Digital Sexual Abuse & Recovery
Presenter: Sarah J. Rohret, MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling 2026
Description: Artificial Intelligence has reached the capability of creating realistic, but fake, photos and videos of victims. Women of all ages, but young women in particular, are being targeted by classmates and acquaintances with blackmail and visual sexual abuse. Therapists need to understand how this happens, the harm it causes and how to stand beside victims. While many of us have training in counseling someone who has experienced physical sexual abuse, digital sexual abuse has both similarities and important differences. The primary difference is that physical sexual abuse ends, and digital abuse can continue on with evidence of it on the internet for the entirety of one's life.
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Connection Conferences: Making Meaningful Connections in a Digital World
Presenter: Theo Stripling, LCPC
Description: Personal connections are important to maintain, and counselors can help! An increasingly digital world has a mixed impact on interpersonal interactions. This workshop builds knowledge and skills to help adolescents and adults increase interpersonal connections. In the literature section, we will explore recent literature. This information will help counselors build knowledge and educate clients on the benefits of connecting with others. In the practice section, we will engage in an interactive activity to foster meaningful connections. The goal of the activity is to practice making connections and offer skills for use with groups to build better connections. Make space to learn, then get up and connect with others in this interactive workshop.
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The Desire for More: Clinical Implications of Internet and Social Media Use in Process Addictions in Adolescents and Adults
Presenter: Kimberly Cho, LPC, MS
Description: This presentation examines how digital platforms contribute to compulsive behaviors across process addictions, including gaming, gambling, pornography, and social media use. Through a trauma-informed lens, it explores the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms behind digital compulsivity and offers practical interventions grounded in CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction. Attendees will gain tools for assessment, treatment planning, and ethical navigation of tech-related clinical challenges.
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Preserving and Strengthening Cognitive Health in the Digital Age
Presenter: Elisa Woodruff, PhD, LCPC, NPT-C, EMDR-PT-II, ADHD-PT
Description: A plethora of recent research and popular non-fiction has addressed the impact of technology on our cognitive health. These sources have described impacts to attention span, emotional regulation, sleepless, and memory, as well as a host of social and physical implications, but many counselors do not know how to apply these ideas to skills that can be used in therapeutic practice.
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The Digital Age Impact: A Polyvagal-Informed Approach to Supporting Clients
Presenter: Rita Romero, LCPC, EMDR Consultant & Therapist, CADC
Description: This workshop offers clinicians a Polyvagal-Informed framework to understand and treat the effects of digital age. We will examine how the constant cascade of notifications and social media engagement alters a client's "neuroception"—their nervous system's unconscious assessment of safety.
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"There's an app for that!" -- Enhancing Client Care via Technology
Presenter: Marcia Suelzer, LPC, JD
Description: There are over 22,000 mental health apps currently available. These range from those that support wellness, via mindfulness and meditation, to FDA-approved apps with demonstrated clinical efficacy in the treatment of specific mental disorders. This workshop will provide an overview of various categories of applications, explore key apps within those categories, and provide guidance for integrating apps into clinical practice. Participants will be encouraged to explore applications on their own smart devices.
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Navigating Online Dating for Autistic Individuals: Benefits, Challenges, and Safety Consideration
Presenter: Jaime Langosch, LPC, MA
Description: This interactive workshop explores the benefits, challenges, and safety considerations of online dating for autistic individuals. Drawing from current literature, we’ll examine how digital platforms can offer structured communication, reduced social pressure, and greater autonomy in social interactions. We’ll also address common challenges, including interpreting social cues, navigating dating norms, and vulnerability to exploitation. Participants will engage with clinical case vignettes to practice applying strategies that promote safety and empowerment in online dating. Emphasis will be placed on neurodivergent-friendly approaches and the role of mental health professionals in supporting healthy, authentic connection.