LCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference 2025

Registration/Check in
Refreshments
Fundraising efforts from student leadership groups
Live music
Welcome from Dr. Aaron Spence

Society has treated toxic stress felt by children as an oddity that is adequately dealt with by emergency response systems. The scientific research provided by the ACE study informs all about the consequences of stress during childhood. This presentation informs how to be aware of and combat this toxic stress.

This workshop will focus on how to regulate and connect with your children, so they feel safe, seen and valued. Participants will learn that all behaviors are functional and “make sense” to the child, even the most difficult ones. Participants will learn how to become curious about behaviors and try to get to the root of the challenges. The focus will be on evidence-based strategies away from punitive punishment and towards supports for children navigating their feelings and reactions. Dealing with challenging behaviors all the time can be exhausting for families, an emphasis will also be placed on giving compassion to your child and yourself tips will be given to increase your compassion and understanding.

Information presented is founded in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) and the emerging field of Relational Neuroscience - the study of the behavioral, social and emotional brain. We are all “United in Wellness”, and learning about how and why our children are having challenging behaviors will help bring build wellness in us and our children.
The workshop will include some researched, neuroscience facts (in parent/caregiver friendly language), along with stories and examples of real life experiences. The presentation will use slides, brief video clips interactive discussions. Handouts with links will allow the participants to delve deeper into the topics after the workshop.

There is strong evidence showing a connection between physical and mental health. The World Health Organization, US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and an abundance of independent researchers have demonstrated that youth who exercise and participate in sport have a positive physical, mental health, and cognitive correlation. The evidence-based information we will present is targeted towards all grade levels. Children, parents, coaches, and administration will take home recommendations from several reputable agencies, organizations and universities that give individuals measurable and attainable goals for physical activity. Discussion will be had between our presenter and attendees regarding the current activity levels of our youth and what we can be doing to make sure we are ensuring a physiologically and psychologically healthy community. We will present information about how physical activity decreases depression, improves cognition, creates a positive self-image, decreases negative sedentary behavior, improves social skills, decreases the risk of substance abuse, and constructs habits for lifelong well-being.

This workshop will cover strategies to engage and communicate with your children and teens. Parents will learn the power of Restorative Language and Circles and how to increase positive affect with their children. Learn how to use restorative problem-solving and communication while building relationship.

In this presentation you will learn the 4 foundational habits to live your healthiest and most balanced life. Instead of thinking about what should be taken away from our lifestyle, we should be thinking about what needs to be ADDED for greater vitality. This includes how to create a balanced plate so that our kids are shown a nutritious way of fueling their bodies, incorporating movement to increase our overall energy and improve our mood throughout the day, how to make drinking water cool for your kids so they are not solely relying on sugary drinks. And the importance of recovery and how to wind down to lower stressors throughout the day. I am excited to help walk you through steps to add greater vitality and life into your day so you can live your healthiest life with your family.

Our clinical and research team has published several papers from our clinic here in Northern VA that outlines the impact that increased mood symptoms (i.e., anxiety and depression) has on concussion recovery outcomes in adolescents. We have translated these empirical findings to clinical care that executes a precision medicine approach for ameliorating the effects of concussion and expediting recovery to the classroom and/or athletic field. Our treatment strategies are contingent upon good at-home compliance and adherence – which are greatly benefitted by parent/guardian support. This presentation will provide an overview of the identification and treatment of post-concussion mood with adherence recommendations for at-home and in-school support. This session aligns with several conference themes such as the promotion of health and wellness, resilience, anxiety, and stress management. Participants’ knowledge of presentation content will be assessed via Poll Everywhere before and after the presentation.

Elite performers and high achievers have fascinated the world for centuries. Their feats often seem impossible, yet they continue to break records, build new disciplines, and shift paradigms. But how do they do it? For centuries, we believed that elite performers and high achievers were born different. We thought they had innate talent we couldn't possess, born with superhuman discipline, or just surrounded with the right circumstances. We put them on pedestals and assumed their lives were perfect. But nothing could be further from the truth. Being elite isn't easy, it takes immense stress and sacrifice. What separates them from the rest?

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal financial assistance. This presentation will review current Title IX regulations on sexual harassment, how to file a formal complaint, and support and resources available to students who experience sexual harassment. The Title IX grievance process will also be reviewed.

