Unscripted Success:
Leveraging Improv Techniques for Enhanced Business Development/Outreach

This interactive presentation/workshop applies the principles and techniques of improvisational theater to enhance various aspects of building relationships, addressing conflicts, and fostering a supportive community in the field of outreach and business development. Through engaging activities and discussions, participants will learn how to navigate unexpected situations with confidence, effectively handle challenges within the industry and referral relationships, and cultivate a network of advocates to support their work.

The Presenters:

Gina Thorne 

With over 30 years of experience in prevention, treatment, and recovery support, Gina is a seasoned veteran in the field of behavioral health. Her extensive background in marketing and operations has led her to collaborate with a wide range of organizations, including in-patient treatment programs, psychiatric hospitals, and institutions of higher learning. Gina's expertise spans mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment, and she has made significant contributions at a national level. Gina launched GTC Consulting to address internal and external challenges hindering census growth, offering tailored solutions to enhance employee culture, brand visibility, and the reputation of behavioral health organizations within their communities.

Gus Vieweg 

Gus has spent most of his career leading innovative teams with empathy and effectiveness. He has spearheaded Intrapreneurial Initiatives for a major corporation, including co-creating a Training and Education department. Beyond the corporate world, Gus has founded a 350-member Improvisational Thinking community, taught over 1,000 students, and performed at the North Carolina Comedy Festival. Gus uses his creative leadership experience and his professional acting and improvising experience to create engaging workshops that foster participants’ Improvisational Thinking abilities.

Workshop Objectives

• Learn improvisational techniques for active listening, empathy, and rapport-building to establish meaningful connections with referral partners and potential clients.

• Practice spontaneous communication and collaboration exercises to foster trust and authenticity in initial interactions.

• Develop strategies to embrace uncertainty and adaptability when faced with unexpected challenges or opportunities.

• Explore how improvisation can help participants cultivate a mindset of agility and resilience to confidently navigate unfamiliar or high-pressure situations.

• Acquire tools and frameworks from improvisational theater to effectively address conflicts and challenges within the industry and referral relationships.

• Role-play scenarios to practice conflict resolution techniques, such as active listening, reframing, and collaborative problem-solving, to promote constructive dialogue and mutual understanding.

• Foster a sense of camaraderie and mutual support among participants through group activities and shared experiences.

• Encourage the cultivation of a professional network of advocates and allies who champion the work and mission of the organization within the community.

We look forward to your presence at this interactive presentation!

Thank you to our Sponsors

Lunch Provided by: 

Space Sponsored by: 

Our March CO-PLA  meeting is our quarterly networking event showcasing AIM House! 

AIM House is an individualized, young adult transitional living program. This program is designed for the individual who is transitioning from residential treatment centers, primary treatment, wilderness programs, and therapeutic boarding schools. They provide a structured living environment and a supportive, personalized program. AIM House is a leader in the world of transitional living and is celebrated for our ability to truly help find and connect participants to what they are passionate about. 

 Lunch and networking from 11 am- 1 pm
Brief remarks from the founder Danny Conroy at 11:45am 

Clinical Staff will be available to discuss programming12:30 pm option to tour AIM Health 1 mile away 12:30 pm option to tour Made Life 1 mile away Shuttle van will also be available to anyone who would like a ride 

Here's what you can look forward to at CO-PLA events:

Engaging Discussions: Participate in conversations about the latest trends and developments in the behavioral health field. Share your expertise, learn from others, and gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities we face.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with colleagues, peers, and professionals from various disciplines. Expand your professional network, discover potential collaborations, and forge new friendships with individuals who share your passion for behavioral health.

Community Building: Strengthen our Colorado behavioral health community by coming together as a unified force in supporting mental health and well-being. 

Lunch! 

Remember, CO-PLA is your community and we invite you to embrace the spirit of collaboration, friendship, and growth. Let's celebrate summer by strengthening our bonds and advancing the field of behavioral health in Colorado!

