A Life Worth Living: Every Brilliant Thing

INTERACTIVE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION PLAY

Become Part of the Show

Mental Health Counseling with Art Therapy Specialization Program

Post Graduate Master’s Degree in Art Therapy

Werner Lecture Hall Lobby

120 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell, NJ

Caldwell University is an approved Continuing Education Provider for NBCC

ACEP#4598

8:30 - 10:00 am Registration and Group Experiential, Mary Jo Rolli Codey Center

Werner Lecture Hall Lobby, Center Director Cindy Concannon/Interns

9:00 - 10:00 am Annual Membership Meeting NJATA

New Jersey Art Therapy Association, Werner Lecture Hall

10:00 - 10:15 am Welcome,

Dr. Jeffrey Senese, President, Dr. Dan Summer, Department Chair

Werner Lecture Hall

10:15 - 12:15 pm Performance of Every Brilliant Thing, Werner Lecture Hall

An Interactive, Audience Participation Play

Michael Satow, One-man show Narrator

Danny Vaccaro, Producer

Eleanor Handsley, Director

Trailer for Every Brilliant Thing with Michael Satow

12:30 - 1:15 pm Group Experiential and Lunch in the Dining Hall

1:30 - 12:30 pm Keynote

It Takes a Village; A Community-based Approach to Suicide Prevention

Dr. Emma Kendrick, Werner Lecture Hall

12:45 - 1:45 pm Small Group Creative Arts Experiential Response, To be Assigned

2:00 - 3:30 pm Large Group Response & Program Evaluations,

Werner Lecture Hall

3:30 - 4:00 pm Program Evaluation, Werner Lecture Hall

PRESENTER BIOS and CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Dr. Emma Kendrick, LPC, ACS, Keynote is a Professor and Program Coordinator for the Graduate Programs in Counseling at Caldwell University. In 2012, Emma earned a PhD in Education, specifically Counselor Education, from the University of Central Florida; a CACREP and NCATE accredited program. She is a New Jersey (NJ) State Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), a Certified Career Counselor, ASIST Certified Provisional Trainer, and a Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) Certified Facilitator. Emma has presented at all levels, including;  International, National, Regional, and State professional presentations.  Last month she presented at the American Counseling Association’s Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.  Emma has been published in the Universal Journal of Psychology for Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What Influences a Counseling Student to Choose? She was also published in a chapter in Scholl and McGowan’s (2011) book, Humanistic Perspectives on Contemporary Counseling Issues. Emma's ongoing research interests center around the topics of Financial Health; A Vital (and Often Overlooked) Component Affecting Mental Health, and Improving Gatekeeping Strategies at Admission: An Investigation of Master’s Level Counselor Education Admissions Criteria.

Annette Vaccaro, EdD, LPAT, LCSW, SCP, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, Conference Chairperson Dr. Annette Vaccaro maintains a general practice with a specialty in clinical supervision, in Livingston, NJ. She is the Director of Academic Affairs at the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP, www.acapnj.org), and Dean of Curriculum at its academic partner The Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis (BGSP) within the New Jersey Branch campus - The Institute of Counseling and Psychoanalytic Studies (ICPS). Dr. Vaccaro is also an Associate Professor at Caldwell University and Coordinator and founder of their Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy Master’s degree program. Her research interest is in professional dispositions.

Dan Summer Ph.D., LAC, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPAT, ATCS, Conference Coordinator is an Associate Professor and chair of the graduate counseling program at Caldwell University. He received his doctorate in Expressive therapies from Lesley University and has had additional training in modern psychoanalysis and drama therapy techniques. He has published on response artmaking to gun violence, using a sculptural process to express reactivity, and on developing ones eco identity through interacting with natural materials. The presenter is interested in arts and healing initiatives focusing on social justice and the use of psychedelic integration into counseling practice.

Dr. Traci Bitondo, PhD, LPAT, SCP, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, Conference Coordinator is an Assistant Professor at Caldwell University, where she shares her expertise in Counseling and Art Therapy with future professionals. She holds a Master’s in Counseling specializing in Art Therapy and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Honored with the 2022 Nancy Schoebel Legislative Service Award from the American Art Therapy Association and the NJ Counseling Association’s Edward Stroh LPC Award. Traci also led a research team recognized with the Rawley Silver Research Award. She is the immediate past President of the New Jersey Art Therapy Association and has presented nationally and internationally on trauma treatment, art therapy interventions for special populations, and clinical supervision. She operates a Counseling and Art Therapy practice where she treats mental health clients, supervises emerging professionals, and advises on practice development. Her background includes working in diverse settings with clients facing severe mental illness, individuals in the vision loss and blind community, and providing in-home therapy to families in crisis.

SMALL GROUP FACILITATORS

MANY THANKS TO THE CALDWELL UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENT AMBASSADORS WHO MAKE THE DAY A SUCCESS!!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Caldwell University, 120 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, United States