Upcoming Trainings
Child Sexual Abuse: What Every Family Law Attorney Needs to Know
Tuesday, Sep 15, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Presented by: Amie Myrick, LCPC & Alex McGee, Esq.
This training is designed for family law attorneys who may encounter concerns of child sexual abuse (CSA) in custody, divorce, or visitation cases. CSA issues are often hidden within family law matters, and attorneys have a unique opportunity to support prevention, promote child safety, and ensure trauma-informed legal practices. The session will address how CSA concerns arise, the role of Child Protective Services and Child Advocacy Centers (CACs), how to handle disclosures, and how to use safe legal strategies and parenting plans to protect children. Participants will gain practical tools for screening, responding to allegations, collaborating with professionals, and applying ethical considerations in complex family law cases.
Cost: Free for non-CEU attendees, $30 for CEU attendees.
For training participants licensed in Maryland, this activity is approved for 3.0 continuing education hours for licensed Maryland Social Workers, Professional Counselors and Psychologists.
For training participants licensed as a social worker outside of Maryland, Harford Counseling, LLC (Provider number: 2705), is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: (1/15/26- 1/15/27). Social workers participating in this training will receive up to 3.0 credits of Category 1 Continuing Education Credits. Contact information: Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C c/o Harford Counseling, LLC jenniferreddinglcswc@gmail.com. This training has been classified as beginning level courses for the purposes of ACE.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
Connecting with Caregivers: Ethical Engagement in Child Trauma Therapy
Friday, Oct 2, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Presented by: Amie Myrick, LCPC
Caregivers play a pivotal role in a child’s recovery from trauma, yet these relationships can present complex ethical challenges for clinicians. This training focuses on engaging caregivers in ways that acknowledge and address the impact of trauma, whether experienced by the child, the caregiver, or the family.
Participants will explore how trauma histories, attachment patterns, and high-stress family dynamics influence caregiver engagement, follow-through, and communication. Topics will include navigating confidentiality and consent in cases involving abuse or high-conflict custody, balancing child safety with caregiver trust, and addressing sensitive conversations such as body safety education, discipline versus abuse, and how trauma may emerge in play or everyday interactions. Participants will gain practical strategies for maintaining ethical boundaries, fostering trust, and partnering with caregivers in ways that enhance children’s therapeutic outcomes.
This training meets the ethics requirement for license renewal with the Board of Social Work Examiners.
Cost: Free for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
A Different Kind of Trauma: Insights from Emerging Research on Child Torture
Thursday, Oct 8, 11:00am-2:00pm EST
Joy Shelton, FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit III – Crimes Against Children, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
Some cases feel different. Even experienced trauma therapists encounter children whose experiences are more difficult to understand, whose presentations challenge familiar clinical frameworks, and whose treatment raises questions that traditional training has not fully prepared us to answer.
Co-led by an FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) analyst and an experienced trauma therapist, this advanced training explores emerging research on child torture, including offender dynamics, patterns of coercion and control, and the behavioral characteristics associated with these exceptionally severe cases. Participants will examine how these findings may enhance clinical conceptualization, inform treatment planning, and strengthen collaboration between investigative and mental health professionals. Through case reflection and facilitated discussion, attendees will also discuss the challenges these cases present in clinical practice, identify barriers that deserve greater attention from behavioral science and investigative professionals, and contribute to an ongoing dialogue about improving responses to the most complex child abuse cases.
Cost: $10 for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
Operation Wellness: Collective Strategies for Trauma-Resilient Systems
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2:00-4:00pm EST
Presented by: Jenn Redding, LCSW-C
Trauma moves through systems, impacting those who serve our communities every day. Behavioral health professionals, first responders, educators, healthcare providers, and legal partners all experience operational pressures that erode resilience and hope. This interactive session introduces Operational Wellness, a strengths-based framework that shifts the focus from self-care alone to transforming the conditions of work. Through storytelling, case examples, and collaborative exercises, participants will identify drivers of occupational trauma, strengthen cross-disciplinary communication, and co-create practical micro-interventions they can implement immediately. Attendees will leave with tools that enhance psychological safety, improve collaboration, and restore sustainable hope across organizations and roles.
Cost: $10 for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
After the Call: Understanding CPS Investigations and Outcomes – Part I
Tuesday, Oct 20, 1:00-4:00pm EST
Kristen Dunn and Meghan McGowan, Frederick County Department of Social Services
Part I of this two-part training offers an in-depth look at the Child Protective Services (CPS) screening process, including what happens after a report is made and how decisions are reached. Led by experienced professionals from the Frederick County Department of Social Services, this session will explain how reports are evaluated, discuss relevant legal standards, and consider why some cases are accepted while others are not. Participants will also discuss the balance between fulfilling mandated reporting responsibilities and avoiding unnecessary reports that don’t meet the legal threshold.
