Our Call for Papers is Now Closed. Click Here to Register for the Conference!

October 28 - 30, 2026

2026 Conference on Mental Health

Registration Open

  • 00Days
  • 00Hours
  • 00Minutes
  • 00Seconds

October 28 - 30, 2026

Franklin, TN

Attendee Registration
Exhibitors & Sponsorships

Our Conference Partners

Our Diamond Sponsor

All Sponsors

images
1
mclean square
29
28
25
13
8

This Conference Is Designed For...

Counselors  •  Therapists  •  Interventionists  •  Social Workers  •  Psychiatrists  •  Psychologists  •  Case Managers  •  Ed Consultants  •  Educators

Earn up to 11.5 CE Credits across several educational sessions.

Register Now
Just got back from the Partners in Treatment Conference in Arizona and I’m reminded (again) how special this space is when the right people are in the room. So many high-quality operators, clinicians, and founders doing the work the right way. It was meaningful to connect with new faces and spend time with people I’ve known for years. The kind of conversations that pick up right where you left off. There’s something different about being in a room with people who genuinely care about the work, the clients, and building programs with integrity.
RaeEllen Ellis
RaeEllen EllisExecutive Growth & Operations Leader
One of my favorite conferences of the year. Every single time. There's something about being in a room full of individuals who are genuinely locked in. People from all over Arizona, people who flew in from out of state, all there because they care about helping the next individual. That's not a small thing. This field can get heavy. You know it if you're in it. But conferences like this remind me why so many of us chose it, or why it chose us. Great conversations. Great people. The kind of energy that follows you home. Already looking forward to next year.
Tyler (TJ) Moore
Tyler (TJ) MooreDirector of Clinical Outreach
Spent last week in Arizona for Partners In Treatment and it was one of those trips that brings back what actually matters and puts things into perspective. Thank you to Aaron Johnson for putting together something that felt thoughtful and grounded in real connection...Getting to spend time inside different programs, hear how teams are thinking about care, meet the individuals in their care and have the chance to understand how they support people day to day is so valuable.
Kaela Demerjian
Kaela DemerjianDirector of National Partnerships & Trauma-Informed Strategist
Attending my first Partners in Treatment event was eye-opening. It was a great reminder of how valuable genuine conversations, shared perspectives, and strong community connections can be. There was a real sense of enlightenment in seeing how collaboration, education, and simple conversations can create such meaningful impact within our communities. I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue building these relationships, strengthening partnerships, and working alongside others who are passionate about making a difference.
MacKenzie Bonomolo
MacKenzie BonomoloLAC, Clinical Outreach Representative
Being at the Partners In Treatment Conference hits different. Looking around the room, you see people from all over the country who chose this work. People who care deeply about helping others find their way out of some really hard places. There's a shared understanding here that you can't explain. The conversations feel real. The connections feel meaningful. I'm grateful to be part of a community like this. One that shows up, supports each other, and keeps pushing to do better.
Heather Amado
Heather AmadoAssociate Director of Business Development
What an event...150 vendors. Hundreds and hundreds of colleagues and counterparts-all in one place. This is how you build something bigger than yourself— a stronger network, a stronger community, and ultimately a greater impact on the people who need it most. Grateful for the opportunity to show up, represent, and be in rooms like this where real alignment happens.
T.J. Fitzpatrick
T.J. FitzpatrickCommunity Impact Manager
Last week, I got to represent AMFM Healthcare at the Partners in Treatment Conference here in Arizona. A BIG thanks to Aaron Johnson and all the other hardworking folks for putting together another solid event. PIT was the first conference I ever went to, and coming back this year felt like a family reunion, minus the gossip and questionable casseroles (we all have that one aunt).
Michael Oakes
Michael OakesRegional Outreach Manager
We're excited to be heading to the Partners In Treatment in Scottsdale...What started as a bold vision has quickly become a space for real conversations, meaningful collaboration, and raising the standard of care across the industry.
Encyrcle
Encyrcle

Get Ready for 2026

A Great Value for Attendees​

Each Clinical registrant will receive:

  • An Invitation to all Networking Events like the Countdown Party, Opening Reception, and Moonlight Mingle
  • Earn 8 - 11.5 CE Credits
  • Access to all Thursday and Friday Presentations
  • Discounted access to our Networking Lunch on Friday
  • Full, Unlimited Access to the Exhibit Hall
  • A Chance to Win One of many Fabulous Prizes
Register Now

Conference Rates​

Clinical Attendee: $99

Exhibit Hall Pass: $349

Non-Clinical Attendee: $399

Clinical Student Pass: $79

Register Now

Hotel Reservations

Conference hotel room rates are $169/night at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs. Limited Number of Rooms Available. We sold out the last 2 years in Scottsdale!
Register Now

Each Clinical registrant will receive:

  • An Invitation to all Networking Events like the Countdown Party, Opening Reception, and Poolside Moonlight Mingle
  • Access to all Thursday and Friday Presentations
  • Earn 8 – 11.5 CE Credits
  • Discounted Access to our Hosted Networking Lunch 
  • Full, Unlimited Access to the Exhibit Hall throughout the Day
  • A Chance to Win One of many Fabulous Prizes

Attendee Rates:

  • Clinical Attendee: $99
  • Exhibit Hall Pass: $349
  • Non-Clinical Attendee: $399
  • Clinical Students: $79

Hotel Rates

Conference hotel room rates are $169/night at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs. 

