January 31, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join us for Houston Christian University’s Third Annual Mental Health Symposium, “Together We Rise,” as we face today’s challenges in mental health and education with resilience, compassion, and hope. This year’s theme, Times of Uncertainty, calls us to stand united as a community—rising up, reaching out, restoring, and responding to the needs around us. Featuring inspiring presentations from seasoned professionals and educators, the symposium offers valuable insights, renewal, and a 3-hour ethics continuing education opportunity for mental health professionals. Come be part of this powerful gathering where shared wisdom becomes collective strength. Register Now Download Promotional Flyers Faculty FlyerStudent & Community Flyer About the Conference Together We Rise, the Houston Christian University Mental Health Symposium, recognizes the unique challenges of today’s society and responds to those with modern continuing education for mental health and educational professionals. Life after the pandemic and an increase in the use of social media has changed how mental health and education are approached. As a result, there is a greater need to create environments where individuals have access to inclusive mental health care where they are empowered to thrive. Yet, we recognize that numerous challenges persist; inconsistencies in access to quality care, workforce shortages, and a constant shame that keeps people from seeking help. That’s why we believe that progress requires a united effort to reach all people needing support. Together We Rise will bring together professionals from various disciplines to share expertise, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore actionable solutions to advance inclusivity and effectiveness in mental health and education. Join us as we explore strategies to break down barriers, address inequities, and build a brighter future for everyone. Through innovative presentations, interactive breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with fellow leaders in the field, attendees will gain valuable insights and practical tools to promote inclusive practices in their own organizations and communities. Together We Rise aims to provide tools and resources for those passionate about creating inclusive spaces and effective support systems for diverse populations. CEU’s will be available for mental health professionals including CEU’s for ethics and CPE’s for educators. Keynote Presentation Topic Dealing with Times of Uncertainty Speaker Bio Eric Scalise, PhD, is the President of LIV Consulting, LLC. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with Hope for the Heart. He is also the former Senior Vice President for the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and former Department Chair for Counseling Programs at Regent University. Dr. Scalise is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with 40 years of clinical and professional experience in the mental health field, and he served six years on the Virginia Board of Counseling under two governors. Specialty areas include professional/pastoral stress and burnout, combat trauma and PTSD, marriage and family issues, grief and loss, addictions and recovery, leadership development, and lay counselor training. He is a published author, adjunct professor at several Christian universities, conference speaker, and frequently works with organizations, clinicians, ministry leaders, and churches on a variety of issues. Breakout Sessions Breakout sessions will cover a range of topics, including inclusivity, neurodiversity, mental health stigma, resource acquisition, effective advocacy, leadership, empirical interventions, and the development of resiliency. Our overall themes will be “Rise Up,” focusing on resiliency; “Reach Out” focusing on community advocacy, and “Respond and Restore,” focusing on interventions for today’s pressing problems in mental health and education. Schedule At a Glance 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast, Registration, and Check-in 9:00 a.m. – Keynote Speaker 10:00 a.m. – 1:20 p.m. – Student Poster Presentations and Breakout Sessions Registration Early registration (until 11/24): $35 Regular: $45 Student: $25 Notice: registration is non-refundable but it is transferable. Register now Related Degrees Counseling Degrees BA in Psychology – Christian Counseling MA in Christian Counseling MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA in Marriage and Family Therapy MEd in Professional School Counseling Psychology Degrees BA in Psychology BA in Psychology – Marriage & Family Studies Psychology 5-Year Bachelors to Masters MA in Christian Psychological Studies MA in Christian Psychology MA in Psychology MA in Psychology – School Psychology
