Frankfort, KY— Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, an internationally known counselor, will keynote at the opening session of the 59th annual conference of the Kentucky Counseling Association at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville Nov. 9-11.
Dr. Olatunji, currently a professor at Xavier University in Louisiana, and former President of ACA, is the Director of the Center for Traumatic Stress Research. Her keynote address, “Trauma & Recovery: Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Populations” will officially open the conference on Wednesday evening.
Scarlet Lewis, Founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, author of “Nurturing Healing Love” and the mother of Jesse, a victim of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy, will be the guest presenter at the Thursday morning general session. Her social and emotional learning (SEL) tools for pre-K through Grade 12 are being piloted in areas across the country.
The Closing Awards Brunch on Friday morning will feature Kenny Robertson, Chief Instructor of the U.S. Army Special Forces School. His presentation titled The Mission Isn’t Over is very timely.
The theme of the conference is Violence and Tragedy Prevention: Trauma Informed Approach, Advocacy and Intervention.
The KCA conference offers affordable EILA or CEs through a variety of pre-conference workshops and a wide range of informational breakout sessions for counselors and others who help students/clients overcome barriers to success in school or in adult life. Focus areas include clinical mental health and private practice, counseling ethics and legal issues, professionalism and self care, military, school, and substance abuse counseling.
A large exhibit hall will feature many services and products to supplement counseling programs.
The Kentucky Counseling Association is the state branch of the American Counseling Association and is an organization of counseling professionals who work in educational, health care, residential, private practice, community agency, government, business and industry settings. KCA’s mission is “to enhance human development throughout the life span and to promote public confidence and trust in the counseling profession.”
For more information and to register for the conference, visit the KCA website at www.kyca.org or call 1-800-350-4KCA.
