Paul Brasler, MA, MSW, LCSW has worked with high-risk clients for the past 20 years in various settings including adolescent residential treatment, inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment, drug court, crisis interventions, and on a hostage negotiation team. For the past 7 years, he has worked in 3 Emergency Departments in the greater Richmond, Virginia area, conducting psychiatric assessments of patients in crisis.

Mr. Brasler has also been a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Graduate School of Social Work since 2012. He is regularly praised by seminar attendees for his ability to translate strategies into practical use, showing how to apply this knowledge through real life examples and case studies.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Paul Brasler is in private practice. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Paul Brasler has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose

Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psy.D., MNM is a clinical psychologist and inspirational international speaker, moved to work in suicide prevention after her younger brother, a Denver entrepreneur, died of suicide after a difficult battle with Bipolar Disorder.

Dr. Spencer-Thomas has been an invited speaker at the White House on the topics of mental health and suicide prevention, and she has held leadership positions for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the International Association for Suicide Prevention, the American Association for Suicidology, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

She has won multiple awards for her leadership including the 2014 Survivor of the Year from the American Association of Suicidology, the 2014 Invisible Disabilities Association Impact Honors Award, the 2012 Alumni Master Scholar from the University of Denver, the 2015 Farbarow Award from the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and the 2016 Career Achievement Alumni Award from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Spencer-Thomas has also written 4 books on mental health and violence prevention.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Sally Spencer-Thomas is a speaker, trainer, and change agent for Sally Spencer-Thomas, LLC. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Sally Spencer-Thomas has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.