You're Invited to a Thought-Provoking Panel Discussion! 

Join us for an engaging and insightful panel discussion on "Finding Balance Between Clinical and Business Goals" hosted by CO-PLA.

In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, striking a harmonious balance between clinical excellence and business objectives is paramount for success. This panel brings together seasoned professionals and industry leaders to explore strategies, share experiences, and spark meaningful dialogue on navigating the intersection of clinical care and business operations.

Agenda:

• Introduction: Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Panel Discussion: Expert Insights on Balancing Clinical and Business Goals

• Interactive Q&A: Audience Engagement and Discussion

• Networking Session: Connect with Peers and Industry Experts

Panelists:

• Mark Oberg, LPC, LAC, Executive Director, Flatirons Recovery

• Briana Severine, MS, LPC, LAC, CPRP, Founder, Sanare Psychosocial Rehabilitation

• Michael Damioli, LCSW, CSAT, Clinical Director, Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery

• Sarah Zubrin, MFT, LAC, Owner, Family Addiction Recovery, LLC

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives, exchange ideas, and network with like-minded professionals passionate about driving positive change in healthcare.

Whether you're a healthcare practitioner, business leader, or industry enthusiast, this event promises to inspire and enlighten as we collectively explore the dynamic balance between clinical excellence and business sustainability.

We look forward to your presence at this enlightening discussion!

This presentation will address some of the common challenges in working cross functionally between teams, as well as offer strategies for successful communication and collaboration with both admissions and leadership.

Presentation by Alix Moore, CAS, Community Relations Director at Northstar Transitions

Celebrate Valentine's Day by deepening your understanding of yourself and those around you through the wisdom of the Enneagram. Join us for a captivating Valentine's Day interactive presentation on the Enneagram, a powerful tool for self-discovery and understanding relationships.

Delve into the nine personality types, explore your own unique traits, and learn how this ancient system can enhance your connections with others. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, interactive exercises, and gain insights that can transform your approach to love and self-awareness. 

Justin Virant, MA, LPCC is a psychotherapist at Flatirons Recovery and in private practice who has a passion for Enneagram and other forms of personal discovery. Justin graduated from Naropa University with an MA from its Mindfulness based Transpersonal Psychology Counseling program. He has a long term interest in the fields of recovery, healing and psychological development. He is also interested in mindfulness and the relationship between psychological and spiritual growth.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Lunch Provided by: 

AIM Health

Space Sponsored by: 

Antelope Recovery

The field of behavioral health business development is evolving as fast as the landscape of addiction treatment is changing.  The ever-growing fear of scarcity, the increase in mergers and acquisitions, insurance saturation and the expansion and duplication of services make it increasingly more difficult to meet expected monthly goals.   How do these challenges impact the way you show up and work? 

This presentation will illustrate how aligning with the Four Agreements, you can stand out as an ambassador to recovery, build trust with referrals and can help create positive perceptions of addiction treatment for the future. 

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PRESENTATION, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Understand the current landscape of behavioral health business development and its challenges.

• Learn about the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

• Apply the standards of the 4 Agreements to daily business development efforts.

• Understand how modeling the four agreements can change the landscape of business development, referral engagement and the perceptions of addiction treatment.

Join us for an insightful and empowering event on Peer Recovery Coaching!

Discover the transformative impact of peer support in the journey to recovery. Learn from Heather Lister, an experienced coach in the field, engage in an interactive session, and explore the power of shared experiences in fostering healing and growth. As a professional in the field, this event promises to deepen your understanding of the vital role peer coaches play in recovery. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a dynamic community dedicated to positive change and support.

RSVP HERE

Description:

Join us for an enlightening and transformative Interventionist Panel, where experts in the field will come together to share their insights, strategies, and success stories. This event is designed to provide you with invaluable knowledge and resources.

Date: August 2nd, 2023

Time: 11:00-1:00 ( Feel free to arrive early and show your support at Wagon Coffee, panel will begin promptly at 11:00)

Location: FREE Spiritual Community

Event Highlights:

• Expert Panelists: Our panel consists of interventionists who have extensive experience in guiding individuals and families through the intervention process. They will share their expertise, personal stories, and answer audience questions.

