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Counseling Webinars & Trainings

WISE Presentation: All About Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – January 15, 2025

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression characterized by a recurrent seasonal pattern, most commonly occurring during the fall and winter months that affects around 5% of the U.S. population.

Learn more about SAD – signs, symptoms, everyday steps to cop – and when further care may be needed- on Thursday, January 15 at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Andy Hagler, Chari of the PUCC WISE Team and Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Forsyth County is the presenter. In addition, the presentation will provide an overview differentiation “the winter blues” versus depression, including SAD, and will include local resources for further care.

WISE Presentation: All About Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Building the Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention – January 21, 2026

The Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship (WICS), in collaboration with the Department of Professional Counseling, is thrilled to announce a 5-month Lunch & Learn Professional Development Series. The theme for this year’s professional development series is It Takes a Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention. This Professional Development Series will culminate in the fifth annual WICS Summer Symposium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

When: Every third Wednesday, January–May 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: NONE. This series is offered FREE.
Free CEs available for Counselors, Social Workers, and other mental health professionals

Session I: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Topic: Building the Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention
Presenters: WICS Faculty Team

Register now and join the conversation that matters!
Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship Lunch and Learn Series
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the session. Participants needing CEs will receive a link to complete an evaluation and apply for CEs after each session.

North Carolina Counseling Association Annual Conference – Call for Volunteers

NCCA is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to help make this year’s conference a success!

Volunteer roles may include:

  • Registration and Information Desk
  • Session Support
  • General Event Support

Ready to make a difference and save on your registration?

Scan below to complete the volunteer interest form for the North Carolina Counseling Association Annual Conference February 19-21, 2026 in Asheville, NC.

Volunteers will receive discounted registration. Currently there is up to $50 off of registration during Early Bird registration (Ends Nov 30) for students.

They will receive an additional discount for volunteering.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Protecting the Professional Degree Status for Counselors

The Situation: 

 Under the terms of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill  (H.R. 1), the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing loan repayment programs, including the Grad PLUS Program and much of the Parent PLUS program. Under RAP, annual federal loans for new borrowers will be capped at $20,500 ($100,000) for graduate students and $50,000 ($200,000) for professional students. The Department of Education identified 11 degrees, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law, that would be considered professional degrees. Counseling and Therapy programs were not included on this list, meaning students in these fields would not qualify for the higher funding cap. 

Affected Master’s Degrees: 

  • Accounting 
  • Architecture 
  • Audiology 
  • Business Masters 
  • Counseling and Therapy
  • Education 
  • Engineering Masters 
  • Nursing 
  • Occupational Therapy 
  • Physical Therapy 
  • Physician Assistant 
  • Public Health 
  • Social Work 
  • Speech and Language Pathology 

Why This Matters: 

Reducing federal financial aid for counseling and therapy students will restrict entry into mental health professions at a time when shortages are already severe. Fewer students may be able to afford these degrees, which will shrink the future behavioral health workforce. Excluding counseling and therapy from professional status undermines efforts to meet rising mental health needs across the United States. With more than one-third of Americans living in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, any new barrier to entering the mental health field will further harm public well-being.  

Take Action Today: 

I. Contact your congressional representatives using our VoterVoice system. 

II. Share your personal experience receiving federal student aid and how this support allowed you to complete your education and succeed in your profession. 

III. Spread awareness ahead of the 2026 public comment period for higher education rule making. 

Learn more: Negotiating Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025 | U.S. Department of Education 

Praxis II Fee Waiver Request for School Counseling Students

Professional School Counseling Students can visit ETS Fee Waiver Information to learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process to request a fee waiver. It is crucial that students read through all the information provided, as there are several requirements for eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Students must be receiving financial aid.
  • They should be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and able to provide a current Enrollment Verification Certificate (note that those with a master’s or doctoral degree are ineligible).
  • Students need to provide the 2025-2026 FAFSA Submission Summary showing an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $3,000 or less.
  • They must be required to take a Praxis test by an authorized score recipient.

