Counseling & Student Affairs Workshops

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CST via Zoom

Bridging Borders: Advancing the Counseling Compact in Kentucky is an interactive professional development session designed to empower attendees with critical knowledge about the Counseling Compact. Participants will explore the structure, purpose, and current status of the Compact, with special emphasis on how it facilitates interstate licensure and counselor workforce mobility. Through focused discussion, attendees will identify major steps and stakeholders involved in adopting and implementing the Compact in Kentucky. The workshop highlights how the Compact supports ethical, professional, and client-centered practice, improving access to care, minimizing administrative barriers, and promoting continuity of mental health services across state lines.

Dr. Hannah M. Coyt, LPCC-S, NCC, CCMHC

Dr. Hannah Coyt has been a licensed professional counselor in Kentucky since 2000 and brings 25 years of experience across diverse populations, including SMI adults, children, adolescents, geriatric clients, veterans, first responders, families, couples, and substance use. Since 2001, she has been a board-approved supervisor, mentoring over 50 counselors-in-training.
She served on the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors beginning in 2020 and as Board Chair from 2022–2024. In this capacity, she led regulatory initiatives, oversaw compliance processes, and represented Kentucky at national forums. Dr. Coyt also serves as Kentucky’s alternate delegate to the Counseling Compact and is an active member of the Compact’s Compliance Committee. Nationally, Dr. Coyt is the current President of the Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB), where she has worked to strengthen collaboration among licensing boards, improve regulatory alignment, and support ethical, consistent standards across jurisdictions. She has participated extensively in committee work and conferences for AASCB, CRBS, and other regulatory bodies.

Dr. Coyt presents regularly at state, regional, and national conferences and has published on topics including Appalachian culture, counselor education in crises, trauma, grief, addictions, and law enforcement wellness. Her clinical practice continues part-time with a focus on trauma, grief, and first responders, and she is certified in EMDR. Through her combined roles as an educator, regulator, and clinician, Dr. Coyt is committed to advancing ethical practice, protecting the public, and strengthening the profession through innovative regulatory leadership.

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST via Zoom

"Working with High-Conflict, High-Risk Individuals and Families” is a 60-minute continuing education workshop designed for mental health professionals seeking to enhance their clinical skills when working with clients involved in court-ordered or system-referred 
services. These clients often present with complex challenges, including trauma histories, behavioral volatility, and systemic resistance to change. The workshop provides a trauma informed, 
ethically grounded framework for managing difficult therapeutic relationships and navigating the high-stakes nature of court-involved clinical work. Participants will learn evidence-based strategies for maintaining clinical boundaries, fostering collaboration across systems, and applying somatic and cognitive interventions that promote co-regulation, emotional safety, and long-term behavior change. Practical tools and examples will be provided to support professionals in sustaining effectiveness and emotional well-being in demanding clinical environments.

Stefany Vaughn Mack, LPCC-S, NCC

Stefany Vaughn Mack received her master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. She has several years of experience in the mental health field working in residential and outpatient settings since 2007. Stefany is available to treat a multitude of mental health disorders including trauma, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, as well as other addictions, and has a multitude of experience in working with court-mandated clients. She has received specialized training in EMDR therapy and specializes in providing Clinical Supervision. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a certified Yoga Teacher, registered with the Yoga Alliance.

Stefany prides herself on meeting her clients where they are in their journey of improving their mental health and overall wellness. Her passion revolves around being available and competent to improve the lives of her clients, while making a meaningful and lasting impact on the community in which she serves. She utilizes a variety of methods and trauma-informed practices to connect clients with the best version of themselves.

12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CST at Gary Ransdell Hall, Room 2064

Presentation will educate clinicians on an introductory level of the integrative approach to mental health.

Cathy Gamm

Cathy has been a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor for 15 years. She received her designation as Supervisor in 2014. In addition to receiving her Masters in Mental Health Counseling & Marriage & Family Therapy, Cathy has gone on to receive a Certification as a Brain Health Coach from the Amen Clinics and certification as a Certified Integrative Mental Health Provider. Cathy has experience working with teens, college-age, and adults dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, relationship issues, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She works from an integrative mental health perspective for all clients to address the Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual aspect of whole mind-body wellness.

Whether you are a professional working to protect children or you are a parent, the following presentation will provide insight into how to talk to children about sexual abuse. According to pcaky.org, one in four girls will experience child sexual abuse at some point in their childhood, and 90% of victims know their abuser. 
Child sexual abuse is scary, but talking about it with children doesn’t have to be. Through informed and uplifting exercises, case examples and lectures, this seminar will show you how to establish a safe space for children to learn about sexual abuse. 
The ability to effectively speak to children about sexual abuse plays a crucial role in prevention, assessing safety, and supporting the healing of a child. Learn how to prepare yourself to talk with children about child sexual abuse in a developmentally appropriate and healthy way.

Ericka Church, LCSW

Ericka Church is the Project ACCESS Coordinator at Green River Regional Educational Cooperative. She has been a part-time instructor at Western Kentucky University (WKU) for the Masters of Social Work program since 2017. Additionally, she serves on the Western Kentucky University Social Work Alumni Leadership Group. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work at WKU in 2004, a Masters of Social Work Degree at WKU in 2013.
Ericka Church is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) Certification. She is well-versed in trauma and incorporates an integrative approach to social work education, clinical supervision, and private practice in which she serves individuals and families.