• Strategies and Techniques: Discover effective intervention strategies, tools, and techniques used by professionals. Gain insights into the importance of planning, communication, and aftercare support to maximize the chances of a successful intervention and sustained recovery.

• Q&A Session: Engage with our panelists during an interactive Q&A session where you can ask specific questions about interventions, substance use, and the recovery process. Get personalized advice and guidance from the experts.

• Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals and professionals who are passionate about helping those struggling with addiction. Expand your network and build relationships that can support your journey.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from intervention specialists and gain valuable insights into the world of recovery. Whether you are seeking support for a loved one or are looking to enhance your knowledge as a professional, this panel discussion will equip you with the tools and inspiration to make a positive impact.

As the warm weather rolls in, it's the perfect time to reconnect with friends and colleagues in the behavioral health field and make new connections within our vibrant Colorado community. That's why we're thrilled to invite you to the upcoming June 2023 Co-PLA Networking Meeting.

This networking meeting will be an excellent opportunity to kick off the summer by re-engaging with old friends and establishing connections with those who are new to our community. We understand that the past year has presented unique challenges, and many of us have not had the chance to see each other in person for quite some time. So, let's make this gathering a memorable occasion as we come together to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and support one another.

Join us in May to hear more from seasoned experts about the important role of business development and how to effect change within the behavioral health industry that can ultimately impact and effect client care.

Panel Members Include: Tom Walker, COO, Foundry Steamboat, Ed Tilton, COO, Begin Again Institute, LB Burkhalter, Director of Business Development, Red Rock Recovery, Tyler Hale, Clinical Outreach, CMAR and Michael Damioli, Clinical Director, CMAR

Lunch is provided by Northpoint.

Can You Believe... CO-PLA is entering its sixth year as a behavioral health networking organization for Business Development/Marketing and Admissions professionals?  While similar organizations folded during COVID, we are proud to have weathered the two years virtually, maintaining a commitment to monthly meetings for our members.

As we look to the future, the board has been in discussion about growth and engagement. We remain committed to provide opportunities for professional development and networking for members helping to enhance the work you do as ambassadors for treatment and recovery. 

We invite you to join us for our next meeting on April 5th to hear more from the Board about future plans for CO-PLA as well as getting your input on what you would like to see for 2023 and beyond.

Thank you to FREE Spiritual Community for hosting and All Points North for sponsoring lunch.

See you there!

Admit it. We are a group that thrives on connection, building relationships and finding opportunities to grow our referral channels. CO-PLA is one of the few organizations that remains dedicated to the business development, admissions and marketing professional in behavioral health.

We invite you to join us at the quarterly networking meeting to connect, find new friends and get caught up in the changes in the Colorado behavioral health landscape.

Thank you Red Rock Recovery for hosting and Centennial Peaks Hospital for sponsoring lunch.

See you there!

he NAATP Foundation for Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE) Addiction Treatment Outcomes Program launched in 2021 to assist providers in measurement of treatment quality and patient-reported outcomes.

Currently, 64 treatment providers from across the country are participating in the Program, together sharing de-identified data from over 115,000 unique patient episodes.

This presentation will provide a description of the facilities participating in the program as well as a summary of patient characteristics and services provided across the aggregate sample. Dr. Annie Peters will share insights and challenges revealed in the process of analyzing this large data set and will discuss the importance of data validation, consensus in measurement, and collaborative science.

Join us at Edgewater Public Market to celebrate our successes from 2022 and to network with new and returning CO-PLA friends.

A contest for the person that wears the most unique and creative ugly Holiday sweater!

See you there.

As leaders in a field that requires active listening. Are we really effective in this technique. We are pleased to invite Elizabeth Franz with HumanzMediate to work with us on the Listening Lab.

