Cassie Gillespie, LICSW
Social Work Faculty
University of Vermont’s Social Work Department
Cassie Gillespie, LICSW is a full-time faculty member in the University of Vermont’s Social Work Department, and the host of the SOCIAL WORK LENS podcast. Cassie also provides training, coaching, & consultation to individuals & organizations experiencing chronic workplace stress and workplace trauma. Cassie is a former child welfare worker, and training team lead at the Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership (VT-CWTP) with over 15 years of experience serving children, youth, families, and helping professionals. She lives with her family in Underhill, Vermont, and is a proud member of NASW. Find Cassie & the VT- CWTP crew on their podcast https://vermontcwtp.podbean.com
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Social Work Faculty
University of Vermont’s Social Work Department
Margaret Otto
Director and Co-Founder of KC Center of Family Systems
KC Center of Family Systems
Margaret Otto, LSCSW, LCSW is the Director and Co-Founder of the KC Center of Family Systems since its inception in 1996. She has been learning and applying Bowen family systems theory for over thirty years, which includes studying under Murray Bowen, MD and Michael Kerr, MD. Dr. Kerr is currently the Director of the Bowen theory academy. Margaret earned a Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and then obtained clinical licensure in Kansas and Missouri. She began her study of the theory at the Menninger Foundation in Kansas City. She then went on to study at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family for 5 years before starting the non-profit, the KC Center for family systems ( 501c3) which is also dedicated to Bowen family systems theory., Margaret carries the local and national responsibility for leadership of the KC Center by representing and advancing the theory. Employment has been in several medical and mental health settings and included teaching family residents. Other professional endeavors include being a board member of the Bowen theory academy and many presentations at local, national and international conferences. She presented this past summer at an international Bowen family systems conference on theories of emotion and clinical application. She has a full time clinical group practice that uses Bowen theory to address clinical issues.
https://www.kcfamilysystems.org/about/
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Director and Co-Founder of KC Center of Family Systems
KC Center of Family Systems
Cassandra Whitmore, RD, LMNT
Dietitian
Private
Cassandra “Cassie” Whitmore, RD, LMNT has been a practicing dietitian for more than 10 years. She received her bachelor's degrees in Public Health Nutrition and Dietetics from Kansas State University. After starting her career working in acute care and inpatient eating disorders in Kansas City, she moved on to management in a critical access hospital. Most of her career has been spent working in Long Term Care at various facilities throughout the state of Nebraska, which included time as an Employee Wellness Dietitian. She has also worked as an outpatient dietitian with a focus on diabetes education and eating disorders and has notable experience in hospice and mental healthcare. She is currently self-employed as a Consultant Dietitian and speaker. She is based in Lincoln, Nebraska where she lives with her husband, son, and dog.
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Dietitian
Private
Dr. Aubrey Sejuit, LISW-CP, LCAS, MEd
Professor of Social Work and Counselor
Winthrop University
Aubrey L. Sejuit, Ph.D., LISW-CP, LCAS, MEd, is a former tenured Assistant Professor of Social Work and a Counselor for the Sib Collins Counseling Center at Limestone University. She is the current National Association of Social Work-South Carolina Chapter (NASW-SC) President and serves as Secretary for the NASW Committee of Chapter Presidents. She is also the current Secretary of the South Carolina Counseling Association (SCCA).
Before working at Limestone University, and now Winthrop University, she served as an Assistant Professor of Counseling and as the Counseling Program Coordinator for Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Center for Graduate Studies of Columbia, SC and as a Counselor for Palmetto Place Children & Youth Services. As Co-Founder of the South Carolina Career Development Association (SCCDA), in 2021, she co-authored and published Gaining Cultural Competence in Career Counseling (2nd edition) with Dr. Kathy Evans, her mentor from UofSC.
Dr. Sejuit is an Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran who served with the 203D MI BN in the 513th MI BDE (INSCOM) in Baghdad, Iraq as an Intelligence Analyst and earned the Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM) among other awards. She is also a Co-Founder of the Veterans Alumni Council (VAC) at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Sejuit is also Co-Founder and Secretary for the Friends of Fisher House-Columbia, SC at the WJB Dorn VA Hospital and is the Assistant Volunteer & Events Coordinator for the 9/11 Remembrance Foundation of South Carolina. She is currently Vice Chair of the Transfer Committee in the Junior League of South Carolina (JLC) and served as Chair of the ABCs Committee for two years prior to that.
Dr. Sejuit is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Columbia (LC), a 2020/2021 graduate of Leadership Lexington County (LLC), and a 2023 graduate of Leadership Cherokee County (LCC). Dr. Sejuit was a 2020 Midlands Woman of Distinction through the Girl Scouts of South Carolina—Mountain to Midlands and the 2019 recipient of the South Carolina Counseling Association’s Distinguished Professional Service Award.
