Sept 9 – Sept 11, 2026
Thank you for joining us in Baton Rouge for the
2026 Behavioral Health Symposium: Building Pathways to Hope, Help, Health and Healing.
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Building accessible pathways to behavioral healthcare starts with coming together.
The three-day 2026 Behavioral Health Symposium: Building Pathways to Hope, Help, Health and Healing, invites healthcare and behavioral health professionals and stakeholders to explore innovative, collaborative solutions to today’s most pressing challenges—including mental health, substance use, prevention, grief, opioids, problem gambling, and ethics.
Entry sold as one-time $50 registration fee for full 3-day conference event — no daily rates available. Registration includes access to all 3 days of education, breakfast, lunch, and certificates.
The conference hotel is the Crowne Plaza Executive Center – Baton Rouge, located at 4728 Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
Visit with exhibitors all 3 days and connect with resources around the state. Participate in exhibitor BINGO to win door prizes!
This event has been submitted for credits for Social Workers, ADRA, LPCs, Peer Support Specialists, Psychologists, and Physicians.
September 30, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Thad Shunkwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work, he is a licensed behavioral health provider (LMFT & LPCC) with over a decade of experience in treating people with mental health and substance use disorders in Minnesota communities.
In 2021, he founded the Center for Rural Behavioral Health, whose mission is to improve access to mental healthcare for agricultural and rural communities in Minnesota. At a time in which the mental health of our country has never been worse, his innovative work in developing partnerships within healthcare, academic, and agricultural industries has sparked solution-oriented initiatives that have benefited the mental wellbeing of rural communities across the country. The outcomes of these transformational projects have influenced policy at both the state and federal levels of government.
His commitment to rural healthcare has garnered him several accolades to include being one of seventeen healthcare professionals in the country to be named a Fellow of the National Rural Health Association along with being awarded the Emerging Rural Health Leader honor by the Minnesota Rural Health Association.
As a peer-reviewed published author, TEDx speaker, and a national and international conference keynote presenter, Professor Shunkwiler is a recognized leader in behavioral healthcare.
October 28, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Ceyera Byrd is the Education Coordinator at Faith House of Acadiana, where she has served for the past year. In this role, Ceyera develops and facilitates educational programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives to raise awareness and empower individuals and families. With a passion for advocacy and public education, she brings expertise in program coordination, community partnerships, and public speaking. Ceyera is committed to fostering safe, informed communities through engaging training and prevention efforts.
Shonnetta Green is a dedicated advocate, accomplished social worker, and founder of Shattered But Not Broken, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to empowering survivors of domestic violence. Drawing from her own lived experience, Shonnetta brings a powerful survivor’s perspective to her work—educating communities, providing resources, and offering financial support to individuals rebuilding their lives after abuse.
Her advocacy journey includes speaking at the Louisiana State Capitol in support of survivor-centered legislation and serving in multiple roles at Faith House, a domestic violence agency, including Outreach Coordinator, Survivor Advocate, and Economic Justice Advocate. She has facilitated public forums, law enforcement training, and support groups, and has partnered with schools, churches, and community organizations to promote healing and awareness.
Shonnetta’s guiding mantra, “Broken pieces become a beautiful portrait, and you are beautiful,” reflects her unwavering belief in restoration and hope.
A native of Crowley, Louisiana, Shonnetta holds degrees from South Louisiana Community College, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Louisiana State University, where she earned her Master of Social Work.
She is the proud mother of Frank Andrus Jr. and Jessica Collins, and a joyful grandmother—affectionately known as “Ne Ne”—to her grandson, Nehemiah Andrus.
November 6, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
*Please note that we were unable to record this presentation.
Robyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in the state of Louisiana, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Arizona, & a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of North Carolina. She is a two-time graduate of Louisiana State University and current Doctorate of Professional Counseling student at Mississippi College. She is a Level 2 Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II), Certified Military Clinical Counselor (CMCC), Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC), and CORDICO/NERPSC Emergency Responder & Public Safety Certified Clinician. Robyn is a Level 2 Internal Family Systems and EMDRIA EMDR Certified therapist. Her specialties & interests include trauma, OCD, and military/first responder issues. She has undergone a variety of trauma-focused trainings including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Levels 1 & 2 of Internal Family Systems, EMDR + IFS Integrations, and various exposure techniques such as Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD. She has been offering local & national CEU presentations on trauma for nearly 5 years.
She is co-owner of Clarté Counseling, LLC in Lafayette, LA and is dedicated to giving back to her profession. She is known for volunteering at the Louisiana Counseling Association conference for nine years, a volunteer for the American Red Cross, and provides several continued education presentations to help serve the need. She also has a passion for working with the United States military and our nation’s first responders, offering free sessions to veterans, active duty, and reservists, and financial assistance to first responders and military personnel as a contracted therapist with The Overwatch Collective and The Headstrong Project. She has mostly recently been awarded the 2024 Humane and Caring Person award at the Louisiana Counseling Association conference.
