Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Connecticut Psychological Association, we are excited to invite you to CPA’s 40th Annual Convention — a milestone celebration honoring four decades of advancing psychology, strengthening community, and advocating for mental health across Connecticut.

Join colleagues from across the state for two days of learning, connection, and inspiration as we celebrate the past, engage with the present, and look toward the future of psychology.

Convention begins with a special virtual Continuing Education session on Thursday, November 5th, 2026, from 5:45 PM – 8:00 PM. This Veteran’s Affairs workshop provides 2 Continuing Education credits that fulfill Connecticut’s required veteran and military mental health training mandate for psychologist licensure renewal (required once every six years for Connecticut psychologists).

This year’s Convention will feature engaging workshops, timely conversations, networking opportunities, and practical insights across clinical practice, advocacy, ethics, education, research, and public policy. Whether you are a student, early career psychologist, seasoned clinician, educator, or researcher, Convention offers an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and stay energized about the future of the profession.

As we celebrate CPA’s 40th Annual Convention, we invite you to be part of this important milestone for Connecticut psychology.

We look forward to welcoming you this November for two days of education, collaboration, and community.

Warmest regards,

Stephanie Pennington, PhD.
Convention Chair
Connecticut Psychological Association

5:45 pm – 8:00 pm: Pre-Convention Virtual Workshop (Virtual Only): 2 CE credits available

 **This featured Veterans Affairs workshop will provide 2 Continuing Education credits that fulfill Connecticut’s mandatory veteran and military mental health training requirement for psychologist licensure renewal (required once every six years for Connecticut psychologists).**

Pre-Convention Virtual Workshop (2 CE)

1.  The Importance of Behavioral Health Fitness Standards for Soldiers and Veterans.
Presented by: Michael J. Moravecek, Psy.D.

Healthcare for those in the military is quite different than it is for civilians. While everyone in the military is afforded healthcare, access to services and how these services impact one’s career present may challenges to service members. For clinicians working with veterans and service members these challenges are important to understand and consider in treatment planning. While service members are generally healthier than the general population, health concerns can arise following deployment and throughout one’s career. For service members who have accessed these services, including behavioral health treatment, the nuances and unique aspects of the healthcare environment is an important component of the military experience and essential for understanding for cultural competency.

Registration & Networking Breakfast – Meet Division Representatives

Keynote Presentation (1 CE)

2.  The New Landscape of Adolescent Addiction: Social Media and Vaping.  
Presented by: Grace Kong, Ph.D.

Adolescence is a critical developmental period when addictive behaviors take root and cause mental health harm. Today’s youth face unique challenges from technological innovations, including social media and the proliferation of novel tobacco products such as e-cigarettes. These products are insufficiently regulated and engineered to be highly addictive. The keynote will explore emerging concerns around adolescent social media use, use tobacco as a case study to illustrate how novel products are promoted on social media to shape youth behaviors, and highlight strategies for clinicians and policymakers to address problematic social media use, drawing lessons learned from tobacco control.

Break

3.  What the Hell Was That? Using Play, Disruption, and Experiential Interventions With Adolescents When Talk Therapy Stalls.  Presented by: Ben Bernstein, Ph.D.

Adolescents often disengage when psychotherapy relies primarily on verbal insight or skill building. This presentation demonstrates how non-directive play, disruption, and experiential interventions can restore emotional regulation, engagement, and therapeutic momentum. Through live demonstration and clinical examples, attendees will learn how to introduce these interventions intentionally and safely when traditional approaches stall.

4.  An Integrated Model of Psychology in Financial Practice.  
Presented by: Mikaru Shichi Lasher, Ph.D. and Brian J. Lasher, MBA.

There is growing interest in human behavior within the financial industry, and psychologists are perfectly suited for this role. Psychologists can help financial professionals with knowledge of how cognitions and emotions impact behavior, and therapeutic strategies for change. An integrated model using psychology within a financial management practice will be presented.

5. Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Psychotherapy: Practical Guidelines for Clinicians.  
Presented by: Joy Zelikovsky, Psy.D., LP., MSCP., CEDS-C., M.A., M.Phil., M.S.Ed

This presentation examines ethical applications of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy, focusing on privacy, bias, accountability, and clinical safety. Attendees will learn how to distinguish appropriate from high-risk uses and apply a structured decision-making framework to integrate AI into practice while maintaining professional standards and protecting client welfare.

6. The messy middle: Clinical and supervisory approaches to a rich developmental stage.  
Presented by: Chelsea McIntosh, Psy.D, ABPP and Kate Patterson, Psy.D.

This presentation will focus on midlife and events that tend to occur at this time. Presenters will discuss clinical considerations for working with clients as well as supervisees who are in midlife. Presenters will discuss considerations to a clinician at midlife in their work as a psychologist.

Luncheon

Awards Ceremony

7.  Integrating Media Addiction and Digital Health into your Clinical Practice.  
Presented by: Jennifer Doran, Ph.D., Jessica Lawson, Ph.D., and Chelsea Tucker, Ph.D.

Psychologists have an important role to play in assessing and treating digital health and addiction. Utilizing an addictions framework, how to assess digital health, reduce behavioral addiction and promote digital wellness with clients will be explored in a skill-building session. Concrete strategies and recommendations for clinical practice will be provided.

8.  Applied Psychodynamic Theory in Community Mental Health: A Consideration in Decolonizing Psychotherapy.  
Presented by: Carly Trask-Kuchta, MA, Psy.D. and Kiara Lemon, Psy.D.