Breathing is an essential part of our vitality, yet we under utilize this readily available tool to help navigate life’s challenges! This workshop is designed to develop an active understanding of breathwork rooted in yogic tradition called Pranayama and how to utilize simple techniques to create a big impact on our mental health. The many practices of yoga, including pranayama, are designed to create a unification within ourselves to allow for the reduction of an overactive mind and support individual mental health. There are many studies showing the positive effects of yoga on the mental and physical wellbeing of our youth. A 2023 study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found “practicing yoga made young people more aware of their need to relax and positively impacted their mental health and wellbeing.” In 2020, a study by Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research found pranayama specifically was effective in reducing stress in adolescents (ages 12-17). Attendees will be given a brief anatomy lesson on how the breath impacts every organ, taught ideal posture for effective oxygen intake, and 6 different pranayama practices to both stimulate and calm the mind. All attendees will be asked to participate in the pranayama practices. Most practices will be seated, but some may ask for a standing position. All practices can be modified for individual needs. A handout will be provided describing each of the techniques in detail to continue the practice at home and with family members.

This presentation will highlight key points from the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory declaring loneliness an epidemic. Research and statistics related to the loneliness epidemic with a focus on youth will be reviewed. The presentation will discuss the impact loneliness has on youth’s mental and physical health and specifically review social media’s influence on loneliness. Participants will be provided with guidance on what to look for that might indicate youth are feeling lonely and disconnected. Finally, actionable ideas will be provided to help foster connection for youth.This presentation specifically looks at the impact of loneliness on youth mental and physical health.This presentation will engage participants in small group discussions to share their own feedback and experiences regarding loneliness. Will brainstorm ideas to foster connection.

This session will provide parents/guardians with an understanding of the stress response and how it relates to mental health. The presenters will provide a digestible overview of the “Fight or Flight” response using Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Dr. Dan Siegel’s “Upstairs/Downstairs Brain” analogy. After providing a foundational understanding of the stress response, the participants will learn how to recognize the difference between a dysregulated and regulated state as well as learn practical strategies for promoting regulation in ourselves and our children. Participants will gain an understanding of how a chronic state of dysregulation can lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety and/or depression. Participants will be engaged through the use of a video as well as built-in opportunities to discuss and share with each other.

In this presentation, you will learn about improving mood, focus, and building rapport using music experiences and the iso principle. Join us in some of our own experientials that will demonstrate how this principle can work in real time, learn more about what populations this might benefit, what materials you might consider gathering, and start to plan how you can use this in your day-to-day life.

Society has treated toxic stress felt by children as an oddity that is adequately dealt with by emergency response systems. The scientific research provided by the ACE study informs all about the consequences of stress during childhood. This presentation informs how to be aware of and combat this toxic stress.

Parents are bombarded with parenting advice. However, our best intentions can create unintentional roadblocks to building resiliency in kids, potentially increasing anxiety. Join us to discover effective strategies for fostering your child's resilience and breaking the cycle of anxiety.

What does it mean to “just breathe” when we are overwhelmed with stress and anxiety? How can adults and young children focus or function during panic attacks? We often tell children to take a break to calm down. But do kids know how to do it effectively without getting even more frustrated? Instead of the usual “take a deep breath” and “count to ten,” this interactive session will introduce very specific breathing techniques that are easier to follow and remember.

There is strong evidence showing a connection between physical and mental health. The World Health Organization, US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and an abundance of independent researchers have demonstrated that youth who exercise and participate in sport have a positive physical, mental health, and cognitive correlation. The evidence-based information we will present is targeted towards all grade levels. Children, parents, coaches, and administration will take home recommendations from several reputable agencies, organizations and universities that give individuals measurable and attainable goals for physical activity. Discussion will be had between our presenter and attendees regarding the current activity levels of our youth and what we can be doing to make sure we are ensuring a physiologically and psychologically healthy community. We will present information about how physical activity decreases depression, improves cognition, creates a positive self-image, decreases negative sedentary behavior, improves social skills, decreases the risk of substance abuse, and constructs habits for lifelong well-being.

In this presentation you will learn the 4 foundational habits to live your healthiest and most balanced life. Instead of thinking about what should be taken away from our lifestyle, we should be thinking about what needs to be ADDED for greater vitality. This includes how to create a balanced plate so that our kids are shown a nutritious way of fueling their bodies, incorporating movement to increase our overall energy and improve our mood throughout the day, how to make drinking water cool for your kids so they are not solely relying on sugary drinks. And the importance of recovery and how to wind down to lower stressors throughout the day. I am excited to help walk you through steps to add greater vitality and life into your day so you can live your healthiest life with your family.