About Dr. Aubrey Sejuit, LISW-CP, LCAS, MEd
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Professor of Social Work and Counselor
Winthrop University
Stacey R. Blaylock, LCSW
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Oral Roberts University
Mrs. Stacey R. Blaylock is the director of the Social Work Program at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As an assistant professor of Social Work, Blaylock has taught a variety of courses such as: Group Dynamics; Social Work Ethics; Community Practice; Non-Profit Social Work Practice; Introduction to Social Work; Human Behavior and the Social Environment; Senior Research; and Child Welfare. Professor Blaylock has seven years of professional practice experience in medical social work, specializing in trauma care. Blaylock’s research is focused in the areas of non-traditional social work practice, and the integration of technology in experiential learning. She has presented at multiple state conferences.
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Assistant Professor of Social Work
Oral Roberts University
Dr. Angela D. Pharris, MSW, LAPSW
Assistant Professor
University of Oklahoma
Angela’s current research is in child welfare and human service organizations and the application of a Hope Centered and Trauma-Informed framework. Hope is a psychological strength, a buffer to stress, adversity, and burnout, and a hopeful mindset that improves organizational and individual outcomes. She is interested in the impact of intervention services, which improve program outcomes and client well-being. Angela is particularly interested in programs and services to serve older youth in foster care and those who turn 18 while still in foster care. Angela is working with a research team to explore how we can adapt Hope Theory as a framework to improve assessment, planning, and interventions to support youth during the transition to adulthood.
About Dr. Angela D. Pharris, MSW, LAPSW
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Assistant Professor
University of Oklahoma
Charles B. Cobble, MSW, CCM, LCSW, BCD
Clinical Social Worker
Department of Veterans Affairs
Charles B. Cobble is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Board Certified Diplomate with 10 years of experience working with a diverse and complex population. Charles graduated from University of Tennessee Knoxville with a MSSW and a Certificate in Gerontology. Charles currently works as a Homeless Social Worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs and retired as Captain with the Tennessee Army National Guard. Charles is also an adjunct faculty member at Tennessee Technological University where he teaches Social Work courses and provides consultation on the Social Work academic structure.
About Charles B. Cobble, MSW, CCM, LCSW, BCD
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Clinical Social Worker
Department of Veterans Affairs
Steven Pharris
Executive Director
NASW-OK
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Executive Director
NASW-OK
Becky Fast
Executive Director
NASW-KS
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Executive Director
NASW-KS
Jennifer Thompson
Director of Business Development
Valley Hope
https://valleyhope.org
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Director of Business Development
Valley Hope
Katlynn Nutter
Treatment Placement Specialist
Acadia Health Care
https://www.acadiahealthcare.com/programming-treatment/treatment-placement-specialists/
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Treatment Placement Specialist
Acadia Health Care
Krystal Speier, LCPC
Clinical Director
Integrated Psychiatric Consultants
https://www.integrated-pc.com
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Clinical Director
Integrated Psychiatric Consultants
Amber Jewell, LMSW
Private Practice, School Social Worker
Finding Hope LLC Training, Consultation, Therapy
As a licensed master social worker, Amber has over 15 years of experience working with youth and families in child protective services, education, and mental health services. Although Amber Jewell experienced neglect, abuse,
and long-term trauma as a child, she refuses to let her story end there! She shares her journey to give hope and to provide specific ways that each
of us can change lives in moments that matter.Having been a foster child, a
foster parent, and a social worker, Amber has a multi- dimensional understanding of the issues involved. Check out Amber's website to learn more about her new book and her journey to healing.
https://www.amberjewell.org
About Amber Jewell, LMSW
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Private Practice, School Social Worker
Finding Hope LLC Training, Consultation, Therapy
Phelica Glass, LSCSW, GCCAC, FAAGC, CSOTP
Clinical Social Worker
Private Practice
Phelica Glass is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker with a successful psychotherapy practice in Topeka, KS. Graduate of Washburn University with a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Sciences. Graduate of Tulane University of New Orleans with a master’s in clinical social work and certification of Gerontology. Through further education she attained a certification in Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling from the International Association of Health Care Professionals. Phelica also is a Fellow of the American Academy of Grief. Because of her love for people, she also holds certifications as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Geriatric Social Work, Sex and Porn Addiction Recovery, Suicide Bereavement and Spiritual Life Coach.
In private practice Phelica meets the needs of individuals and families coping with grief, behavioral and emotional issues by walking with them through their personal journeys. Her belief is that children and families transition smoothly through difficult situations when they have the necessary support to do so.
Phelica’s unique style of therapy is both effective and engaging, using cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, Theraplay and Parent-Child Interactive Treatment methods. She believes in empowering the voice of her clients through motivation and advocacy.
