Mental Health Matters Symposium & Summit
April 4 & 5, 2024
Thursday, April 4 @ A300 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Kickoff/ Mental Health Community Resource/Career Fair & “Gator Refresh Day”
Kickoff to the Mental Health Matters week. Counseling services will be hosting “Greenhouse Therapy” and artistic expression with “Paint Your Heart Out” to focus on healthy coping. Meet and greets and student DJ TBD. This is a ‘come and go event’. This event will consist of community resources coming to UHD to provide information about mental health services, as well as career or internship opportunities. This event will also consist of student orgs and UHD departments tabling with a focus on health coping activities at their tables to show how each area supports mental health. This is a ‘come and go’ event.
Friday, April 5 @ Auditorium and A300 from 8:30-3:30 – Mental Health Summit
This is a free event open to students, staff, and community members interested in the field of mental health. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Those interested will need to register.
Agenda:
Check-In
8:30 a.m. – Auditorium Area/Skyline Lounge
Auditorium
9:00 - 9:10 – Welcome
9:10 – 10:00 - Presentation: “The 411 on 988: Demystifying Suicide and Suicide Prevention” by Katrina Rufino, PhD, Psychologist
10:00 - 10:10 – Break
10:10 – 11:20 – Presentation: “Don’t Let Stress Make You a Mess” by Timothy Coulter, MA, LPC-S
11:20 – Transition to A300 for Buffet Lunch
A300
11:45- 12:45 – Keynote Speaker: Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LCSW
12:45 – 12:55 – Break
1 – 1:30 – Mind Body Activity hosted by UHD’s Wellness and Success Center Staff
1: 30 – 1:45 - Break
1:45 – 3 – Panel Presentation with Special Guests:
Katrina Rufino, PhD, Licensed Psychologist
Adrienne Brown, MA, LPC
Hope Pacheco, MA, LMSW
Richard Simonds, MSW, BCC
Cayman Tirado, MA, LCDC, CPS, RYT 200
Joshua Thomas, MD, Psychiatrist
3 – 3:30 – Closing Remarks/Wrap Up
Keynote Speaker |
|
|
|
Elizabeth McIngvale, Ph.D, LCSW Dr. McIngvale is the director of the OCD Institute of Texas where she maintains an active clinical and leadership role. Dr. McIngvale serves on faculty at Baylor College of Medicine in the department of Psychiatry where she maintains an active research role. Her clinical interests focus on OCD, anxiety disorders, mental health stigma and access to mental health care. She was the founder of the Peace of Mind Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to OCD that was acquired by the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation in 2020. OCD Challenge which is a free self-help website with nearly 4,000 users is a website she continues to play an active role in. She was the first ever national spokesperson for the IOCDF and now serves on their board of directors. She received her bachelors and master’s degrees in social work from Loyola University Chicago, her Ph.D. in social work at the University of Houston and her MBA from Kellogg’s School of Business Management at Northwestern University. Dr. McIngvale engages in advocacy, clinical work, research and teaching related to OCD and anxiety disorders. She is a renowned speaker on both the local and national level speaking on behalf of OCD, mental illness and mental health stigma. Dr. McIngvale has received numerous awards for her advocacy and impact on the mental health field and currently serves on various mental health and non-profit boards. She is internationally known and recognized for her clinical work and advancements around stigma in the OCD field. Dr. McIngvale is dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless and is grateful for a career which allows her to improve the lives of those living with a mental illness every day. |
Presenter |
|
 |
Timothy Coulter, M.Ed., LPC-S “I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Houston-Downtown and a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Houston. Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years as a banker providing financial solutions to couples and individuals from all walks of life. In addition to financial counseling, I have worked with teenagers, young adults, couples, groups, cancer patients, and individuals in many areas including anxiety, depression, sexual identity, leading a purpose-driven life, career development, substance abuse, anger management, smoking cessation, grief, motivation, and mindfulness. I've worked in many environments including colleges, high schools, residential treatment facilities, private practice, and cancer centers doing both traditional counseling and meditation." |
Panelist & Presenter |
|
 |
Katrina Rufino, Ph.D, Licensed Psychologist Dr. Rufino is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences and a Licensed Psychologist in Texas. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and teaches clinically related courses including Introduction to Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psychology & Law, and Research Experience in Psychology. Dr. Rufino has expertise in the assessment and treatment of suicide, having published over 80 peer reviewed papers and presented at 125 national and international conferences. She also examines novel statistical methods and research designs for clinical research in serious mental illness, particularly inpatient treatment outcomes. |
Panelist |
|
 |