This session will be focused on educating attendees on mental skills and how they determine much of our health and wellness. It will focus on expressing how attendees can integrate mental skills into their lives to improve overall wellness as well as the lives of their children. The concepts in this presentation are directly correlated with the conference theme of “United for Wellness”. Segments of the presentation will include attendee engagement through their cell phones and attendees having conversations with people next to them. Material covered in this session will be focused on mental wellness and mental skills but it will not cross into the topic of clinical mental health. 

Attendees will learn about modeling emotional intelligence for the youth in their lives by exploring the difference between reacting versus responding and the importance of cultivating response skills. Additionally, attendees will learn techniques for creating mental space between a trigger and a response to navigate a healthy response more effectively.

Elite performers and high achievers have fascinated the world for centuries. Their feats often seem impossible, yet they continue to break records, build new disciplines, and shift paradigms. But how do they do it? For centuries, we believed that elite performers and high achievers were born different. We thought they had innate talent we couldn't possess, born with superhuman discipline, or just surrounded with the right circumstances. We put them on pedestals and assumed their lives were perfect. But nothing could be further from the truth. Being elite isn't easy, it takes immense stress and sacrifice. What separates them from the rest?

This presentation will highlight key points from the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory declaring loneliness an epidemic. Research and statistics related to the loneliness epidemic with a focus on youth will be reviewed. The presentation will discuss the impact loneliness has on youth’s mental and physical health and specifically review social media’s influence on loneliness. Participants will be provided with guidance on what to look for that might indicate youth are feeling lonely and disconnected. Finally, actionable ideas will be provided to help foster connection for youth.This presentation specifically looks at the impact of loneliness on youth mental and physical health.This presentation will engage participants in small group discussions to share their own feedback and experiences regarding loneliness. Will brainstorm ideas to foster connection.

In a changing world with technology advancing by the minute, the way we are educating and parenting
our children is becoming more challenging. It’s becoming harder for teachers and parents to engage
students and set expectations both at home and at school. Executive functioning, while not a new
concept, is becoming more of a topic of interest as organizing, planning, time management, and
prioritizing are linked to behavior, social, and emotional skills. Students and families that have strong
executive functioning skills are more likely to handle daily responsibilities without as much worry.
Students that have a system to tackle homework, studying, and planning for the future are likely to be
more independent and resilient. Executive functioning skills are not innate, however; they must be
taught and practiced. These skills can be taught from a very young age. This presentation will provide a
brief overview of executive functioning and will include practical strategies for immediate use in both
the home and school settings for children, teens, and adults. Participants will leave the presentation
with strategies and an understanding of how these strategies can support common behavioral
challenges such as school refusal, becoming easily overwhelmed with everyday tasks, low frustration
tolerance, and low stamina for work and home tasks. Furthermore, participants will also be given access
to our Google drive of ready-made resources for immediate use.

This session will provide parents/guardians with an understanding of the stress response and how it relates to mental health. The presenters will provide a digestible overview of the “Fight or Flight” response using Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Dr. Dan Siegel’s “Upstairs/Downstairs Brain” analogy. After providing a foundational understanding of the stress response, the participants will learn how to recognize the difference between a dysregulated and regulated state as well as learn practical strategies for promoting regulation in ourselves and our children. Participants will gain an understanding of how a chronic state of dysregulation can lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety and/or depression. Participants will be engaged through the use of a video as well as built-in opportunities to discuss and share with each other.

A Place to Be                        
Al-Anon Family Groups (Al-Anon and Alateen)                        
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention                        
Anxiety Institute                        
Ashburn Fit Body Boot Camp                        
Ashburn Psychological & Psychiatric Services                        
Autism Society of Northern Virginia                        
Bartley Expressive Arts Therapy PLLC                        
Be Healthy Nutrition Counseling                        
Be SMART for Kids                        
Beckner Counseling                        
Beloved Yoga & Ultimate Teen Toolkit                        
Beyond Wellness                        
Bloom Health Centers                        
Bridging the Gap Through Therapy                        
Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), Northern Post Adoption Consortium (NPAC)                        
Clarity Counseling                        
Clarity Psychological Services, LLC                        
Clover Leaf Wealth Strategies LLC                        
ConnerStrong Foundation                        
Cook Center for Human Connection                        
Dominion Hospital                        
Ellie Mental Health Ashburn                        
Embark Center for Self-Directed Education                        
ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)                        
Enlighten Nutrition, Counseling and Care, LLC                        
Equality Loudoun/Loudoun Pride                        
Evolve Family Counseling & Sports Psychotherapy                        
Formed Families Forward                        
Friends of Loudoun Mental Health                        
Fusion Academy Loudoun                        
Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia                        
Healthworks of Northern Virginia                        
IAHV (International Association of Human Values)                        
Improve Life PLLC                        
Inova Concussion Program                        
Insight Into Action Therapy                        
Integrated Psychology Associates of McLean                        
Journey to Wellness                        
Kiss of Yoga LLC                        
Lansdowne Mental Health Services, PLLC                        
LAWS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services                     
LCPS EL Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Office                    
LCPS McKinney-Vento                        
LCPS Office of Special Education / Office of Procedural Support (Donna Smith, Director) 
LCPS Office of the Ombuds                        
LCPS Outreach Services                        
LCPS School Nutrition Services                        
LCPS Student Mental Health Services                     
LCPS Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)                        
LCPS Student Health Services                        
Loudoun Counseling & Coaching, LLC                        
Loudoun County Dept. of Housing and Community Development                    
Loudoun County Health Department                        
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office                        
Loudoun Hunger Relief                        
Loudoun Medical Group,

