Barry graduate counseling students attend Third Annual Graduate Student Conference in Orlando

In April, nearly 25 Barry graduate counseling students attended the Third Annual Graduate Student Conference in Orlando. The conference, hosted by Chi Sigma Iota - Beta Upsilon Chapter and the Barry University Counselors' Association, provides graduate counseling students at Barry University in Orlando and other Central Florida colleges and universities the opportunity to present and share topics of interest.

"I am always impressed with the topics the students choose to present, said Dr. Christine Sacco-Bene, assistant professor of the counseling program at the Adrian Dominican School of Education in Orlando. "Everyone who attends this conference leaves with new information to take back with them.”

Linda Freeman, a doctoral student in the counseling program at Barry's Orlando Site, served as keynote speaker. Freeman, a licensed mental health counselor and certified addictions professional, has been a practitioner of mindfulness meditation for three years and has incorporated meditation in working with addiction related issues for more than six years. Recently, she collaborated with other clinical professionals to establish the first mindfulness meditation group solely dedicated to those working towards the alleviation of emotional and physical suffering in others.  

The Barry University Counseling Association – Orlando (BUCAO) is a professional student and alumni association offering educational and social experiences. This is a student-run organization offering opportunities for social networking and professional development. Interested students and alumni can also gain a wealth of knowledge in workshops and with guest speakers. Subjects such as licensure, domestic violence, and addiction will be discussed. Members are also offered an opportunity to have a mentor. This is offered via e-mail. Through BUCAO you can receive academic and professional guidance, workshop topics and dates, and a variety of information relevant to the counseling field.

Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society in counseling for students, professional counselors, and counselor educators whose mission is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in that profession. There are a total of 284 chapters internationally. Barry's chapter, Chi Sigma Iota - Beta Upsilon, has received multiple awards since 1999 for its Outstanding Newsletter and as an Outstanding Chapter.