2026 MERIT Institute Recovery Conference
The MERIT Institute will hold its second Recovery Conference on Thursday, October 1 & Friday, October 2, 2026. The Conference will be hosted online.
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We will begin both days at 9 AM, finishing on 4:45 PM on Thursday and 3:15 PM on Friday. All times EDT (New York).
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You are free to select the events you’d like to attend and are not required to be present for all presentations.
There are no conflicts of interest or commercial support for our presenters for the 2026 conference.
Presentations - Thursday October 1
9:00 AM-10:00 AM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Beyond a One-Size-Fits-All: Personalizing Metacognitive Training for Psychosis with Machine Learning
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Adrien Goncalves, CBT Neuropsychologist & PhD Student - INSERM Grand Est, Strasbourg, France
10:15 AM-11:15 AM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Training MERIT: Panel Discussion on Lessons Learned, Current Strategies, and Future Directions
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Jay Hamm, PsyD, HSPP – Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Indianapolis, IN
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Marina Kukla, PhD, HSPP – Richard L. Roudebush VAMC, Indianapolis, IN
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Louis Violeau, PhD – URCE Unité de Remédiation Cognitive et d’Evaluation, Hôpital Psychiatrique Édouard Toulouse, Psynovia Mental Health Research Center, Marseille, France
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Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon, PhD – Bar-Ilan University, Israel
11:30 AM-12:30 PM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Making Sense of Change: Metacognition and the Evolution of Self-Narrative in Serious Mental Illness
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Courtney Wiesepape, PsyD, HSPP – Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
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Ruth Firmin, PhD – Gordon College, Wenham, MA
1:00 PM-2:00 PM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Meaning Making for Family Members: A Recovery-Oriented Approach
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Jackie Abate, PsyD, HSPP – Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Indianapolis, IN
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Kelsey Huling, PsyD, HSPP – Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Indianapolis, IN
2:15 PM-3:15 PM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Trainee and Trainer Perspectives on Implementation of Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT): Preliminary Results of a Qualitative Study
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Laura Faith, PhD, HSPP – Richard L. Roudebush VAMC, Indianapolis, IN
3:30 PM-4:30 PM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Promotion of Affect Regulation and Attachment to the Therapist Among Individuals Experiencing Psychosis in Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy
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Jaclyn Hillis-Mascia, PsyD, HSPP – Hillis Psychological Services, LLC, Columbus, OH
Presentations - Friday, October 2
9:00 AM-10:00 AM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Toward a Dialogue Between Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology Views of Metacognition
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Louis Violeau, PhD – URCE Unité de Remédiation Cognitive et d’Evaluation, Hôpital Psychiatrique Édouard Toulouse, Psynovia Mental Health Research Center, Marseille, France
10:15 AM-11:15 AM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
MindShift: From Adherence to Deliberation
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Helene Speyer, MD – University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
2026 MERIT Institute Annual Business Meeting
All MERIT Institute members are encouraged to attend and discuss the work done in the last year, future directions, ways to get involved, and hear from each of the MERIT Institute committees about their ongoing endeavors. During the business meeting, we will also be honoring this year's recipients of the Paul Lysaker Research Award.
1:00 PM-2:00 PM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Dungeons & Dragons as a Therapeutic Tool to Improve Metacognition for Persons with Psychosis Through Fantasy Roleplaying: Theory and Clinical Implications
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Marcus Thomas, PsyD, LLP – VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
2:15 PM-3:15 PM (1.0 Category 1 CE)
Play in Psychotherapy for Psychosis
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Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP - Austen Riggs Center: Stockbridge, MA
Continuing Education
The Indiana Psychological Association (IPA) has graciously agreed to collaborate on Continuing Education credits. IPA is approved by the Indiana State Psychology Board and Indiana Behavioral Health Board to provide Category 1 continuing education for psychologists, LSW, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, LMFTA, LCAC and LAC. The Indiana Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Licensees must judge the program’s relevance to their professional practice. All presentations (other than the Business Meeting) will be Category I CE eligible with a total of 10 CEs available.
American Psychological Association rules require that credit be given only to those who attend the entire workshop and complete evaluations for each individual session. Those arriving to the workshop more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time or leaving early will not receive CE credits. Partial credit cannot be given.
If you are not licensed in Indiana, please check your state's CE requirements to ensure IPA sponsored CEs are approved.
Registration and Continuing Education Fees
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Current MERIT Institute Members (Professional and Student) - No Fee
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Non-Members - $85
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Indiana Psychological Association members - $64
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Continuing Education (up to 10 CEs available) - $135*
*Please note that this is an additional flat fee if you would like to receive Continuing Education credit.
Registration closes September 30 @ 9 AM.
MERIT Institute and Indiana Psychological Association members must use the code provided by your organization in order to access the discounted rates.
We are committed to making the Recovery Conference accessible to everyone who wishes to attend. If you are experiencing financial hardship or have accommodation needs, please contact the MERIT Institute Programming Committee.
All MERIT Institute programming is provided at no cost to student members. Students are asked to apply for free membership in order to qualify.