Daily wellness practices can improve the mental, physical, and social-emotional well-being of parents and educators, thereby positively influencing their capacity to implement strategies that support learning outcomes for children that have developmental disabilities. This workshop will demonstrate how these practices can be used by parents and/or elementary educators in their daily life to support their emotional well-being, decrease stress, and engage with children mindfully.

This workshop will focus on how to regulate and connect with your children, so they feel safe, seen and valued. Participants will learn that all behaviors are functional and “make sense” to the child, even the most difficult ones. Participants will learn how to become curious about behaviors and try to get to the root of the challenges. The focus will be on evidence-based strategies away from punitive punishment and towards supports for children navigating their feelings and reactions. Dealing with challenging behaviors all the time can be exhausting for families, an emphasis will also be placed on giving compassion to your child and yourself tips will be given to increase your compassion and understanding.
Information presented is founded in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) and the emerging field of Relational Neuroscience - the study of the behavioral, social and emotional brain. We are all “United in Wellness”, and learning about how and why our children are having challenging behaviors will help bring build wellness in us and our children.
The workshop will include some researched, neuroscience facts (in parent/caregiver friendly language), along with stories and examples of real life experiences. The presentation will use slides, brief video clips interactive discussions. Handouts with links will allow the participants to delve deeper into the topics after the workshop.

What does it mean to “just breathe” when we are overwhelmed with stress and anxiety? How can adults and young children focus or function during panic attacks? We often tell children to take a break to calm down. But do kids know how to do it effectively without getting even more frustrated? Instead of the usual “take a deep breath” and “count to ten,” this interactive session will introduce very specific breathing techniques that are easier to follow and remember.

This session will be focused on educating attendees on mental skills and how they determine much of our health and wellness. It will focus on expressing how attendees can integrate mental skills into their lives to improve overall wellness as well as the lives of their children. The concepts in this presentation are directly correlated with the conference theme of “United for Wellness”. Segments of the presentation will include attendee engagement through their cell phones and attendees having conversations with people next to them. Material covered in this session will be focused on mental wellness and mental skills but it will not cross into the topic of clinical mental health. 

The majority of this workshop will be interactive, and participants will be invited to engage in gentle movement, breath, and mindfulness practices. We will explore both calming and energizing practices and discuss ways to make the practices fun and engaging for a variety of ages. Participants will go home with embodied knowledge of the practices and a handout to use as a reference.

This session will provide an overview of children’s grief. This topic is extremely important to talk about as 1 in 13 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18 in the state of Virginia (Judi’s House JAG Institute CBEM, 2023). The presenter will address different stages of development when it comes to children’s
grief as children grieve differently than adults, and a child’s grief varies depending on the child’s age and understanding of death (Hope Edleman & Claire Bidwell Smith Motherless Daughters Training, 2023). Because grief and trauma are held in the body (Bessel Van der Kolk, 2014), Dance Movement Therapy is a beneficial modality for processing grief in a more embodied way. Dance Movement theory as it connects to grief will be discussed and participants will have the opportunity to engage in a movement experiential that involves a simple mirroring intervention that can be used with children who are grieving. Participants will also learn about other resources in the community and online to support children who are grieving and be given a tip sheet of how to support children who are grieving to take home with them. This session is the perfect addition to this conference theme as it incorporates movement and creative expression as well as a topic that is often avoided, yet crucial to a child’s development and wellbeing. When childhood grief is left unaddressed there can be consequences to one’s mental and physical health (National Alliance for Children’s Grief). Presentations like this can help support caring professionals and parents/guardians support children who are grieving!

