Mental Health Summit for the Utah Deaf Community
Mental health is an important aspect of overall well-being and it’s crucial that we create awareness and provide support to the Deaf community in Utah. This summit is a great opportunity for individuals to learn more about mental health, connect with others, and gain valuable resources and tools to improve their mental well-being.
Check out the presenters scheduled to appear at the summit under ‘Presenters’, Register by clicking on the ‘Registration’ tab. To see the summit schedule, click on the ‘Schedule’ tab.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Location
Sanderson Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
5709 S 1500 W, Taylorsville, UT 84123
Date & Time
Saturday, February 18, 2023
9 am to 3 pm (Lunch is included)
Admission
UAD Members - FREE
Non-members - $15
Summit Presenters
Melissa Yingst (she/hers)
Melissa Elmira Yingst is passionate about bringing awareness to hidden narratives, especially those celebrating women and muxeristas. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Gallaudet University and a Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State University. She has worked as a social worker and school counselor in New York City and Phoenix. Melissa currently teaches at CSUN and works at Convo as an Outreach Strategist. She was a board member for Council de Manos and Deaf Women United and co-founded Alma de Muxeristas, an organization for Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf Disabled, Late-Deafened, or Hard of Hearing muxeristas. She produces her show, Melmira, in Los Angeles.
Keynote Address
“Turning Anxiety Into My Superpower”
Jim Macedone (He/him)
Jim Macedone is a practicing Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC) at Igniting Change Counseling Center in Lehi, Utah. He has been an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for over 30 years. Jim graduated from Brigham Young University-Provo in Family Science and received his masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Magna Cum Laude. He actively serves the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association (UMHCA) as their Executive Director for the past several years. Jim employs a constructivist approach including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Play Therapy. Jim has experience working with individuals, adolescents, kids and specializes in the treatment of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. When Jim is not interpreting or counseling, he is definitely kayaking, at home with his wife and five kids, watching movies, gardening, or working on his 1:1 scale R2-D2.
Workshops
“Anxiety Mitigation: How do I deal with feelings of overwhelm?”
“Suicide Prevention: How to detect it in others and yourself”
Karen Pendleton (she/her)
Karen Pendleton is a LCSW and has been working as a mental health practitioner in private practice for five years. Prior to that she worked at Utah State Prison as a therapist in the sex offender unit. Karen is certified in trauma processing therapies such as Brainspotting and EMDR, and also works with individuals, couples, and families. Currently, Karen works for Healing Pathways and will soon be launching her own private practice–Kindled Light Therapy and Wellness. Karen is passionate about spreading awareness regarding healing and health, and enjoys gardening, nutrition, and the great outdoors for her own healing and wellness!
Workshop
“Puzzle Pieces of Wellness: tips for living your best YOU”
Do you want to feel better? Think more clearly? Have more energy? Or even learn how to work better with symptoms of anxiety and depression? Wellness is like a puzzle with mental health, physical, emotional, and spiritual health all as interconnected pieces. In understanding the whole we can better understand how we can become our best and most whole selves.
Kimberly Thornsberry (She/her/hers)
Kim is currently serving as a School Counselor with the Utah Schools of the Deaf in Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah. Prior to working for USDB, Kim was employed as a Regional 1 Mental Health Therapist for the Deaf with the Alabama Department of Mental Health Office of Deaf Services in Huntsville, Alabama during 2014-2022 and as a case manager at the Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville, Utah during 2007-2014. Kim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumers Studies: Child Development at Gallaudet University in 2003 and pursued a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with the Deaf at the Western Oregon University in 2006. She completed a graduate certification in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling program at Troy University in 2021. She is currently serving on ADARA board as a large member and NAD as an appointed board member.
Workshops
“Living with Imposter Syndrome as a Deaf Person”
“Mental Health Self Care”
Brian Tingley (He/Him/His)
An upstate New Yorker who grew up in a mainstreamed school setting, Brian has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Deaf Education and two minor degrees in Athletic Coaching and Psychology. He also has a Masters degree in School Counseling from Gallaudet University.
Brian has undergone two weight loss transformations, losing a total of 179 pounds, and is currently working as a K-12 School Counselor at both the Jean Massieu School for the Deaf and Blind (JMS) and the Elizabeth DeLong School for the Deaf (EDS). He is also the Head Football Coach for USD.
Brian is motivated by the quotes “Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can’t Lose” (Friday Night Lights) and “You get knocked down seven times, you get back up eight times” (Rocky).
Workshop
“The Journey of Unknowns”
