A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

Presenter: 

Lydia Anne M. Bartholow, DNP, PMHNP, CARN-AP, FIAAN.

Description: 

Young adults presenting with suicidal ideation (SI) and co-occurring substance use often do so in the context of complex developmental and environmental stressors. These challenges are often compounded by histories of adversity that may not be immediately visible but have measurable impacts on emotional regulation, risk perception, and engagement with care. High Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scores can serve as a neurobiological vulnerability, increasing the likelihood of both suicidality and substance use.

This workshop offers a practical, clinically focused approach for working with young adults experiencing suicidal ideation and substance use, grounded in the principles of trauma-informed care (TIC). Participants will learn how to integrate a trauma-informed lens into all aspects of care—from assessment to safety planning—and how to adapt interventions for young people who use substances. This includes the use of non-traditional safety planning methods that prioritize harm reduction and suicide prevention.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and explain the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), suicidal ideation, and substance use in young adults, including their impact on emotional regulation and care engagement

2. Apply trauma-informed care (TIC) principles to clinical interactions with young adults presenting with co-occurring suicidal ideation and substance use, from initial assessment through to intervention and safety planning.

3. Demonstrate the ability to adapt traditional safety planning approaches by incorporating harm reduction strategies that address both suicidality and substance use in a developmentally appropriate and non-stigmatizing manner.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

The June 2025 OCUSP meeting is cancelled due to falling on the Juneteenth holiday. See you in July!

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

Grief is often misunderstood, especially in young adulthood—a time of transition, identity formation, and increasing responsibility. In this 90-minute presentation, Hilary Kinavey, LPC, will explore what grief is, how it shows up beyond death and loss, and why it is a deeply personal and collective experience. With developmentally relevant insights, she will discuss the unique ways grief manifests for college-aged students, including grief related to identity shifts, academic and life pressures, family changes, and the impact of suicidal loss.

This session will offer a compassionate framework for understanding grief, dispelling common myths, and providing practical strategies for navigating it with care. Whether students are experiencing personal loss, supporting a grieving friend, or simply seeking to better understand this universal human experience, this conversation will provide validation, language, and tools for honoring grief in themselves and others.

Presenter Bio: Hilary Kinavey, LPC, is a therapist, educator, and facilitator whose work centers on body liberation, grief, and sustainable practice. She is the co-founder of the Center for Body Trust, co-author of Reclaiming Body Trust: A Path to Healing & Liberation, and the creator of Tending: Accompaniment at the Gates of Grief, a community-centered grief offering. With over two decades of experience, Hilary holds space for the personal, cultural, and professional losses that shape our lives. Her approach acknowledges grief as a natural, nonlinear process—one that deserves time, care, and community.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

*This meeting is one week later than usual to accommodate better for the 4th of July weekend.

A virtual OCUSP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSPP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSPP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

Lisa Morgan, MEd, CAS is an author, advocate, and consultant in crisis support and suicide prevention for autistic people. She founded and co-chairs the Autism and Suicide Workgroup, which has developed three autism specific resources. Lisa is a certified autism specialist, Life Coach, and owner of Lisa Morgan Consulting, LLC. She is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss unique risk factors and warning signs of suicide for autistic people

• Explain cultural competence and unintentional harm

• Determine practical applications for supporting autistic people

A virtual OCUSPP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSPP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSPP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.

A virtual OCUSPP meeting. Members and guests are invited to attend.