A Conference For Allied Health Professionals Specializing in Chronic Pain and Illness
Spring 2026 • Atlanta, Georgia
Finally, a conference where interdisciplinary professionals come together to share evidence-based approaches for supporting clients with chronic conditions. No wellness myths. No cure promises. Just practical, compassionate care strategies that actually work.
Stay Connected!
We're still putting together all the amazing details. Join our community to be the first to know about speakers, registration, and updates. Questions? Email us at destiny@destinywinters.com w/ subject line [CONFERENCE]
Scope Out The Themes and Topics!
Evidence-Based Approaches
We're tired of wellness culture promising expensive and futile cures. But we also know that conventional medicine doesn't yet have all the answers for complex conditions—the research is still catching up. This conference focuses on what the evidence shows is already working for symptom management and quality of life improvements, bridging the gap between overpromising pseudoscience and an incomplete medical toolkit.
Trauma & Neuroaffirming-Informed Care
How to navigate medical trauma, healthcare PTSD, and the complex relationship between chronic illness and mental health without falling into harmful narratives. Because the healthcare system itself often causes harm through dismissal, misdiagnosis, and pathologizing normal responses to being chronically ill. This conference equips providers to recognize and prevent iatrogenic trauma while supporting genuine healing.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Physical therapists, dietitians, social workers, nurses, and mental health professionals all in one room. Because chronic illness care works best when we work together, yet medical silos too often keep these specialists apart, leaving patients to coordinate their own fragmented care. This conference creates the collaboration that should be standard practice.
Systemic Understanding
We'll address the elephant in the room: how healthcare access, financial stress, and systemic barriers impact our clients' outcomes more than any individual intervention. Because medicine too often treats these as personal failings rather than structural problems that determine who gets care and who gets left behind. You'll walk away with actual financial resources for yourselves and your clients, plus frameworks for advocating within broken systems.
Professional Sustainability
Working with chronic illness populations can be emotionally demanding. Learn sustainable practices to prevent burnout while maintaining compassionate care. The healthcare system extracts emotional labor from providers while offering little institutional support, making burnout almost inevitable. This conference provides practical tools for protecting your own wellbeing so you can continue showing up for the patients who need you most.
Real-World Application
Case studies, practical strategies, and tools you can use Monday morning. No theoretical fluff, just what works in actual practice with real clients. Because too often, clinical guidelines ignore the realities of limited energy, financial constraints, and bodies that don't respond typically. This conference prioritizes approaches that work in the real world, not just in ideal conditions.
Emerging Research Integration
How to thoughtfully incorporate promising, developing treatment approaches (like somatic therapies) into your practice while maintaining ethical boundaries and evidence-based, realistic expectations. The gap between cutting-edge research and clinical guidelines can span decades, leaving practitioners without guidance on legitimate emerging options. This conference helps you navigate that gap responsibly, offering neither false hope nor unnecessary gatekeeping.
Meet the Founders
Destiny Davis LPC CRC
Victoria Rodriguez, PhD, LPC
Hi! I’m Destiny (she/her/hers) - a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia who specializes in complex medical conditions, medical trauma, and ADHD. I offer therapy intensives to individuals and couples dealing with chronic illnesses, host The Chronic Illness Therapists podcast, and run the Welcome To The Waiting Room membership as a low-cost support option for folks with chronic illnesses.
I've been dreaming of a conference like this for years. A place where we can have honest conversations about the complexity of chronic illness care, share what actually works (and what doesn't), and build a community of professionals who truly understand this population and won’t gaslight them. If you've been looking for your people in this field, I think you might find them here. - Destiny Davis
Dr. Victoria Rodriguez (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Louisiana who specializes in medical trauma. As an adjunct instructor at Nicholls State University, she researches and presents on the theory-application gap and creative interventions for trauma treatment.
Your Speakers
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Destiny Davis, LPC, CRC
The Chronic Illness Therapist
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Victoria Rodriguez, PhD LPC
Revive Counseling & Consulting
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Ronda Thorington, LPC
Ronda Thorington Parent Coaching (for Rare Disease)
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Jason Therrien, DPT
Insight Empowers Physical Therapy
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Megan Stevenson, LCSW, CFSW
Curiosity Counseling
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Heather Olivier, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
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Rachel Hopkins, LPC, CRC
Description goes here
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
This conference wouldn't be possible without partners who share our vision.
Help us train the next generation of allied health professionals to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care for chronic illness populations. 76% of our country now lives with at least one chronic illness.
If you're interested in sponsoring and building this community of support with us, we invite you to choose a sponsorship option here or book a call with Destiny to discuss a personalized option!
Our vision
To create a world where every person living with chronic illness has access to compassionate, informed mental health care that honors both their lived experience and clinical expertise.
