Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Integrate research findings and conceptual insight into clinical assessment and intervention for youth at risk of suicide in the context of social media.
2. Explain a developmentally informed conceptual framework for understanding social media’s influence on cognitive and behavioral processes related to suicide.
3.  Apply evidence-based clinical social work interventions to address suicidality influenced by social media in youth populations

Presenter Bio

Meaghan Cowles, LCSW-S, is a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate at the University of Kentucky, a licensed clinical social worker, and board-approved supervisor in the state of Texas. Meaghan holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Texas State University. She currently serves as the MSW Fellowship Director and Assistant Director of Social Services at The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, where she provides strategic and operational leadership for large-scale, statewide behavioral health initiatives, including the Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program. Meaghan has extensive experience in clinical supervision, workforce development, program implementation, and trauma-informed systems of care across academic, healthcare, judicial, and community-based settings. Her professional background includes leadership roles in adult and youth correctional systems and courts, human trafficking survivor services, and residential treatment programs. She is certified or trained in multiple evidence-based trauma interventions, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention. Her doctoral research interests center on the relationship between social media and youth
suicidality, with particular focus on risk amplification, protective factors, and evidence-based treatment interventions. Her capstone project examines the impact of social media on youth suicidality, the theoretical frameworks underlying cognitive and behavioral distortions associated with increased suicide risk, and the development of evidence-based clinical interventions for social work practice.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.