​Crisis Intervention Conference 

​2022 Keynote Speakers

Caroline Mazel Carlton, Wildflower Alliance

Caroline Mazel-Carlton has laid her head in a number of places, from Indiana jail cells to Texas psychiatric units, but now channels her lived experience with crisis into creating innovations in support at the Wildflower Alliance based in Western Massachusetts. The Wildflower Alliance includes Afiya House, a World Health Organization recognized best practice in crisis alternatives, among many other supports offered in community and inpatient settings. Since moving out of a staffed psychiatric residential facility in 2009, Caroline has worked tirelessly to create change in the mental health system and has also developed and re-defined crisis support in a number of settings across the globe from North Carolina to Western Australia to Brazil.

Caroline's passion is centering and exploring the experiences that are often the most silenced, such as suicide, trauma and non-consensus reality states. Her work with "Alternatives to Suicide" and the Hearing Voices Network has been featured in popular media outlets such as the New York Times, Foreign Policy and O magazine. Caroline has contributed to multiple academic publications on the topic of suicide and one book on her experience skating on a roller derby team as #18 "Mazel Tov Cocktail." 

Myra R. McNair, LMFT, Executive Director, Anesis Center for Therapy, Madison, Wis.

Owner and founder of Anesis Family Therapy, Myra is a Marriage and Family Therapist, Trauma Specialist and Hypnotherapist. Myra has a Bachelors of Art in Biology and a Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy with specialties in addiction, depression, anxiety, infant mental health, parent/child attachment, marriage counseling and trauma. One of Myra's biggest passions is working with diverse families and individuals. Using a family systems lens, Myra uses psychoanalytic theory and a narrative therapy approach. Centering concepts from the West African Adinkra symbols -the Sankofa bird "to go back and get it" teaches us that we must understand where we come from to move forward. Once we have that understanding we can plant seeds of understanding and healing to the next generation.

Myra is trained in (EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Hypnotherapy, (TFCBT) Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CPP) Child Parent Psychotherapy, Brainspotting and Infant Mental Health. Myra is a community coordinator for the ACT, Adults and Children Together, Raising Safe Families Program and provides training for community workers and agencies in the ACT curriculum, a Mentor and Consultant for the UW Infant Mental Health Program and an Adjunct Professor for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Edgewood College. Building and training others in the field of mental health is something that Myra is devoted to. Myra continues to facilitate training and seminars in different therapy practices, relaxation and mindfulness, leadership development and cultural humility.

Myra is a 2017 "M List" recipient as a Health Innovator, 2020's In Business Magazine's "40 under 40" and 2022's Brava Magazines "Woman 2 Watch". Other awards include Black Chamber of Commerce 2020 "Eagle Award", Nami of Dane County 2020 "Mental Health Trailblazer" and Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health 2020 "Spirit Award."

Santina Muha, Speaker, Writer, Actor, Storyteller, and Host 

Santina has been a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater since 2015. In that time, she's written and performed a one woman show, been on a house team, performed stand-up been a monologist for their flagship show, and hosted and performed in several shows. Currently she is host of "Rollin' with my Homies," a popular show where she places comedians in wheelchairs to raise awareness while making people laugh. She also helped make UCB one of the only theaters with fully wheelchair accessible stages throughout all of their locations. She is a recipient of the Christopher Reeve Acting Scholarship and the UCB Diversity Scholarship, and now sits on the UCB Diversity Committee. When appropriate, Santina has mastered the use of comedy and levity in her speeches and has a unique way of making her audiences feel comfortable having fun while listening and learning. // Her "Ask a Woman in a Wheelchair" series on Buzzfeed has received over 10 million hits and counting. She is also a frequent podcast guest on everything from spiritual to comedic to inspirational to pop culture to beauty podcasts. // Santina played a recurring character on Netflix's "One Day at a Time," and has appeared in several films including opposite Joaquin Phoenix in Gus Van Sant's most recent film "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot." Her film "Take it Back," which she co-wrote, co-produced and starred in, was recently nominated for best film in the Easterseals Disability film challenge. Santina has many other projects in the works as well! // As someone who was paralyzed in an auto accident at the age of five years old and has used a wheelchair since, Santina excelled academically throughout school, was a cheerleader in high school, was social chair of her sorority in college, lived on her own right out of college, and moved across the country without any assistance a few years after that with the goal of living and working in Los Angeles, which she is currently doing. She is living proof that everyone can and should follow their dreams, no matter what obstacles one may face along the way.

​Session Presenters

Travis Atkinson 

Credentials TBA

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Mia Croyle, MA

Behavioral Health Project Specialist, MetaStar, Inc., Madison, Wis.

