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FCA LogoFLORIDA COUNSELING ASSOCIATION

A branch of the American Counseling Association

 75th Annual FCA Convention "Diamond" Anniversary Celebration!

NOVEMBER 14-16, 2024!  JOIN US!


Rosen Centre HOTEL

9840 International Drive

Orlando, Florida 32819

Registration Closed


FCA Awards

Thank you to all who nominated this year! 

Award Recipients will be acknowledged during our Gala Event on Friday, November 15, 2024!

Thank you to our 2024 Convention Sponsors! 

Please visit our sponsors at the Exhibition Tables located outside of the session rooms









In addition to our sponsors, please visit our Exhibitors located outside of the session rooms. 

2024 Keynote Speaker

Jon Sperry, Ph.D., LMHC, LCSW, NCC

Jon Sperry, Ph.D., LMHC, LCSW, NCC is an internationally recognized expert in Adlerian Psychology. He was awarded a diplomate in Adlerian Psychology in 2016 and also holds a certificate of study in Adlerian Psychology. He is a core faculty member in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Lynn University. He is a board certified licensed mental health counselor and a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Florida and has been a staff therapist at the Counseling and Psychological Services at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) since 2010.

Building Community With Rhythm and Music

With increasing socio-political tension around the world, mental health practitioners are expected to address the complex mental health needs of their clients. Music offers one antidote to our current social conditions. A meta-analysis of 400 studies found that music can positively influence physical and mental health outcomes. Listening to music was even found to be more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety among patients before surgery. Even further, listening to music and performing music can also help individuals increase participants’ sense of belonging and connection to others. This presentation will engage the participants in rhythm and group drumming activities that can foster connection and wellness.

Learning Objectives

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 1:  Participants will list the key theoretical principles of incorporating group drumming in various settings.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 2:  Participants will observe and analyze various drumming and rhythm demonstrations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 3: Participants will be able to explain the evidence-based benefits of group drumming on the health and mental health outcomes.

ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Participants will be able utilize rhythm activities that can foster cooperation and community building among participants.


2024 Plenary Speaker


The Beginner’s Guide to Virtual Reality (VR)-Enhanced Exposure Therapy 

In the words of Mr. Rogers (Fred, not Carl), “Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.” All major psychotherapies involving encountering—rather than avoiding—unpleasant thoughts and feelings. Though talk therapy is powerful, it can be augmented with experiences that activate the brain in ways not typically experienced in a talk therapy session. Advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology, which have made VR technology more accessible and affordable than ever, now permit clients and counselors yet another means to expand beyond the confines of the typical therapy room to share safe but powerful therapeutic experiences. This training session was designed to introduce counselors to VR-assisted therapy and how it can be used for exposure therapy, relaxation (mindfulness training and somatic quieting), behavioral activation, social skills training, and psychoeducation. Meta analyses of VR-assisted exposure therapies show large effect sizes compared to control conditions that are comparable to other in vivo exposure approaches (Carl et al., 2019; Eshuis et al., 2021;Wechsler et al., 2019).


PRESENTATION LEARNING OBJECTIVES

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 1:  Summarize research on VR exposure therapy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 2:  Identify and describe five ways VR technology can enhance talk therapy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 3Describe limitations and risks associated with VR-assisted psychotherapy.

ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Identify resources for getting started with VR-assisted psychotherapy

 

Dr. Aaron Norton, LMHC, LMFT

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in addictions, alcohol and drug counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, trauma treatment, forensic mental health evaluation, forensic behavioral analysis, and forensic psychometry.

He serves as executive director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, assistant professor of instruction at the University of South Florida Dept. of Mental Health Law & Policy, southern regional director, Ethics Committee liaison, and International Counseling Task Force chair for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, and consulting editor for AMHCA’s The Advocate Magazine.  He earned a BA in psychology, MA in rehabilitation and mental health counseling, and PhD in counselor education and supervision with a cognate in physiological psychology.

He authored or co-authored the forensic evaluation section of the AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the proposal for AMHCA’s Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Forensic Evaluation (CMHS-FE) credential,  NBFE's analysis and position paper on counselors and psychological testing, NBFE's guide to laws and rules governing counselors and testing in the US, the DSM-5 to DSM-5-TR update article published in the American Counseling Association's Counseling Today magazine, and he has been published in several academic journals and professional magazines in the mental health professions.  He served on the expert panel that created the standards and written exam for the Florida Certification Board’s Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) credential.

He has 20 years of experience administering and interpreting psychological tests and measures in both clinical and forensic settings and in providing training and instruction on assessment and evaluation as an instructor and clinical supervisor, was awarded "Mental Health Counselor of the Year" by the American Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, "Counselor Educator of the Year" by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, "Researcher of the Year" by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2019, and he was awarded AMHCA’s Public and Community Service Award in 2020.


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Mailing Address:

Florida Counseling Association

2750 Taylor Avenue

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Orlando, Florida 32806


Florida Counseling Association is a non-profit organization, branch of the American Counseling Association.

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