Join us for a day of learning, connection, and practical skill-building as we explore how the therapeutic relationship can become a powerful pathway toward healing.
4 CEU Hours for Illinois Psychologists, Therapists, Social Workers & Counselors.
Healing Begins with Connection
What does it take to create meaningful healing in the therapy room?
Trauma doesn't just shape how we feel. It influences how we regulate our emotions, connect with others, and experience safety within relationships. For clinicians, understanding these connections is an essential part of helping clients move toward meaningful, lasting change.
This is an engaging, evidence-informed continuing education event exploring the intersection of trauma, attachment, nervous system regulation, and the therapeutic relationship.
Through expert-led presentations, real-world clinical insights, and practical strategies, we'll explore how clinicians can create safety, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and become an active part of the healing process.
Whether you're an experienced clinician or newer to the field, this training offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of trauma-informed care and walk away with tools you can bring directly into your clinical practice.
What You'll Take Away
This training is designed to bridge the gap between understanding trauma and applying that knowledge in clinical practice.
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Recognize dysregulation: Identify how trauma impacts the nervous system and how dysregulation can show up in both clinicians and clients.
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Strengthen therapeutic relationships: Use attunement, collaboration, and shared decision-making to create safety and support healing.
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Understand the power of co-regulation: Explore how your own presence and emotional regulation influence the therapeutic environment.
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Build resilience through practical strategies: Apply evidence-informed tools that support emotional regulation, connection, and lasting growth.
Details:Â
- When: Friday, December 4, 2026, | 10:00AM-3:00PM
- Who:Â Clinical ProfessionalsÂ
- Where: New Trier High School - Cornog Building |Â 7 Happ Road, Northfield, IL 60093
- Credits: 4 CEU Hours for Approved Clinical ProfessionalsÂ
- Registration Fee: $40 per personÂ
- Lunch: Included with registration
Speaking Topics
The Regulated Clinician: Co-Regulation as a Clinical Skill
This session explores the essential role of nervous system regulation in trauma treatment and how a clinician's own emotional state can influence the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Bolton will examine how dysregulation shows up in clinical practice, why co-regulation matters, and how presence, connection, and community can become powerful tools for supporting healing.
10:00 – 11:15 AM | Doug Bolton, PhD
The Clinician as Collaborator: Preventing Re-Traumatization Through Relationship
Mary Jo will explore how attunement, collaboration, and shared decision-making can help clinicians build relationships grounded in safety, trust, and client autonomy. Through a trauma-informed lens, participants will examine how to recognize relational dynamics that may contribute to re-traumatization and how to create opportunities for meaningful repair.
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | Mary Jo Barrett, MSW
The Growth & Resiliency Model© in Practice
Audrey will bring the day's learning into practical application through the Growth & Resiliency Model©, a five-step framework for building emotional awareness, regulation, and resilience. Through strategies such as mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and physical self-awareness, participants will explore how to translate trauma-informed theory into practical tools that help clients navigate difficult emotions, strengthen self-awareness, and build lasting resilience.
1:15 – 2:00 PM | Audrey Grunst, LCSW
Bringing It All Together: Panel Discussion
Join our presenters for a collaborative discussion connecting the day's key concepts, clinical insights, and practical applications. This final session offers an opportunity to explore how regulation, therapeutic relationships, and resilience-building can work together to support trauma-informed care.
2:00 - 3:00PM | All Presenters
Meet the Presenters
Doug Bolton, PhD
Dr. Doug Bolton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, nationally recognized speaker, and Director of School Consultation at Formative Psychological Services. With over 30 years of experience in mental health and education, he brings a unique perspective on fostering resilience, connection, and belonging. As a former therapeutic school principal, Doug works with schools and communities to create environments that support emotional well-being and meaningful engagement. He is the author of Untethered: Creating Connected Families, Schools, and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation, which explores the power of relationships and community in raising resilient children.
Mary Jo Barrett, MSW
Mary Jo Barrett, MSW, is a nationally recognized therapist, educator, and expert in trauma, family violence, and complex relational systems. With over 40 years of experience, she brings a collaborative, resilience-focused approach to healing. As Founder and Executive Director of Collaborative Change Consulting, Mary Jo developed The Collaborative Stage Model, a framework used internationally to support trauma recovery and strengthen relationships. She is the co-author of Treating Complex Trauma: A Relational Blueprint for Collaboration & Change and has taught at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Through her clinical work, training, and consultation, Mary Jo helps individuals, families, and professionals foster connection, resilience, and lasting healing.
Audrey Grunst, LCSW
Audrey Grunst, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, nationally recognized speaker, and founder of Simply Bee Counseling. With nearly two decades of experience in mental health, Audrey specializes in adolescent mental health, trauma, and resilience, drawing on her extensive background across the continuum of care. She is the creator of the Growth & Resiliency Model© and author of 5 Steps to Grow a Resilient Mind, known for translating complex psychological concepts into practical, actionable strategies. Her work extends beyond clinical practice through national speaking engagements, community mental health initiatives, and advocacy for youth and families.
Ready to Join Us?
Spend the day learning alongside fellow mental health professionals, exploring fresh clinical perspectives, and gaining practical tools to strengthen your work with clients.
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 10 AM – 3 PM
4 CE Hours | $40 Registration | Lunch Included
