10th Annual • Virtual • September 10–11, 2026

The Voices Leading a Decade of Healing

One keynote and dozens of expert presenters across a pre-conference day and two full days of culturally responsive, evidence-based training for practitioners who serve Black communities.

Dr. Michael Hannon, keynote speaker
Photo by Michael Abanyie
Keynote Speaker

Dr. Michael Hannon

Counselor • Professor • Researcher • Author

A powerhouse counselor, professor, researcher, and author, Dr. Hannon has dedicated his life’s work to unapologetically advocating for the wellness of Black men, fathers, and father figures — with a profound specialty in supporting fathers of autistic individuals.

Friday, Sept 11 11:45 AM ET Awards Ceremony & Keynote 1 CE Credit
Meet Our Keynote

2026 Presenters

Meet Our 2026 Presenters

Practitioners, scholars, and educators leading breakout courses, co-presented sessions, and student poster presentations across the Symposium.

Andrea Alleyne

Andrea Alleyne

PhD, LCSW, CFNMP / Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology, Master of Social Work, Certified Functional and Nutritional Medicine Practitioner

From Historical Erasure to Identity Resilience: Introducing a Primary Prevention Model for Black Youth Mental Health

David Archer

David Archer

MSW, MFT, BA Psych

Healing Racial Trauma: Rhythm and Processing (RAP), Anti-Racist Psychotherapy, and Complex PTSD

Oluwafunto David Awoyemi

Oluwafunto David Awoyemi

MS, LPC

Naming the Wound: Father Absence, Masculinity, and the Emotional Lives of Black Men

Angela Banks

Angela Banks

Phd, LPCC-S, NCC

Using Black Storytelling as a Qualitative Research Method

Beyond Survival: Slavery’s Psychological Legacy and Clinical Implications for Work with Black Women

Eric Brown

Eric Brown

PhD, LPC

We Do This Till We Heal Us: Risk and Protective Factors of Burnout and Secondary Racial Trauma of Black Mental Health Professionals

Karen Cameron-Petroski

Karen Cameron-Petroski

MA Professional Counseling

Reimagining Parenting and Family Systems in Black Mental Health

Dr. Nzinga Cates

Dr. Nzinga Cates

Doctorate of Philosophy/ Forensic Psychology

Perceived Black Maternal Narcissism and Their Daughters’ Delinquency: Chronicles from a Daughter’s Interpretation

Donielle Cohen

Donielle Cohen

LMFT / PhD

Culturally Responsive Trauma Care for Black Families: Attachment, Resilience, and Healing

Co-presenter: Zachary McNiece, PhD

Kenya Dennis

Kenya Dennis

LPCS, LPC, AMSR

Heartbreak & Hormones: A 3-Part Framework for Identity Restoration

Natese Dockery

Natese Dockery

PhD, LPC

Training Gaps and Growth: Counselor Trainees' Experiences Serving Black Women Experiencing Homelessness

Counseling and Cooperative Extension: Expanding Access to Mental Health Resources in Black Communities

Dr. R. Patrice Dunn

Dr. R. Patrice Dunn

Phd., LPC, LPC-S, NCC

From Burnout to Bloom: Reclaiming Black Joy as a Clinical and Communal Act of Resistance

Co-presenter: Dr. Rebecca Opamen, LPC, LPC-S, NCC

Jasmine Dunnaville

Jasmine Dunnaville

LCSW, Ph.D. student in Social Work

The Impact of ADEI Dismantling on Black LGBTQIA+ Individuals: A Theoretical and Social Work Analysis

Ryan Feemster

Ryan Feemster

Ph.D., LCMHC, NCC

Diagnostic Colonialism in the Age of AI: The Epigenetic Transfer of Human Error and the Erasure of Black Cultural Identity

Dr. Siobhan Flowers

Dr. Siobhan Flowers

PhD, M.Ed, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor LPC-S (TX), National Certified Counselor NCC, Certified School Counselor CSC

The Science of Success: Exploring the mindset and behavioral shifts the brain and body must adapt to for sustainable clinical entrepreneurship.

