Breakout Sessions for the 2015 event
Harvesting your Creativity
Location: Arena Floor
Malinda, Jenn and Faith will help you let your creative juices flow in this breakout designed to help you “harvest and nourish” your past through scrapbooking. Veterans wanting to participate in this breakout will need to bring pictures/memorabilia from their military service that they can put onto a 12x12 scrapbooking page. Veteran’s wanting to complete a picture frame or shadowbox instead of a scrapbook page will need to bring their own picture frame/shadowbox. 12x12 blank pages, stickers, colored paper, markers, adhesives, scissors, and other scrapbooking tools will be available to use.
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Malinda Fairbanks
LCSW, Assistant Chief Mental Health Residential Treatment Programs, Sheridan VA Health Care System Malinda graduated from the University of Wyoming, receiving her Bachelor and Masters of Social Work degrees, and was a member of the Phi Alpha Honors Society. Mrs. Fairbanks has been in the mental health profession for over a decade, practicing in Laramie WY, Cheyenne WY, and Sheridan WY. Mrs. Fairbanks has had the opportunity to work in many different areas of social work such as premature children and their families, adults and children with cognitive and physical disabilities, geriatrics, and veterans specializing in trauma processing. Hobbies include scrapbooking, creating shadowboxes, scarves, cook books, cupcakes and many other adventures! |
Jenn Fairbanks
PPC, NCC, CRC, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Sheridan VA Health Care System Jenn graduated from the University of Wyoming, receiving her Bachelors in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She received her Master’s in Counseling from South Dakota State University. Ms. Hopwood is a recent graduate and has been in the counseling field for almost two years. She has worked with various populations including Domestic Violence Victims, individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries, individuals with Addictions and Veterans. Ms. Hopwood specializes in vocational rehabilitation counseling at the Sheridan VA helping veterans with various disabilities find and maintain work in the communities. Her hobbies include anything craft related. She enjoys finding projects on Pinterest and replicating them to decorating her home. Ms. Hopwood has a knack for pictures and scrapbooking. |
Faith Cole
RN, AAS, Nurse for the Women Veterans Program, Sheridan VA Health Care System Faith graduated from Sheridan College, with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing in 2005. She has worked in various nursing roles in the Sheridan community including an Internal Medicine Clinic from 2005 until 2009, and then a majority of her time with the geriatric population in a variety of nursing positions. From 2010 until 2013, she worked as an Assistant Director of Nursing, ensuring patients received the best care, and ensuring policies and procedures were functioning appropriately. In April 2013, Faith, accepted the opportunity to work at the Sheridan VA with the Women’s Veteran Program. Hobbies include stamping cards, reading, playing games and spending time with her 4 horses. |
Planning your garden: Creating a Vision of Good Health
Do you have a vision of where you want your health to be? Are you having trouble getting there? Join us as we frame a discussion of health goals for every woman. Then, stay with us to create a vision board that you can keep to help you reach your goals. A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate, and maintain focus on specific life goals. Your individualized vision board can help you identify your vision and give it clarity, reinforce your daily affirmations, and keep your attention on your intentions. Space is limited to 30 veterans per session.
Location: Oregon Trail Room
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Amanda Johnson
MD, FACOG, Gynecologist, Cheyenne VA Health Care System Amanda is an obstetrician gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She attended University of Washington School of Medicine, where she was elected to Alpha-Omega-Alpha, the national medical honor society. She performed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. There, she was awarded the Howard C. Taylor Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is deeply committed to promoting women’s health and supporting women’s reproductive choices. She currently serves as the Women’s Health Medical Director at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center where she is a gynecologist specializing in minimally invasive surgical techniques. She also serves as a senior medical consultant for Reproductive Health, for the Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. In that role she has taken the lead on developing clinical tools for preconception health, developing telegynecology technologies, as well as assisted in several other initiatives. She continues to practice obstetrics in private practice in Laramie, Wyoming. She is the proud mother of two young daughters and outside of work enjoys spending time in beautiful Wyoming with her husband, two girls, and extended family. |
Brandy Marshall
RN, BSN, Women Veteran’s Program Manager Cheyenne VA Medical Center Brandy has been dedicated to serving veterans for over 10 years. She became Women Veterans Program Manager for the Cheyenne VA Medical Center in 2009. During her tenure as Women Veterans program Manager she has implemented a successful Tele-Reproductive Health program and written and received several grants for special equipment and Women’s Health Education programs. Brandy also received her Bachelor of Nursing in 2013, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professionals. She is an active member of the Colorado Nurses Association, Laramie County Cancer Coalition, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the American Nurses Association. Outside of work, Brandy is an avid runner and enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and two sons. |
Love the pot you’ve got: Don't be a Hater, Love Your Body, Love Yourself!
