Counselor Education Innovations Conference

CEI is designed to be a meaningful, engaging experience that supports your professional growth, learning, and connection - all in a flexible, virtual format.

🧠 Advance licensure & professional credentials with 6 CE credit hours, while learning from leaders in counselor education and online learning through engaging keynote addresses.

🎓 Deepen your learning beyond the conference with three months of Coursera access, included with registration at no additional cost. Explore thousands of self-paced courses and professional certificate programs through KU Advance’s partnership with Coursera.

💻 Learn from anywhere with a 100% virtual experience featuring concurrent sessions and interactive workshops that highlight practical strategies, research insights, and scholarly dialogue.

🚀 Walk away with real value - practical tools you can apply immediately, fresh perspectives, and meaningful professional connections through built-in networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration.

• Counselor Educators
• Distance Learning Specialists
• Graduate Students
• School and Clinical Counselors
• Higher Education Administrator
• Researchers and Policy Leaders

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Join us for the Counselor Education Innovations (CEI) Virtual Conference 2026.

• $150 – Professionals 
• $75 – Students*

*If you are a student who does not need continuing education (CE) credits, please register using your student email address and enter the code STUDENT in the discount box at checkout before completing your registration.

The professional and student registration fees reflect the cost of providing 6 continuing education credits (CEs) and the added benefit of a 3-month Coursera subscription.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: December 31, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: January 15, 2026
• Conference Date: February 13, 2026

Virtual Event, Hosted by KU Advance

Proposals are now closed for the 2026 CEI conference. Please refer back to this page for updates on next year's conference and presentation opportunities.

Support our mission and connect with our community through one of our sponsorship tiers: Innovator, Leader, Supporter, or a fully customizable You Decide option. Visit our sponsorship tiers page for details, and apply through our sponsorship form when you’re ready to partner with us.

View sponsorship tiers here

Apply to be a sponsor by completing a sponsorship form

Presenters: Nicole Arcuri-Sanders, Ph.D., ACS, LPC-S, LCMHC-S, LPC, BC-TMH, NCC, SAC and Alisha Davis, PhD, LCMHC-S, LMHC
Affiliation: Coastal Carolina University

Session Summary

This session examines digital delivery (DD) as a permanent and essential modality within counselor education, supervision, and clinical practice. Drawing on professional guidelines, research trends, and pedagogical principles, the session highlights ethical, legal, and instructional considerations, including confidentiality, accessibility, informed consent, supervision, and competence-based assessment. Participants will gain practical tools and evidence-informed strategies to implement and evaluate digital delivery with clarity, consistency, and confidence across educational, supervisory, and clinical settings.

Presenter Bios

Dr. Nicole Arcuri-Sanders is a counselor educator, licensed clinician, and supervisor with extensive experience in digital delivery, telehealth, and curriculum development. She has published and presented widely and is committed to preparing counselors for evolving professional demands through ethical, client-centered training.

Dr. Ali Davis is a clinician, counselor educator, and supervisor. A leader in telehealth since 2016, she integrates technology with trauma-informed care and is dedicated to expanding access to quality mental health services through research, teaching, and advocacy. 

Presenter: Carlos Castañeda, PhD, LPC, NCC 
Affiliation: St. Edward’s University 

Session Summary

This session explores how conversation-based artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping counseling practice, counselor education, and clinical skills training. Participants will examine current applications of conversational AI in supervision, skills development, assessment-adjacent tasks, and client-facing supports, alongside the ethical, legal, and cultural considerations these technologies introduce. Grounded in interdisciplinary research and professional guidance from the ACA and NBCC, the session emphasizes responsible integration of AI, highlighting both its potential and limitations. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for using AI as a supportive educational and clinical tool while preserving ethical practice, professional boundaries, and the therapeutic relationship.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Carlos Castañeda is a licensed professional counselor, researcher, and founder of ThinkAITA LLC, which creates AI and digital tools for healthcare, education, and public safety. He is an Assistant Professor at St. Edward’s University, focusing on autism, digital mental health, and youth well-being. He presents nationally, publishes on counseling and technology, and promotes equitable, innovative approaches to integrating digital tools into clinical care and training.

Presenters: Laura Dawson-Fend, PhD, LPC, CADC, NCC, Yoon Suh Moh, PhD, LPC, NCC, CRC, BC-TMH, BCN, Shernell Elibox, PhD, LPC, NCC and Triana Martinez, PhD, LPC, NCC
Affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University 

Session Summary

Presenter Bios

Dr. Laura Dawson-Fend is a counselor educator and addictions concentration coordinator in the Community and Trauma Counseling Program at Thomas Jefferson University. Laura has a passion for working with individuals who have experienced trauma specializing in sexual trauma and/or human trafficking. Laura has worked both in the university setting as a professor and in clinical mental health settings working with those having challenges with substance use disorder, severe and persistent mental illness or in the middle of a crisis episode.

