2022 Pre-Conference Sessions

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Full Day Session Session 1-  Hindsight is 20/20: Ethics: Bridging the Gap between School Counselors and Private Practitioners (Ethics) This course has been approved by LPCAGA for 6 hours of credit (2022-08-17-131S)

Tracey E. Pace

The role of the School Counselor has changed radically since the first “guidance counselor” opened their door to students. The amount of regulation and societal changes the present-day school counselor faces are innumerable. This course will:

1.     Familiarize school counselors with ethical codes such as the Georgia Department of Education, American School Counselor’s Association, American Counselor’s Association American Mental Health Counselor’s Association.

2.     Look at how FERPA, Title IX and case law is relevant to the school counselor. Particular attention will be paid to the 2016 changes to the ASCA’s code of ethics.

3.     Learn at how to recognize and resolve potential ethical concerns using a decision-making model that incorporates their professional codes of ethics, current state and federal laws and peer review to arrive at ethically informed decisions.

4.     Practical suggestions for application of HIPAA, HITECH and record requests in an ethically responsible manner will be discussed throughout the presentation.

Mrs. Pace, ThD, MSA, MEd, LPC, NCC, CFMHE, CFI, CCCE, is the founding director and clinical supervisor at Heritage Counseling, Inc. located in Effingham County, Georgia.   She holds a Th.D. in Biblical Theology, a M.Ed. in Counselor Education – School Counseling and a MSA in Administration. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator, a Certified Forensic Interviewer, Certified Child Custody Evaluator and a Child Adolescent Developmental Specialist (Behavioral). Her extensive post graduate training in Testing and Assessment has earned her the highest testing qualification level (C) with PAR Psychological. Prior to her entry in private practice, Ms. Pace was a Certified School Counselor working with middle school students. She has presented and consulted in the areas of professional ethics for clinicians and school counselors, values awareness, and HIPAA/HITECH compliance. 

Mrs. Pace has been in private practice since 1999 and has worked with many different populations.  She is the mother of five children and the grandmother of fourteen. Two of her children were adopted from Smolensk, Russia. As a former school counselor, she has the ability to work with parents, teachers, and school administrators to meet the needs of school age children. Additionally, as a former Air National Guard Officer, she understands the unique needs of today’s armed forces and works with veterans, active duty and their families. Mrs. Pace provides marriage and family counseling as well as individual counseling.

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Full Day Session 2 -  Resilience:  More than a Buzz Word - A Way of Being and Doing (Resiliency)
Dr. Karen Griffith

It is essential to understand what resiliency is in order to determine how to develop it in our students. This session focuses on defining resilience and what school counselors can do to create a culture of resilience in the school. We will review how various scholars define and assess resilience and then move toward how to promote it. Specifically, we will address how to create a culture of resilience via schoolwide programming, how it connects to SEL and student motivation, and specific techniques for generating growth in students. Content and techniques for generating resilience and its skills and traits to students via classroom instruction, small group experiences, individual sessions, as well as identify literature that enables discussions and skill practice. Finally, we will look at how school counselors can maintain their own resilience and, perhaps, deliver to their faculty and staff. This is a comprehensive look at resilience and how it can be fostered in the school setting.

Karen Griffith, Ph.D., LPC, is a Professional School Counselor, retired, with 35 years in public education plus eight years as Assistant Professor (also retired) in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services at the University of Georgia. As a school counselor, she has been recognized for excellence at the local, state, and national levels.  She has authored multiple articles and books.  

As a Certified ASCA Trainer, Dr. Griffith delivers a variety of workshops on the ASCA National Model, enhancing knowledge of the foundational skills and strategies and providing guided practice for applying specific components. Specific descriptions for workshops are available on the ASCA website. She also serves as a RAMP Team Captain, and ASCA Coach.

Dr. Griffith’s primary area of research centers on building resiliency in children and adolescents. From that perspective, she works to build skills in communication and relational skills of adults involved with children and adolescents during difficult circumstances.  Her trainings include strategies for eliciting individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and stories and identifies content on which to focus.

Dr. Griffith lives in Atlanta, GA near her children and grandchildren. She continues to work as a trainer for the American School Counseling Association, delivering workshops across the nation.

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Half Day Session 3  - Social Emotional and Ethical (SEE) Learning: A comprehensive curriculum and framework for Systemic Social Emotional Learning

Ben Knaebel

In this session participants will learn about the SEE Learning program and how it functions as a comprehensive social emotional learning curriculum as well as a framework to build enduring ethical capabilities. Along with information about the SEE Learning program, participants will learn how SEE learning can help them implement the ASCA mindset and behaviors standards. 

Benjamin Knaebel is currently the Coordinator of School Psychology and Section 504 for the City Schools of Decatur. Through this role he helps to coordinate the social emotional learning curriculum along with assessment and evaluation for special education services. Mr. Knaebel's training includes contemplative practices such as mindfulness and yoga. He is also trained in trauma informed practices from the Trauma Resource Institute, Restorative Practices from the International Institute of Restorative Practices and Courageous Conversations. Mr. Knaebel works in partnership with Emory University's Center for Contemplative Sciences and Compassion Based Ethics to collect research and further the implementation of the Social Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE) program. He is a certified SEE Learning Facilitator. In his free time, he is a father of a 6 year old and loves to travel and be outside.