THURSDAY – July 31, 2025

Countertransference with Depressive and Self-Defeating Patients:
Using Therapists’ Emotional Reactions to Facilitate Treatment

Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D., ABPP
July 31, 2025; 12:45pm – 2:00pm
(1.25 contact hours)

ROOM: Auditorium

When psychotherapy was first developed, it was assumed that countertransference feelings – the emotional reactions of therapists to their clients’ feelings – are problematic, that good therapists maintain a “benign physicianly attitude” and that if they find themselves having stronger feelings, especially negative ones that subvert the professional ideal of wishing all clients well, they should seek personal treatment to adjust their attitude. Over recent decades, this bias has been comprehensively dismantled: practitioners understand that countertransferences supply critical data that permit greater understanding and empathy. But these emotional reactions can still be hard to manage, especially with self-defeating clients. This workshop will help participants to identify their countertransferences, use them for the benefit of clients, and survive even intense negative feelings without burning out. Dr. McWilliams will present a case of her own in this context and will welcome questions and reactions from participants.

Discover the Best Version of Yourself and Others Within the Clinical Process

Elliott Connie, LPC
July 31, 2025; 12:45pm – 2:00pm
(1.25 contact hours)

It can be said that the key to life is being able to be the best version of yourself and to be someone that brings out the best in others. That is certainly important to me as a psychotherapist and in this session I will show you exactly how to achieve this aim. Life can be challenging, which makes it hard to be the best version of you, but imagine if you could. Imagine if you could face all of your hardships and struggles as the best version of yourself and helping others to do the same. That’s exactly what you’ll get from attending this lecture.

Myth, Dream and Magic in the Practice of Therapy

Thomas Moore, Ph.D.
July 31, 2025; 12:45pm – 2:00pm
(1.25 contact hours)

We live in a highly rational technical world, and even our role as therapists if often explained as a collection of theories and techniques. But therapy has a profound depth that can be seen in mythology, when read deeply enough, in dreams, and in the special kind of magic taught and practiced in Renaissance Europe. The psyche is infinitely deep and complex, and it requires an imagination of equal depth that we find in myth. People in our lives are constantly shape-shifting from the actual life of the present moment to the mythological memory of the past.  Therapists need to perceive the mythic dimension if they hope to grasp the psyche. Dream and magic are appropriate powers that allow us to perceive traces of the psyche and to influence its role in our lives.

• Attendees will learn skills to make dream work part of therapy.
• Attendees will learn how to find insight into human life through mythology.
• Attendees will learn from the history of Hermetic Magic to bring power and imagination to therapy.

FRIDAY – August 1, 2025

Exploring All Things Psychotherapy!

An Interview with a 21st Century Counseling Legend – Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis
Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis
Aug 1, 2025; 11:15am – 12:30pm
(1 contact hour)

ROOM: Auditorium

Back by popular demand! Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis was married to Dr. Albert Ellis (1913-2007), and worked with him in all areas of his work. He trusted Dr. Debbie to continue the work after his passing of sharing REBT with professionals in the healing professions as well as with members of the general public, which she does with joy and passion in her unique ways.

Among other awards and accolades throughout her career so far, in 2014 she was named “Legend in Counseling” at the American Counseling Association convention, and she continues to inspire people in the USA, her native Australia, and in countries around the globe.

During this lunchtime event, a member of our conference team will interview Dr. Joffe Ellis, and will explore areas around the clinical process and how she approaches treatment based on different clinical presentations and problems. An in-depth Q & A period will be given for audince members to explore specific clinical issues with Dr. Joffe Ellis.

This is a rare opportunity!

The Shift Into Action: Helping Anxious and Depressed People with a Process-Based Approach

Lynn Lyons, LICSW
Aug 1, 2025; 11:15am – 12:30pm
(1 contact hour)

Building on the message of action in the keynote, join Lynn for a Q&A session focusing on using HOW questions, creating between-session assignments, and the importance of focusing on process over content. What are the skills we need to teach, and HOW do we teach them, without getting caught in the details and “doing the disorder”?

Clinical Case Consultation With Dr. Jonathan Shedler, Ph.D.: What To Do When Therapy Feels Stuck

Jonathan Shedler, Ph.D.
Aug 1, 2025; 11:15am – 12:30pm
(1.25 contact hours)

Session summary coming soon!