Students Facilitate Workshop at State Conference

Photo: Among the U of O students, faculty and staff members who took part in the Arkansas Counseling Association's state meeting in November were (from left) Gabriel Mendoza Monzon, Jacquelinne Retana Teshe, Dr. Kaethe Hoehling, Dr. Daniel Warwick, and Cristhel Junieth Mejia Rosales.

Three University of the Ozarks students were a part of a contigent from the University who participated in the Arkansas Counseling Association's (ARCA) 80th annual state conference, held in Little Rock in November.

Dr. Kaethe Hoehling, director of counseling services at Ozarks and a past member of the ARCA governing council, proposed a workshop presentation that was approved for inclusion in the three-day agenda. U of O students Jacquelinne Retana Teshe from El Salvador, Gabriel Mendoza Monzon from Guatemala, and Cristhel Mejia Rosales from Nicaragua, co-facilitated the workshop. Dr. Daniel Warwick, assistant professor of psychology, also assisted in the conference.

The workshop, entitled 'Herramientas' (meaning: 'tools'), focused on helping mental health professionals better understand and serve marginalized persons who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and who have lived in Central America. The training contained case studies, research data, and ethical recommendations.

"These students all made outstanding contributions and commitments to prepare and present research-based information and heartfelt stories to the large group of professionals in attendance," Hoehling said. "These were more than facts and stories to these students. With lived experiences and associations with individuals within the population being discussed, these scholars from Central America brought important, compassionate, and timely information forward with clarity and passion. These students were also the only undergraduate students in the state co-presenting at this year's conference."

Topics: Psychology