Session: Navigating Social Media Challenges

Affiliation: Dr. Messina & Associates

Dr. Michael Messina is the founder and owner of Dr. Messina & Associates in Southlake, and Flower Mound, Texas. Dr. Messina & Associates is a multidisciplinary, full service mental health practice providing psychological and psychiatric services to children, adolescents, adults, and couples. We provide therapy, medication management, and psychological testing for a variety of needs. 

Dr. Messina is an experienced licensed psychologist with two decades of clinical experience, specializing in anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, and relationship problems. Dr. Messina utilizes his expertise to help his patients meet their goals, and live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Dr. Messina has held faculty positions and has appeared as a guest lecturer at several universities, presented at numerous community organizations, and has collaborated with media outlets, such as, Business Talk Radio, CBS “The Doctors”, CNBC, Cross Timbers Lifestyle, and Southlake Style. 

Session: Equine Connected Counseling

Affiliation: Trinity Challenge

Chris Covington is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) and faith-based mental health professional serving individuals, families, and teams. With a passion for holistic wellness and a background in adventure-based and equine-assisted counseling, Chris helps clients overcome challenges through active engagement, practical strategies, and compassionate care. His approach blends traditional talk therapy with experiential methods to foster connection, personal growth, and lasting change. As a husband, father, and outdoorsman, Chris values integrity, resilience, and the healing power of relationship—both human and equine. He also offers leadership coaching and team-building services that emphasize trust, communication, and purpose. 

Session: Navigating Friendships & Guiding Relationships

Affiliation: SkyLife Wellness

Dr. Jenna Mack is a licensed professional counselor, registered play therapist and the founder of SkyLife Wellness, a private counseling practice in Southlake, Texas. With a Ph.D. in counseling and over 15 years of experience, Dr. Mack is dedicated to supporting youth, parents and families through evidence-based and compassionate care. Her practice focuses on empowering clients to navigate life’s challenges, improve emotional well-being, and build stronger relationships. Known for her warm, insightful approach, Dr. Mack integrates a variety of therapeutic modalities tailored to each client’s needs. She is also passionate about improving the lives of neurodivergent individuals and their families while also mentoring new clinicians, advocating for ethical mental health practices, and promoting community wellness through workshops and outreach. At SkyLife Wellness, Dr. Mack leads a growing team committed to creating a safe, inclusive space for healing and growth. 

Session: Recognizing & Nurturing Your Child's Strengths

Amanda Garcia is a dedicated and compassionate school counselor with over a decade of experience in education. With a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in School Counseling, Amanda brings a well-rounded perspective to supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. She is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students, working collaboratively with families, teachers, and administrators to ensure each child thrives.

Known for her approachable demeanor and student-centered approach, Amanda believes in empowering students with the tools they need to navigate school and life with confidence and resilience.  

Session: Setting Healthy Boundaries

Affiliation: Dr. Messina & Associates

Kristi Rodriguez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Associate (LMFT-A) who works with children, teens, families, couples, and adults with a variety of issues and difficulties at Dr. Messina & Associates in Flower Mound and Southlake, Texas.

Kristi is skilled in working with people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, family attachment issues, grief, and loss. She creates an atmosphere of compassion and warmth with a strong client-centered collaborative approach. In addition, Kristi is fully trained and certified in advanced EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for complex trauma. 

Kristi’s aim is to provide a safe, supportive environment where clients can process their feelings and struggles while identifying personal and relational resources that will help them move closer to their goals.

Session: Raising Resilient Kids

Affiliation: The Cultivate Community

Candace Szymanski, MA, MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist and founder of The Cultivate Community, a multidisciplinary practice supporting children, teens, and families through emotional, medical, grief-related, and developmental challenges.

She has extensive experience working with children and adolescents navigating medical diagnoses, anxiety, grief and bereavement, mental health needs, and behavioral challenges. Candace brings a warm, grounded approach to her work and believes in meeting each child just as they are, building trust through connection, consistency, and care that fits their needs.

Candace has supervised students and interns in both medical and psychiatric settings and provides ongoing supervision and resources for professionals through Music Therapy Made Simple. She regularly presents throughout North Texas and is passionate about walking alongside families and helping professionals feel equipped, supported, and inspired in their work. 

Session: Raising Resilient Kids

Affiliation: The Cultivate Community

Linsey has supported children, teens, and families facing healthcare challenges and loss for over twenty-five years. As a child life specialist with The Cultivate Community, Linsey specializes in supporting families navigating a serious illness or life-threatening condition. Linsey helps young clients understand and process current health challenges, anticipated loss, and grief, while building coping tools and emotional resilience. She enjoys using play, creativity, and therapeutic activities to guide each child through their unique journey. Linsey is a Certified Child Life Specialist, Certified Child & Adolescent Grief Counselor, and Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner.

Session: Raising Resilient Kids

Affiliation: The Cultivate Community

Growing up with a brother who was diagnosed with a chronic illness, Savannah Rose quickly saw the profound need for support and care within families. This experience ignited her passion for helping others and creating a space where people can be their authentic selves, feeling understood and valued.

Savannah is deeply client- and child-focused, believing strongly in the power of a supportive and nurturing environment. Her approach is holistic, always considering how the family system plays a crucial role in a person's development and well-being. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which she uses to help clients navigate their challenges and achieve meaningful growth.

In Savannah's free time, she loves cooking, reading, and cheering on her favorite college sports and hockey teams. Travel is another passion of hers, and she embraces every opportunity to explore new places. Celebrating holidays with family and friends brings her immense joy, and she cherishes these moments of connection and festivity. 

Session: Building a Growth Mindset

Affiliation: Charlie Health

Eric Northey Jr is a healthcare operations and outreach professional with an MBA in Healthcare Management and several years of leadership experience across clinical operations, patient experience, and business development. Currently, he serves as a Clinical Outreach Manager at Charlie Health, where he focuses on building strong relationships with providers, streamlining referral processes, and connecting patients to much-needed mental health care. Prior to this, Eric held operational leadership roles at Salience Health, overseeing multiple clinic sites and driving improvements in patient experience and team efficiency. He is passionate about creating pathways that lead to better patient outcomes and stronger healthcare systems. Eric is also an active member of ACHE, working to expand his knowledge and network as he grows toward his long-term goal of hospital administration. 

Session: Tackling Stress with Smarts

Affiliation: Sanger ISD

Sadaf Habib is currently a School Psychologist for the Denton County Special Education Co-Operative. She services an Elementary and Middle School in Sanger ISD. Prior to graduate school and becoming an LSSP, she worked in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA Therapy) with children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum. She specialized in communication training, parent training, and severe behavior management. 

Sadaf enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, playing pickleball, watching basketball, spending endless hours in Target, and time with family and friends. As an LSSP, she serves the Special Education population through Direct and Consult services such as: Counseling, behavior management (FBA/BIP Implementation), Crisis, conducting psychological and educational evaluations, Consultation with school staff related to specific students/classroom needs or difficulties and various other staff from the CO-OP.