Past TICN Presentations

Presenter: Colleen Croff, LCSW

My name is Colleen Croff. I have been a therapist for 21 years. My full time position entails being the Clinic Director of Beehive Mental Health in Midvale. We are a general outpatient practice. In addition to my clinic director role, I also have a side therapy/coaching business that I own that has been established since 2014. In addition to being the clinic director at my current OP practice, I have also been a clinic director for an IOP specializing in anxiety as well as for a teen residential treatment center for females. I have spent 16 years in residential treatment working with youth prior to clinic director roles for the past 5 years. My practice specialties include anxiety, trauma, ADHD, life transitions, grief/loss and level 1 autism. I have been fortunate to train other companies and center in anxiety and suicide prevention as well as speak at several conferences on various mental health topics. When I am not doing what I love in therapy, I am busy parenting 3 children and enjoying my pets, family time, the outdoors, music and good food.

Presentation: When Providers Find Themselves in the Throes of Life

This presentation will cover a therapist’s personal journey with experiencing events of struggle while holding a job that is a caregiver role to others. We will cover the traps of being in a caregiver role as a profession and the specific challenges we face in getting our own support and help. We will end with discussing what it can look like to support ourselves to continue to valuable work we care deeply about.

Overview:

• Intro to myself and my history as a provider – specializations and passion for trauma
• My story- what the last eight years have been like being a practitioner while navigating losing two family members to suicide – what I found challenging
• Why we are a vulnerable population – the traps of being in a caregiving field
• Challenges of supporting ourselves when we are responsible for supporting others
• How can we truly support ourselves in a caregiver profession- tips, tricks and tools

Presenter: Candice Christiansen, LCMHC, CSAT-S, CMAT, EMDR I/II, IFS, IFIO, PAT

Candice Christiansen is a clinical visionary, a leading voice at the intersection of neurodifference, complex trauma, and relational integrity, and the bestselling author of Love, Sex, and Autism: The Radical Truth About Intimacy and Neurodifference. As the founder of the Namasté Center For Healing, Candice operates at the nexus of neurological diversity and high-complexity recovery. A sought-after expert, she is a regular guest presenter for prestigious institutions such as the Cultural Autism Studies at Yale. Her life’s work is dedicated to guiding highly traumatized, neurodifferent adults and couples through the volatile landscapes of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), domestic abuse, and chronic substance or behavioral addictions.

Presentation: Love, Sex, and Autism – A Radical Shift in How We View Autism, Relationships, and Intimacy

While early childhood interventions receive immense resources, autistic individuals eventually reach the “support cliff”—where crucial pathways fade during adolescence and adulthood. Historically, systemic narratives have sanitized autistic adulthood, viewing autistic individuals through rigid myths as non-sexual, forever child-like, or lacking agency.

During this presentation, neuro-affirmative clinician and best selling author Candice Christiansen challenges these outdated modes of thinking. Drawing on clinical expertise, research, and lived experience, Candice shifts the lens toward authentic adult advocacy and allyship. Attendees will explore how autism dynamically influences adult identity, including the intersectional realities of gender, sexuality, and sexual intimacy. From navigating non-normative relationship dynamics to dismantling myths surrounding hypersexuality, this session provides practical insights to foster genuine understanding and acceptance.

Presenter: Mary Martineau, LCSW

Mary Martineau is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in private practice, working primarily with Medicare clients and individuals seeking therapy for grief and trauma using Body/Mind modalities.

Experience as a Hospice Social Worker and Care Manager in a geriatric clinic has helped in providing care to this underserved population.

Master of Social Work with an emphasis in Gerontology from the University of Utah in 2011.

Grief group facilitator for over 15 years for Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program at the U of U College of Nursing. Facilitating grief groups for adults grieving the death of a family member or friend to disease, suicide, substance use, or homicide.

Co-educator with Kathie Supiano, director of Caring Connections, providing grief training to practitioners and clinics throughout Utah for four years.

Level 2 certified – Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Natural Processing.

Level 2 trained – EMDRIA-trained Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Level 1 certified – Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

A lifelong Utahn (with a stint in Paris, France). Interests include painting, sculpture, and gardening. Spending time in Red Rock country and spoiling her grandcats.

