May 15, 2026, 8:45 AM-10:15 AM (EST)

Session Description

The addiction counseling workforce is confronting a "silent epidemic" of burnout and compassion fatigue, exacerbated by trauma exposure, high caseloads, and the escalating overdose crisis. To address these challenges, this presentation shifts from a reactive approach to a proactive, strengths-based examination of career longevity. Grounded in a phenomenological study of master-level addiction counselors with over five years of tenure, this session introduces the "Resiliency Wellness Model." Moving beyond standard self-care advice, the presentation unpacks the lived experiences of thriving clinicians to detail a "Three-Pillar" framework of resilience: Self-Preservation, Support, and Purpose. Attendees will learn to differentiate between burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress while exploring the unique "cost of caring" in this field. Through an interactive self-assessment, participants will evaluate their standing within the three pillars to develop a personalized "Resiliency Blueprint." This plan fulfills the ethical obligation to prevent professional impairment and equips clinicians with self-advocacy strategies to improve institutional conditions. Ultimately, this session provides essential tools to help counselors navigate the demanding addiction landscape while maintaining empathy and professional identity.

Presenter

Dr. Brian Paulson is a counselor educator, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida, and the Addiction Counseling Program Director at City Vision University. He earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Liberty University. Dr. Paulson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-QS) and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT-QS), serving as a qualified supervisor in the state of Florida. He also holds credentials as a Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in Georgia, as well as a Master’s Level Certified Addictions Professional (MCAP), and a Certified Gambling Addictions Counselor (CGAC) in Florida. He has over 10 years of clinical experience working in mental health, child-welfare, juvenile justice, and addiction counseling.

With experience in both academia and clinical practice, Dr. Paulson has designed and taught graduate-level courses in group counseling, psychopathology, legal and ethical issues, and addiction treatment. He currently has a private practice devoted to providing teletherapy to clients as well as training and supervision for mental health professionals. His clinical and research interests focus on improving the counseling profession by equipping counselors-in-training with innovative pedagogical tools while fostering the resilience needed to mitigate burnout and compassion fatigue. His research interests include counselor training, advocacy, mentorship, and addiction counseling. This has led to being published in journals on topics concerning cross-cultural mentorship, counselor education, and addiction counseling. In addition to his teaching and clinical work, he serves as an Ad Hoc Reviewer for the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and is an active member of ACA, SACES, and NAADAC.

Presenter

Amy Hayes, PhD, LPC, NCC, CCS, CAADC has been a Professional Counselor since 2004 and has rich experience working with clients of all ages seeking healing and direction for a multitude of presenting issues. Dr. Hayes serves as a Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor at Northwestern College. Dr. Hayes specializes in addictions, relationships, and trauma. Her research interests include professional counselor and counselor educator identity development, supervision conflicts, and creative interventions for both counseling and supervision.

Questions?

Please contact Dr. Natalie Ricciutti at nricciut@charlotte.edu or 704-687-8960 if you have questions regarding the program.

Please contact Dr. Jordan Z. Boyd at jboyd44@charlotte.edu if you have questions regarding registration.