December 2, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Nicole Washington is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she attended Southern University and A&M College. After receiving her BS degree, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to matriculate at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed residency in Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa and a master’s degree in Public Health through the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Since completion of her residency training, Dr. Washington has spent most of her career caring for and being an advocate for those who are not typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities, those with severe mental illness and high performing professionals. With a passion for educating others about mental illness, she speaks on a variety of topics to colleagues and the general public. Through her private practice, podcast, speaking and writing, she seeks to provide education in efforts to decrease the stigma associated with psychiatric illness.
January 15, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Christena Raines, RN, MSN, APRN-BC PMH-C, is an adjunct professor in the department of psychiatry at UNC Chapel Hill. She is a women’s health care NP and board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in treating and researching Perinatal Mental Health. At UNC she helped develop an intergraded perinatal mental health model within the OB-GYN High-risk clinics and founded the UNC Perinatal Depression Support group. She was a member of the planning team instrumental in opening the 1st in-patient Perinatal Psychiatric program in the US. Ms. Raines is considered a subject matter expert (SME) in perinatal mental health and co-author the Maternal Mental Health Safety Bundle initiated by ACOG.
Ms. Raines currently serves as the board chair emeritus for Postpartum Support International (PSI) and is founder and CEO of Chris Raines consulting as well as maintaining a private practice. Ms. Raines is published and presents nationally on Perinatal Mental Health and is a senior trainer for Postpartum Support International.
February 3, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Dr. Antoine Lovell is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Morgan State University, where he teaches and leads in the Research and Urban Social Problems sequence. His scholarship examines the intersections of housing instability, emerging adulthood, and public policy, centering the lived experiences of youth and emerging adults navigating homelessness and public housing systems.
Before joining Morgan State, Dr. Lovell served as a Provost Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his PhD in Social Policy from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, an MSW from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, and an MPA from Long Island University.
His research has been supported by the William T. Grant Foundation and Morgan State University’s Transformation Morgan 2030 initiative. He serves on the Research Council of the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Advisory Board of Baltimore Renters United, bridging scholarship, advocacy, and community-based practice.
Having experienced homelessness as a young person, Dr. Lovell approaches research as a tool for liberation and systems change, grounding his teaching and scholarship in anti-racist, community-engaged methods. His recent publications explore topics such as youth housing precarity, eviction law, and the adaptation of the Friendship Bench mental health model for college campuses.
March 11, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Samson Teklemariam, LPC, CPTM, is a seasoned clinical leader and training expert with extensive experience spanning correctional settings, private practice, community mental health, schools, and addiction treatment programs. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in clinical supervision, counselor development, and workforce training.
Samson previously served as Director of Training and Professional Development for NAADAC, where he launched nationwide supervision initiatives, built certificate training programs for military and veteran counselors, and partnered with SAMHSA and HRSA on workforce development efforts. In his current role as Vice President of Clinical Services for Behavioral Health Group, he prioritizes counseling within Opioid Treatment Programs, ensuring patients across 22 states receive integrated and continually improving care. He also serves as Southeast Regional Vice President for NAADAC and on the Advisory Council for the National Board of Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program.
May 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Brittany Bisaillon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her master’s degree from Aurora University. She has been working in the field for about 7 years, supporting the needs of adolescents and adults with disabilities, including ASD, in addition to individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, psychosis, transitional adjustments, crisis intervention and anger management. Brittany believes in a person-centered approach and strengths-based approach. She also has extensive experience with a range of therapeutic models, including DBT, ACT, and CBT. Brittany focuses on creating a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship, in which the client can obtain the change and stability they are seeking.
Topic Details:
February 27, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Annette is the Assistant Director of the LION UP Recovery Program (Collegiate Recovery Program) and Intervention. She has been employed at Southeastern Louisiana University since 2003. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In 1997, Annette earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She has a special interest in trauma, Intervention and Recovery Informed Counseling. Annette is also a person in long term recovery.
Annette served as a Counselor and Assistant Director of Outreach at the Southeastern Louisiana University Counseling Center. She has worked in a variety of settings including Bancroft NeuroHealth Rehabilitation Center in Covington and New Orleans, Straight and Narrow Treatment Center of Baton Rouge, and Lifestreams Behavioral Center of Leesburg, Florida.