Ginavra Gibson

Ginavra Gibson

Ph.D., NCC, ACS, LPC (SC, GA), LPC-S (SC), CDBT

The Cost of Constant Readiness: The Neuroscience of Burnout, Racialized Stress, and Healing for Black Mental Health Professionals

Co-presenters: Alexis Roberson, Ph.D. Candidate, MS, LPC; Latisha Chambers, MS, LCMHC

Jesaira Glover

Jesaira Glover

LPC NCC / Doctoral Candidate

From Masked to Mobilized: The POWER Framework as a Path to Racial Identity Reclamation, Clinician Wellness, and Embodied Entrepreneurship

Cecilia Guyton

Cecilia Guyton

Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision, LMHC_QS (FL), LPC (TX)

Lean On Me: Creating Safe Spaces for Black Men's Mental Health

Lea Herbert

Lea Herbert

PhD, LMHC, NCC

The Future Belongs to Translators: Career Strategy, Portfolio Careers, and Sustainable Impact for Mental Health Professionals

Designing Impactful Counseling Partnerships: Grants, Consulting, & Community

Brianna Higgins

Brianna Higgins

MA, LPC, NCC, Ph.D. Candidate

Melody as a Map: Using Music to Foster Cultural Humility and Relational Attunement in Clinical Supervision

Co-presenter: Dr. Vincent W. Sears, PhD, MHC-LP

Dejia Jackson

Dejia Jackson

Reclamation for “Angry Black Women”: Transforming Our Rage into Community Empowerment and Healing

Kalesha Jenkins

Kalesha Jenkins

PhD, LPC (OH), NCC

We Have a Problem: Navigating Relational Dynamics and Challenges in Black Women and Men

Demetrius Jifunza

Demetrius Jifunza

MS

When Worship Hides Wounds: Grief, Praise, and Mental Health in the Black Church

Co-presenters: Tremaine N. Leslie, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS; Elaine Smith, MS, LCPC, NCC

Natika Johnson

Natika Johnson

PhD, LPC, LCDC, NCC

Still Showing Up, Quietly Breaking Down: Remembering Rest, Resetting Survival, and Reclaiming Wholeness Among High-Achieving Black Women

Oliver Johnson

Oliver Johnson

Ph.D., LCSW, LCAS, CCS

Suicide Prevention Among Young African American Males: Implications for Evidence-Based Practice

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Xanthia Johnson

LPC

The Blind Spot: How Internalized Oppression Shapes Black Clinicians' Work with Black Clients

Co-presenter: Aisha Tyehimba, LPC

Michael Jones

Michael Jones

PhD, LPC-S, NCC, BC-TMH

Algorithms Ain't Neutral: Care Ethics, AI, and the Future of Black Mental Health

Co-presenter: Tiffanie Sutherlin, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

Karen Jubert

Karen Jubert

Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC

Breaking the Silence: Black Counselor Educators Naming, Navigating, and Coping with Racialized Experiences of Compassion Fatigue

Debra King

Debra King

PhD, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, Certified Employees Assistance Professional, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Training the Next Best: Succession Planning for Executive Leaders and Senior Clinicians.

Co-presenter: Channing Moss, M.A., LPC, NCC

Dr. Claire Martin

Dr. Claire Martin

PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH

Silencing as Violence: Understanding and Challenging Epistemic Injustice in Counseling, Supervision, and Research

Victoria McNeil-Young

Victoria McNeil-Young

Phd, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Inquiry-Based Learning in a Culturally Responsive Power of Difference Course: Impact on Student Belonging, Cultural Humility, and Motivation

Bredell Moody

Bredell Moody

Ph.D, LCMHC, LCAS-A

Transformational Spaces: Reflecting on, Observing, and Applying Yalom's Curative Factors in Black Barbershops

