Summer Workshops

2023 Summer Workshop Series

Join us for our 2023 Virtual Summer Workshop Series! These workshops will take place virtually through Zoom.

IDFPR and IL Certification Board Approved:
Counselors, Social Workers, CADC, Employee Assistance Counselors, Psychologists, Nurses

NOTE: These workshops are 3 CEUs each.

WorkshopDateTimeTopicPresenter
AJune 39am-12:15pmThe Intersectionality of HIV Positive Individuals & Substance Use DisorderGilberto Soberanis, CADC
BJune 109am-12:15pmMedication Assisted Treatment for  Adolescent Substance Use DisorderDr. Marla Kushner
CJune 179am-12:15pmPeer Health for Transgender AdultsJessica Backus, LCP
DJune 249am-12:15pmThe Impacts of Social and Cultural Trauma of AddictionRayell Grayson, LCPC, CADC & Anna Goldberger, LCSW
# of Workshops   General                 Student/Senior Discount
1$80$70
2$125$115
3$195$170
4$260$220

Registration is open for our Summer Workshop Series!

To register, click the button below to submit payment based on the number of workshops you plan to register for. Costs can be found in the “Pricing” key above. In the comments of the form, please indicate the letter or name of the workshops you would like to be registered for.  

For questions or concerns, please contact: 
Ryan Patterson, Project Specialist at rpatterson@hcenter.org or (312) 226-7984 Ext. 594.

OR

Lisa Abrams, LCPC, CSADC, Director of Staff Training & Development
at labrams@hcenter.org or 312-226-7984 ext. 581.

If you are mailing your payment, please make a check payable to:

Haymarket Center
ATTN: Education Department
932 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60607

WORKSHOP A: The Intersectionality of HIV Positive Individuals & Substance Use Disorder

Saturday, June 3rd, 9:00AM – 12:15PM
3 CEUs
Presented by Gilberto Soberanis, CADC (he/him/his)

Drugs and alcohol use affect the brain, making it hard to think clearly, thus risky behaviors can increase the risk of getting or transmitting HIV.  Drugs and alcohol can also weaken the immune system.  HIV damages the immune system, making it harder for the boy to fight infections and certain cancers.  Drug or alcohol use can further damage the immune system and cause HIV infection to worsen.  In this highly interactive workshop, participants will learn about and engage in different approaches to working with individuals who live with the co-morbidity of HIV and substance use disorder. Barriers these individuals may face when coming to substance abuse treatment will also be discussed. Small groups discussions will be used to provide feedback on the vocabulary used when working with vulnerable populations and helping identify treatment goals.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will learn a brief history of HIV, transmission, and treatment.
  • Participants will understand HIV treatment goals and adherence.
  • Participants will be able to identify the psychosocial effects of HIV and SUD
  • Participants will learn various approaches to engaging HIV positive patients in SUD treatment and will be able to identify barriers that people living with HIV care have in SUD treatment.

About the Speaker:

Gilberto Soberanis (Beto) serves as an Assistant Director of Specialty Services at Haymarket Center. Beto is a senior at DePaul University finishing his BA in Behavioral Science. Beto has been working in the social services sector for 18 years. He has worked with patients living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in the following capacity: case manager, linkage to care, outreach, community engagement and development, research, disease intervention, and advocacy work.

WORKSHOP B: Medication Assisted Treatment for Adolescent Substance Use Disorder

Saturday, June 10th, 9AM- 12:15PM
3CEUs
Presented by Dr. Marla Kushner

While experimentation with drugs and alcohol is often characteristic of the adolescent years, there are many risks associated with this behavior. Not only are adolescents more vulnerable to addiction than adults, but they are also at a high risk of experiencing lifelong chronic health issues related to substance use. This is especially alarming in the context of the growing opioid epidemic, which claims about 130 lives everyday across the country. This workshop will be an interactive experience to learn about the latest recommendations for treating adolescents with substance use disorder.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will learn how to screen adolescents for substance use disorders and identify those at risk.
  • Participants will become familiar with the medications available to adolescents to treat substance use disorders.
  • Participants will learn how to communicate with adolescents and their parents about substance use and abuse.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Marla Kushner graduated from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Family Medicine residency at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan and completed an Adolescent/ Young Adult Medicine Fellowship at Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and Rush-Pres St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago. After her fellowship, Dr. Kushner began working with adolescent substance abuse facilities in Chicago.  She received certification in Addiction Medicine from the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a distinguished fellow of ASAM. She is a Diplomat in the American Board of Addiction Medicine.  Dr. Kushner received her fellowship in the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians in March 2013. She is currently the Regional Medical Director for Bicycle Health. She is president of the board of directors for the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine.  Dr. Kushner has a family medicine practice in Chicago with a focus on adolescent and addiction medicine.

