Upcoming Training Events
Art in Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Non-Art Therapists
July 25, 2025, 9-11am
Register for Art in Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Non-Art Therapists
Art in Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Non-Art Therapists will help professionals who are interested in or are already incorporating art-making into their clinical work, as well as those interested in learning more about art therapy in practice.
Learning objectives: - A better understanding of the field of art therapy and the role of art in healing.
- Identify ethical issues and recognize key considerations when integrating art-making. - Recognize therapeutic limitations and complexities particularly when discussing and storing client art. - Increase confidence in your implementation of creative modalities in treatment. - Practical and effective exercises you can immediately integrate into your treatment approach.
For this training, please bring some paper and any art supplies of your choice! Use whatever feels comfortable for you—markers, colored pencils, paint, or anything else you enjoy creating with!
Peggy Carstensen, LCPC, ATR is an art therapist with 13 years of experience, holding a Master's in Art Therapy from Mount Mary University. She specializes in creativity-based techniques for trauma, with experience in inpatient, school, community, and private settings. Peggy also practices Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Brainspotting, and traditional talk therapy. A published illustrator and mother of three, she is currently the Chief Clinical Operations Officer and clinical therapist at Graceful Therapy in Oswego, IL.
Recovery in Practice: A Personal and Professional Perspective on Addiction and Healing
August 29, 2025, 9-11am
Register for Recovery in Practice: A Personal and Professional Perspective on Addiction and Healing
Get ready for an unforgettable and empowering presentation from Troy Green, BA, CRSS, CADC—a Recovery Support Specialist and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) at Gateway Foundation and part-time counselor at Stepping Stones in Joliet.
In this powerful webinar, Troy will take you far beyond the textbooks and into the real, raw, and human side of addiction, treatment, and recovery. With honesty and heart, he'll share his personal story of resilience—from dropping out of college and losing a 12-year career, to confronting substance use and mental health challenges, and ultimately reclaiming his life and purpose. Troy will guide you through the treatment process that transformed his life, reveal the tools that supported his long-term recovery, and highlight the critical role of connection and community in healing. You'll also learn how digital recovery apps and tools are revolutionizing access to care and accountability in today's fast-paced world, and why the eight dimensions of wellness are key to building a sustainable, fulfilling life in recovery.
Whether you're a provider, peer, or simply someone who cares, this presentation will leave you inspired, informed, and reminded that recovery is not only possible—it's powerful.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to recover, and the only way to fail is to try to do it alone.
Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Practical Strategies for All Ages
September 26, 2025, 9 - 11am
This session provides practical, evidence-based strategies for identifying and responding to suicide risk in children, adolescents, and adults. Participants will explore how to recognize behavioral, emotional, and situational warning signs; use age-appropriate tools and approaches to assess suicidal ideation; and collaborate on effective safety planning. Additionally, we will touch on creating a more supportive community for those along the continuum of care for mental health and suicide.
Learning Objectives: • Recognize and correct common myths and misconceptions about suicide to reduce stigma and improve response. • Identify key warning signs of suicide risk in children, adolescents, and adults. • Use evidence-based tools and language to assess and respond to suicidal ideation. • Collaborate on safety plans with individuals, families, schools, and community supports.
Stephanie Dewinski, MSW, LCSW (she/her) is the Associate Executive Director of
Suicide Prevention Services of America (SPSA), a nonprofit organization based in Batavia, IL, devoted to providing accessible mental health care and suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention services in the community. Stephanie began her work with SPSA in 2016 as a Master of Social Work intern from Aurora University and has since served as Manager and Trainer for the local 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, as well as Director of Education and Training.
As a licensed clinical social worker, Stephanie specializes in working primarily with adolescents and young adults experiencing a range of challenges and mental health diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, and issues related to self-worth. She brings a compassionate, collaborative approach to therapy, focused on helping individuals feel understood, empowered, and supported.
Stephanie’s dedication to prevention is both professional and personal. Her work is shaped by her own experiences with mental health, including her own social anxiety and by supporting loved ones who have struggled with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide loss. She is passionate about early intervention and dedicated to educating individuals of all ages about mental health, building awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to care through community outreach and training.
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Tool for Every Advocate: The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA)
October 31, 2025, 9am - 11am Register for ATool for Every Advocate: The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA)
Document the Abuse (DTA) houses the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA) which helps victims to document any type of abuse. By educating victims to the resources available, they can be empowered to change their environment. This resource gives not only victims, but anyone who advocates on their behalf, a meaningful way to help. The EAA can be given to investigators as a legal document for use in court if the victim is not there to speak for themselves and a digital diary of their experiences to use in a meaningful way, document the abuse. This training will be a valuable resource to anyone that has contact with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, and any other situation that has the potential for violence. Additionally, first responders of any kind, police, hospital, paramedics, EMTs, etc. who can bring awareness to a resource that gives them back their power and control.
Learning Objectives: - To understand current responses to victims (report, shelter, move, restraining order, etc.)
- To understand how the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit documents the abuse in a way that serves the victim.
- To understand the role of law enforcement, judicial system, and other types of advocates in the use of the EAA.
On October 28, 2007 Norma Peterson's sister-in-law, Stacy Peterson, went “missing" and the journey her family has experienced since that day has run the gamut. It has just been in the last few years that Norma has been able to talk about her family's experiences. Dealing with the media and the press was an experience, not to mention the general public's attitude towards the family of the suspect, a scenario Norma would not wish on anyone. It is Norma's hope that in discussing her experiences, she may be able to change the perception for the families of those convicted or suspected of heinous crimes such as her brother-in-law, Drew Peterson.
Since that time, Norma has worked passionately and tirelessly to bring awareness to the existence of the EAA (Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit) which is a viable tool for victims of domestic violence, law enforcement and the judicial system. The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA) is a prevention tool that allows a victim of abuse to document information that could be used in an investigation if someone should be killed or go missing. Due to the intense trauma that a victim suffers, it is not uncommon that they forget incidents or specific details. The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit will make it easier to support and help victims through criminal prosecution. Norma also assists victims create their own EAA and currently works with local law enforcement and state legislators to establish this in their protocol when working with victims of domestic violence. Norma's media appearances have included Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen on the OWN Network, she also been featured on a Snapped episode aired on Oxygen, a UK documentary which is currently airing on Reelz UK, a Dateline NBC (11/21), along with multiple news segments on various Chicago outlets such as WGN, NBC, CBS and podcasts. Norma is in talks with a major streaming service about a new documentary involving Stacy's case which looks promising and will allow us to bring even more awareness to the work of Document The Abuse and the EAA.
Norma helps give a voice to victims and survivors. Her speaking engagements and training educate victims, criminal justice, law enforcement, first responders, victim advocates, corporate and private sector industry professionals, and university communities on the importance of supporting abuse victims and how to document the abuse. Norma has been both a speaker and a presenter on the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit at the National Missing Persons Conference held by the CUE Center, a non-profit which helps families of the missing find their loved ones. She, along with her husband Paul are Illinois State Coordinators for Community United Effort (CUE) and was a part of the NAWLEE Conference for women in LE. Norma serves on the DuPage Family Violence Coordinating Council, Illinois DV Fatality Review Board (newly created by an Act passed in 2022), and participates in numerous events and trainings for DV Shelters, mental health providers and other community responders.
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