Phelica holds various positions within the following organizations within Topeka: The Kujima Collective, Tyson Williams Productions, Martin Luther King Living the Dream, Greater Topeka EMBD, and Topeka Chamber of Commerce. Phelica was the Graduate Member at Large for the Kansas National Association of Social Work, and now holds the position of Ethics Chair.
Phelica is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Chi Delta Zeta Chapter of Lawrence/Topeka, KS where she currently is the Chapter Chaplin. Phelica has held the positions of Regional Domestic Violence Coordinator, Regional Mental Health Coordinator and Kansas Protocol and Procedures Representative. She is also a member of The Links Topeka Chapter where she volunteers in developing and implementing a teen mentoring program at Topeka High School.
https://excelfullcircle.wordpress.com/
About Phelica Glass, LSCSW, GCCAC, FAAGC, CSOTP
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Clinical Social Worker
Private Practice
Tonya Ricklefs, PhD, LMSW
Associate Professor of Social Work
Washburn University
Dr. Ricklefs previously served as the Department Chair at Washburn University Social Work Department. Currently she teaches policy, human sexuality, and ethics. She is also a certified mediator and conciliator. She has conducted locally and nationally mediation trainings. She was recently recognized as a rising professional alumni at Kansas State University. In addition, serves as community mediators in a variety of programs across the city.
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Associate Professor of Social Work
Washburn University
Rebeca Sandoval, MBA, LSCSW, RPT-S
Private Practice Agency
Complete Circle Counseling & Coaching
Rebeca Sandoval is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker with more than twenty years of experience working with individuals and families. She was born and raised in Hutchinson and graduated from Hutchinson High School. She graduated from Hutchinson Community College and Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS) with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Administration of Justice. She graduated with Honors from Newman University (Wichita, KS) with a master’s in social work. In 2008, she graduated from Mid America Nazarene University (Olathe, KS) with a certificate in Play Therapy. In 2012, she graduated with a master’s in business from Wichita State University.
She is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified in EMDR (Eye movement de-sensitization and reprocessing), Certified in Group Theraplay and Certified in Aut-Play. Rebeca has extensive experience in mediation and conflict resolution. She is trained in Court approved Domestic Case Management and Limited Case Management. She specializes in working with high conflict families and is court referred to help support the needs of everyone involved.
Rebeca has years of administrative experience. She has taught for several years at both undergraduate and graduate level colleges in Kansas. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Practice with the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. She has taught at Newman University and Bethany College. She has experience with supervising students and master’s level social workers working to obtain their clinical license in the Social Work profession. Rebeca has extensive experience in business and utilizes these skills to help other clinicians and businesses with start-up programs.
Rebeca currently owns and operates Complete Circle Counseling & Coaching. She has two offices located in Hutchinson and Wichita.
https://www.completecirclecounselingcoaching.com
About Rebeca Sandoval, MBA, LSCSW, RPT-S
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Private Practice Agency
Complete Circle Counseling & Coaching
Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW
Social Work Clinician
Private Practice
Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW
Jeannine is a licensed clinical social worker and Compassion Fatigue Specialist dedicated to the integration of human-animal relationships in social work practice. She has founded two veterinary social work programs (Veterinary Social Services at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center, and Family & Community Services at NC State University’s Veterinary Hospital) and works with animal care and social services professionals across the country to address the intersections of human and animal health and well-being. Her professional interests include occupational well-being; grief, loss, and life transitions; ethical decision-making; and moral distress in animal care professions. She currently serves as the Business Partner for Mental Health & Wellbeing for Banfield Pet Hospital and the Chief Happiness Officer for VETgirl.
About Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LCSW
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Social Work Clinician
Private Practice
Lisa Potter, LSCSW
Therapist
Community Mental Health Center and Private Practice
Lisa Potter is a licensed clinical social worker, earned her MSW from the University of Kansas in 2010. After providing crisis therapy for a number of years in Topeka, KS, she currently serves as a DBT therapist at the Community Mental Health Center in Douglas County, KS. Lisa recently launched Ad Meliora, a Lawrence-based private practice, where she offers affirming therapy to the LGBTQIA community and specializes in perinatal care.
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Therapist
Community Mental Health Center and Private Practice
Lara Ashbaugh, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Private Practice
Lara has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, is a licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She has worked in the field of community mental health for over 15 years. In that time she has worked in a crisis stabilization unit, residential facilities, outpatient case management and an outpatient counseling center. She currently provides clinical and administrative trainings as well as supervision and mentoring in her role as Senior Project Coordinator at University Health - Behavioral Health. She is passionate about finding and utilizing a person’s strengths to help them build the life they want.
Outside of mental health she teaches Lifespan Development Psychology and Abnormal Psychology at various community colleges and universities.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, seeing movies, and traveling the world.
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Licensed Professional Counselor
Private Practice
