Spring Workshops

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Workshop I: February 27^th, 2021 

Topic: Addressing Racism as Mental Health Professionals

Presented by Lisa Lackey, LCPC, CSAT, CMAT, EMDR II

 

Lisa has worked in the field of addiction and trauma since 1994. Lisa and her husband co-founded Insideout Living, Inc. in 1999. Lisa and her spouse envisioned a clinical practice that would help people make sense of parts of their lives that were confusing, overwhelming and painful. She believes that trauma healing comes from completing an emotional experience that may have only been completed as a physical experience long ago. Through compassion, cutting edge treatment modalities and a great team, Lisa believes that life can change. She helps people understand their own history and how it currently informs the present. Lisa understands individuals inadvertently “trap” parts of their life experience and helps clients understand why these patterns were formed.

Lisa supports clients to begin to form new patterns and believes they can begin to make small shifts that will lead to bigger changes. This process gives access to pain and trauma that are “stuck”, where the feelings can be released. She is driven by the passion to support individuals as they journey toward resolution from the inside out. Her clinical expertise is in the treatment of trauma and substance use disorders.

Lisa has two master’s degrees, one in education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University and the other in counseling from National Louis University. She has worked as a pastor; acts as a leadership development consultant and is a public speaker in a variety of venues. She loves learning and teaching. Lisa is also a Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist (CMAT). She has had training in Somatic Transformation, and she is a Level II EMDR therapist. Lisa’s passion for the work she does makes her a dynamic and compassionate therapist, as well as an engaging speaker who connects easily with individuals and large audiences.

Learning Objectives:

Understand barriers to racial equity in the mental health system and increase awareness of what it means to be an antiracist clinician; participants will identify four types of racism and how they exist in mental healthcare; self-assessment for personal racial biases to determine blind spots that impact their work as clinicians and executive leaders; discuss qualities of an anti-racist clinician and why BIPOC clients need these qualities; identify challenges in addressing racism from the inside-out. 

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Workshop II: March 13th, 2021 

Topic: The Titanic Meets the Iceberg: Addressing Trauma beneath Addiction, Mental Illness, Criminality and Self-harming Behavior 

Presented by Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the USA, Europe, Canada, Caribbean, and the British Isles.

Mark is the author of five books, which focus on behvioral health. Recent writings include: Slipping through The Cracks: Intervention Strategies for Clients; Multiple Addictions and Disorders: Recovery Management; Relationship Detox: Healping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships. He has had two stories published in the New York Times best-selling books series, Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Mark has been a Certified Addiction Counselor for 34 years. He has received numerous awards, including: A Lifetime Achieveman Award from the IL Certifiction Board and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession and as an alumni of Loyola University of Chicago.

Mark is co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery high school in IL. Previously, he had served as President of the IL Chapter of NAADAC. He has had a 30-year career as a university educator having taught at Chicago State University; School of Professional Psychology; and Loyola University of Chicago.

Learning Objectives:

A history of trauma treatment in America; the link between trauma, addiction, mental illness; criminality and self-harming behavior; the diagnosis and evidence- based treatment of 5 types of traumatic stress disorders which co-occur with addiction including: acute stress disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder; complex trauma; historical trauma and 24-7-365 terror; How to develop a trauma informed system of care; and how to avoid secondary PTSD.

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Workshop III: March 20^th, 2021 

Topic: Identifying Trafficking & Substance Abuse 

Presented by Cindy Gonzalez, Anti-Trafficking Outreach Specialist, STOP-IT

Cindy Gonzalez works with the STOP-IT program as an Anti-Trafficking Outreach Specialist. Her job focus is to train agencies and other community organizations on how to identify situations of human trafficking and to respond appropriately when encountered. Cindy also works as a full-time case manager for the STOP-IT drop-in center.

Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a minor in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Olivet Nazarene University. Her past work experience has included: Working with at-risk youth and under-resourced communities and staff counselor at a residential trafficking program for female identified youth. Cindy also collaborates with The Salvation Army in Brazil in their Anti-Trafficking Campaign during Carnival. She has a passion for working with this population and plays a critical role in collaborating with others to combat human trafficking and other social injustices.

Learning Objectives:

Dispel commonly held beliefs and stereotypes that promote sex and labor trafficking; define terms needed to discuss and understand issues of sex and labor trafficking; understand the forms and prevalence of sex and labor trafficking within the U.S.; understand the local context of sex and labor trafficking; increase awareness and sensitivity to human trafficking issues to promote victim-centered service provision; along with; learn the intersections of substance abuse and human trafficking and how to be able to recognize the signs and be able to provide services.

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Workshop IV: April 3rd, 2020 

Topic: From the Backstreets to the High Road: Addiction and Trauma Groups as Cultures of Resilience

Presented by Marcia Nickow, PsyD, CADC, CGP

An addictions psychologist, group psychotherapist and trauma specialist, Marcia Nickow, PsyD., CADC, CGP, runs 15 weekly ongoing psychotherapy groups in her downtown Chicago private practice. Included are men’s groups, women’s groups, multigender groups, process groups for artists and writers, professionals’ groups and couples’ groups. Marcia also supervises trainees, serves as Clinical Director of Sun-Cloud Health Outpatient Treatment Center, and co-leads focus groups on anti-racist clinical practice for the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). 

With more than 30 years of experience, Marcia has worked in private practice, inpatient, outpatient, halfway house, forensic, hospital, with veterans, schools, and correctional and homeless outreach settings.

A frequent presenter at conferences nationally and internationally, Marcia has taught addictions, trauma, group psychotherapy, social psychology and forensic psychology courses at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has taught year-long courses on multicultural psychology and systemic racism.

Marcia formerly directed the clinical team at a nationally known residential treatment center and supervised staff at an addiction treatment facility on Chicago’s West Side. Her clinical interests include intergenerational and historical trauma, racial trauma and antiracist organizational transformation.

Marcia is the co-author of A Group Therapist’s Guide to Process Addictions and is a co-recipient of the 2015 Alonzo Award for Excellence from AGPA for contributions to the literature on psychodynamic group psychotherapy.

Marcia is Co-chair of the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma and Resilience Special Interest Group for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health. She has a background in journalism and community organization.

Learning Objectives:

Build group leadership skills to treat the full spectrum of addictions and underlying trauma; define resilience and identify factors that promote resilience; gain awareness of how the authentic self of the therapist helps create cohesion in groups; develop competencies in addressing racialized aggressions in group; learn self-care strategies to prevent vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue  

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Workshop V: April 10th, 2021 

Topic: Addiction, Racism, & Trauma: What’s the Connection?

Presented by Rayell Grayson, LCPC, CADC

Rayell Grayson is a therapist and the Executive Director at Head/Heart Therapy, Inc. She has worked in the addiction field for many years and has a strong passion for connecting with others. Rayell has worked primarily in outpatient settings, providing addiction treatment to individuals who are impacted by chronic trauma. She believes that understanding the ways in which historical/intergenerational and present-day trauma impacts our communities is an essential part of the treatment and healing process. Rayell strongly feels that deepening our awareness and knowledge of these impacts allows us the opportunity to take steps towards healing ourselves and our communities.

In her work, Rayell empowers and encourages clients to utilize their stories as the driving force to support change, growth and foster resilience. She is an advocate for racial and social justice and is passionate about making a positive impact in our communities.

Rayell holds a Master of Arts degree in clinical counseling psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified alcohol and drug counselor, and is currently training to become a NARM therapist.

Learning Objectives:

Identify ways in which historical/intergenerational trauma impacts communities of color; recognize the link between addiction and trauma; and assess race-based traumatic stress (RBTS) and its impacts on individuals and communities of color