Presenters will discuss the importance of considering relational frameworks when providing psychotherapy in a community mental health setting, offering a thesis that process-oriented works, specifically psychodynamic theories, are often underrepresented due to systemically oppressive barriers. This presentation will outline a basic overview of theory and a call to expand access.

9.  Hormonal Homeostasis in Mental Health: Understanding the Role of Endocrine Function in Psychological Well-Being.  
Presented by: Joy Zelikovsky, Psy.D., MSCP, CEDS-C, M.A., M.Phil.Ed., M.S.Ed and Elizabeth Rathbun, Psy.D., M.A., M.Ed.

This presentation examines hormonal homeostasis and its impact on mental health, focusing on stress, reproductive, and metabolic systems. Attendees will learn how hormonal dysregulation contributes to psychological symptoms and apply practical strategies for assessment, psychoeducation, and interdisciplinary care to support more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.

10. Modern Day Divorce.  
Presented by: Vanessa Spelman, M.S. Ed., Psy.D.

Divorce is a life-altering event. There is a breaking up and breaking down that comes along after this experience. Let’s talk about why women initiate divorce, challenges in single parenthood, dating, common stressors, and sexual wellness after divorce across the lifespan.

 Break

11.  Introduction to Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: Science, Theory, and Practical Applications.  
Presented by: Clare Campbell, Ph.D.

This presentation will introduce the science, theory, and practice of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). ISTDP is an active, experiential, somatic, attachment-based modality with strong empirical support (100+ RCTs) for a wide range of conditions. Video-recorded therapy sessions will demonstrate key clinical processes, emphasizing applicability across treatment modalities.

12. From Conceptualization to Publication: Constructing Psychoeducational Stories for Populations Across the Lifespan.  
Presented by: Michael Gale, Ph.D., Greg Betz, Psy.D., Jennifer Jackson, Psy.D., Samantha Santos, Jennifer Bedele, Kim Ly, Jessica Lawson, Ph.D., and Jennifer Doran, Ph.D.

This presentation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and publication of psychoeducational materials that blend creativity with clinical science, promoting mental health. Drawing on their works, including “Feelings are Gross” and “Uma the Unicorn’s Rainbow Quest,” the presenters discuss integrating research into the design and publication of such materials.

13.  Behavioral Health Providers on the Frontline: Tools and Strategies for Firearm Suicide Prevention.  
Presented by: Sydney Simmons, Ph.D., Derrick Gordon, Ph.D., Caitlin Williams, Ph.D., and Anne Klee, Ph.D.

Gun violence is a public health emergency, with firearm suicide a leading cause of death. Behavioral health providers, often in ongoing contact with at-risk individuals, play a key role in prevention. This presentation reports provider perspectives on lethal means assessments, highlighting training, barriers, and strategies to strengthen skills and expand effective, life-saving interventions.

14.  The American Psychological Association’s Call to Action on the Climate Crisis.  
Presented by: Elizabeth Allured, Psy.D.

Four years ago, the American Psychological Association published their results of the workings of a multidisciplinary Climate Change Task Force. They issued a multi-faceted call to action for psychologists. How can Connecticut psychologists carry out this crucial work? What is holding our field back from addressing this?

Social Hour

Join us for a vibrant and engaging Social Hour directly after Convention! This event is the perfect opportunity to unwind after a day of insightful sessions and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy complimentary refreshments, lively conversations, and the chance to network with leading professionals in the field. Whether you’re looking to discuss the latest research, find new collaborators, or simply make new friends, our Social Hour promises to be a highlight of the conference. Don’t miss out on this chance to build lasting connections and have a great time!

Full Program Description:

For our full program description, including speaker biographies and presentation citations, visit our digital program here: Coming Soon!

Continuing Education:

Participants are eligible for up to 6.0 CE credits.  2.0 CE credits can be earned during our virtual pre-convention workshops on Thursday, November 5th and 4.0 CE credits can be earned during our in-person convention on Friday November 6th.

The Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Connecticut Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  1 CE credit is available per instructional hour for attendees who are present for the entire program. We ask that all participants return the post-program evaluation form at the conclusion of the program.

CPA and our speakers have not received any commercial support for this program or its contents and will not receive any commercial support prior to or during this program.

Refund Policy:

Interested in reaching Connecticut’s mental health professionals and expanding your brand’s visibility? Explore our sponsorship opportunities and join us as a valued partner at this year’s CPA Convention!

CPA Members must log into their CPA Account to access discounted rates.

Students & Post Docs:
must be a verified student or post doc.

Earliest Bird

July 1-July 31 =  $50

Early Bird

August 1- August 31 = $55

Regular Tickets

September 1-November 6 =  $55

Thursday Virtual ONLY

Students/Post Doc = $49

Full Convention Tickets include access to all Convention programming and eligible CE credits.

Virtual-only registration does not include Friday’s in-person Convention.

Tickets may be upgraded to a Full Convention Registration pending availability.

Students – Want to attend for free?  Contact us for volunteer opportunities at info@connpsych.org

Racially and/or Ethnically Minoritized high school, undergraduate, and graduate psychology students are encouraged to APPLY TODAY for the Dr. Jan Owens-Lane Mentorship Scholarship, which covers full CPA Convention registration, a one-year CPA student membership, and lifetime membership in the Ethnic Diversity Task Force (EDTF)!