Learn, Share and Connect at the Annual Conference & Expo
Get ready to be energized and inspired while connecting with leading experts and peers from around the country at the 2026 Conference & Expo.
Join us April 9-11, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center for the premier professional development and networking event for professional counselors. With thought-provoking presentations, enlightening discussions and meaningful opportunities to advocate on behalf of counselors and clients, you will walk away feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle the challenges facing you, your clients and the counseling community.
Opening General Session
The Warrior Within
Thursday, April 9 | 3:30-5:00 PM ET
D.J. Vanas
President, Native Discovery Inc.
Former U.S. Air Force Officer, Best-Selling Author
We all want to be brave. We all want to deliver when it matters—and in this session, you’ll be inspired to do both. Enduring uncertain times and turbulent change can bring fearful doubt, which can affect our focus, wellness and the way we serve others. Based on his new book, “The Warrior Within,” D.J. will share a unique, powerful perspective from Native American culture on what the warrior role is (and isn’t) about and how we can emulate the principles of that role to stay strong to contribute to our community—and understand that the role of warriors can make us warriors in our roles!
Friday General Session
Build Your Bridge and Start Walking: Finding Moral Courage in Challenging Times
Friday, April 10 | 10:00-11:30 AM ET
Françoise Mathieu, MEd, RP
TEND Academy Ltd.
In times of crisis, many professionals find themselves caught between competing demands, shifting directives, and the profound knowledge that something important is at stake. Moral courage, as Kidder (2005) defines it, is “standing up for values and principles when there is something to lose.”
In this keynote, Françoise Mathieu explores how moral courage often lives in the space between doing nothing and taking high-cost actions. With a focus on steadiness, clarity, and grounded action, this session offers practical ways to protect the heart of the work while responding to real-world constraints.
Pre-Conference Learning Institutes
Held before the conference’s official start on Thursday, April 9, Pre-conference Learning Institutes offer attendees in-depth exploration and meaningful discussion of some of the most pressing topics and issues in the counseling profession. Additional cost applies.