WORKSHOP C: Peer Health for Transgender Adults

Saturday, June 17th, 9AM-12:15PM
3CEUs
Presented by Jessica Backus, LCP

Access to resources for the transitioning process for transgender individuals can improve the psychological distress of social oppression. Social support and affirmation of one’s gender identity is crucial in navigating and increasing engagement in appointment attendance for their transition-related healthcare. One way that social support can be provided to those transitioning is by pairing these individuals with a peer that has lived experience of their own transition process who can help walk them around the healthcare system and appointments necessary for the transition-related treatment process. Previous research findings have shown that peer services led to an improvement in a variety of personal goals of service recipients. During this training, I plan to discuss a proposed clinical intervention to provide transgender individuals going through the transition process with peer health navigators to influence engagement in the transition-related healthcare process. This presentation will include group activities around topics currently related to challenges experienced by transgender individuals undergoing the transition process to understand the value in peer support.

Learning Objectives:

  • Increase our understanding of the increased risk of psychological distress experienced by transgender individuals.
  • Define the role of peer health navigators and how they can improve mental health of those transitioning through social support and disclosure of lived experience.
  • Define purpose and value in integrating the peer health navigation approach into the current support and treatment modality of those transitioning genders.

About the Speaker:

Jessica Backus is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is working towards her CADC and EMDR certifications. She is a graduate of Purdue University-Northwest, where she obtained her master’s in clinical mental health counseling and a certificate in addictions counseling. Jessica is currently pursuing a PhD in counselor education and supervision at Adler University in Chicago, IL, and a clinical fellow with the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis. Jessica has experience working in hospital, residential, community mental health and private practice settings where she has held research, clinical support, individual and group counseling, and supervisory roles. Her last role was at the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Chicago where she worked on the clinical support team providing crisis services to the community to decrease interactions with the criminal justice system and frequency of hospitalizations to help individuals achieve stabilization. Jessica currently works in private practice seeing adults, couples, and adolescents. She has presented at the Strengthening the Heartland: The Intersection of Diversity and Addiction and the Midwestern Psychological Association conferences on topics related to stigma, addiction, and peer support services. Jessica has previous experience in public health and policy from her time in Washington, DC.

WORKSHOP D: The Impacts of Social and Cultural Trauma of Addiction

Saturday, June 24th, 9AM- 12:15
3 CEUs
Presented by Rayell Grayson, LCPC, CADC (she/her/hers) & Anna Goldberger, LCSW (she/her/hers)

In this presentation participants will explore how social and cultural factors can contribute to the development and persistence of addiction. Social and cultural trauma can take many forms, including discrimination, racism, poverty, violence, and neglect. These experiences can lead to feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and despair, which can increase the risk of substance abuse and addiction. The presentation will also examine the ways in which the various forms of social and cultural trauma can impact our everyday living experiences and our mental health.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will define the difference between shock trauma, developmental trauma, and various other forms of trauma.
  • Participants will analyze their conceptualization of trauma on micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
  • Participants will recognize the link between social and cultural trauma and their impacts on addiction.

About the Speakers:

Rayell Grayson, LCPC CADC (she/her/hers) is a therapist, mentor, and the Owner of  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 those who have, and continue to be, 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 story 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 an 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 a NARM trained therapist.

Anna Goldberger, LCSW (she, her, hers) is a therapist and clinical manager at Head/Heart Therapy, Inc. She has practiced in a wide variety of settings. She provided in-home individual, couples, and family counseling in the community mental health field, emotional support, and counseling to individuals and families in both inpatient and outpatient medical settings, and currently provides outpatient individual and couples’ therapy. She has worked with trauma survivors from all walks of life, has counseled people with addiction and their loved ones, and has offered grief and loss support to patients and families facing end-of-life situations. Anna believes that people carry inherent strength and beauty within them, that they bring their own tools for healing and empowerment into the therapeutic relationship. She believes oppressive, stigmatizing systems, and past trauma are at the root of so much of the shame, isolation, and sense of inadequacy many of us struggle with. She is passionate about helping clients find their own paths to wholeness and connection in a broken world.