How to Apply for a Fee Waiver:

  1. Complete the Fee Waiver Request Form (PDF) (see the attached flyer).
  2. Obtain a current Enrollment Verification Certificate (contact the UNCP registrar’s office). It must include a school seal, National Student Clearinghouse watermark, or the signature of the registrar.
  3. Obtain the 2025-2026 FAFSA Submission Summary.
  4. Submit your request by email: scan all documents, attach them to your email, and send to PraxisFeeWaiver@ets.org.

Students are eligible for a fee waiver only once during a testing year, and there are a limited number of waivers available per test date and institution. All requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis

ETS-Fee-Waiver-RequestDownload

Thrive at Wake Forest

Thrive At Wake Forest is our shared vision for the health and wellbeing of our community. Thrive uses a Collective Impact Model to bring this vision to life. The Collective Impact Model is when a group(s) comes together to pool their talent, energies, and resources to address complex social issues by learning, thinking, and working together. Again this year, we are hosting information sessions to learn how to get involved in our campus-wide coalitions that focus on topics including mental health, substance use and misuse, hazing prevention, interpersonal violence prevention, basic needs and access, physical wellness and peer education.  We invite the entire campus community to join us at one of the Coalition Informational Sessions. Coalition co-chairs will share the mission and goal of each group and provide opportunities for engagement.  

For more information, visit Our Shared Vision web page.

Mindful Wake Classes

MindfulWake classes are FREE and open to all Wake Forest University students, faculty, and staff. Attendance at all four sessions is required. Classes are limited to 12 students and registration is on a first-come, first served basis. Note that in-person and virtual classes are available. Once you register, expect an email one or two days before class begins with further instructions and room location. MindfulWake classes are taught by instructors certified by the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults, using their MIEA/Koru curriculum.

Please see the class schedule and additional information here!

Association for Play Therapy (APT) E-Student Membership

Did you know that students are eligible for a  complimentary Association for Play Therapy (APT) E-Student membership?

Go to www.a4pt.org to learn more about it.

As an E-Student member, you’ll enjoyed the following benefits:

  • the Play Therapy™ Magazine in digital format
  • our weekly member e-newsletter, PlayToday
  • the Play Therapy Connection online forum

Adolescent Gambling and Gaming Series – Online, Self-paced Training

Course Description: This course will take behavioral health clinicians through seven modules providing psychoeducation, evidence-based treatment modalities, screening tools, and evidence-based prevention tools and strategies. The modules will also explore how the brain is impacted by both substance misuse and behavioral addictions and provide an understanding of how the power of advanced technology, marketing, advertising, and persuasive design coupled with commercial interests have made an impact on our lives in both positive and negative ways. Behavioral health clinicians will learn to discuss the online world by incorporating language in media literacy and the importance of a healthy media diet, and be left with a feeling of hope found in research, evidence-based practices, and community partnerships.
Modality: This is an online self-paced training located at https://bhs.unc.edu

Modality: This is an online self-paced training located at https://bhs.unc.edu

Time: 8 hours total

Target Audience: This intermediate level training is behavioral health clinicians seeking ways to incorporate psychoeducation, screening, and treatment modalities into their work in problematic behaviors in gambling, gaming, and digital media.

Learn more about this opportunity at their website.

Apply for the Karr Scholarship – February 1, 2026

The Karr Scholarship provides financial assistance up to $500 for Wake Forest Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Arts in Human Service students interested in attending professional conferences or professional development programs.

Applications must be received by one of the following deadlines: February 1, June 1, or September 1. Applicants may apply for one scholarship per academic year.

To apply, please contact Dr. Forti.