Presenter: Amanda Giordano, PhD, LPC 
Affiliation: University of Georgia

Session Summary

This session addresses the growing prevalence of behavioral and digital media addictions - including gaming, gambling, social media, and compulsive online behaviors - and their impact across the lifespan. Grounded in current research and public health findings, the presentation examines how counselors-in-training can effectively conceptualize, assess, and respond to behavioral addictions using a biopsychosocial framework. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing high engagement from addiction, understanding the neurobiology of addiction, and applying empirically supported interventions such as Motivational Interviewing. Participants will gain practical guidance on screening tools, assessment strategies, and prevention approaches essential for contemporary counselor education and clinical practice.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Amanda L. Giordano is an associate professor at the University of Georgia who specializes in addictions counseling. She is the sole author of a clinical reference book titled, A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions and co-author of a textbook titled, Addiction Counseling: A Practical Approach. She was awarded the Garry R. Waltz Trailblazer Award from the American Counseling Association in recognition of her work with behavioral addictions. Dr. Giordano collaborates with domestic and international organizations to provide trainings related to addictions counseling. 

Presenters: Rachel Jacoby, Ph.D., LPCC-S, NCC, ACS, Kelly Coker, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH, LCMHC, LaToya Smith, PhD, LPC, and Margaret Lamar, PhD, LPC/LPCC
Affiliation: Palo Alto University

Session Summary

This session examines residency experiences as a cornerstone of counselor preparation within online counseling programs. Drawing on constructivist and experiential learning theories and aligned with CACREP standards, the presentation explores innovative strategies for designing, implementing, and assessing residency models that foster professional identity development, clinical competence, and student connection. Grounded in research and multi-year program evaluation data, the session highlights best practices and lessons learned for creating immersive, face-to-face residency experiences that enhance engagement, multicultural competence, and readiness for practicum and internship in virtual counselor education settings.

Presenter Bios

Dr. Rachel Jacoby is an LPCC-S assistant professor at Palo Alto University whose work focuses on children, families, trauma-informed care, and curriculum development.

Dr. Kelly Coker, professor and Faculty Senate Chair at Palo Alto University, is a longtime counselor educator with extensive publications.

Dr. LaToya Smith, an LPC in Texas and Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University, researches diversity and trauma.

Dr. Margaret Lamar, LPC/LPCC and Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University, studies maternal and parental mental health and is the past president of the Western ACES region. 

Presenters: Kirsten LaMantia, PhD, LPC and Holly Wagner, PhD, LPC, NCC, CFLE
Affiliation: Southeast Missouri State University

Session Summary

This session explores the developmental and relational impact of technology on Gen Z counseling students, examining how digital fluency, hyper-visibility, and social comparison shape counselor identity development and emotional risk-taking. Grounded in developmental, social learning, and multicultural frameworks, the presentation addresses challenges related to vulnerability, presence, and authentic connection—particularly for students trained during COVID and within polarized sociopolitical contexts. Emphasis is placed on the intentional integration of technology, including AI tools and wearable devices, to support reflection, regulation, and embodied awareness in counselor education and supervision. Participants will leave with practical strategies to foster digital discernment, emotional presence, and authentic professional identity in an AI-influenced counseling landscape.

Presenter Bios

Dr. Kirsten LaMantia and Dr. Holly Wagner are counselor educators with complementary expertise. Dr. LaMantia directs a counseling clinic and teaches counseling skills. Dr. Wagner teaches theories of counseling, school counseling, and play therapy. Both have published and presented on multicultural competence, feminist pedagogy, and counselor development. They focus on reflective practice and the ethical use of technology to support student growth, presence, and authentic connection while helping trainees navigate performance pressures and build professional identity. 

Presenters: Ye (Agnes) Luo, PhD, LPC, NCC and Johnathan Wiley, PhD, LPC, NCC
Affiliation: Tennessee Tech University

Session Summary

This session examines the evolving relationship between humanistic counseling values and the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in counselor education. Grounded in foundational humanistic philosophy and contemporary research, the presentation explores how empathy, presence, meaning-making, and relational depth intersect with emerging AI-supported training tools such as simulations, skills feedback, and supervision supports. Emphasis is placed on navigating the ethical and pedagogical tensions between efficiency and presence, innovation and autonomy, and technology and human dignity. Participants will gain practical strategies for integrating AI as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, humanistic pedagogy, preserving the profession’s core commitments to relational, holistic, and ethical counselor development.

Presenter Bios

Dr. Ye (Agnes) Luo and Dr. Jonathan Wiley are two tenure-track counselor educators with doctoral training from CACREP-accredited programs and professional experience in school and/or community mental health counseling. Their work is grounded in humanistic and relational approaches to counselor development, with a strong emphasis on reflective practice, cultural responsiveness, and therapeutic relationships. Both presenters incorporate technology thoughtfully into their teaching, supervision, and research, with scholarly contributions in areas related to counselor education, training innovation, and the intersection of counseling and emerging technologies. The team brings extensive experience in conference presentations, manuscript publications, and professional service across various counseling organizations. 