Adrienne Brown, MA, LPC I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor that specializes in sex therapy. I attended Prairie View A&M University for both my bachelor’s and master’s degree. I run my own private practice called Intimate Flow Sex Therapy, PLLC. I have experience in several sectors including community mental health, school districts, forensic counseling, group private practice, non-profit and performing intake assessments for inpatient and corrections. I consider myself eclectic and very laid back with an open and diverse approach that creates flexibility and allows me to outline therapy around what my clients need and comfort. Outside of practicing therapy in my free time, I enjoy trying different foods, cooking, shopping, hanging with my kiddos, wine tasting, traveling, watching TV and doing absolutely nothing. |
 |
Hope Pacheco, MA, LMSW Hope Pacheco is a proud first-generation college graduate, a scholar-practitioner, a mentor, a researcher, a social worker, an advocate, an educator, and an equity-minded administrator. She has worked for and on behalf of students of all ages to access and advance their educational opportunities her entire career. She develops opportunities, builds systems, influences policies, and shares knowledge to help students succeed and find a place of belonging. Hope earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Texas-Austin and her master’s degree in social work from the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. Hope is a 5th year doctoral student at the University of Houston College of Education’s Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies program. Her research focuses on resilience and success strategies for Latina STEM majors. Hope is a lifelong Houstonian and mom of 4. |
 |
Richard Simonds, MSW, BCC Richard works for the College of Public Service at the University of Houston-Downtown supporting students. Richard is also an Adjunct Professor of Social Work at the University of Houston – Downtown. Richard is also a Board Certified Coach. Richard Simonds has over 20 years of financial and executive coaching and has helped clients define and reach their goals. Richard has worked with clients at fortune 500 companies, nonprofits and community organizations. Richard has spoken locally, regionally and nationally about behavioral change, money management and credit. In addition, Richard has been featured in the Houston Chronicle and KHOU, channel 11. Richard received his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Miami (OH) in 2004 before moving to Houston and obtaining a Masters of Social Work from University of Houston on 2007 and is a current doctoral student at Lamar University. |
 |
Cayman Tirado, MA, LCDC, CPS, RYT 200 Cayman finds great joy in supporting others on their wellness journey. She started using illicit substances and binge drinking at a young age, leading to codependent behaviors and a severe anxiety disorder in her 20s. She has explored many pathways to healing including traditional counseling and alternative methods. There have been many guides that assisted her to discover the underlying causes of her unhealthy thinking, behavior and coping skills and she is grateful to give back and share the tools that others have taught her. Cayman has worked in the chemical dependency field since 2004 where she started as a prevention/intervention counselor for underserved youth. Since, she has held various positions including as an intensive outpatient counselor, case manager for women in recovery living in permanent, supportive housing and as a clinical case manager for homeless adults with co-occurring disorders. Currently, she is the director of the Mental Health and Addiction Studies Program at San Jacinto College which trains substance use disorder counselors, mental health technicians, and prevention specialists. She is also a certified yoga instructor and is passionate about incorporating this into recovery. She has taught at Cenikor, Into Action and ADAPT recovery centers. |
 |
Joshua Thomas, MD Joshua Thomas, MD, received his Doctorate in Medicine from The University of Nevada School of Medicine. Following medical school, he attended the Baylor College of Medicine, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences from 2010-2016 where he completed both his General Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. After completing his fellowship, he started a private practice in Sugar Land, TX and continued at Baylor College of Medicine as an Assistant Professor and staff psychiatrist at The Menninger Clinic and later at Texas Children's Hospital Autism Center. In October of 2020 he left Baylor College of Medicine to pursue his private practice full time, though he continues to stay connected as a Clinical Assistant Professor providing supervision to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows. In addition to his private practice, he serves on the board of Guidance Medical, a non profit organization providing financial assistance for children with complex medical conditions. Throughout his career, Dr. Thomas has received the American Psychiatric Association Minority Fellowship Scholarship, completed the Baylor College of Medicine Clinician Educator Track, is an inductee of the BCM chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and was twice the recipient of the BCM Clinical Excellence Award |