Suicide Prevention with Rural and Urban Youth – February 18, 2026

The Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship (WICS), in collaboration with the Department of Professional Counseling, is thrilled to announce a 5-month Lunch & Learn Professional Development Series. The theme for this year’s professional development series is It Takes a Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention. This Professional Development Series will culminate in the fifth annual WICS Summer Symposium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

When: Every third Wednesday, January–May 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: NONE. This series is offered FREE.
Free CEs available for Counselors, Social Workers, and other mental health professionals

Session II: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Topic: Suicide Prevention with Rural and Urban Youth
Presenters: Joy Harris-Edwards. LPC-S, NCC, & Molly Halpin Techau, LPCC, LMFT

Register now and join the conversation that matters!
Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship Lunch and Learn Series
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the session. Participants needing CEs will receive a link to complete an evaluation and apply for CEs after each session.

Affirming Care: Reducing Suicide Risk in LGBTQ+ Children and Youth – March 18, 2026

The Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship (WICS), in collaboration with the Department of Professional Counseling, is thrilled to announce a 5-month Lunch & Learn Professional Development Series. The theme for this year’s professional development series is It Takes a Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention. This Professional Development Series will culminate in the fifth annual WICS Summer Symposium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

When: Every third Wednesday, January–May 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: NONE. This series is offered FREE.
Free CEs available for Counselors, Social Workers, and other mental health professionals

Session III: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Topic: Affirming Care: Reducing Suicide Risk in LGBTQ+ Children and Youth
Presenter: Jess Jones, Director and Principal, Jess Jones Education & Consulting

Register now and join the conversation that matters!
Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship Lunch and Learn Series
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the session. Participants needing CEs will receive a link to complete an evaluation and apply for CEs after each session.

American Counseling Association 2026 Conference and Expo – April 9-11, 2026

Learn, Share and Connect at the ACA Annual Conference

Get ready to be energized and inspired while connecting with leading experts and peers from around the country at the 2026 ACA Conference & Expo.

Mark your calendars to join us April 9-11, in Columbus, Ohio, for the premier professional development and networking event for professional counselors. With thought-provoking presentations, enlightening discussions and meaningful opportunities to connect with your peers and colleagues, you will walk away feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle the challenges facing you, your clients and the counseling community.   

Find more information about the conference on their website.

Suicide Prevention for Immigrant and Refugee Youth: Challenges and Best Practices – April 15, 2026

The Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship (WICS), in collaboration with the Department of Professional Counseling, is thrilled to announce a 5-month Lunch & Learn Professional Development Series. The theme for this year’s professional development series is It Takes a Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention. This Professional Development Series will culminate in the fifth annual WICS Summer Symposium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

When: Every third Wednesday, January–May 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: NONE. This series is offered FREE.
Free CEs available for Counselors, Social Workers, and other mental health professionals

Session IV: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Topic: Suicide Prevention for immigrant and refugee youth: Challenges and best practices
Presenter: Dr. Hyojin Im, Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

Register now and join the conversation that matters!
Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship Lunch and Learn Series
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the session. Participants needing CEs will receive a link to complete an evaluation and apply for CEs after each session.

Mitigating Digital Risk and Promoting Well-Being for Youth – May 20, 2026

The Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship (WICS), in collaboration with the Department of Professional Counseling, is thrilled to announce a 5-month Lunch & Learn Professional Development Series. The theme for this year’s professional development series is It Takes a Village: Culturally Responsive Approaches to Youth Trauma and Suicide Prevention. This Professional Development Series will culminate in the fifth annual WICS Summer Symposium on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

When: Every third Wednesday, January–May 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Where: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: NONE. This series is offered FREE.
Free CEs available for Counselors, Social Workers, and other mental health professionals

Session V: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Topic: Mitigating Digital Risk and Promoting Well-being for Youth
Presenter: Dr. Chelsey Wilks

Register now and join the conversation that matters!
Webster Institute for Clinical Scholarship Lunch and Learn Series
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the session. Participants needing CEs will receive a link to complete an evaluation and apply for CEs after each session.