A Conference For Allied Health Professionals Specializing in Chronic Pain and Illness
The Chronic Illness Therapists Conference
March 6-7, 2026 | Atlanta, GA + Virtual
Grab Your Registration Spot
Student Pricing
$300
Or FREE in exchange for 2 days of volunteering. Sign up to volunteer here. Volunteer spots limited to 20 students. Proof of enrollment requested upon registration
Includes gluten-free and nut-free snacks/light refreshments each day.
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
fun welcome bag!
Professional Pricing
$525
Includes gluten-free and nut-free snacks/light refreshments each day.
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
Fun welcome bag!
PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/1/26 UPON REQUEST
Executive Functioning Package (EFP)
$2025 $1825
Don’t worry about a single thing with the Executive Functioning Package 🎉
You’ll receive:
TWO conference tickets - one for you and one for your favorite colleague! (or person of your choice)
THREE flexible hotel nights with two full beds (choose whichever dates work for your schedule, and we will book and pay it for you!)
Gluten-free and nut-free snacks/light refreshments each day
1 Comped Dinner for two people at the hotel
Round-trip airport transportation arranged and covered for both attendees
TWO Atlanta CityPASSes (valid 9 days from first use!) - free admission to all 6 attractions:
GA Aquarium
Atlanta Zoo
World of Coca-Cola
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Georgia Football Hall of Fame
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
TWO fun welcome bags!
Presentation Themes + Topics
Evidence-Based Approaches
We're tired of wellness culture promising expensive and futile cures. But we also know that conventional medicine doesn't yet have all the answers for complex conditions—the research is still catching up. This conference focuses on what the evidence shows is already working for symptom management and quality of life improvements, bridging the gap between overpromising pseudoscience and an incomplete medical toolkit.
Trauma & Neuroaffirming-Informed Care
How to navigate medical trauma, healthcare PTSD, and the complex relationship between chronic illness and mental health without falling into harmful narratives. Because the healthcare system itself often causes harm through dismissal, misdiagnosis, and pathologizing normal responses to being chronically ill. This conference equips providers to recognize and prevent iatrogenic trauma while supporting genuine healing.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Physical therapists, dietitians, social workers, nurses, and mental health professionals all in one room. Because chronic illness care works best when we work together, yet medical silos too often keep these specialists apart, leaving patients to coordinate their own fragmented care. This conference creates the collaboration that should be standard practice.
Systemic Understanding
We'll address the elephant in the room: how healthcare access, financial stress, and systemic barriers impact our clients' outcomes more than any individual intervention. Because medicine too often treats these as personal failings rather than structural problems that determine who gets care and who gets left behind. You'll walk away with actual financial resources for yourselves and your clients, plus frameworks for advocating within broken systems.
Professional Sustainability
Working with chronic illness populations can be emotionally demanding. Learn sustainable practices to prevent burnout while maintaining compassionate care. The healthcare system extracts emotional labor from providers while offering little institutional support, making burnout almost inevitable. This conference provides practical tools for protecting your own wellbeing so you can continue showing up for the patients who need you most.
Real-World Application
Case studies, practical strategies, and tools you can use Monday morning. No theoretical fluff, just what works in actual practice with real clients. Because too often, clinical guidelines ignore the realities of limited energy, financial constraints, and bodies that don't respond typically. This conference prioritizes approaches that work in the real world, not just in ideal conditions.
Emerging Research Integration
How to thoughtfully incorporate promising, developing treatment approaches (like somatic therapies) into your practice while maintaining ethical boundaries and evidence-based, realistic expectations. The gap between cutting-edge research and clinical guidelines can span decades, leaving practitioners without guidance on legitimate emerging options. This conference helps you navigate that gap responsibly, offering neither false hope nor unnecessary gatekeeping.