What are eating disorders? What factors contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders? How do I get help if I am struggling, or help a friend or loved one who is struggling? This presentation will dive into the nutrition and therapeutic factors that contribute to the development of, and treatment of, eating disorders. This presentation will also identify and discuss positive nutrition and self care behaviors that can protect against poor body image and cultivate a healthy relationship with food. Participants will be able to identify signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, identify positive nutrition-related and self care behaviors that can be protective against poor body image and a negative relationship with food.

In this presentation, we will talk about all things eating disorders; their etiology, their presentation, and their treatment. This presentation can appeal to students, administrators, and caregivers in that we will discuss cultivating a healthy relationship with food and body.

The iso principle is a commonly used tool in therapeutic settings which involves matching your energy, emotional level, and interaction style to meet the needs of your client. This principle has been proven to aid in relaxation, improve mood, build resiliency, lower heart rate, stabilize breathing, and increase self-regulation skills. This tool can be used in a variety of settings, including classroom/school settings, individual therapeutic sessions, group sessions, medical settings, and independently at home. The iso principle is an ideal therapeutic tool to incorporate into your daily work, particularly when interacting with individuals in an elevated or dysregulated emotional state. Music is a
particularly effective way to use the iso principle, as will be demonstrated in the experiential portion of the presentation, with the presenters using musical instruments such as drums and shakers to exemplify the iso principle in action. Presenters will also be demonstrating how to use the iso principle with body percussion, instruments that you can make at home, and even the timbre of your voice to provide resources that are accessible to all
communities.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal financial assistance. This presentation will review current Title IX regulations on sexual harassment, how to file a formal complaint, and support and resources available to students who experience sexual harassment. The Title IX grievance process will also be reviewed.

Breathing is an essential part of our vitality, yet we under utilize this readily available tool to help navigate life’s challenges! This workshop is designed to develop an active understanding of breathwork rooted in yogic tradition called Pranayama and how to utilize simple techniques to create a big impact on our mental health. The many practices of yoga, including pranayama, are designed to create a unification within ourselves to allow for the reduction of an overactive mind and support individual mental health. There are many studies showing the positive effects of yoga on the mental and physical wellbeing of our youth. A 2023 study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found “practicing yoga made young people more aware of their need to relax and positively impacted their mental health and wellbeing.” In 2020, a study by Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research found pranayama specifically was effective in reducing stress in adolescents (ages 12-17). Attendees will be given a brief anatomy lesson on how the breath impacts every organ, taught ideal posture for effective oxygen intake, and 6 different pranayama practices to both stimulate and calm the mind. All attendees will be asked to participate in the pranayama practices. Most practices will be seated, but some may ask for a standing position. All practices can be modified for individual needs. A handout will be provided describing each of the techniques in detail to continue the practice at home and with family members.

In a changing world with technology advancing by the minute, the way we are educating and parenting
our children is becoming more challenging. It’s becoming harder for teachers and parents to engage
students and set expectations both at home and at school. Executive functioning, while not a new
concept, is becoming more of a topic of interest as organizing, planning, time management, and
prioritizing are linked to behavior, social, and emotional skills. Students and families that have strong
executive functioning skills are more likely to handle daily responsibilities without as much worry.
Students that have a system to tackle homework, studying, and planning for the future are likely to be
more independent and resilient. Executive functioning skills are not innate, however; they must be
taught and practiced. These skills can be taught from a very young age. This presentation will provide a
brief overview of executive functioning and will include practical strategies for immediate use in both
the home and school settings for children, teens, and adults. Participants will leave the presentation
with strategies and an understanding of how these strategies can support common behavioral
challenges such as school refusal, becoming easily overwhelmed with everyday tasks, low frustration
tolerance, and low stamina for work and home tasks. Furthermore, participants will also be given access
to our Google drive of ready-made resources for immediate use.

Learn about the challenges high-achieving students face, feeling stressed and anxious due to academic pressure. Understand the impact of perfectionism on mental health, especially in young people. Explore the effects of COVID on anxiety and discover practical ways to address it. Gain insights into the link between perfectionism and mood or eating disorders. The workshop provides tools for assessment and evidence-based interventions, supporting those dealing with anxiety and perfectionism.

This workshop will cover strategies to engage and communicate with your children and teens. Parents will learn the power of Restorative Language and Circles and how to increase positive affect with their children. Learn how to use restorative problem-solving and communication while building relationship.