Take an hour to challenge your perspective; about beauty, food, your body, and trends. This presentation will inform you about the multi-billion dollar industry that is designed to make you dislike yourself so you buy products to "fix" yourself. Individuals ages 8-80 are susceptible to body image distortions, it is never too soon or too late to challenge some culturally accepted norms that can make us miserable or even physically ill. It's time to learn how to love and protect yourself from these distortions.
Location: Mormon Trail Room
Candise Leininger
Candise is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is the Psychological Health Coordinator for the WY Army National Guard in Cheyenne. She supports soldiers and their families across the state through crisis intervention, short-term counseling, and by providing referrals and resources. She has presented to various audiences on numerous topics but considers herself to have some expertise in Evidenced base trauma treatment approaches, disordered eating and body image issues, restorative sleep, career counseling, and technology assisted therapies. Prior to coming to the National Guard, Candise shared a private practice in Casper Wyoming with her neuropsychologist husband, Dr. Bruce Leininger, who is now the Team Leader at the Cheyenne VET Center. Candise has also done work for Mercer Family Resource Center, Three Trails Employee & Family Assistance Program, Climb Wyoming, Wyoming Recovery, Hansen & Associates, and the Department of Education.
Candise is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is the Psychological Health Coordinator for the WY Army National Guard in Cheyenne. She supports soldiers and their families across the state through crisis intervention, short-term counseling, and by providing referrals and resources. She has presented to various audiences on numerous topics but considers herself to have some expertise in Evidenced base trauma treatment approaches, disordered eating and body image issues, restorative sleep, career counseling, and technology assisted therapies. Prior to coming to the National Guard, Candise shared a private practice in Casper Wyoming with her neuropsychologist husband, Dr. Bruce Leininger, who is now the Team Leader at the Cheyenne VET Center. Candise has also done work for Mercer Family Resource Center, Three Trails Employee & Family Assistance Program, Climb Wyoming, Wyoming Recovery, Hansen & Associates, and the Department of Education.
The essence of Growing Where You are Planted: Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Part I:
Dr. Tran will conduct three 75 minute sessions on mindfulness, encouraging you to embrace and live in the present, to grow where you are planted! Each session will be open to 20-people and it will consist of 15-minute talk on mindfulness followed by a 45-minute Tea Ceremony to help people experience awareness in the present moment. The Tea Ceremony is a 2500-year-old technique that helps enhance people’s ability to experience the present moment, with awareness, gratitude and without judgment. The afternoon session will be part two of the tea ceremony, for those that have attended part one in the past years, this will expand upon your ability to grow where you are planted!
Growing more: Mindfulness and Meditation Part II:
This session will be offered in the afternoon only, and is limited to 30 participants. The session is designed for those participants who have attended Mindfulness Tea Ceremony Part I, and is a more in depth study of mindfulness, with increased focus on the practice of meditation. Both formal and informal meditation techniques will be taught.
Location: Bridger Trail Room
Vivianne Tran
Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist and Local Recovery Coordinator, Sheridan VA Health Care System
Vivianne attended graduate school in Tampa, FL and obtained her Clinical Psychology degree in 2008. She worked full-time first as a psychology intern, then Postdoctoral student and later as a licensed psychologist in the Wyoming State Hospital from 2006 to 2011. She was hired at the Sheridan VAMC in December 2011. Her personal and professional interests are in mindfulness and meditation. She has attended two 10-day silent meditation retreats and multiple trainings in mindfulness, including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Her additional interests are applying and continuing to learn ways to empower people to reach their full potential.
Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist and Local Recovery Coordinator, Sheridan VA Health Care System
Vivianne attended graduate school in Tampa, FL and obtained her Clinical Psychology degree in 2008. She worked full-time first as a psychology intern, then Postdoctoral student and later as a licensed psychologist in the Wyoming State Hospital from 2006 to 2011. She was hired at the Sheridan VAMC in December 2011. Her personal and professional interests are in mindfulness and meditation. She has attended two 10-day silent meditation retreats and multiple trainings in mindfulness, including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Her additional interests are applying and continuing to learn ways to empower people to reach their full potential.