Meet the Founders
Destiny Davis LPC CRC
Hi! I’m Destiny (she/her/hers) - a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia who specializes in complex medical conditions, medical trauma, and ADHD. I offer therapy intensives to individuals and couples dealing with chronic illnesses, host The Chronic Illness Therapists podcast, and run the Welcome To The Waiting Room membership as a low-cost support option for folks with chronic illnesses.
I've been dreaming of a conference like this for years. A place where we can have honest conversations about the complexity of chronic illness care, share what actually works (and what doesn't), and build a community of professionals who truly understand this population and won’t gaslight them. If you've been looking for your people in this field, I think you might find them here. - Destiny Davis
Victoria Rodriguez, PhD, LPC
Hi, I’m Victoria (she/her/hers)! I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor in an all-telehealth private practice right outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.
As the recipient of the 2024 Louisiana Counseling Association Distinguished Professional Service Award and member of the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review board with the Louisiana Department of Health, I’ve dedicated my career to supporting chronically ill/disabled people so they can live well and rest without shame.
Research suggests that community can make a huge difference in managing chronic health issues - and I can’t wait to help you learn and feel connected in this conference community that truly understands bodies that need extra compassion. See you in Atlanta!
Your Speakers
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Destiny Davis, LPC, CRC
TOPIC: Living in Limbo: Supporting Clients Through the Biopsychosocial Impact of Diagnostic Uncertainty
she/her/hers
Destiny is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Host of The Chronic Illness Therapist Podcast, and an actual patient with lived experience in chronic illness. She works with clients around the intersections of pain, childhood emotional neglect, and relationship distress. Her goal is to help clients with chronic illnesses live full and meaningful lives.
Learn more at www.thechronicillnesstherapist.com
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Sarah Stillwell, PhD, LPC-S, NCC
they/them
TOPIC: A Clinician’s Guide to Getting Kinky with Chronic Health Conditions & Pain
Sarah is an Assistant Professor at Loyola University New Orleans and a board member of the NOLA Pride Counseling Center. They specialize in gender-affirming, trauma-informed care for LGBTQIA+ communities, integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and working from a queer, feminist, and decolonized lens. A committed advocate and national volunteer leader, Sarah also provides affirming supervision and assessments for gender transition, with expertise in ethical non-monogamy and kink-aware relationships.
Learn more at roomforchange.info/meet-the-team
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Sophia Bologna, BS, Master's Graduate Student
she/they/theirs
TOPIC: A Clinician’s Guide to Getting Kinky with Chronic Health Conditions & Pain
Sophia is a master's graduate student in counseling at Loyola University New Orleans. Sophia is completing their counseling internship at New Orleans Family Justice Center, working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Sophia has clinical interests in the intersection of chronic illnesses and pain, human sexuality, and complex trauma. As someone with a dynamic disability, Sophia is passionate about working with the disabled and chronically ill community. -
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Ronda Thorington, LPC
she/her/hers
TOPIC: The Invisible Patient: Clinical Tools for Supporting Caregivers in Chronic Illness and Rare Disease
Ronda is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Parent Coach, and rare disease parent dedicated to helping families find strength and connection in the face of chronic illness. As the founder of Resilient Parent Consulting and Mental Health Coordinator for the Cure JM Foundation, she combines over two decades of clinical experience with her lived experience to create compassionate, practical resources that empower caregivers and patients to thrive emotionally while navigating complex medical journeys.
Learn more at: https://resilientparentconsulting.com
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Jason Therrien, DPT
he/him/his
TOPIC: Befriending the Body: Helping Clients Become Partners with Their Physical Selves
Jason is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 14 years of experience. He specializes in the treatment of individuals with chronic pain, and his holistic approach incorporates education, coaching, and psychologically informed practices. He is passionate about his work and delivers the compassionate care that clients deserve.