Presenter: Erin Malcom, MS, LPC-A, NCC (PhD Student) 
Affiliation: University of North Texas

Session Summary

This session presents a structured, technology-enhanced model for preparing counseling trainees to work effectively with military-connected families. Drawing from the Center for Deployment Psychology’s Military Culture framework, the presentation emphasizes cultural knowledge, skill rehearsal, and reflective integration to strengthen provider readiness. Participants will explore how military family norms, mobility, deployment stress, and systemic barriers shape clinical practice and how technology- through micro-modules, simulations, and video-feedback- can standardize instruction and support relational, culturally grounded teaching. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for integrating population-specific, technology-supported training into counselor education programs.

Presenter Bio

Erin Malcom is a third-year PhD student in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of North Texas. Her research interests include counselor education and program quality/accreditation, military-connected populations and systemic access to care, and trauma recovery and posttraumatic growth. Erin’s work integrates clinical practice, research engagement, and a commitment to improving culturally responsive training in counselor education. 

Presenter: Yoon Suh Moh, PhD, LPC, CRC, NCC, BC-TMH, BCN 
Affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University

Session Summary

This interactive session synthesizes current literature on trauma education in U.S.-based graduate counseling and related programs, highlighting findings from a scoping review and practical insights from the presenters’ teaching experiences. Emphasis is placed on integrating trauma content systematically and employing trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches that support student learning while minimizing risks of retraumatization. Participants will explore evidence-based strategies and curriculum recommendations for preparing counseling students to understand and respond effectively to trauma, aligning with CACREP standards and promoting safe, effective, and inclusive clinical education practices.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Yoon Suh Moh is an associate professor and the assistant director of the community and trauma counseling program at Thomas Jefferson University. She is a licensed professional counselor, certified rehabilitation counselor, nationally certified counselor, board certified telemental health provider, and Biofeedback Certification for International Alliance’s board-certified counselor in EEG neurofeedback with professional proficiency in English, Japanese, and Korean. 

Presenter: Erica Lacey, PhD, LCSW, LMFT
Affilitation: Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY 

Session Summary

This session challenges traditional, individual-focused self-care narratives by examining Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) as a predictable occupational risk for mental health professionals. Drawing on original research with a cross-disciplinary sample of clinicians, the presentation explores the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and STS, highlighting increased vulnerability among early-career and provisionally licensed professionals. Participants will gain a trauma-informed, systems-oriented understanding of clinician wellbeing and leave with practical strategies, including supervisory and organizational approaches, that support sustainable, ethical care beyond self-care checklists.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Erica Lacey is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Le Moyne College, where she teaches and supervises graduate students. Her clinical work focuses on sexual violence, with experience in child advocacy, foster care, and corrections. She is recognized as an expert in psychosexual risk. Her most recent publication in Journal of Human Services focused on ACEs and secondary trauma. Dr. Lacey also uses her lived experience with narcolepsy to raise awareness about chronic illness. She lives in New York with her husband and their furson, Fletcher Cox.

Presenters: Laura Rea, LMFT, Rachel Jacoby, PhD, LPCC-S, NCC, ACS and Sandi Logan-McKibben, PhD, NCC, NCSC, ACS, BC-TMH, PPS-SC, LPC
Affiliation: Palo Alto University

Session Summary

This session presents a four-part, experiential framework designed to enhance clinical supervisors’ competence, creativity, and ability to support supervisee growth. Grounded in developmental, social constructivist, and relational-cultural theories, the training emphasizes the integration of culturally responsive, evidence-based, and reflective practices. Participants will explore practical strategies for balancing mentorship with gatekeeping, delivering effective feedback, and fostering relational and professional development across diverse supervision contexts. The session provides tools, case-based applications, and innovative approaches to strengthen supervisory practice, promote counselor identity development, and enhance skill acquisition in alignment with best practices in counselor education and supervision.

Presenter Bios

Laura Rea, Dr. Rachel Jacoby and Dr. Sandi Logan-McKibben are two counselor education faculty members and one doctoral student specializing in clinical supervision. Collectively, they bring over 33 years of supervision experience across academic, clinical, and community settings. Their combined scholarship includes numerous publications and presentations on supervision models, counselor development, and curriculum design in counselor education. Together, they offer a balanced perspective that integrates research, teaching, and practical application to support the growth of supervisors and supervisees alike. 

Presenter: Xihe Tian, MS, NCC 
Affiliation: Syracuse University

Session Summary

This session explores the use of GPT-4 as a simulated counseling client to enhance role-play and experiential learning in counselor training. Drawing on experiential and multicultural frameworks, the presentation examines how AI-generated client narratives can expand opportunities for skill development across diverse clinical scenarios, including grief, trauma, acculturation stress, substance use, and relationship challenges. Participants will explore GPT-4’s abilities to engage in rapport-building, respond to different theoretical interventions, and reflect realistic cultural and identity experiences, as well as its limitations compared to traditional role-play. The session offers practical guidance for integrating AI-supported simulations into counselor education while maintaining ethical, supervised, and effective training practices.

Presenter Bio

Xihe Tian is a PhD candidate in Counseling and Counselor Education at Syracuse University's School of Education and a School of Education Fellow.  Xihe’s research focused on AI integration in counselor education and quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.