Led by experienced professionals from the Frederick County Department of Social Services, participants will gain a clearer understanding of Maryland’s screening process, relevant legal standards, and the role of mandated reporters within the broader child protection system. We hope attendees leave feeling more confident in their reporting decisions and better prepared to make reports that support child safety.
Cost: $10 for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
Culture of Care: Building Workplaces that Keep Children Safe
Thursday, Oct 29, 12:00-2:00pm EST
Presented by: Amie Myrick, LCPC
Every organization has a role in protecting children, whether directly serving them, supporting families, or maintaining a workplace where child safety is prioritized. This course explores how organizational culture, policies, and everyday practices influence child well-being, equipping participants with practical strategies to create safer environments for children and families. Participants will examine opportunities to strengthen prevention efforts, improve organizational responses when concerns arise, and build long-term capacity for child protection through sustainable systems, partnerships, and continuous learning. Whether working directly with children or supporting the adults who care for them, attendees will leave with actionable ideas they can begin implementing immediately.
Cost: Free for non-CEU attendees, $20 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
After the Call: Understanding CPS Investigations and Outcomes – Part II
Monday, Nov 16, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Presented by: Kristen Dunn and Meghan McGowan, Frederick County Department of Social Services
Part II of this two-part training focuses on CPS response after a report is accepted, including investigation protocols, legal processes, and the limits of DSS authority. Participants will learn what DSS can and cannot do, how determinations are made (substantiated, unsubstantiated, indicated), and when legal action such as removal is warranted. The session will also address the difference between voluntary and court-ordered services, common frustrations reporters have with perceived inaction, and strategies for building constructive partnerships with DSS.
Cost: $10 for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
Prevention Begins at Home: Digital Safety for Caregivers
Wednesday, Dec 2, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Presented by: Amie Myrick, LCPC
Technology is woven into nearly every aspect of young people’s lives, creating new opportunities for connection, learning, and creativity while also introducing evolving risks. Many caregivers want to support children in navigating the digital world but feel uncertain about where to begin or how to have meaningful conversations. This training helps caregivers bridge the generational divide by increasing confidence in discussing online safety with children and adolescents. Participants will explore the realities of today’s digital landscape and learn practical tools, communication strategies, and resources to help caregivers foster safer, more open conversations while supporting healthy technology use.
Cost: Free for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
Ethical Pathways: Safeguarding Therapists in Sexual Abuse Survivor Care
Monday, Dec 14, 10:00am-1:00pm EST
Presented by: Kathleen Kerner, Esq., & Amie Myrick, LCPC
This training session is designed to equip therapists with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of providing care to sexual abuse survivors while avoiding malpractice. This collaborative training, led by an experienced therapist and malpractice attorney, will offer a comprehensive overview of ethical guidelines, legal considerations, and best practices to ensure the highest standards of care.
This training meets the ethics requirement for license renewal with the Board of Social Work Examiners.
Cost: Free for non-CEU attendees, $25 for CEU attendees.
Please note, training registration will close one hour prior to the training start time. You will be unable to register after this time.
Change the Conversation is a board approved sponsor and will issue all Category A Continuing Education Units through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Pro Bono Counseling is a Board approved sponsor with the Maryland Board of Social Worker Examiners and American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The program is a live continuing education workshop held virtually via Zoom.
For training participants licensed as a social worker outside of Maryland, Harford Counseling, LLC (Provider number: 2705), is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: (1/15/26- 1/15/27). Social workers participating will receive Category 1 Continuing Education Credits. Contact information: Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C c/o Harford Counseling, LLC jenniferreddinglcswc@gmail.com. These trainings have been classified as beginning level courses for the purposes of ACE.
We are committed to providing a positive and high-quality continuing education experience. Participants with a complaint or concern related to a training program may contact us in writing within 30 days of the program. Please include the name of the training and a brief description of the concern.
Complaints will be reviewed and responded to within 10 business days. We will work with the participant to identify an appropriate resolution, which may include addressing access or technical issues, providing additional information or materials, or issuing a full or partial refund when appropriate. Refunds will generally be offered when a participant is unable to access a training due to an issue that cannot reasonably be resolved.
If a participant is dissatisfied with the resolution, they may request an additional review of the concern.
Don’t see the training you’re looking for? Request one for your team or organization here.