Presentation: Grief and Trauma – It’s Complicated

Loss is a natural part of life; we are made to grieve and survive our losses with the help of community.

Sometimes, because of difficult or traumatic events, we need the help of a professional to assist us in navigating our grief, especially if it is a violent or sudden death.

Grief takes many different forms.

We don’t see clients who are fine. Those who come to us for help almost always have traumatic or complex grief.

We, as clinicians, have to begin by understanding what is underneath their grief.

Sometimes we assume we are treating acute or traumatic grief, but often, there is also underlying long-term trauma that must be attended to.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the grief expression and mechanics. Types of grief and the interaction of grief and trauma, both acute trauma and chronic trauma. Learn to recognize and treat trauma reactions within grief.
• Explain the therapeutic benefits of trauma-informed protocols in treating trauma to allow natural grieving to occur.
• Identify key integration strategies for combining grief therapy and EMDR and IFS within the therapeutic process, with an emphasis on optimizing emotional processing and memory reprocessing for clients with complex grief.
• Develop understanding for implementing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) in the grieving process in clinical practice, enhancing client outcomes, and fostering compassionate care for individuals dealing with complex trauma and the grieving journey.

Presenter: Kate Kincaid, CMHC

Kate Kincaid is a licensed psychotherapist and executive business coach with group private practices in Arizona and Utah. She specializes in working with LGBTQIA2S+ clients, people in ethically non-monogamous relationships, entrepreneurs and people seeking psychedelic integration therapy. Taking her knowledge and experience of running a successful business for over a decade, she provides executive business coaching to people looking to scale and improve their businesses. She is certified in EMDR, trained in MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy and utilizes Ketamine Assisted Therapy in her practice. She also helps train other clinicians in these modalities too. She is passionate about perinatal mental health and is an advocate for innovative psychiatric treatments for PMDD and postpartum depression. Her interest in doing relationship therapy started when she studied at the Kinsey Institute- a renowned school for the study of sexuality and gender but flourished when she began actively organizing in her local queer and nonmonogamous communities. She is the co-creator of Southwest Love Fest, a conference on ethical non-monogamy, relationships, identity and community. She is the author of “Polyamory Journal: A Relationship Book” and a contributing author to “Queering Psychedelics”. She is currently writing a Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Companion book for New Harbinger Press.

Presentation: Integrating KAP and EMDR

There is a lot of information and discussion around psychedelics and ketamine as it is a rapidly expanding treatment modality. This workshop explores the integration of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Participants will gain an understanding of how these therapeutic modalities can be combined to address psychological disorders such as treatment resistant depression, anxiety, OCD and PTSD.

Ketamine, a fast-acting, dissociative anesthetic, has shown promise in providing rapid symptom relief for individuals with treatment-resistant conditions. When paired with psychotherapy, it can help patients access deeper emotional processing. EMDR, a well-established trauma-focused therapy, works well with ketamine in certain dosing ranges by expanding the window of tolerance and helping individuals reprocess traumatic memories and reduce emotional distress.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the mechanisms of action of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and EMDR
• Explain the therapeutic benefits of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for treating depression, anxiety, and trauma/PTSD
• Identify key integration strategies for combining KAP and EMDR within the therapeutic process, with an emphasis on optimizing emotional processing and memory reprocessing for clients with treatment-resistant conditions
• Develop practical skills for implementing KAP and EMDR in clinical practice, enhancing client outcomes, and fostering compassionate care for individuals dealing with complex trauma and emotional challenges

Presenter: Yassi Keshavarz, LCSW

Yassi Keshavarz, LCSW, is a trauma therapist and founder of Aria Mental Health Counseling in California. She specializes in working with complex trauma, dissociation, chronic illness, and medical trauma, integrating approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and Somatic Psychotherapy. Yassi works extensively with high-performing professionals, including medical and mental health providers, engineers, and attorneys, who experience chronic stress and burnout. She is also passionate about supporting individuals from collective cultures, including immigrants, second generation and refugees, bringing culturally attuned, body-based healing into her work.

