Professional Travel Grants for Graduate Students
Posts tagged Kat McCleskey
Virginia Counseling Association Convention 2017
7 years
Hot Springs, Virginia
Going to the Virginia counseling associations annual convention at the Homestead resort was educational and quite a treat. I was able to attend a session on Friday, November 10 entitled “please don’t forget the T (in LGBTQ, that is!) : Understanding and collaboratively advocating for trans individuals.” The session on Friday evening was presented by Longwood’s own Kathleen McCluskey and Valerie Stolicker entitled “Empowering clients in the face of an uncertain political climate”. I was particularly interested in the discussion surrounding the town in which I call home, Charlottesville, Virginia, and the various perspectives represented. On Saturday morning I went to a session “Trans-affirmative counselor self-efficacy”. The presenter, Cory Gerwe, was extremely knowledgeable about the topic.
I really appreciated the audience participation in each of the sessions and building greater knowledge and understanding of important aspects of the career. I look forward to future conventions, with the chance that one day I may present a topic myself.
VCA Conference
7 years
I attended the Virginia Counselors Association conference in Hot Springs, VA at the Homestead. The conference had many exciting sessions and some so close together that it was difficult to choose which to attend. I attempted to attend in my classmate’s presentations as well as presentations I believed would help me professionally. One of the most interesting presentations that I attended was focused on the riot in Charlottesville, VA. The presentation was given masterfully by Longwood’s own Dr. Kat McCleskey and Valerie Stolicker the audience was so engaged that the presenters went over their time. Another presentation that I believe will help me professionally was a seminar on dialectical behavior therapy, which is primarily used to treat personality disorders as well as mood disorders. Though the technology failed during the presentation, there were a few experts in the audience that gave valuable information to counselors new to the therapy. Over the course of the conference, I learned so many new things about counseling and the clients that receive therapy. The networking opportunities were amazing, and I met counselors and counselor educators from all over Virginia. The conference was also fun; I got to enjoy the conference with classmates and other counselors that I met along the way.
VCA 2017
7 years
This November, I attended the 2017 Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) conference at the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. This was my second year attending this annual conference, however, it was my first year as a presenter. I presented with Dr. Lauren Wynne on counseling adolescents about sexuality and with Dr. Kat McCleskey on the integration of ASERVIC competencies into counseling practice. Working with both professors was a great experience and it was a very rewarding experience to share my knowledge with other professionals in the field. In addition to my own presentations, I was able to attend presentations on a variety of meaningful and important topics. Overall, the knowledge I gained was very valuable. Even better than all of the professional learning I was able to engage in, I was able to meet and socialize with a multitude of other Longwood students, professors, and alumni. I enjoyed meeting other Lancers and learning more about what others have done in the field with their Longwood training. I look forward to the possibility of attending VCA again next year, but this time hopefully I will be one of the alumni to meet!
VCA Conference 2016
8 years
On November 9-12, 2016 the Virginia Counselor’s Association Convention took place in Williamsburg, VA. The event included two keynote speakers, Kevin Hines and Dr. Michael Gillette, and nine education sessions, each with multiple sessions attendees could choose from. Four Longwood students currently in the program-Chris Barnes, Jessica Hamlett, Brittany Bishop, and Cameron Patterson-joined many Longwood Alumni and Counselor Education faculty for the weekend. Chris Barnes and Cameron Patterson were both honored as VCA student fellows and Barnes presented a poster on assessing trauma in children. Dr. McCleskey, Dr. Wynne, and alum Amrita Sethi collaborated to present a session on counselors working as allies for LGBTQQI clients and students. Dr. Doyle presented updates from the Virginia Board of Counseling. The event was a great success for Longwood University in education and representation. The next convention will take place November 9-11, 2017 at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA. All Counselor Education students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to attend and represent Longwood! 