Learn more at https://www.insightempowers.com/
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Megan Stevenson, LCSW, CFSW
she/her/hers
TOPIC: Integrating Financial Therapy into Chronic Illness Care: A Collaborative Approach
Megan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Financial Social Worker passionate about sharing resources, techniques, and practical advice about managing the financial strain that clients face when dealing with a chronic illness. Through her private therapy practice, Curiosity Counseling and Consulting, Megan helps individuals and their caregivers adjust to life with chronic illness, work through grief, navigate end-of-life care planning, and provides financial therapy.
Learn more - www.curiositycounselingllc.com -
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Victoria Rodriguez, PhD LPC
she/her/hers
TOPIC: Lived Experience Meets Clinical Practice: Supporting Chronically Ill Clients
Dr. Rodriguez is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision in Louisiana & Florida specializing in neurodivergent affirming care for medical trauma & chronic illness. She has a passion for making therapy and work accessible through working virtually in an effort to meet her and her clients’ needs.
Learn more at www.revivepractice.com
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Heather Olivier, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
she/her/hers
TOPIC: Inclusive Therapies for Neurodivergent and Chronically Ill Clients
Dr. Olivier is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor specializing in neurodiversity, perinatal loss, and psychosomatic presentations of traumatic loss. She is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Louisiana University and co-founder of the Southeastern Neurodiversity Initiative.
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Rachel Hopkins, LPC, CRC
she/her/hers
TOPIC: Mental Health First Aid for Chronically Ill Children: Supporting the Mental Health of Chronically Ill Children and Adolescents
Rachel Hopkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. A community builder dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate neurodivergence, chronic illness, and loss, Rachel is passionate about providing wraparound support to parents and children across all systems of care.
Learn more at www.onlynotlonely.com
Hotel Accommodations at The Crowne Plaza - Midtown Atlanta
Save your energy + time by booking a reduced room rate through our room block at the conference hotel
Location
Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown
590 West Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Book your private room at the Crowne Plaza - Midtown Atlanta HERE.
Reduced group rate is available three days prior and three days post conference, based on room availability. Reduced group rate available until February 19th, 2026.
Want to save time + executive functioning?
Choose our Executive Functioning Package (EFP) here and we’ll ensure you receive two tickets to the conference, free attractions, and airport rides all under one payment.
Conference Values + Vision
Expertise Through Experience: We believe that the most effective chronic illness mental health care comes from the intersection of clinical training and lived experience. Our community includes therapists who understand chronic illness from both professional and personal perspectives.
Evidence-Based, Holistic Understanding: We recognize that chronic illness impacts every aspect of a person's life - identity, relationships, work, dreams, and daily functioning. Mental health care must address this complete picture, not just isolated symptoms, while remaining grounded in research and best practices.
Nervous System-Informed Care: We understand that chronic illness often involves nervous system dysregulation, and we integrate this knowledge into trauma-informed, body-aware therapeutic approaches.
Collaborative Care: We champion interdisciplinary collaboration, working alongside medical providers, dietitians, physical therapists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive support.
Justice and Accessibility: We are committed to making quality mental health care accessible to all, regardless of ability, identity, or economic status. We actively work to dismantle barriers and challenge systems that perpetuate health inequities.
Accommodations built in, not requested.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for all attendees. Below are the accommodations we provide, and we welcome requests for additional support.
Sensory Accommodations
Fragrance-free environment with posted notices throughout the venue
Quiet sensory room available for breaks, equipped with fidget toys and comfortable seating
Reduced fluorescent lighting wherever possible, with natural and softer lighting options
Communication & Learning Support
Live captions for all main sessions and presentations
Large print materials available upon request
Extra transition time built into the schedule between sessions
ADHD-friendly reminders including visual schedules and gentle transition announcements
Clear signage throughout the venue with high contrast and easy-to-read fonts
Health & Safety
Hand sanitizer stations located throughout the venue
K95 Masks in every welcome bag & extra masks available on registration tables
Flexible attendance options for those who need to step out or take breaks
Air purifiers running in meeting spaces
Physical Accessibility
Accessible seating in all meeting rooms with designated wheelchair spaces
Accessible parking available near the venue entrance
Non-slip flooring and clear pathways maintained throughout the space
Service animal relief areas clearly marked with guidance provided at registration
Caregiver Support
Complimentary caregiver passes available for essential support persons
Caregiver seating accommodated in all sessions
Caregiver break areas with comfortable seating and resources
Additional Support
Accessibility coordinator available throughout the event for questions or concerns
Flexible seating arrangements to accommodate various mobility needs
Digital copies of all materials available for screen readers and assistive technology
Request Additional Accommodations
We recognize that accessibility needs are individual and varied. If you require accommodations not listed above, please contact us at destiny@destinywinters.com or by using the form below. The earlier the better, but no later than Februrary 15th please, so we can work together to ensure your full participation in the conference.
