Our crew at Key Ministry is partnering with the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Cincinnati Christian University to put on the most unique training event we’ve yet been part of, and we’re hoping that as many of you as possible will be able to join us!

Cincinnati Christian’s Spring Counseling Summit will be held at the university’s Counseling and Ministry Center on Friday, April 17th from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM, focusing on the topic of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concerns and featuring presenters from Key Ministry.

An estimated 20% of school-age children and teens in the U.S. meet criteria for one or more mental health disorders. Access to counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists with familiarity and experience in treating kids and teens with symptoms of mental illness is limited nearly everywhere. In this counseling Summit, we’ll offer practical strategies for identifying and treating the most common…and pressing mental health concerns in children and teens.

We’ll integrate the most current research and diagnostic terminology with a bio/psycho/social/spiritual perspective, incorporating case discussion and strategies for connecting families with natural support systems in the community.

Some of the topics we’ll be covering at the Summit include…

– recognizing and treating anxiety disorders
– making sense of the ADHD epidemic
– clinical challenges when kids have two or more psychiatric diagnoses
– clinical challenges with adopted/foster kids
– recognition and advocacy for kids with special education needs
– recognizing and treating mood disorders

I’ll be joined in Cincinnati by my colleague Dr. Sherri McClurg. Sherri serves as Managing Director of our group practice (Family Center by the Falls) and specializes in child and adolescent clinical psychology as well as forensic psychology. Dr. McClurg previously served as the Division Director for Outpatient Services in Lorain County for Bellefaire JCB and developed both clincial outpatient and school based programs. She has worked with schools, children services, and courts designing intervention programs for youth at risk and has specialized training in trauma-focused CBT. In addition to her clinical work she provides graduate and post-graduate clinical training for students and teaches graduate psychology courses. More recently, Sherri has served as the Special Needs Ministry Director at her local church, and is currently serving as Interim Director of New Horizons for Children, the largest faith-based orphan hosting program nationwide.

The Spring Counseling Summit is approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board  for 6.0 CEUs for counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists and for 6.0 CEUs for counselors by the Kentucky LPC Board.

For more information, or to register for the Spring Counseling Summit, click here to access the Summit webpage. Early-bird registration rates are available before April 1st, and students can register for a reduced fee of $10. Lunch is included in the cost of registration.

Interested in a “crash course” on some of the most pressing topics in children’s mental health? Join us at Cincinnati Christian University on Friday, April 17th! It’s a great time of year to visit the Tri-State and take the 90 minute drive to Lexington to check out some thoroughbred racing at Keeneland.

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Key Ministry has assembled resources to help churches more effectively minister to children and adults with ADHD, anxiety disorders, Asperger’s Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, depression and trauma. Please share our resources with any pastors, church staff, volunteers or families looking to learn more about the influence these conditions can exert upon spiritual development in kids, and what churches can do to help!