An Important Update for the River Conference
Dear River Conference Attendee,
Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 and by recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we will postpone the River Conference until March 19-20, 2021. The safety and health of all of our attendees, speakers, staff, vendors and community are our top priority. This event will now be an in-person AND virtual conference!
Your current registration will be honored for the new conference date! Our mission still stands to offer an event filled with help, hope, encouragement and equipping, all around the theme of Mental Health and the Mission of the Church. There is no question that Mental Health will be one of, if not the most, challenging issues facing the Church over the next few years.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and grace during this time. We can’t wait to see what God will do in and through our time together in November! We will keep you updated every step of the way.
Let’s stay united in prayer for those affected by COVID-19.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
AACC Events Team
Learning to Help those who are Hurting
Prestonwood Baptist Church
Workshop Categories Including:
- Marriage and Family
- Wellness, the Brain, and Disorders
- Love, Sex, and Relationships
- Grief, Crisis, and Loss
- Addictions, Life Recovery, and Substance Abuse
- Mental Health, Suicide, and the Mission of the Church
- Painful Past, Abuse, and Trauma
You Are Invited!
Dear Friend:
Everyone wants a more victorious, balanced, and fulfilled life. The good news is, your life can be just that!
Join us for an extraordinary weekend of Hope, Help, Encouragement, and Healing at “The River Conference” at Prestonwood Baptist Church on Friday night, March 19th and Saturday, March 20th.
Write the life story you have always wanted. This one-of-a-kind, transformative event is designed to equip you to lead yourself, and others, not just to survive, but thrive, especially through the most difficult seasons in life.
Featuring some of the nation’s leading experts on mental health, family and relationships, grief, trauma, and addiction, you will hear encouraging and challenging insights from Shelia Walsh, Daniel Amen, Caroline Leaf, Michael Lyles, and more. You will also enjoy dynamic praise and worship with Michael Neale, along with award-winning Big Daddy Weave in concert.
Why “The River Conference?”
The River represents God moving, working, healing, and bringing life. Without water, everything dies. Throughout Scripture, water represents the Spirit of God and His redemptive work among us. In the words of Jesus, “‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38, ESV).
You are not alone! Join us for life-changing keynote sessions, powerful and experiential worship, and transformative pre-conference and conference workshops.
Everything is designed to do one thing… pour into your life and help you make a difference in the lives and relationships around you.
Be sure to register early. Click here or call 800-526-8673 to register. Groups of 10 or more receive an additional savings!
Don’t miss this one. We cannot wait to see what God is going to do in and through you!
Sincerely,
Jack Graham, Pastor
Prestonwood Baptist Church
Tim Clinton, President
American Association of Christian Counselors
Event Tickets
Hurry up and get the Super Early Bird Savings tickets while they are available
SPEAKERS
DAYS
WORKSHOPS
RIVER CONFERENCE
Keynote Speakers
Meet our valued speakers
Speakers are subject to change based on availability. Check the website for future updates.
Schedule
The River Conference is packed full of amazing speakers and content.
Morning Pre-Conference Workshops
Exhibit Hall Open
Afternoon Pre-Conference Workshops
Opening Keynote Session
7:15 pm – Rick Rigsby, Ph.D.
7:55 pm – Chonda Pierce
9:00 pm – Concert by Big Daddy Weave
Workshops
Keynote Session 2
10:25 am – Sheila Walsh
11:30 am – Daniel Amen, M.D.
Lunch Break
Workshops Round 2
Closing Keynote
3:25 pm – Ted Cunningham, MACE
4:30 pm – Tim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT, BCPCC
Lodging
Candlewood Suites Frisco
9484 Frisco St, Frisco, TX 75033
214-387-7000
Rate: $89
Hyatt Place Dallas/Plano
3100 Dallas Pkwy, Plano, TX 75093
1-972-378-3997
Rate: $109
Event Sponsors
The River is proud to partner with these great organizations.
PLATINUM ELITE PARTNERS
Workshop Track Titles
Ron Hawkins, D.Min., Ed.D., and Ted Cunningham, M.A.C.E.