We are continuously learning and improving our accessibility practices. Your feedback helps us create better experiences for everyone.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
This conference wouldn't be possible without partners who share our vision.
Help us train the next generation of allied health professionals to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care for chronic illness populations. 76% of our country now lives with at least one chronic illness.
If you're interested in sponsoring and building this community of support with us, we invite you to choose a sponsorship option here or book a call with Destiny to discuss a personalized option!
Be The First in the Know
Details will be updated here first and via email to our list. Sign up here!
We are expecting CEs for counselors and CRCs, and we’re working hard to make CEs count for PTs and social workers.
Help Choose a Donation Partner
Learn tools and do good in the chronic illness community.
The Chronic Illness Therapists Conference will be donating a portion of our proceeds to a charity that this community chooses.
Nominate your favorite organizations that help promote the welfare of individuals and families navigating chronic illnesses.
FAQs
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While we’ve applied for CEs for counselors and social workers, accrediting bodies do not allow the use of their name for marketing purposes until approval. All courses will meet the most stringent CE requirements so that you have the best chance of approval through your state boards. For example, we are not using "somatic" in any of our language since some boards will not approve that language. CE approval updates will be posted on the website and through the Chronic Illness Therapists email list. Join the email list here to be the first in the know.
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The conference will be an all-day event from March 6-7. While still finalizing the speaker schedule, we expect the event to take place potentially from 9am-5pm both days.
We understand that long conference days can be taxing which is why we built the Chronic Illness Therapists conference to support chronically ill therapists. That’s why we’re including a number of physical accommodations, in addition to a private sensory room, caregiver support, and executive functioning-friendly reminders throughout the conference.
Read more about our accommodations here.
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We are proud to offer scholarships to include free conference attendance to 20 graduate student volunteers. Apply to be a volunteer at the conference here.
Our goal is offer additional scholarships with future events to support chronically ill therapists with the help of larger national sponsors. You can help us do that by sharing the sponsorship application with your employer, agency, and larger community.
In the meantime, we would like to invite you to two free resources for therapists including Destiny Davis’ free consultation group and podcast and Victoria Rodriguez’s free training on medical trauma with the Trusted Provider Network.
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Yes! As disability-affirming therapists, we don’t ascribe to the idea that online options are “less valuable” than in person. We hold accessible online experiences to the same standard as in person experiences and have invested in high quality audio-visual services for our online attendees.
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No problem! If we still have available space in our conference hall, you’re more than welcome to join us. Just email admin@thechronicillnesstherapist.com to inquire if space is available. PLEASE do not just show up. We will absolutely accommodate you if we can and if we know in advance.
If you’re in person and want to switch to virtual, that’s also ok! We’d love to know as soon as you can tell us, so that we can open the room to folks who want to be in person. But also, we are chronically ill therapists ourselves. We understand if you need to switch on the day of.
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No need to pack your masks! You’ll receive your own Kn95 mask (a high-standard filtered air mask) in your personalized welcome bag. Additionally, there will be air purifiers in the conference space.
Questions?
Questions about the conference? Fill this form out and we’ll get back to you shortly!
Sponsors! Check out our sponsor page and/or book an intro call with Destiny.