Annette has worked as grant coordinator with the Transforming Youth in Recovery, National Highway Safety Commission and Tobacco-Free Living. She has also served as TRACC Coalition Chair, Terrell Conference Chair, Jolly Jingles Market Chair as well as President of the Junior Auxiliary of Hammond. She has recently helped launch Collegiate Recovery Programming at Southeastern Louisiana University. LION UP Recovery launched Fall of 2019. It is the first collegiate recovery program for students in recovery at a public university in the State of Louisiana. Annette continues to work with the LION UP Collegiate Recovery Board to promote sustainability of LION UP Recovery Collegiate Recovery Program and has recently been appointed to serve on the Association of Recovery in Higher Education Board of Directors as the Southeast Representative. She was recently awarded the 2022 President’s Award for Unclassified Staff Excellence in Service.
Annette currently serves as Project Director for the Louisiana Collegiate Recovery Expansion Grant that will increase the Collegiate Recovery Programs in Louisiana to Louisiana State University, Tulane University, Southern University Law School, Grambling State University, River Parishes Community College and Northshore Technical Community College.
Dr. Hall is a native of Alexandria, Louisiana. In the summer of 1994, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, Master’s in Social Work in 1996, Master’s in Criminal Justice in 2016 all from Grambling State University, and a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education Administration from Jackson State University. She is currently a Peer Program Manager for a Post-Secondary Education Program for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health), and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. Hall is involved in various professional and community organizations and engages in countless hours of service. She is a member of National Alliance of Mental Health, National Association of Black Social Workers, Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists, Incorporated, Association for Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, Association for Student Conduct Administration, National Association of Student Affairs, Grambling State University Alumni Chapter, and serve on the Board of Bullying-Report It Please! Dr. Hall is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated-Epsilon Psi Omega Chapter, currently serves as President, and Graduate Advisor of Alpha Theta Chapter-Grambling State University. She is the Founder of Transformational Agent Empowerment, LLC.
Dr. Hall lives by the word of Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” She believes these words guide and strengthen her daily. Dr. Hall enjoy serving as a Mentor to college students. She continues to provide education on college campuses about Mental Health and Substance Abuse, reducing stigma by spreading awareness, presentations, linkage with different organizations, and connectivity with community resources. Dr. Hall will do what she need to do to assist students with developing a positive success in college. By surrounding herself around her family, friends, and others, who are all change agents motivates her to continue to give back to others the seeds that was sown into her during her time at Grambling State University.
Adam J. Singer is a dedicated mental health professional with extensive experience in addiction counseling, program development, and advocacy. As the Collegiate Recovery Program Manager at Louisiana State University, he is leading the effort to establish and expand LSU’s Collegiate Recovery Program. His work includes securing funding, engaging stakeholders, and providing comprehensive support for students in recovery, ensuring they have access to the resources needed for long-term success.
Prior to his role at LSU, Adam worked as a counselor at Lake Wellness Center, where he played a pivotal role in establishing a Drug Court in New Roads, LA. He maintained compliance with Drug Court requirements, provided individual and group therapy, and achieved the highest recorded engagement and completion rates for voluntary clients over a 1.5-year period. His expertise in addiction treatment also includes time at The Grove Recovery Center and St. Christopher’s Addiction Wellness Center, where he facilitated therapy sessions for individuals and families, conducted psychosocial assessments, and developed tailored treatment plans.
Adam holds a Master’s in Social Work from Louisiana State University and a dual Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Political Science from Marshall University. He is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC). With a deep commitment to supporting individuals in recovery, Adam combines clinical expertise with program innovation to create lasting positive change.
Topic Details:
April 3, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Dr. Amna Shabbir is a dynamic Keynote Speaker, Board Certified Physician, Mental Health Advocate, Founder and CEO, Master Certified Professional Coach, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and Duke Certified Integrative Wellness Coach. She specializes in empowering high achievers to create sustainable well-being.
Dr. Shabbir is also the host of the podcast Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD: Exploring the Crossroads of Ambition and Wellness. With her unique blend of expertise as a physician, coach, entrepreneur, mother and leader, she draws from her personal journey-including lived experiences and health battles-to connect deeply with audiences and drive meaningful change. Known for her actionable approach, she equips professionals with the tools to create lasting transformation and lead with impact.
Topic Details:
May 8, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Robyn Thomas has a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She is also a Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Robyn is the state suicide prevention coordinator and 988 Lead for the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)/Office of Behavioral Health (OBH). Robyn supervises the Suicide Prevention team at OBH and provides oversight of suicide prevention initiatives. Robyn has over 24 years of experience in state government, which includes experience working with various departments within the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) such as the Office of Behavioral Health, Office of the Secretary, and Office of Public Health. She has over 19 years of experience conducting comprehensive mental health and substance use assessments using a trauma informed approach in a hospital Emergency Behavioral Health Department. She has provided crisis intervention to various ages such as children, adolescents, adults, geriatric patients and their families in a hospital setting. She has worked with several populations including individuals identified as having severe mental illness and exposure to traumatic stressors. In her work, she has had the opportunity to provide crisis interventions to some of the most vulnerable populations in Louisiana. Robyn is dedicated to providing crisis interventions and striving to improve behavioral health systems and outcomes for the citizens of Louisiana.