We are expecting over 100 vendors in our beautiful Franklin Marriott Cool Springs venue.
So, please join us for up to three days of fun, education, and quality networking.

Register Now

Our Keynote Presenters

Dustin Tibbits, LMFT

Embark Behavioral Health

Topic: A Beacon in the Storm: Guiding Families with Borderline Personality Disorder Toward Healing (1 CE Credit)

 

Learn More

Karlyn Pleasants, PsyD

Anew Treatment Center

Topic: TBD (1 CE Credit)

Learn More

Kevin McCauley, MD, MPH 

The Meadows

Topic: TBD (1 CE Credit)

Learn More

Chris J. Tuell, EdD, LPCC-S, LICDC-CS &
Molly Pachan, PhD

The Lindner Center of HOPE

Topic: TBD (1 CE Credit)

Learn More

Carol Juergensen Sheets, LCSW, CSAT, CCPS-S

Integrative Life Center

Topic: From Betrayal to Secure Attachment: The Early Recovery Couples Empathy Model (ERCEM) (1 CE Credit)

Learn More

Kristy Roll, LCSW & Skye LoGuidice, LMSW, RYT

Cumberland Heights

Topic: TBD (1 CE Credit)

Learn More

Carlos Martinez, M.Div., LPC, CET-II

Onsite

Topic: TBD (1 CE Credit)

Learn More

Ari Drosman, LMFT & Chelsea Reeves, LMFT, LAADC

Resurface Group

Topic: From Silos to Systems: A Radical Model for Collaborative Mental Health Care (1 CE Credit)

Learn More
Learn More About Our Pre-Conference Workshops

About Us

This Year's Theme:

Partnering Through Community: Advancing A Culture of Collaboration

The Partners In Treatment Annual Conference on Mental Health, originally launched in Scottsdale, is thrilled to announce its expansion to Nashville for its inaugural year in this vibrant city. Born from the collaborative vision of seven esteemed partner facilities, this conference has grown from its Scottsdale roots into a premier educational platform for healthcare professionals. Our mission remains steadfast: to deliver a superior educational experience, equipping attendees with the latest advancements in mental health treatment.

Since its inception, the Scottsdale conference has set a high standard, bringing together leading clinicians to share cutting-edge insights on mental health care. Building on this success, our expansion to Nashville reflects our commitment to reaching a broader audience and fostering greater impact in the mental health community. This milestone marks an exciting new chapter as we bring our carefully curated, non-commercial approach to a new region.

Unlike other conferences, we maintain a strict “no pay-to-play” policy. Presenters are selected based on expertise, not sponsorship, ensuring that the content delivered is both authoritative and unbiased. Our presenters, handpicked from the top talent at our partner facilities, will cover timely topics designed to empower attendees with practical, evidence-based knowledge.

Register Now

Dr. Mustafa Rehmani, DO

Psychiatrist

Embark Behavioral Health

Dr. Mustafa Rehmani is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in private practice providing mental health services in Los Angeles. Having trained in both the east and west coasts, Dr. Rehmani has a wide range of experience with psychiatric illnesses affecting all age groups in multiple therapeutic settings. He has gained experience at some of Los Angeles’ most prestigious hospitals including The Keck School of Medicine where he was an assistant clinical professor and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where he remains on staff.

When describing Dr. Rehmani, his fellowship program director shared “Dr. Rehmani intuitively does this thing that is tricky but so important in psychiatry. He engages his patients with the warmth and familiarity of a friend while carefully never losing the professional accountments, and therapeutic intention of a psychiatrist.” Dr. Rehmani has been described by his patients as warm, empowering, easy to talk to, and someone who “just gets it.” He is dedicated to helping patients realize their potential.

Dr. Rehmani’s areas of clinical expertise include child/adolescent and adult general psychiatry, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, psychotic disorders, and psychiatric symptoms in medically complex patients among others.

Presentation Topic:

From Complexity to Community: A Case Study on Healing Through Collaboration

This compelling case study explores a multidisciplinary team’s approach to supporting a 20-year-old female with autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and a complex medical history in a residential care setting. It highlights the power of collaborative care, showcasing how a dedicated team fostered relationships, community, and self-care to achieve meaningful therapeutic outcomes. Through an in-depth examination of the client’s psychopathology and a multifaceted, evidence-based treatment approach, attendees will gain practical insights into effective strategies for managing schizophrenia, including medication and non-medication interventions, and learn to identify overlapping symptoms with autism spectrum disorder.