Co-presenters: Kourtney Royseter, LCMHC, NCC; James Love; Montrell Staton; Jimmy Evans — Entrepreneur, Barbershop Owner, Barber

Rachel Muchai-Taylor

Rachel Muchai-Taylor

Nursing Certificate, ADA and FMLA Certified

Reclaim Your Practice: What Every Black Mental Health Provider Must Know About ADA Accommodation, FMLA, and Short-Term Disability Claims

Taylour Neal

Taylour Neal

MS, NCC, LCMHC

Mama, Auntie, ‘n Them: The Intergenerational impact of Domestic Violence

Natasha Oates

Natasha Oates

Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling / Education Specialist

No One’s Coming to Save Your Private Practice: Marketing Basics & Strategies Every Private Practice Owner Should Know in Today’s Tumultuous Landscape

Allura Pulliam-Feemster

Allura Pulliam-Feemster

Doctorate of Philosophy, Counselor Education and Supervision- Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, Licensed School Counselor

Cracking the Code from the Inside Out: Racialized Trauma, Neural Adaptation, and Clinician Resilience

Breon Rose

Breon Rose

Phd, LCPC, LPC, ACS

Betrayal, Loneliness, and App Use for Affectional Minority Men

Co-presenters: Dae’Qwaun Landrum, PhD, LCADC, NCC, ACS; Alfonso Ferguson, PhD, LPC, LMHC, NCC, ACS; Marcus Smith, PhD, LCPC

Asha Sims

Asha Sims

MA Counseling

The Body Remembers What We Were Never Allowed to Say: Somatic and Energetic Healing for Trauma in BIPOC Communities

Niah Singletary

Niah Singletary

PhD, LCMHC, CRC

Reclaiming Joy: Integrating Creativity and Expressive Arts into Clinical Counseling

Elaine Smith

Elaine Smith

MS, LCPC, NCC

Remembering the Wound, Resetting the Lens, Reclaiming Healing for Black Women Impacted by Intergenerational Trauma

Shon Smith

Shon Smith

EdD, MA, LMHC, LCAS-A, LS, CRC, HS-BCP

Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in Black Communities: Evidence-Based Prevention, Treatment, and Relapse Prevention Funded by Opioid Settlement Dollars

Dr. Toni Sparrow

Dr. Toni Sparrow

DPA, MBA

Evaluating Equity: Using Research and Program Evaluation to Understand Service Access for Black Fathers

Melissa Tate-Scruse

Melissa Tate-Scruse

Ed.D - Counseling Psychology, MA Professional Counseling, BA Psychology, LCMHCS, C-NPT

Forgive & Forget: Examining the Neuroscientific Dilemmas and Cultural Context of Forgiveness as it Relates to Black America

Alicia Tetteh

Alicia Tetteh

LCSW/CFSW/DSW

When Money Hurts: Understanding Financial Trauma, Attachment, and Economic Healing in Black Communities

Lydia Thomas

Lydia Thomas

M.S. Counseling, NCC, ACS, CAADC/CSAC

From Stigma to Safety: Recovery-Oriented, Healing-Centered Substance Use Care in Black Communities

Kimberly Ward

Kimberly Ward

LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, RPT

More Than Misbehavior: Understanding Trauma in Black Youth

Tyronisha Williams

Tyronisha Williams

Masters in Education, Counselor Education

From trauma to incarceration: Examining Unresolved Childhood Experiences Among Black Men in The Criminal Justice System

Co-presenter: Karla L. Sapp, EdD, LPC-S, LMHC-S, LCMHC-S

Monique Willis

Monique Willis

DSW, MSW, ASW

Beyond Survival: Reimagining Black Mental Health Through Cultural Humility, Faith, and Housing Justice

Bernice Yamoah

Bernice Yamoah

PMP, M.Phil.

Beyond Cultural Competence: A Three-Framework Approach to Serving Black Immigrant Men in Mental Health Settings.

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Learn From Every One of Them

Your virtual registration includes the keynote address, plenaries, designated breakout sessions, and up to 12 continuing education credits.

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