Mia Croyle, MA is a Behavioral Health Project Specialist with MetaStar, a quality improvement organization that works with health care providers to continually improve the quality of care.  Mia has worked in a variety of behavioral health and primary care settings.  Her primary focus is on healthcare communication.  She is a sought-after trainer in Motivational Interviewing, an evidence-based communication style for facilitating behavior change, and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).  She has a M.A. in clinical mental health counseling from Valparaiso University.  

Sarah Henrickson, LCSW

Clinical Team Manager, Emergency Services Unity, Journey Mental Health Center, Madison, Wis.

Sarah Henrickson, LCSW, is a Clinical Team Manager with Journey Mental Health’s Emergency Services Unit in Dane County, overseeing crisis workers embedded with first responder partners including the Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff, and the Madison Fire Department. Sarah has over 20 years of experience providing community-based crisis intervention services including suicide risk assessments and emergency detention evaluations. Sarah serves as the Law Enforcement Liaison for Journey, and in 2016 Sarah became the first embedded Crisis Worker with the City of Madison Police Department. She has conducted numerous trainings for law enforcement, service providers, and community members on mental illness, suicide risk, and civil commitments.

Peng Her

Credentials TBA

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Arnitta Holliman, MS, LPC

Director, Office of Violence Prevention, City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis.

Ms. Arnitta Holliman is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Professional Coach who has presented her work internationally. She is the Director the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, where she leads city-wide advancement of strategic priorities in promoting mental health and preventing gun violence, suicide, and gender-based violence. A prominent and sough-after speaker and trainer, Ms. Holliman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to suicide prevention at the clinical and policy level.

Will Hutter, PsyD, LMFT

Gender Services Specialist, Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, Mauston, Wis.

Dr. Hutter is currently the Gender Services Specialist at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center.  He is adjunct faculty at North Central University, out of San Diego, California; as well as a Visiting Professor at Iona College in New York.   He has a private practice in Madison, WI, working with gender expansive youth and their families, LGBTQ+ youth and adults, individuals with out of control sexual behaviors or sexual dysfunctions, persons belonging to the immigration community, and conflictual couples.  Dr. Hutter holds one master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and another in Clinical Psychology, as well as a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Denise Johnson, BSW

Wisconsin Statewide Project Coordinator SUD/MH Services for people who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing, Independence First, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Denise Johnson, BSW, is a Deaf professional working in collaboration with the 8 Independent Living Centers (ILCs) in Wisconsin. The project is funded by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services; the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.  She serves on the Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA) Diversity Sub-Committee, Recovery Implementation Task Force (RITF), Deaf Social Service Provider (DSSP), The Mental Health Core Group for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and WI Independent Living Network Mental Health & Substance Use (WILN MHSU) Advocacy Committee. In addition, Denise is also a Treasurer for American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) and Wisconsin Association of the Deaf (WAD).  Denise is one of the co-founding members of Deaf Unity in Wisconsin.

Vaynesia Kendrick, BS, MS 

Outreach Specialist, Office of Violence Prevention, Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Ms. Vaynesia Kendrick is an educator and youth advocate whose work has spanned the public and private sectors and includes program development with schools and churches to teach financial education and creative movement. She is a current member of the Nefertari African Dance Company and is the dance ministry leader at Kingdom Faith Fellowship Church. A recognized leader in the field of suicide prevention, Ms. Kendrick currently serves as Outreach Specialist for adolescent suicide prevention with the Milwaukee Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention.  

Alyce Knowlton-Jablonski, ACPS, NCPST, NCWF

Retired Executive Director, Wisconsin Association of Peer Specialists, Inc.

Alyce served for 6 years as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of Peer Specialists, Inc.  She retired from her position as an Advanced Certified Peer Specialist (ACPS) at North Central Health Care in Wausau, WI and Midstate Independent Living Consultants, Stevens Point, WI. .    She has completed the Wisconsin Core, Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance, National Association of Peer Specialist and Advance Recovery Opportunity Center Peer Specialist trainings.   She has been certified by those entities as a Peer Specialist trainer (NCPST).  She has completed all modules on E-Learning on (W.R.A.P to maintain her certification)., sponsored by the Copeland Center in Vermont, attended the Copeland W.R.A.P. Facilitator training in Chester, VA and is a Certified W.R.A.P. Facilitator (NCWF). Peer Recovery Coaching was a new endeavor for Alyce, having completed both the Fayette and Saunders models of Peer Recovery Coach training and becoming a trainer for both models of Recovery Coach Training in 2010, qualifying her for work as a Peer Provider/Trainer (NCRCT) in integrated systems of care ).  Alyce is qualified to teach peer support group facilitators in the NAMI CONNECTION model (NCSGFT). Alyce  is a former chair of the NAMI Wisconsin Consumer Council, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, former outreach  coordinator for NAMI Northwoods, past-co-chair of the Alliance for Recovery Advocates, former co-chair of the Marathon County Comprehensive Community Services Coordinating Committee,  former member of the Board of Directors of Grassroots Empowerment Project and former Regional Network Leader for United We Stand Wisconsin, the consumer network in Wisconsin.  She has been active in the transformation of mental health services in Wisconsin since 1996 and was a member of the Wisconsin Recovery Implementation Task Force for many years, past chair of its Evidence Based Practice/Comprehensive Community Services Committee. Alyce is also a Consultant and motivational speaker and has keynoted at several National Conventions about the integration of recovery principles integrated into the staff of clinical services and the development of WRAP for both providers, consumers and the general public.

