Feel the Power in Being Courtroom Ready

Therapists have a 100% chance of being subpoenaed at some point in their career.  Yet, graduate programs and clinical practices are often avoidant of the court system.  By avoiding courtroom conversations, counselors hold a perceived fear around the court process.  Join us for this training to learn how to empower counselors to be courtroom ready.  Judges and attorneys value a counselor’s expertise, especially when they are prepared for court.  Working with a Missouri Judge in 2025, Rebecca began to inquire about what courtrooms needed for therapists to show up ready to court.  This training is a derivative of that conversation.

Learning Objectives

• Generalized Knowledge and Terminology.  Ever wonder what some of the words mean on a subpoena?  Learn a basic knowledge of key terms as they apply to you, a counselor. 

• Missouri specific court room preparation.  Learn about influential laws and practices that impact counselors within court processes.  

• Ethical Considerations.  Understand your role and responsibilities as a counselor during court processes.  This includes ethical and procedural boundaries within the testimony itself.

• Strategies to Testimony.  Learn how to mentally and physically prepare for court testimony with exercises designed to manage nerves, maintain professionalism, and manage the pressures of a court setting. 

$35 for non-members. $20 for MMHCA members (use discount code found in the member portal). Register below.

Presenter: Rebecca Padgett, LPC-NCC-MSL

Rebecca Padgett is a Nationally Certified Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked within various judicial settings for the last 20 years.  Rebecca is a certified trauma therapist specializing in Trauma-Focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma (ITCT), and Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI).  Over the course of Rebecca’s career she has been sought by judicial parties to facilitate conversations in court around complex family system cases.  Rebecca’s experience in testimony, judicial roles, and clinical communication has given her a knowledge and expertise within courtroom education and practice.

Rebecca currently holds a chair for the Missouri Mental Health Counseling Association where she assists in the development of education initiatives for licensed professional counselors and supports the awareness of public policy as impacts counselors across Missouri. 

Participants are required to keep their camera on a majority of the training and be engaged throughout the duration of the program to earn all possible NBCC clock hours.

Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association (MMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2059. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

*Training could be cancelled or postponed if there are not more than 5 registrants for this date’s training. By registering for this training using the MMHCA Online Education Platform, you are acknowledging your participation and payment for this course.  Should you, the participant, need to withdraw from a registered course, you must provide a minimum of 48 hour notification to MMHCA by contacting us.  Upon notification you will be permitted to re-enroll into another course within the fiscal operating year or may request a refund.  Refunds for courses are 75% of your total enrollment costs.  Individuals who do not attend a training that was paid and registered for will not qualify for a reimbursement for the course or rescheduling the course because prior notification was not conducted.  

Parental Alienation Is Psychological Maltreatment

Parental Alienation (PA) affects an estimated 3.5 million children and 30 million parents in the U.S., making it a critical concern for mental health and child welfare professionals. This evidence-based training explores PA as a form of Psychological Maltreatment (PM), offering practical tools to recognize, assess, and intervene in high-conflict custody cases.

Participants will learn how PA aligns with the 6 forms of psychological maltreatment defined by APSAC, the 5 core criteria for PA, and the 17 alienating strategies identified by Dr. Amy J.L. Baker. The session also covers DSM-5 codes, severity levels, ACES research, and clinical applications. Through Cheryl Mefferd’s personal story and Shari Linger’s professional insight, attendees will gain both a human and clinical perspective on this often-misunderstood issue—equipping them to support affected families with greater clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Learning Objectives

• Define Parental Alienation (PA) using current, evidence-based research.

• Identify the 6 forms of Psychological Maltreatment (PM) as outlined by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), and demonstrate how PA behaviors align with each category.

• Recognize the 5 essential criteria required for identifying a valid case of Parental Alienation.

• Describe and explain the 17 alienating strategies & 5 Categories developed by Dr. Amy J.L. Baker and how these tactics impact the child’s perception of the targeted parent.

• Differentiate between the 3 levels of PA severity and apply the criteria used to assess and classify each level.

• Assess the psychological and developmental impact of PA on children, including emotional, cognitive, and behavioral consequences.

• Understand the connection between PA and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) study, and its implications for long-term mental health outcomes.

• Apply up to 8 relevant DSM-5 diagnostic codes commonly used to document psychological maltreatment in cases involving PA.

• Identify red flags and manipulative behaviors commonly used by alienating parents, particularly in high-conflict custody situations.

• Identify the 8 Behaviors Used to Identify PA .

• Develop practical strategies for clinical assessment, intervention, and collaboration with legal professionals in cases involving PA, while maintaining ethical and trauma-informed practices. 

THIS TRAINING IS FREE. Complete the form below so we can provide the training link and material.

Presenter: Cheryl Mefford, BSN, RN

Cheryl Mefferd, BSN, RN, is the Founder of Parental Alienation Speaks, a registered nurse, educator, and stepmother to three amazing (now alienated) children. A breast cancer survivor and fierce advocate, she draws from personal and professional experience to raise awareness of parental alienation as a form of psychological abuse. Her evidence-based resources and powerful storytelling have reached audiences worldwide. Cheryl is passionate about helping others and brings strength, compassion, and clarity wherever she goes. Above all, she gives God the glory for her healing, her sense of purpose, and the opportunity to serve and support those in need.

