will be provided about which clients benefit most from this model, how to explain the biosocial theory to a client, and the function of the five modules within DBT. Additionally, Lindsey and Katelin will explain how dialectical dilemmas can play a role in how a client is responding to their environment and treatment as a whole.

About the Presenters

Lindsey Capelli LPC, NCC, SAC has been extensively trained and is well versed in DBT and Trauma. Lindsey has a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth University. Lindsey has prior experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, and is presently working for the Princeton HealthCare System. She is also employed in private practice at Living Well Counseling Center, LLC. Lindsey is proud to offer support to her local community as a co-owner at Living Well Counseling Center.

Katelin Weisser LCSW, LCADC is a co-owner and therapist at Living Well Counseling Center, LLC. She has been extensively trained in the model of DBT and has seen the positive effects it has on the clients she treats. Katelin looks forward to sharing her knowledge of DBT with the therapeutic community as a way to increase the information available about this evidence based treatment.

Program Description

Trauma is something that all clients will experience. As counselors, it is something that we cannot avoid working with. This presentation focuses on the subjective perception of trauma and benefits of utilizing the evidence-based approach, Trauma Focused CBT. Those attending will explore ways to utilize skills in this type of therapy with a variety of their current or future clients.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the impact of the subject perception of trauma
2. Benefits of utilizing TF-CBT
3. Learn basic skills of TF-CBT

About the Presenter

Stephanie Sullivan, MS, LPC, NCC graduated from the Professional Counseling program at Monmouth University in the spring of 2012. Since then, she has been employed at Catholic Charities’ Family Growth Program, working with children, teenagers, and their families who have experienced traumas such as sexual and physical abuse. Stephanie is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Problematic Sexual Behavior Group Therapy. She is also trained in Play Therapy and is pursuing the Registered Play Therapist certification. Stephanie is also an undergraduate psychology adjunct instructor at both Brookdale Community College and Monmouth University.

Program Description

Picking up from where she left off after her July 2015 presentation, Alisha will take attendees deeper into Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s transformational paradigm of Conscious Parenting. In part II of this series, attendees will explore their agendas and practical tools for manifesting life affirming agendas with the children in their lives. This presentation will also touch on accepting the as-is and bringing deeper awareness to the inner landscape and ego.

About the Presenter

Alisha De Lorenzo LAC, NCC received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth in 2014. She practices an integrative mental health model using conventional and complementary approaches to help clients access physical, emotional, and spiritual freedom. She currently sees clients at the NJ Center for the Healing Arts in Red Bank, NJ. Alisha has been trained in Baptiste Yoga and has been teaching yoga and facilitating personal revolution workshops since 2009. She has a growing private clientele and home studio community. Alisha is the Founder and CEO of “Living YES” – a learning community committed to the expansion of mind, body, and spirit awareness through workshops, trainings and online courses for individuals, schools and corporations and “YES Institute” – a summer leadership, adventure, and yoga camp for youth and teens.