Claritycon2026: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

10:10am CDT

Grief Without a Death: Helping Children Mourn the Loss of Family While Family Still Exists - 1 CE hour

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:10am - 11:05am CDT

301 A

Objectives:

Identify and clinically distinguish ambiguous loss in child welfare placement from traditional grief frameworks, recognizing how the physical presence but functional absence of caregivers creates a unique and often unrecognized grief experience in children and adolescents.
Identify at least three behavioral or emotional indicators of placement-related grief in children and adolescents.
Implement at least two trauma-informed interventions that support grief expression in short-term shelter or crisis-care environments.

Abstract:
When a child is removed from their home and placed into emergency shelter care, they experience profound loss — of family/support systems, routine, pets, community, and identity — yet receive little cultural or institutional permission to grieve. Unlike bereavement following death, this form of loss exists in a relational limbo: caregivers are alive but inaccessible, home exists but is no longer available, and family continues but in a fractured and uncertain form. Pauline Boss's foundational construct of ambiguous loss provides a critical lens through which placement grief can be understood, named, and therapeutically addressed. This presentation draws from grief theory, attachment theory, and trauma-informed practice to equip emergency shelter counselors and child welfare clinicians with a conceptual framework and practical intervention strategies for helping children and adolescents mourn losses that the systems around them often minimize or fail to recognize altogether. Attendees will leave with both a clinical vocabulary and an actionable practice toolkit for honoring grief that has no funeral.

NCTRC Approved

Speakers

Mary T. Martinez-Gonzalez, M.Ed., MA, LPC

St. PJ’s Children’s Home

Mary Martinez-Gonzalez is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor with extensive experience providing services across the lifespan, from early childhood through older adulthood. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:10am - 11:05am CDT
301 A

Breakout session

12:50pm CDT

Exploring Verbal Processing and Assessments within the Lens of Music Therapy - 1.5 CE hours

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:50pm - 2:10pm CDT

301 A

Objectives:

Explore current musical and nonmusical communication tools within music therapy sessions using hands on methods.
Introduce current Music Therapy Assessment tools within mental health.
Discuss and evaluate clinical communication techniques as a tool for redirection and increased engagement within music therapy sessions.

Statement of Need:
Music therapy is an evidence-based practice rooted in theory, assessment, and research. As the practice continues to evolve and continues to integrate psychotherapy approaches, it is important to explore and evaluate current assessment tools while building confidence in the unique approach to verbal processing within music therapy.

Abstract:
Creative arts therapy, therapeutic recreational therapy, expressive art therapy, rehabilitation services. Music therapy frequently falls under various categories of therapeutic services and programs. With our unique educational background and flexible medium, it’s easy to see why our services can bring value to many programs. Through a case-based, research driven approach, we will review the unique educational experiences of a music therapist, assessments and processing within a music therapist framework, and the importance of implementing verbal skills to stay within our scope of practice

CBMT & NCTRC Approved

Speakers

Jasmyne Marshall, MM, MS, MT-BC, LPC-A

Clarity Child Guidance Center

Jasmyne Marshall is an experienced music therapist from the colorful city of San Antonio, Texas. Driven by advocacy, she takes pride in providing quality music therapy and counseling services to populations with limited voices. She holds a dual Masters in Music therapy and Counseling... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:50pm - 2:10pm CDT
301 A

Breakout session

2:40pm CDT

Using Music to Support DBT Skills: Practical, Experiential Strategies for Mental Health Clinicians - 2 CE hours

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:40pm - 4:30pm CDT

301 A

Objectives:

Explain how core DBT skills (mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness) can be supported through structured musical experiences aligned with behavioral treatment goals.
Apply music-based activities within their professional scope of practice to help clients practice and reinforce DBT skills in individual or group settings.
Assess client engagement and regulation during music-based DBT skill practice and modify interventions to maintain safety, therapeutic intent, and clinical appropriateness.

Statement of Need:
Mental health clinicians and music therapists need effective DBT skills because they frequently serve clients with intense emotional dysregulation, high-risk behaviors, and limited coping strategies, and must offer concrete, repeatable tools that support regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal functioning in real time.

Abstract:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a widely used, evidence-based approach for supporting individuals with emotional dysregulation, high distress, and interpersonal challenges. Many mental health clinicians seek experiential strategies to reinforce DBT skills beyond verbal processing, particularly for clients who struggle with traditional talk-based interventions. This session introduces DBT-informed uses of music as a structured, accessible modality for skill practice. Participants will explore how music can support mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness through practical, clinician-friendly activities. Clinical examples and guided experiences will emphasize ethical integration, scope of practice, and adaptability across mental health settings.

CBMT & NCTRC Approved

Speakers

Janice Lindstrom, PhD, MT-BC

Chair and Senior Lecturer II, Southern Methodist University

Dr. Janice Lindstrom, MT-BC, is Director of the Music Therapy Program and Senior Lecturer II at Southern Methodist University. She is a board-certified music therapist with clinical and teaching experience in mental health, medical, and community-based settings. Her professional work... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
301 A

Breakout session

Claritycon2026

From $255.74

Tickets

Success you have shared X tickets.

Claritycon2026

10:10am CDT

Mary T. Martinez-Gonzalez, M.Ed., MA, LPC

12:50pm CDT

Jasmyne Marshall, MM, MS, MT-BC, LPC-A

2:40pm CDT

Janice Lindstrom, PhD, MT-BC

Get help with the event