Participants are required to keep their camera on a majority of the training and be engaged throughout the duration of the program to earn all possible NBCC clock hours.

Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association (MMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2059. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

*Training could be cancelled or postponed if there are not more than 5 registrants for this date’s training. By registering for this training using the MMHCA Online Education Platform, you are acknowledging your participation and payment for this course.  Should you, the participant, need to withdraw from a registered course, you must provide a minimum of 48 hour notification to MMHCA by contacting us.  Upon notification you will be permitted to re-enroll into another course within the fiscal operating year or may request a refund.  Refunds for courses are 75% of your total enrollment costs.  Individuals who do not attend a training that was paid and registered for will not qualify for a reimbursement for the course or rescheduling the course because prior notification was not conducted.  

Legislative Day allows us to use our voice for our profession and our clients. This event is specifically geared toward graduate counseling students to learn about the advocacy process. We will gather as a group for registration in the morning and learn about the advocacy process. We will then divide into small groups to speak with our respective legislators on topics of advocacy related to mental health and the future of the counseling profession. We will conclude this event with an optional lunch near the capitol building. If you are interested in lunch, please register separately as there is a $5 to offset costs. Please register below to participate.

• 9am Check in at the rotunda first floor (look for the MMHCA banner and table just after security)

• 9:30am Learn about advocacy and how a bill becomes law

• 10am Divide into small groups to begin visiting legislators

• 12-12:30pm Gather for lunch (optional)

• 12:30-1:30 Lunch and debrief the morning (optional)

We have partnered with other mental health professionals to lend our voice to advocacy of the profession and our clients. Professional counselors (PLPCs and LPCs) are invited to join us on March 4, 2026 for advocacy alongside the National Association for Social Workers of Missouri, School Social Workers of Missouri, and Missouri Psychological Association (MPA). Please see the timeline of events below.

• 7:30 AM Registration

• 8 AM Rally in the 1st Floor Rotunda (reserved until 10:45AM)

• Mental health elected officials invited

• Meetings with legislators

• Optional lunch on the 4th floor (more details to come)

Dead Therapists Society: A Logistical and Existential Exploration of Mortality in the TherapeuticProfession

The first half of this training will outline for participants a range of ethical, legal, and logistical burdens that fall on clients, colleagues, community partners, and loved ones if and when counselors do not prepare for the inevitable end of life. The training will outline ways of engaging thoughtfully with the process, including aspects of a professional will, and ways to ensure protection of all parties involved in the therapeutic relationship. The second half of training will open a broader conversation around our own relationship with death: fears, concerns, avoidances, and how our own reactions may limit our ability to utilize an emotionally-rich and universally human topic therapeutically. This training will be an interactive opportunity to explore questions and experiences from participants’ own practice and personal backgrounds. 3 NBCC hours will be awarded for this Workshop. Due to both the intimate nature of the conversation, and NBCC requirements, participants must keep their camera on throughout the duration of the training.

Learning Objectives

In this training, participants will:

1. Practice engaging with the difficult conversations - in the clinical realm and beyond - relating to death, dying, and one’s own mortality

2. Understand the structure, purpose, and value of a professional will

3. Learn how to utilize one’s own individual theoretical lens to make ethical decisions around professional will creation and end-of-life planning as it pertains to professional identity and responsibility

4. Explore self-disclosure, specifically around embodied humanness and mortality, as a therapeutic tool (death as a means of engagement with transference and projection)

5. Investigate the interplay of personal and professional identities surrounding anticipatory loss/grief and death

$35 for non-members. $20 for MMHCA members (use discount code found in the member portal). Register below.

Presenter Bios

Chaz Franke

Chaz is a therapist and clinical supervisor for Light Source, a small group practice in Belleville, Illinois. Chaz is also adjunct faculty in the Saint Louis University MSW program. Chaz has been practicing therapy full time since 2007. Since the beginning of his career as a therapist, Chaz has worked with trauma and its long reaching effects. This work has included extensive work with all ages and all walks of life. Chaz specializes in self compassion and integrating Eastern thought and philosophy into the therapeutic process. Chaz has presented on topics including, but not limited to Trauma, Wisdom and Self Compassion, Mindfulness, Self Care, Transference and countertransference, and Expanding the Self of the Helper. Chaz provides both clinical and reflective supervision to clinicians across many settings to help further their ability to find their voice in the field and maintain engagement in their work. Chaz has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from McKendree University, and a Master of Social Work degree from Saint Louis University (SLU). Chaz received his clinical license in 2009.