Listening is an essential skill we all practice for our lifetimes. The team at HumanzMediate guides you through experiments where you both learn more about the skill of listening and about yourselves. Together we will take steps forward in our continuing practice of listening.

Join us at FREE Spiritual Community on Wednesday, November 2nd at 1130 -1:00 pm.

Lunch is provided.

As the summer temps are finally breaking, Fall is here and so is the need to connect and learn more about Peer Led Residential Recovery hosted by Spero Recovery Center. Red Rock Recovery will be providing lunch.

We invite you to bring a one of your admission team members, case managers or even CEO to learn more about CO-PLA and connect with the amazing resources in Colorado.

Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger

This year, the theme for Recovery Month is Together We Are Stronger. As professionals in the field of Behavioral Health, we understand this all to well.

CO-PLA has a strong focus on collaboration and connection. We invite you to join us whether your a veteran member who has not been to a meeting in a while, or your new to the CO community for our next meeting at Community Medical Services.

Lunch Provided by CMS

In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you've never made before.

Hey CO-PLA members, let's get outside and take advantage of the Colorado summer. We are gathering at Chautauqua Park in Boulder.

Grab your hiking boots and water and let's spend time outdoors, connecting and remembering to give ourselves some self-care.

What does it mean to be a Daring Leader? Even if you don’t have people that report to you, can you define yourself as a leader? YES! Join us for a discussion on what it means to be a leader in your personal and professional life.

This conversation will be guided by questions from the Brene Brown leadership book, Dare to Lead. It’s not necessary to read the book, only show up and engage in conversation about the importance healthy leadership in our field.

1. Have you ever struggled or avoided tough conversations, including giving or receiving honest productive feedback? When? Why? 2. Do you have an example in your career of a time when a leader spent time proactively addressing fears/feelings? Did it make you feel differently about your employment and career? Alternatively – do you have an example of the opposite? 3. Share some examples of leaders actions that created trust, and/or destroyed it in your experience? What makes you feel connected to your team and/or leaders?

Hello CO-PLA Members! Spring is in the air! We invite you to join us at the Edgewater Public Market to share lunch with your colleagues. This laid back environment is a perfect place to catch up with your colleagues, share lunch, maybe even buy a lunch for a friend, and learn about the current happenings in Colorado treatment.

In this presentation, Dr. Michael Barnes reviews the increased potential for Compassion Fatigue in addiction treatment providers. Dr. Barnes will describe Compassion Fatigue, how it develops, common symptoms, and methods of addressing its impact. He will introduce the impact of secondary and chiasmal trauma that affects families, organizational systems and communities, as individuals struggle to cope with clients, family members, and friends being impacted by SUD and other issues. Finally, Dr. Barnes will identify self-care practices that can assist professionals to better cope with the demand for living and working in their chosen profession.

The 2022 Winter Symposium is over. You glance at the stacks of business cards and notes from coffee and lunch meetings waiting on follow up. In this new time of COVID Marketing and Outreach, how do we maximize our follow up efforts to be the most productive post- conference.

Join us for our next virtual CO-PLA event to learn, from each other, the unique hacks used to get organized, plan and execute strategies after a conference or workshop.

As a leading membership organization for addiction treatment providers, NAATP is well-positioned to provide support, resources, and networking opportunities to our members so that they can do the important work of advocacy. To that end, we have developed the Alliance for Sate Advocacy (ASA) as a means of creating greater engagement and resource sharing on state and local initiatives that further support in the behavioral health field.

The purpose of ASA is to bring together, at the local and state level, NAATP members and volunteers to provide training, resources, and to develop a consistent voice on public policy that enhances the access to and quality of addiction treatment services.

NAATP strongly encourages each state to create an ASA that can be formed by a group of interested volunteers who are NAATP members. The more individuals who join ASA and who are willing to share these responsibilities, the less work the State Lead must manage alone, resulting in more accomplishments on behalf of addiction professionals. A key goal for each ASA is to collaboratively plan and execute a Recovery Capitol Hill Day.