Possible Topics: From Conflict to Collaboration; How to Build Honesty, Trust, and Understanding; Personality Differences; Family of Origin Issues; Characteristics of Lasting Relationships; Dating/Pre-marital Issues; Infatuation vs. Biblical Love; Gender Differences and Communication; Approval-seeking; Friendships; Importance of Christian Community, How Men and Women Think
Track Leaders:
Ron Hawkins
Liberty University
Ted Cunningham
Woodland Hills Family Church
Tim Jennings, M.D., and Michael Lyles, M.D.
Possible Topics: Applications of Neuroscience, Psychotherapy and Brain Plasticity; Cutting-edge Research; Interpersonal Neurobiology
Track Leaders:
Tim Jennings
Come and Reason Ministries
Sharon May, Ph.D., and W. Jesse Gill, Psy.D.
Possible Topics: Differing Sexual Expectations; Lifelong Love; Emotional Closeness and Connection; Developing Sexual Communication Skills; Impact of Past Abuse and Sexual History; Gender and Sexual Responses; Sexual Dysfunction; Pregnancy and Infertility
Track Leaders:
Sharon May
Safe Haven Counseling Center
Jesse Gill
Psychological Health Affiliates
Jennifer Cisney Ellers, M.A., and Rick Amato, M.A.
Possible Topics: Styles of Grieving; Loss of a Child, Spouse or Parent; Sudden Death as Loss; Counseling with Cancer Victims/Terminally Ill; Pathological Grieving; Complicated Bereavement; Suicide; Survivor Guilt and Fostering Resiliency; Crisis and First Responder Training; Acute Stress; Natural Disasters; Domestic and Community Crisis Response
Track Leaders:
Rick Amato
Rick Amato Ministries
Jennifer Cisney-Ellers
Institute for Compassionate Care
Stephen Taylor, M.D., M.P.H., Michael Lyles, M.D., and Michael Perron
Possible Topics: Styles of Addictive Disorders; Disease Model vs. Psychosocial Disorder vs. Moral Responsibility; Relapse Issues; Cutting-edge Detox Treatments; Polydrug Abusers; Ecstasy Abuse; OxyContin and New Drugs of Abuse; Sex Addiction; 12-step Programs and the Church; Role of the Holy Spirit and Accountability in Recovery; Harm-reduction Model
Track Leaders:
Stephen Taylor
Pathway Healthcare
Amy Simpson, M.B.A.
Possible Topics: Foundations; Motivations; Core Skills; Treatment Planning; Pitfalls of Caregiving; Pastoral Burnout; Decreasing Stigma; Congregational Counseling; Ministering to Lay Leaders; Pastoral Counseling; Compassion Fatigue in Pastoral and Counseling Ministry; Epigenetics
Track Leaders:
Amy Simpson
Moody Publishing
Leslie Vernick, M.S.W., and Jarrett Stephens, D.Min.
Possible Topics: Physical, Sexual, Verbal, Spousal, and Spiritual Abuse; Abuse by Counselors/Ministers; Hiding and Denying Abuse; Neglect; PTSD; Dissociation; Recovered Memories; Secondary/Vicarious Trauma; Disasters and Accidents; Compassion Fatigue; War/Refugee Trauma; Spiritual vs. Secular Trauma Treatment; Critical Incident Debriefing
Track Leaders:
Leslie Vernick
Relationship Truth Unfiltered
Jarrett Stephens
Prestonwood Church
Pre-Conference Workshops
Morning Pre-Cons (8:30 – 11:45 AM)
001: Dodging the Dragon: Biblical Principles for Addiction Prevention in Children and Adolescents
002: Childhood Trauma: Helping Children Survive and Thrive in a Distressing World
003: Canceled
004: God and Soul Care: The Power of Spirituality in the Healing Process
005: Our Brains and Our Relationships with God
Afternoon Pre-Cons (1:45 – 5:00 PM)
010: Gateway to Hope: Enhancing Your Ministry’s Response to Individuals with Mental Illness
011: Face to Face: 7 Keys to a Secure Love and Relationships
012: A Life of Love and Laughter: Strong and Joyful Marriages
013: Integrity Redeemed: Setting Captives Free from Porn and Sexual Addictions
014: The Road Map: Counseling Strategies that Work to Repair an Emotionally Destructive Marriage
Contact Us
Need Help?
Call 800.526.8673 to speak to a member services’ representative or e-mail our helpful customer service representatives at: contactmemberservices@aacc.net
Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 AM – 6:30 PM ET