Through our work, we are:
Training the next generation of chronic illness-informed therapists through specialized consultation groups, cohorts, and continuing education
Debunking harmful myths and misinformation that perpetuate shame and blame around chronic illness
Building community for both providers and individuals navigating chronic health challenges
Advancing the field by integrating cutting-edge research with practical, compassionate care approaches
Creating resources that bridge the gap between medical and mental health understanding
We envision a future where:
Therapists are equipped with the specialized knowledge and clinical framework needed to provide exceptional care at the intersection of chronic illness and mental health
Individuals with chronic conditions feel truly understood, validated, and supported in spaces designed specifically for their unique needs
Healthcare becomes integrated, breaking down silos between mental health and medical care through collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches
Lived experience is valued as essential expertise that informs and elevates clinical practice
Systemic barriers are addressed, recognizing that true healing requires attention to accessibility, social determinants of health, and structural inequities
Our values
Expertise Through Experience: We believe that the most effective chronic illness mental health care comes from the intersection of clinical training and lived experience. Our community includes therapists who understand chronic illness from both professional and personal perspectives.
Evidence-Based, Holistic Understanding: We recognize that chronic illness impacts every aspect of a person's life - identity, relationships, work, dreams, and daily functioning. Mental health care must address this complete picture, not just isolated symptoms, while remaining grounded in research and best practices.
Nervous System-Informed Care: We understand that chronic illness often involves nervous system dysregulation, and we integrate this knowledge into trauma-informed, body-aware therapeutic approaches.
Collaborative Care: We champion interdisciplinary collaboration, working alongside medical providers, dietitians, physical therapists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive support.
Justice and Accessibility: We are committed to making quality mental health care accessible to all, regardless of ability, identity, or economic status. We actively work to dismantle barriers and challenge systems that perpetuate health inequities.
Our Commitment
We commit to remaining at the forefront of chronic illness mental health care, continuously learning, growing, and adapting our approaches based on emerging research, community feedback, and the evolving needs of those we serve. We will always center the voices and experiences of people living with chronic illness while maintaining the highest standards of clinical care.
Together, we are contributing to the transformation of mental health care for chronic illness - creating healing spaces where expertise meets empathy, and where every person's journey is honored and supported.
Atlanta is Calling
Accommodations built in, not requested.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for all attendees. Below are the accommodations we provide, and we welcome requests for additional support.
Sensory Accommodations
Fragrance-free environment with posted notices throughout the venue
Quiet sensory room available for breaks, equipped with fidget toys and comfortable seating
Reduced fluorescent lighting wherever possible, with natural and softer lighting options
Communication & Learning Support
Live captions for all main sessions and presentations
Large print materials available upon request
Extra transition time built into the schedule between sessions
ADHD-friendly reminders including visual schedules and gentle transition announcements
Clear signage throughout the venue with high contrast and easy-to-read fonts
Health & Safety
Hand sanitizer stations located throughout the venue
K95 Masks in every welcome bag & extra masks available on registration tables
Flexible attendance options for those who need to step out or take breaks
Air purifiers running in meeting spaces
Physical Accessibility
Accessible seating in all meeting rooms with designated wheelchair spaces
Accessible parking available near the venue entrance
Non-slip flooring and clear pathways maintained throughout the space
Service animal relief areas clearly marked with guidance provided at registration
Caregiver Support
Complimentary caregiver passes available for essential support persons
Caregiver seating accommodated in all sessions
Caregiver break areas with comfortable seating and resources
Additional Support
Accessibility coordinator available throughout the event for questions or concerns
Flexible seating arrangements to accommodate various mobility needs
Digital copies of all materials available for screen readers and assistive technology
Request Additional Accommodations
We recognize that accessibility needs are individual and varied. If you require accommodations not listed above, please contact us at destiny@destinywinters.com or by using the form below. The earlier the better, but no later than Februrary 15th please, so we can work together to ensure your full participation in the conference.
We are continuously learning and improving our accessibility practices. Your feedback helps us create better experiences for everyone.
Pricing
$425
Early Bird
Includes gluten-free and nut-free breakfasts and lunches each day.
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
fun welcome bag!
$495
Regular Pricing
Includes gluten-free and nut-free breakfasts and lunches each day.
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
fun welcome bag!
$1575
EFP Package
$1215 if you don’t want a hotel room! (GA residents or those who have friends/family here)
Don’t worry about a single thing with the Executive Functioning Package 🎉
You’ll receive:
TWO conference tickets - one for you and one for your favorite colleague! (or person of your choice)
Gluten-free and nut-free breakfasts and lunches each day at the hotel
EFP dinner Friday night w/ other EFP guests + speakers
THREE hotel nights paid for (double beds), so you can enjoy your Atlanta CityPASSes
A ride to and from the airport to the hotel
2 CityPASSes gets you in free to all 6 of these at no cost to you:
GA Aquarium
Atlanta Zoo
World of Coca-Cola
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Georgia Football Hall of Fame
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
fun welcome bag!
$300
Student Pricing
Or FREE in exchange for 2 days of volunteering. Volunteer spots limited to 20 students.
Includes gluten-free and nut-free breakfasts and lunches each day.
11 CEs, pre-approved for CRCs. Pending approval for LPCs, LCSWs, and Physical Therapists
fun welcome bag!
*proof of enrollment requested upon registration
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!