Newswise — Registration is now open for the ninth annual Conference of Addiction, Recovery & Families, hosted by the Texas Tech University Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities (CCRC) and the Amarillo Association of Addiction Professionals.
The two-day conference is intended to help participants increase their understanding of the psychological and physiological factors of addiction recovery and resources that can create positive outcomes. Scheduled for March 7-8 at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center, it is open to professionals, counselors, social workers and anyone working with individuals and families in addiction recovery.
Sessions
March 7
- 1-4 p.m.: “Ethics – Where They Come From, Why We Have Them & What to Do With Them” by Sherri Layton of the La Hacienda Treatment Center in Hunt, Texas. Ethics are foundational in counseling practice, yet we all encounter dilemmas – right vs. right rather than right vs. wrong situations. Sometimes core values conflict with professional duties and obligations. This workshop will explore where those values come from in order to better understand that conflict, why it’s important to live and practice by ethics and values how to apply an ethical decision-making model, and ways to live out ethical principles and in line with values.
- 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Dinner keynote, “The Human Faces of Recovery: Past, Present, Future” by Thomas McGovern, a professor emeritus of psychiatry, and Charles McMordie, a licensed counselor with the Addiction Specialty Group in Amarillo. This interactive session is an invitation to respond, in animated table talk, to two people’s 40-plus years’ experience as counselors, teachers and journeymen in the field of addiction and recovery. The wonder of recovery, from youth to old age, is the focus of the conversation, with particular attention to the needs of the young. Participants are encouraged to join in this event with questions, insights and above all, with the wisdom of their own journeys.
March 8
- 8:30-11:30 a.m.: “An Exploration of Moral Injury” by Lance Dixon, a licensed psychologist and registered health service psychologist in Denton. Participants will discuss multiple definitions of moral injury, which happens when a person has an experience that challenges what they believe to be “right” in the world. Many people who experience a moral injury are not able to heal, and they later develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as other problems. In part one of this program, participants will learn about the origin of the term “moral injury,” explore how moral injury impacts people’s lives and examine the relationship between moral injury, PTSD and substance abuse. During part two, participants will learn about a treatment for moral injury developed by the presenter and implemented with veterans. Participants will explore their reactions and discuss how they might utilize elements of the treatment for people with co-occurring moral injury and substance abuse disorders.
- Noon-2 p.m.: Lunch keynote, “Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado – The Impacts” by Dale Quigley, deputy coordinator of the National Marijuana Initiative for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program in the United States. This will be a factual look at the impact that legalization of marijuana has had in Colorado.
- 2-4 p.m.: “Alternative Therapies Panel” with Emmy Lu Henley, CCRC program director for eating disorders; Patti Mandrell, co-founder of REFUGE Services; Charles Conatser, founder and director of The Healing Center; Kelly Martin, child counselor at The Playroom Lubbock; and David Shea, teacher at Bodhichitta Kadampa Buddhist Center. This session will provide participants an opportunity to hear from mental health practitioners from a variety of alternative practices. The practitioners will share their approaches to working with individuals impacted by substance use disorders (SUDs) or someone living with a person struggling with SUDs. The session will conclude with an audience question-and-answer session.
The conference is sponsored by the McKenzie Lectureship Series. More information, including hotel accommodations, is available on the conference website.
The registration fee is $50 for professionals and free for graduate students. Registration is open until Feb. 22.
About the CCRC
As part of the Department of Community, Family & Addiction Sciences in the College of Human Sciences, the CCRC offers a community of specialized support, including dedicated student housing for students in recovery and a variety of recovery-based programs. While it is not a treatment program, the CCRC provides 12-step meetings from a variety of fellowships, weekly Celebration of Recovery meetings and dedicated student organizations for individuals recovering from addictive disorders and/or eating disorders.
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CONTACT: George Comiskey, associate director, Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 834-1101 or [email protected]
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