Claritycon2026: Full Schedule

10:10am CDT

The Restorative Role of Music and Culture After a Mass School Shooting - 1 CE hour

Monday July 13, 2026 10:10am - 11:05am CDT

Objectives:

Understand the Role of Music Therapy in Trauma Recovery
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how music therapy can be effectively utilized in healing trauma and grief, especially in the aftermath of mass tragedies such as school shootings.
Explore the Importance of Cultural Competence in Music Therapy
Attendees will learn how cultural sensitivity and competence are crucial in providing compassionate, effective music therapy, particularly when working with diverse communities affected by tragedy.
Recognize the Emotional, Communal, and Resiliency-Building Benefits of Music
Participants will discover how music serves as both a verbal and non-verbal language for grief, facilitating emotional expression, community connection, and resilience during the healing process after trauma.

Statement of need:
There is a need for clinicians to deepen their understanding of how music therapy and culturally responsive care can foster healing and resilience for communities navigating grief and loss after mass violence.

Abstract
This presentation will explore the critical role of music therapy in supporting individuals and families in the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, highlighting its unique capacity to facilitate healing in the face of profound trauma and grief. The immediate aftermath of such a tragedy presents numerous challenges, including caregiver burnout and the urgent need for culturally sensitive approaches to support those affected. When practiced with compassion, patience, and intentionality, music therapy offers a non-verbal, expressive outlet, enabling individuals and families to honor their grief and emotions in a safe, supportive space. It provides a transformative language for grief, empowering participants to express themselves during moments of overwhelming uncertainty and emotional turmoil. Music therapy’s ability to activate community, foster emotional release, and provide a consistent therapeutic presence makes it an invaluable tool in the reparative process. By cultivating emotional expression, resilience, and connection, music therapy helps individuals and families navigate grief, find solace, and begin rebuilding their lives after trauma. This session will also emphasize the importance of consistency, cultural competency, representation, and compassion in music therapy, underscoring how these elements are integral to supporting individuals and families on their journey toward restoring resilience and healing.

CBMT & NCTRC Approved

Speakers

Marisa Lisette Castro, MT-BC, NMT

MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapist, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas

Marisa Castro, MT-BC, NMT, is a board-certified music therapist and neurologic music therapist dedicated to supporting individuals navigating trauma, grief, and loss. She specializes in trauma-informed, person-centered care that fosters emotional expression, resilience, and healing... Read More →

Monday July 13, 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

Monday July 13, 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 →

Monday July 13, 2026 12:50pm - 2:10pm CDT
301 A

Breakout session

2:40pm CDT

Navigating Psychoeducational Evaluations: Advancing Achievement Among Diverse Learners - 2 CE hours

Monday July 13, 2026 2:40pm - 4:30pm CDT

301 A

CBMT Approved

Objectives:

Understand the purpose of psychoeducational evaluations in educational settings & identify disabilities as defined by The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
List sections of psychoeducational evaluation reports & summarize and identify assessments used in each section
Understand how psychoeducational reports are used to inform student’s learning

Statement of Need:
To effectively support students with learning disabilities, professionals must be able to translate psychoeducational evaluations into practical and implementable plans. Understanding the nuances of these reports allows stakeholders to leverage data-driven strategies, ensuring that every educational plan is optimized for student success and achievement.

Abstract:
Psychoeducational evaluations are a foundational component of supporting students with diverse learning, cognitive, and emotional-behavioral needs in educational settings. This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the psychoeducational evaluation process, including its purpose, structure, and the critical role it plays in educational decision-making. Attendees will learn the purpose of psychoeducational evaluations and understand IDEA disability criteria. Key report sections are explored in depth and inform commonly used assessment tools. By navigating each step of the psychoeducational evaluation process, mental health professionals will gain practical strategies for integrating assessment findings into holistic student support and educational planning, ultimately enhancing outcomes for diverse learners.

Speakers

Almendra Reyes, MS

School Psychologist, The Winston School of SA

Almendra Reyes is a dedicated and experienced Licensed Specialist in School Psychology with a strong commitment to fostering student academic success through collaborative efforts. She holds a Master of Science in School Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Almendra has served as an LSSP across several districts in San Antonio, including Edgewood ISD, Southwest ISD, and San Antonio ISD. In these roles, she provided vital support to multiple schools by conducting comprehensive evaluations, participating in ARD meetings, and working closely... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 2:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
301 A

Breakout session

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

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