Presentation: From Overdrive to Regulation – An IFS and Somatic Perspective on Burnout and Resilience

Burnout is often framed as a problem of workload or time management, yet many high-performing professionals find themselves chronically overextended despite recognizing the need for rest. This presentation explores burnout through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Psychology, focusing on the role of “manager” parts that drive productivity, perfectionism, and constant functioning in order to maintain safety and control. Participants will learn how these parts can override the body’s natural limits, leading to exhaustion and the eventual activation of more extreme protective responses, such as shutdown, avoidance, or emotional overwhelm. Through a trauma-informed and body-based framework, this workshop offers practical ways to identify and work with these internal dynamics, supporting a shift from forced resilience toward sustainable regulation, balance, and self-leadership.

Presenter: Em Capito, LCSW, MBA, E-RYT

Em has been in practice for 19 years with an emphasis on mind-body resilience as a foundation for depth-oriented narrative therapy and experiential therapy. She specializes in complex trauma, high conflict relationships, and attachment. Em received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah in 2007 and is also a certified meditation and yoga teacher. Currently, she works with adult women and couples through therapy, groups, and retreats.

Presentation: When the World is Burning – Restoring Calm Through Meaning

Before the advent of 24/7 news feeds, collective crisis exposure was limited to those in our families and communities, spheres of influence where we can contribute tangibly. Our minds are wired to respond proactively to threats, but this can lead to overwhelm, incapacitation and chronic anxiety when we are exposed to uncertainties, injustices and tragedies far beyond our reach. This experiential dialogue will utilize the hierarchy of resilience as a model for triaging overwhelm, reinforcing protective factors, and restoring capacity for difficult uncertainties.

Presenter: Paul T. Callister, Ph.D., CMHC, CGP

Paul is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Certified Group Psychotherapist who specializes in group therapy. He earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Oregon State University in 2022 and his M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Utah in 2010. Dr. Callister has extensive clinical experience in diverse settings including the Utah State Prison, community mental health, and private practice. He currently owns and operates Utah Group Therapy Center and Bountiful Counseling in Bountiful, Utah, where he leads weekly interpersonal process groups using a modern group analytic approach. Dr. Callister is training at the Center for Group Studies in New York City, holds the Certified Group Psychotherapist credential, and teaches group counseling in the CMHC program at Utah Valley University. His work is grounded in the belief that the group becomes a living laboratory for life, where learning to engage authentically, navigate conflict, and risk connection creates change that extends far beyond the therapy room.

Presentation: We Don’t Heal in Isolation – The Power of Group Connection in Trauma Recovery

Group therapy is uniquely positioned to support trauma recovery because it offers something individual therapy cannot: real-time relational experience. Yet many clinicians struggle to move groups beyond a series of individual check-ins toward meaningful member-to-member connection. This presentation introduces the bridging technique, a foundational group facilitation skill that helps therapists shift the focus from leader-member dialogue to authentic interaction between group members. Participants will learn how bridging fosters emotional engagement, reduces isolation, and transforms the group into a living interpersonal system where relational patterns can be experienced, understood, and reshaped. Through a live demonstration group, attendees will observe how intentional interventions can deepen connection, invite vulnerability, and support co-regulation in ways that are consistent with trauma-informed principles of safety, trust, and empowerment. The session will conclude with a structured debrief, clinical application discussion, and time for questions, equipping clinicians with practical tools to help their groups become spaces where healing happens in relationship, not in isolation.

Presenter: Carrie Scott, MSC, LCMHC; Tawna Loveless, Assistant Neurofeedback Program Director & Technician

Carrie Scott, MSC, LCMHC, is a trauma-informed licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and the Neurofeedback Program Director at Healing Pathways Therapy Center. She is also the founder and owner of Utah NeuroWellness Clinic, where she specializes in integrating neurofeedback into trauma recovery and mental health care. Carrie brings a wealth of clinical experience and a deep commitment to practitioner training through her work with the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project, equipping practitioners nationwide with practical, outcomes-based neurofeedback tools. Her work bridges cutting-edge neuroscience with practical therapeutic application and reflects a deep commitment to nervous system regulation, trauma treatment, and advancing the field through accessible training and mentorship.