Kathryn Beskrowni

Kathryn is a licensed professional counselor in St. Louis City, currently working in solo private practice. Her human-oriented work has spanned the last 10 years in therapeutic, non-profit, and academic arenas. Kathryn’s approach to therapy is heavily influenced by philosophy, social stories, and folkloric practices, especially shaped by her learning and development through the Existential-Humanistic Institute based in Northern California. Specializing in relational growth, self-exploration, and the therapeutic expression of existential concerns, she utilizes an interdisciplinary approach that integrates existential, systemic, and attachment theories, often focusing on navigation of feelings of alienation and annihilation, and aiming to foster deeper senses of self-awareness and connection. Kathryn is the founder of the Midwest Humanistic Counselors Association, the current secretary of MMHCA, and this year she is extending her support of practitioners in the field into Colorado for the Fourth World Congress of Existential Therapy, as part of the ongoing volunteer committee. Kathryn holds a dual degree in Community Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, she is a Nationally Certified Counselor and licensed to practice in both Missouri and New Hampshire. She is currently a new member of NHMHCA and is excited to bridge the knowledge and working practices between the two states.

Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association (MMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2059. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

*Training could be cancelled or postponed if there are not more than 5 registrants for this date’s training. By registering for this training using the MMHCA Online Education Platform, you are acknowledging your participation and payment for this course.  Should you, the participant, need to withdraw from a registered course, you must provide a minimum of 48 hour notification to MMHCA by contacting us.  Upon notification you will be permitted to re-enroll into another course within the fiscal operating year or may request a refund.  Refunds for courses are 75% of your total enrollment costs.  Individuals who do not attend a training that was paid and registered for will not qualify for a reimbursement for the course or rescheduling the course because prior notification was not conducted.  

Clinical Considerations When Working with Emergency Responders

Do you work with or have a desire to work with the Emergency Responder community? This population can present its own unique set of challenges when trying to build trust and rapport. This presentation will cover topics and insights when working with firefighters, police officers, tele-communications, paramedics and EMT’s.

Learning Objectives

• Increase the understanding of the emergency responder culture, language and lifestyle.

• Understand at least 5 barriers that emergency responders could navigate when seeking mental health services.

• Learn how to avoid 5 common pitfalls when working with emergency service workers.

• Understand at least three different emergency service roles and identities.

$35 for non-members. $20 for MMHCA members (use discount code found in the member portal). Register below.

Presenter Bio

Adam Neff currently owns his own practice in Springfield, Missouri where he works with complex trauma and is near completion of his EMDR certification. Since retiring as an Assistant Chief of Training and Operations after a 30-year career in the fire service, Adam’s practice is primarily made up of Emergency Responders and Military population, but also works with individuals, couples and teens. He currently consults and speaks working with Emergency responders and Military population. He likes spending time with family and being outdoors.

Participants are required to keep their camera on a majority of the training and be engaged throughout the duration of the program to earn all possible NBCC clock hours.

Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association (MMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2059. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

*Training could be cancelled or postponed if there are not more than 5 registrants for this date’s training. By registering for this training using the MMHCA Online Education Platform, you are acknowledging your participation and payment for this course.  Should you, the participant, need to withdraw from a registered course, you must provide a minimum of 48 hour notification to MMHCA by contacting us.  Upon notification you will be permitted to re-enroll into another course within the fiscal operating year or may request a refund.  Refunds for courses are 75% of your total enrollment costs.  Individuals who do not attend a training that was paid and registered for will not qualify for a reimbursement for the course or rescheduling the course because prior notification was not conducted.  

Let’s Dig In: Processing Trauma Through Sandtray Therapy Techniques

This training introduces counselors to Sandtray Therapy, a trauma-informed Play Therapy approach that helps clients safely express and process traumatic experiences. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of trauma and learn practical tools to integrate Sandtray into their work, making trauma recovery more accessible, creative, and sustainable.

Learning Objectives

• Provide a conceptual framework for working with clients who have experienced trauma

• Introduce mental health counselors to the trauma informed intervention of Sandtray, a highly effective modality of Play Therapy

• Highlight tools to transfer that knowledge to working in the Sandtray, thus making trauma recovery approachable, engaging, and sustainable

$35 for non-members. $20 for MMHCA members (use discount code found in the member portal). Register below.

Presenter Bios

Dr. Holly Wagner is an associate professor at Southeast Missouri State University and has been teaching counseling courses in higher education since 2009. Her areas of expertise include Counselor Development, Play Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care, and she has conducted research within each of these. She teaches a variety of counseling courses, which include Advanced Play Therapy, Crisis and Consultation, Counseling and Developmental Theory, and clinical courses. She is passionate about theory, prevention, development, and healing trauma through creative, experiential modalities.

Lauren Bozeman’s clinical experience focuses on trauma and marginalized populations. She is currently an Educational Specialist student at Southeast Missouri State University.

Participants are required to keep their camera on a majority of the training and be engaged throughout the duration of the program to earn all possible NBCC clock hours.

Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association (MMHCA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 2059. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

*Training could be cancelled or postponed if there are not more than 5 registrants for this date’s training. By registering for this training using the MMHCA Online Education Platform, you are acknowledging your participation and payment for this course.  Should you, the participant, need to withdraw from a registered course, you must provide a minimum of 48 hour notification to MMHCA by contacting us.  Upon notification you will be permitted to re-enroll into another course within the fiscal operating year or may request a refund.  Refunds for courses are 75% of your total enrollment costs.  Individuals who do not attend a training that was paid and registered for will not qualify for a reimbursement for the course or rescheduling the course because prior notification was not conducted.