Presenter: Kelsey Wargo, LPCC-S (OH), CCTP-II

Kelsey Wargo, MA, LPCC-S, CCTP-II,  has been a counselor in the state of Ohio since 2016. She specializes in adolescents and severe trauma. This has also lead to working with children and adolescents with sexual behaviors and juvenile sex offenders. Currently in her PhD program through Capella University, she is interested in continuing her growth in the counseling field through teaching and supervision in helping the next generation of counselors. Kelsey believes in taking a creative approach to counseling and meeting the clients where they are allowing for autonomy for clients who have often been given limited to none throughout their life due to trauma. Having worked in a variety of settings before private practice from PHP to outpatient as a counselor and case manager she uses her variety of experience to assist the wide range of clients who walk through her door.

Presenter: Shannon O’Mara, CT, PRS

Shannon O'Mara is a counselor trainee at the University of Akron, specializing in counseling children and adolescents. She is also a 988 Lifeline worker who has served callers across the lifespan with various presenting concerns, including suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, trauma, and grief. She is also a Promise Leader through Sandy Hook Promise, where she has received training on violence prevention programming designed to support students. This presenter has co-facilitated multiple trainings and presentations through the American Counseling Association, the Association for Child & Adolescent Counseling, and upcoming conferences through the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, & Religious Values in Counseling and the Counselors for Social Justice Association. She has designed and implemented programming on multiple occasions outlining trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence. She also holds several leadership positions, serving on executive boards and committees on the Ohio Association for Resiliency and Trauma Counseling, the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the Summit County Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Ohio Asssociation of Child and Adolescent Counselors, the Association for Child & Adolescent Counseling, and the Ohio Counseling Association. She has been trained in behavioral threat assessment and management and participated in community stakeholder and tabletop exercises through the Summit County Behavioral Disaster Preparedness Project. She is also a certified crisis specialist through the American Association of Suicidology, a certified advocate through Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center and the National Advocate Credentialing Program, and a certified Peer Recovery Supporter through the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This presenter is dedicated to early intervention, holistic treatment strategies, and advocacy to promote trauma-responsive, client-centered continuity of care. She will graduate in December, 2026 with a master of artis in clinical mental health counseling degree from John Carroll University

Presenter: Juliana Barnhart, Registered Nurse BSN, RN

This presenter is an incoming Doctor of Nursing Practice and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner student at The Ohio State University. She will pursue advanced clinical training through the Clinical Expert Track, along with a graduate specialization in Cognitive and Brain Sciences. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Psychology from the University of Akron, with additional training in forensic studies, addiction services, and at-risk youth. Her clinical background includes both inpatient and outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatric emergency services, and specialty behavioral health units.
Notably, this presenter has experience delivering trauma-informed care across diverse clinical settings, supporting individuals experiencing acute psychiatric crises, complex trauma, and co-occurring behavioral health needs. She has also engaged in community-based victim advocacy, working directly with survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault to promote safety, empowerment, and access to resources.

Her scholarly work includes serving as the principal investigator of an independent research study examining the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health outcomes in emerging adults. She has also contributed to multiple research initiatives focused on interpersonal violence and behavioral health. In addition, she has aided in the development and facilitation of workshops and presentations addressing trauma-informed approaches to intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

This presenter is an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the American Association of Emergency Psychiatry. She is committed to advancing trauma-responsive, evidence-based care, early intervention, and interdisciplinary approaches that promote resilience and continuity of care across the lifespan.