Rooted and Rising: Cultivating Strength through Mindful Practice

On February 20, 2026, Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County (CAC) is hosting our third annual one-day symposium designed to address vicarious trauma in helping professions. We know firsthand the incredible challenges facing our colleagues in mental health and social service, and the feedback from our first symposium revealed how much we need to come together to encourage and support each other. We're all in this together!

So bring yourself (or your whole team) for a day of inspired learning and self-care! Our keynote speaker is Chaz Franke, LCSW. Chaz is the founder of . Since the beginning of his career as a therapist, Chaz has worked with trauma and its long reaching effects. This work has included extensive work with all ages and all walks of life. Chaz specializes in psychodynamics, self compassion and integrating Eastern thought and philosophy into the therapeutic process .

This year there will be three breakout sessions in the morning that repeat in the afternoon. Participants can choose any two sessions.

CEUs are offered for LCSW, LCPC, LSW, LPC and ISBE counselors and social workers for the keynote and all breakouts.

Early bird registration is $30/person*, which includes in-person sessions, breakfast, lunch and 4 CEUs. A networking area will also be available. Groups registering 3 or more people together pay $25/person.

*$30 reflects Early Bird pricing. After February 1, tickets will be $40/person.

**Don't miss the Add-On option to purchase a symposium shirt for $25 when you complete your registration.

Note: Vendor tables are comped with a paid ticket or sponsorship. A vendor table-only ticket is available for $50 and includes lunch. Vendor tables will be open in the morning during registration and lunch.

Interested in sponsoring? Get more information here.

Questions? Contact Mattie Colan, bWNvbGFuIHwgY2FjaGVscHMgISBvcmc=.

Info: Light breakfast and coffee available.

Info: Keynote: The Healer's Journey: Understanding the Impacts of the Archetypes Guiding our Work

Every helping professional has been brought into their work by a series of stories, narratives, and forces that shaped them into being a helper. From the origin story of the wounded healer to the protective energies of carrying the shield of Athena all of us have come into this work to be part of alleviating suffering and helping others in ways that impact those we serve. In this training we will explore some of the most common archetypal energies that appear in the helping profession, and we will discuss strategies for understanding when these energies are present in our work. The work of Carl Jung gave us the language necessary to understand these universal human forces... In this training we will look into our origin stories as healers and helpers while finding common ground with the great healing and protective myths of the ages.

Info: Read full session descriptions and speaker bios at https://bit.ly/CACSymposium26BreakoutsandBios

Melanie Pignotti, LCPC, CAC CEO; Michael Rangel, LCSW, R-DM, Owner of Art of Abundance; Dr. Jackie Anderson-Carter, PhD, LCSW, Owner of Inclusive Insight.

Info: Read full session descriptions and speaker bios at https://bit.ly/CACSymposium26BreakoutsandBios

Melanie Pignotti, LCPC, CAC CEO; Michael Rangel, LCSW, R-DM, Owner of Art of Abundance; Dr. Jackie Anderson-Carter, PhD, LCSW, Owner of Inclusive Insight.

Info: Body and Personal Myth: Strategies for Entering the Stream of the Archetypes and Deepening our Connection to Healing ... Carl Jung spoke eloquently about concepts such as individuation and personal myth as living processes that reveal the true depth of character of each individual. In this training we will explore some of the ways in which we can tap into the healing archetypes and myths and build our own personal myth. Understanding the role of the body, the storytelling role of the mind and the depths of the soul we can all find ways that our deepest, authentic self is available in helping others. This training will explore exercises that can help us look inward, safely, and find the kind of space we need to hold to build our own intuitive connection to the archetypes. The body, breath and visualization will allow us to find the symbols that represent our work and tune into aspects of self and psyche we may be neglecting with over work, stress, and disconnection from personal myth...

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