Evonne Kundert

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Jeff Lewis, LCSW, MSW

Administrator Waukesha County Mental Health Department, Waukesha, Wis.

Jeff is currently the Administrator at Waukesha County Mental Health Center. He provides training in crisis assessment and intervention for his staff, he has presented in the past at the Crisis Intervention conference and numerous other workshops and events.

Shelly Missal 

Outreach Coordinator from Wisconsin Lifeline

Bio TBA

Jessica Moeller, J.D.

Criminal Justice Department Director and Professor, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis.

Jessica is currently the Director of the Criminal Justice Department at Wisconsin Lutheran College, and recently was a Senior Attorney with Waukewah Corporation Counsel, and has handled mental health and elder abuse cases for the county. Previously she was an attorney with the State Public Defender and has the experience of being on both sides of the courtroom. In addition to teaching, she continues to provide training for lawyers, law enforcement, and social work teams. 

Santina Muha

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Nancy Pierce, MS, LCSW

Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Mental Health Crisis Consultants, Mt. Horeb, Wis.

For the past forty seven years, Nancy has worked as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in a mobile crisis unit at a community mental health center. Nancy responds to mental health crises including risk of suicide and violence, acute psychosis, drug and alcohol and traumatic events. She regularly consults with hospital emergency departments, law enforcement agencies including jail and juvenile detention, detox facilities and corporation counsel. Nancy also meets with clients to create individualized crisis plans and safety plans.

Lita Prorok

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Alicia (Lexi) Sandoval

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Andrew T. Schramm, PhD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.

Dr. Andrew Schramm is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin in the Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery and the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine. An active researcher and trainer, he has published and presented nationally on suicide prevention and the effects of socioenvironmental factors on the well-being of trauma survivors. Dr. Schramm is a leader in statewide and national efforts to implement best practices for suicide prevention in healthcare settings. 

Ché Stedman, MS

Assistant Chief of Medical Affairs, Madison Fire Department, Madison, Wis.

Ché Stedman has been a member of the Madison Fire Department since 1996. He has served as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Lieutenant, Training Captain, and Division Chief, as well as participating as a special teams member of the Heavy Urban Rescue Team and Lake Rescue Team. He is currently the Assistant Chief of Medical Affairs and he supervises the community paramedics that work for the City’s CARES Team.  Ché holds a master's degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from the UW-Madison, a bachelor's degree in Psychology and an associate's degree in Fire Science. 

Erica Steib

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Tony Thrasher, D.O.

DFAPA Medical Director of Crisis Services, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Dr. Tony Thrasher is a board-certified psychiatrist employed as the medical director for the Crisis Services branch of the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.  He received his psychiatric training from Washington University in St. Louis / Barnes Jewish Hospital, and he is the current President of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry (AAEP). // He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and he currently serves as the President Elect for both the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association (WPA) and the Wisconsin Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (WAOPS). // Additionally, he enjoys teaching as a Clinical Associate Professor with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and serving as the chair for the Wisconsin state task force combining leaders in emergency medicine and psychiatry on topics improving the patient experience! //Most recently, he was inducted into the American College of Psychiatrists, elected to the NAMI Wisconsin Board of Directors, was named a Top Doctor for 2022 by Milwaukee Magazine, and is fortunate to work with Psychiatric Times on a series of Mental Health Minute webinars.

Art Walaszek, MD

Professor of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, Wis.  

Dr. Art Walaszek is a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Walaszek is Vice Chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Walaszek works with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where he is Co-Leader of the Outreach, Recruitment and Education Core, and with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, where he leads the Public Health Pillar. His research focuses on public health approaches to improving the care of people with dementia. Dr. Walaszek provides care to older adults with depression, anxiety, dementia and other mental health conditions, and teaches others to do the same. He is the author of the book, "Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia," published by American Psychiatric Association Publishing in 2019.

Jennifer (Jenny) Wrucke

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Brianne Zaborowske

Lead Crisis Coordinator from State DHS Bureau of Prevention Treatment and Recovery (BPTR)

Brianne Zaborowske works as the Lead Crisis Coordinator in the Division of Care and Treatment Services at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Having started her crisis career as an overnight phone worker, Brianne now has almost 10 years of crisis specific experience and has worked in all areas of the crisis continuum.