Our office is now open for in-person activities & services!

Madalyn Caldwell, EdS, LPC

February 10, 2023 | 12:00 PM CST  

Overview: This will be an interactive presentation in which participants will identify risk factors and explore appropriate techniques to alleviate the symptoms.  Emphasis will be placed on identifying and applying appropriate resources  including those not commonly identified with perinatal issues.  

Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation the participant should be able to:

1. Examine potential and real risk factors leading to mental health issues in pregnancy and postpartum.
2. Differentiate between various techniques appropriate to alleviate the symptoms of mental health issues in pregnancy and postpartum.
3. Identify appropriate resources as needed for mental health issues in pregnancy and postpartum.    

Erica Ramey, DNP, PMHNP-BC 

March 10, 2023 | 12:00 PM CST   

Overview:  This presentation is specifically aimed at mental health professionals who are non-prescribers.  The goal is to empower attendees to identify unsafe medication plans and advocate for their clients.  We will discuss common mental health medication classes and their intended use, side effects, and potential benefits.  We will identify strategies for  spotting “red flags” in medication plans.  Attendees will also be provided with resources for preparing for medical appointments and supplemental materials.

Objectives: At the  conclusion of the presentation the participant should bae able to:

1. Identify medication classes commonly used in mental health.
2. Discuss “red flags” in medication plans.
3. Locate free resources for medication advocacy. 

Sarah McCrory, MS, LPC

April 14, 2023 | 12:00 PM CDT

Overview: Self-Worth is the foundation of who we are as human beings and in today’s world is highly sought after. It plays a role in every decision that we make and in every relationship that we have. The presentation will be an overview of a longer program, Making Sense of Your Worth, developed by Cindy R. Lee, LCSW in partnership with HALO Project International titled. It is designed for anybody who desires the freedom that comes with living in positive self-worth and secure attachment. Sarah will give a summary of the program with some useful tips to help you and your clients learn about how self-worth is connected to attachment and how by working toward secure attachment, we can increase positive self-worth. 

Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to:

1. Define own self-worth.
2. Identify own needs.
3. Recognize the lies we believe about ourselves and learn to process the why behind the lies.

Donna Leslie, MS, LPC 

May 12, 2023 | 12:00 PM CDT

Overview: This presentation will inform you about how Carastar Health has developed a collaboration with Montgomery Police Department (MPD)’s Crisis Intervention Team to help individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation the participant should be able to:

1. Compare similar co-response models throughout the state and the country.
2. Explore how this model works ties in with the crisis care continuum.
3. State how to access these services as well as how to help prevent or reduce crisis situations from occurring. 
4. Discuss some of the challenges and next steps as we continue to grow these services. 

Bretia Gordon, EdD, MPA 

June 9, 2023 | 12:00 PM CDT

Overview: This course will provide an overview and define key concepts of health literacy. It will review social determinants of health and their impact on health outcomes. Effective health communication strategies will also be discussed. 

Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation the participant should be able to:

1. Define the key concepts of health literacy.
2. Discuss the influence of health literacy on underserved populations.
3. Discuss mental health literacy.  

Rev. Dr. Stephen McWhorter 

July 14, 2023 | 12:00 PM CDT

Overview: This presentation is about helping individuals and their significant others explore options in life when on the edge of spiritual distress. It will contain some pragmatic concepts as well as providing the participant an opportunity to explore own strengths, beliefs, and uncomfortable aspects of own life when dealing with persons with spiritual distress.   

Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation the participants should be able to:

1. Have a toolbox of potential ideas to deal with individuals who have anger toward God or question meaning of own existence or are unable to participate in their usual religious practice.
2. Explore supportive ways to help individuals through the grief process in a helpful manner toward resolution.
3. Examine methods of support when the prognosis is unfavorable.

Madalyn Caldwell, EdS, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  She attained a BA in Psychology from Auburn University and a MS in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University, and a EdS in Community Counseling from Troy University.   She currently is pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Walden University.  She is trained in the use of EMDR and a certified Perinatal Mental Health Counselor.  Her specialties include trauma recovery and perinatal mental health issues.   

Erica Ramey, DNP, PMHNP-BC received her doctorate degree in nursing practice from Vanderbilt University.  She is an associate professor of nursing at the University Alabama Birmingham where she is  the co-coordinator of the psy/mh nurse practitioner tract.  In addition, she is a current member of the Alabama Psychiatric Medication Review Team who has a focus to decrease the overuse of psychotropic medicines in the foster care population through implementation of behavioral interventions.  She maintains current Nurse practitioner practice at the East Alabama Medical Center.  She has also had multiple publication in peer reviewed journals.   

Sarah McCrory is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has experience in counseling individuals dealing with numerous issues such as depression, anxiety, and many of the other things in life that can feel so overwhelming and make us feel alone. She also has experience dealing with trauma, attachment, adoption, and parenting issues. She has had success with utilizing different counseling modalities but she finds that over time, her counseling style has become more Person-Centered because each individual has their own needs and personality and responds differently to different types of therapy. Sarah is a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner, trained in Theraplay and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Sarah earned her B.S degree from the University of Mobile in 2001 and M.S. Degree from Troy University in 2006. 

Donna Leslie is the Executive Director of Carastar Health, the 310 Board Community Mental Health center serving Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes and Autauga Counties. She is a graduate of AUM and is the Supervising Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She lived in Boston following graduation for 10 years while working with seriously mentally ill individuals in the private sector. In 2010, Donna moved back to Alabama. With 22 years of experience in the field, Donna enjoys working with community partners and organizations to help coordinate, improve and educate on behavioral health care in the River Region. 

April Watkins, a transplant from Chicago, has been living in Alabama with her daughter Sydney since 2007. Throughout her career she has worked within the mental health field with different populations to include adolescents, young adults, and the elderly. April has a Masters in Community Counseling as well as a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She has been licensed since 2013. April joined the team at Carastar in 2022 as the Director of the Crisis Center after prior working with the Alabama department of Mental Health for 5 years. 

Bretia Gordon is a Health Literacy Specialist with Trenholm State Community College. She works on the Central Alabama Neighborhood Health Initiative grant through the City of Montgomery and is responsible for spearheading health literacy professional development activities and community health initiatives. Bretia has worked in Public Health and Human Services in different capacities for the past 16 years. Previously, she worked for Medical Advocacy and Outreach (MAO), an agency focused on HIV prevention and treatment. During her 7 years at MAO, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator, Manager of Systems Outreach and most recently, Education & Training Officer. Bretia has degrees from Tuskegee University, Troy University and Nova Southeastern University. 

Stephen McWhorter is an Episcopal Priest who has served for over 53 years. He was educated at West Virginia University, The Episcopal Theological School, and Harvard University. He completed his doctorate in clinical psychology from The University of Southampton in 1984. He served as a college chaplain, parish priest, and now as a supply priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. Stephen is on the adjunct faculty of the University of Alabama Medical School in Birmingham where he teaches Medical Ethics to third year medical students. He is active in Hospice care and end of life care.