Don Pledger is the Executive Director of Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling. Don recently joined the LACG team in 2023 and comes to the organization with over 35 years’ experience in healthcare systems – development, implementation and sustainability. He has his bachelors and master’s from LSU with a focus in administration and psychology. He is passionate about addiction recovery, trauma and crisis recovery and supporting those most vulnerable to mental health challenges. Reflecting on his passion for serving others, “My career path was largely shaped two decades ago while supporting our Louisiana families during and following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Learning along the way, just what it means to foster resiliency.”
Ms. Dobbs has served as President & CEO of VIA LINK, Inc., a non-profit that works to connect those in need with resources, information, crisis intervention and suicide prevention, since 2014. All VIA LINK services are free to the public and they operate 24/7. Most work is telephonic (phone, text, and chat). Some of their services include answering 2-1-1 – a health & human services hotline, which was the go-to number for COVID information and when natural disasters strike Louisiana, the National Suicide Prevention LIFELINE (988), the Teen Crisis Text line, the Child Abuse Prevention hotline, Opioid Text hotline, and a number other crisis lines for universities, managed care organizations, health and human services districts, and the Louisiana Department of Health. During her tenure this organization has grown from 20 employees to 93 with sustainable funding.
She previously served at the first Executive Director for the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana.
LaVondra is a graduate of the University of Alabama with degrees in Economics, French and Russian. While working for the 205 Military Intelligence Brigade in Frankfurt, Germany, she attended Boston University’s Frankfurt campus for her master’s in business administration.
She has two adult sons and lives in Mandeville, Louisiana.
Topic Details:
June 30, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Christopher M. Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H. (CAPT U.S. Public Health Service) is the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and Acting Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ). CAPT Jones brings a wealth of experience to SAMHSA having led substance use, mental health, and injury and violence prevention policy, program, and research activities for more than a decade. Prior to becoming Director of CSAP, CAPT Jones served as the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this role, he provided scientific leadership and overall management of the Center, including driving the Center’s strategic direction and advancing the Center’s priorities of preventing drug overdose, suicide, and adverse childhood experiences. At CDC, CAPT Jones previously served as Deputy Director of the Injury Center and as Associate Director for Strategy and Innovation.
During his career, CAPT Jones has served in a variety of leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among these roles, he served as the first director of the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory at SAMHSA, as the acting Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Data Policy and director of the Division of Science Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at HHS, and senior advisor in the Office of the Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CAPT Jones received a Bachelor of Science degree from Reinhardt College, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University, a Master of Public Health degree from New York Medical College, and a Doctor of Public Health in Health Policy from The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Dr. Jones is a captain in the U.S. Public Health Service and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications on the topics of substance use, drug overdose, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health.
This CME event is brought to you by
Foundation for Wellness in partnership with:
A healthcare educational event for physicians, family practice, behavioral health specialists, and other healthcare professionals.
Foundation for Wellness is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
In accordance with Foundation for Wellness policy, all CME committee members, planning committee members and faculty members have signed a conflict of interest statement in which they have disclosed any significant financial interests or other relationships with industry relative to topics they will discuss at this program. At the beginning of the program, faculty members are expected to disclose any such information to participants. Such disclosure allows you to evaluate the objectivity of the information presented in lectures.
For the Behavioral Health Symposium webinars, none of the planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Foundation for Wellness fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA and the rules and regulations thereof. If any participant of the program given by Foundation for Wellness is in need of accommodations or has any dietary requests, please submit a request in writing.
We’re excited to officially announce the Wellness Summit for Healthcare Professionals is happening again! This year’s event will be held on May 30-June 1, 2025 at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, AL. Same location, same beautiful scenery and an even better experience is planned for 2025. This accredited CME event is designed specifically for healthcare professionals.
The summit aims to provide practical strategies to address burnout and alleviate stress and fatigue in the healthcare field. We’re your go-to provider for accredited continuing medical education.
Recognizing the distinct challenges faced by full-time healthcare professionals, we are dedicated to creating a space where our healthcare heroes can feel valued, connected, and rejuvenated as they navigate the complexities of their work.
Register NOW for Wellness Summit 2025! Families and spouses are encouraged to attend. Resort activities will be available for family members staying at The Grand Hotel.