Tawna has a lifelong passion for health and well-being, believing that optimal health is achieved through a balanced approach to mental, physical, and spiritual health. With a deep commitment to understanding the human experience, she continually seeks new knowledge to enrich her practice.

With a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education and specialized training as a Neurofeedback Technician in the Othmer Method, Tawna has treated over 4,000 clients in individual sessions. She has developed various training programs and is a strong advocate for cultural diversity, shaped by her global travels and connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Tawna works effectively with people of all ages and backgrounds, helping them achieve lasting well-being.

Presentation: Unlock the Power of the Deep Brain – An Introduction to Infra-low Frequency

Are you ready to help yourself or your clients stabilize, heal, and thrive from the foundation up? Join Carrie Scott, CMHC, Neurofeedback Program Director, and Tawna Loveless, Assistant Neurofeedback Program Director, for a dynamic introduction to Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) HD Neurofeedback — a powerful evolution in brain-based therapy. In this engaging session, you’ll discover:

-How ILF HD neurofeedback uses the brain’s slowest rhythms to promote deep physiological calming and stabilization.

-Why infra-low frequencies (0.05 Hz and below) are critical for regulating higher brain functions and restoring homeostasis.

-Why ILF HD neurofeedback plays a critical role in the treatment of trauma.

-Clinical examples showing how ILF HD can help with psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety, chronic pain, emotional dysregulation, stress-related disorders, and more.

Whether you’re brand new to neurofeedback or looking to deepen your skills, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of why infra-low frequency neurofeedback is the foundation for transformational brain training and trauma treatment.

Presenter: Stacy Lund, HPTC Clinical Director, LCSW; Stephanie Sisson, LCSW

Stacy Lund is the Clinical Director of a trauma clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a trained yoga teacher, and a certified Eye Movement and Desensitization (EMDR) clinician. Stephanie Sisson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Beloit, Wisconsin. She specializes in Grief and Trauma and is EMDR-trained. She has practiced in three states, including Utah, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. Stacy and Stephanie are identical twin sisters raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. They earned their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Utah College of Social Work.

Presentation: My Wife Told Me to Go to Therapy – Clinical Insights from Our New Book

Join us for an engaging presentation and clinical discussion based on our upcoming book, My Wife Told Me to Go to Therapy: A Guide for Men on How to Love the 21st Century Woman. This resource is designed to support men in cultivating emotional intelligence, dismantling harmful gender norms, and becoming more attuned, accountable partners. As clinicians, we know that gender roles, emotional labor, and relational power dynamics are central themes in therapeutic work with individuals and couples. This presentation offers a practical, research-informed look at how these dynamics play out—and how we can support men in moving from defensiveness to curiosity, from disconnection to relational presence.

Presentation Highlights:

-Understanding the impact of emotional labor and the mental load on relational health

-Exploring how patriarchy contributes to relational and intrapersonal distress in men -Facilitating emotional development and accountability in male clients

-Clinical tools and psychoeducation strategies to foster empathy, equity, and connection

This session is designed to deepen our shared understanding and expand our clinical toolkit when working with men, couples, and anyone navigating the complexities of gender and intimacy in contemporary relationships.

Presenter: Erica Astle

I am a certified facilitator through the Center for Mind Body Medicine and I am pursuing my Master’s Degree in Social Work at New Mexico State University. I have 10 years of experience with case management, program management, and nonprofit leadership and I have facilitated Mind Body Skills groups for over three years with parents, professionals, and teenagers. These skills have helped me stay present and regulated in an emotionally demanding career and as a parent to two young toddlers. I love sharing these skills with others and I love the connection that comes from a group setting.

Presentation: Mind Body Skills Group

Mind Body Medicine is about the integration of our physical and mental health: understanding how stress and trauma affect our brains and bodies and what we can do with our minds and bodies to regulate our nervous systems, move through conflict, and regulate our emotions. The foundation of these skills is breathing and mindfulness. These skills also include meditation, drawing as a form of reflective journaling, guided imagery, movement, autogenics and biofeedback, and mindful eating.