Dr. Karlyn Pleasants, PsyD

Chief Clinical Advisor

Anew Treatment Center

Dr. Karlyn Pleasants is a clinical psychologist, international speaker and trainer, and leading clinical advisor with a whole-hearted commitment to shifting paradigms and rewriting cultural and familial narratives about mental health and healing.

 

For twenty-five years, Karlyn has helped create thriving therapeutic environments that have supported thousands of individuals and their families build lives rooted in purpose and hope that extend far beyond the bounds of psychiatric diagnoses.

Dr. Pleasants is the Chief Clinical Advisor at the Anew Treatment Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has made it her mission is to carry on the fidelity of the deeply transformative milieu model of recovery and change. She is the author of Feathers from the Fire, the tale of one family’s journey through fear, stigma, and generational secrets in search of healing and hope.

Presentation Topic:

Hello Again and Until Then: The Magical Threads of Connection, Community, and Healing

Human connection is decidedly one of the most powerful and influential forces in life. It is vital for our survival, we are biologically wired for it, and our emotional, mental, and social wellbeing depend on it.

Harnessing the wisdom of Attachment and Polyvagal Theories, this program will present a unique strategy for implementing one of the most essential building blocks for establishing and strengthening relational connections at the micro-, mezzo-, and macro levels of collaboration.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore how this simple, yet potent approach holds tremendous potential for building and bridging connections that foster opportunities for healing, growth, expansion, and impact with individuals, teams, and larger communities.

Visit Karlyn's Website

Dr. Claudia Black, PhD

Senior Fellow

Meadows Behavioral Health

Claudia Black’s seminal work with children impacted by substance abuse in the late 1970s created the foundation for the adult child movement. Today Claudia is a renowned author and trainer internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. Claudia Black, Ph.D., designs and presents training workshops and seminars to professional audiences in the field of family service, mental health, and addictive disorders. She Senior Fellow and Clinical Architect of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows in Arizona.

She serves on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Children of Addiction, and the Advisory Council of the Eluna Foundation. Claudia is the author of several well-known books; the latest titles being Undaunted Hope: Stories of Healing from Trauma, Depression and Addictions and Your Recovery Your Life for Teens.

Presentation Topic:

Undaunted Hope: Embracing Self Amidst the Traumas

Mental health and addictive disorders are skyrocketing, with trauma often being the prevalent theme that binds them together. After a brief presentational about the dynamics of trauma, Claudia Black will unpack the childhood adverse events that are the foundation of emotional dysregulation fueling traumatic responses. As she offers a process for healing Claudia underscores the strength to be seen and heard, accompanied with the safety found in both peer and professional support, is the roadmap to recovery.

Participants will be able to:

  • Describe the relationship of trauma and addiction
  • List the six most common sources of traumatic stress
  • Name six steps to embracing one ‘s Self
Visit Claudia's Website

Dr. Michael Groat, PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Lindner Center of HOPE

Michael Groat, PhD, has over 16 years of leadership experience in nationally recognized mental health and addiction treatment programs for adolescents and adults. He is the former CEO of CooperRiis, a 95-bed residential program in Asheville, NC, and has served as Chief Clinical Officer at Silver Hill Hospital and Director of Adult Services at the Menninger Clinic. Dr. Groat has launched successful programs, while driving improved patient satisfaction, staff morale, and outcomes measurement. Dr. Groat completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Austen Riggs Center and is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. 

He has previously held academic positions at Yale School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine and has presented internationally on topics related to psychotherapeutic treatment of the complex patient, suicide prevention, loneliness, and mental health recovery.

Presentation Topic:

The Power of Community and Connection in Combatting the Loneliness Epidemic

This presentation will explore the profound impact of loneliness on mental and physical health, highlighting the growing empirical research demonstrating connections of loneliness to depression, anxiety, and diminished overall well-being. Participants will learn about the critical role of social support networks and community engagement in reducing loneliness, fostering resilience, and supporting recovery. Best practices for integrating community-building strategies into treatment will be discussed, emphasizing how to strengthen social ties and minimize isolation

Jerry L. Law, DMin, CMAT, CSAT, CIP

Group Executive Director

The Meadows

Dr. Jerry Law has a longstanding relationship with Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, having held key leadership roles, including Executive Director of Gentle Path, Willow House, and The Meadows Texas residential treatment programs. He also served as Director of Family Education and Leadership Training for MBH, working with family members of those in treatment. In 2021, Dr. Law was appointed Executive Director of The Meadows, our flagship program, and in 2024 he was promoted to Group Executive Director for both The Meadows and The Meadows Seasons. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, working closely with the clinical team to deliver exceptional care and ensure excellence throughout the treatment process. Dr. Law also collaborates with senior leadership and the Meadows Senior Fellows to maintain the continuity of care that defines MBH programs worldwide.

Presentation Topic:

Enabling or Helping: The Power of Community in Setting Healthy Boundaries