Charity L. Simpson (she), GA LPC, CP
Charity received her psychology degree from Hendrix College before moving to Atlanta to attend Emory’s Candler School of Theology and earn a Master of Divinity. Throughout her education, she sought to ground academic work in community-based service at Crossroads Community Ministries, Oakhurst Baptist Church, and Genesis Family Shelter. After graduating from theology school and serving as program developer in the non-profit sector, Charity returned to school to earn her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mercer University. She then completed her training and early clinical experience at Genesis Family Shelter and Compass Consulting before shifting focus to therapeutic intensives and experiential consultations.
Unlocking Therapeutic Potential: Using The Neurobiology of Experiential Therapy to Enhance Your Clinical Practice
This presentation examines the integration of experiential techniques to deepen emotional exploration, promote self-awareness, and enhance client engagement in clinical settings. Participants will begin with an Image Check-In, selecting images that reflect their current emotional states to cultivate immediate insight and attunement. Building on this experiential foundation, an interactive overview of the triune brain model will demonstrate how these techniques engage deeper limbic and reptilian systems, complementing traditional cognitive interventions. The session will also review Polyvagal Theory, highlighting neurobiological mechanisms that support regulation, safety, and connection in therapeutic contexts.
Through hands-on experiential exercises, participants will engage with modalities such as visualization, art, music, sound, and movement, exploring their effectiveness in facilitating emotional processing, insight, and behavioral integration. The presentation will culminate in a demonstration of the Debrief Thumball, providing a practical tool for reflecting on experiential interventions. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to integrate these techniques into clinical practice, supporting richer emotional engagement, neurobiological attunement, and meaningful therapeutic change.
Educational Learning Objectives:
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
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Explain the Neuroscience Behind Experiential Therapy
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Describe the fundamental neuroscience principles relevant to experiential therapy, including the triune brain model and polyvagal theory.
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Explain how experiential therapy engages different brain regions (reptilian, limbic, and neocortex) compared to traditional talk therapy.
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Discuss the neurobiological mechanisms that underpin the effectiveness of experiential techniques in promoting emotional processing and therapeutic change.
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Differentiate Experiential Therapy from Traditional Talk Therapy
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Identify key distinctions between experiential therapy and traditional talk therapy in addressing emotional and behavioral challenges.
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Articulate the advantages of experiential techniques, such as fostering deeper emotional exploration, insight, and integration beyond verbal interventions alone.
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Apply Experiential Techniques in Practice
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Demonstrate the ability to integrate experiential techniques into clinical practice.
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Practice three core experiential methods, including imagery, sound, and movement, to facilitate meaningful therapeutic change in clients
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Where you can see this presentation:
California Pathways to Practice Symposium
Saturday, September 26
9:15 AM - 11:45 AM
​​Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
CE's must be purchased separately.
This event is intended to be accessible to all. If financial barriers would otherwise prevent your attendance, please reach out to Robyn@alignedcarecenter.com to discuss financial accommodations. For other accommodations, please click here for more information.
Exploring Internal Roles and Parts of the Self: Tools for Awareness and Integration
This proposal outlines an experiential presentation focused on exploring internal roles and parts of the self through the integration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and psychodramatic role theory. Grounded in the concept of the self as inherently multifaceted, the session introduces participants to key frameworks for understanding intrapsychic organization, including IFS categories of exiles, managers, and firefighters, alongside psychodramatic distinctions between somatic, social, and psychodramatic roles.
Participants will engage in interactive exercises to map their internal systems using a role atom or role map, creating a visual representation of the relationships, imbalances, and patterns among their parts and roles. The presentation will emphasize how these internal elements develop adaptively over time yet may become rigid or maladaptive, contributing to internal conflict and reduced flexibility.
Through guided experiential learning, attendees will be introduced to practical tools such as role training and parts dialogue to assess, expand, and integrate internal roles. These techniques aim to foster greater self-awareness, increase role flexibility, and support the development of a more balanced and authentic sense of self.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of intrapsychic dynamics and concrete strategies for applying these concepts in clinical, educational, or personal growth settings.
Educational Learning Objectives:
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
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Identify and differentiate the three primary types of parts in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model (e.g., exiles, managers, and firefighters) and catalog a range of intrapsychic roles present in oneself or clients.
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Construct and interpret a role atom, identifying overdeveloped and underdeveloped roles and their impact on functioning.
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Select and apply appropriate intervention strategies (e.g., role training, role atom exploration, or parts dialogue) to support the development of more flexible, balanced, and functional intrapsychic roles.
Where you can see this presentation:
California Pathways to Practice Symposium
Saturday, September 26
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
​​Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
CE's must be purchased separately.
This event is intended to be accessible to all. If financial barriers would otherwise prevent your attendance, please reach out to Robyn@alignedcarecenter.com to discuss financial accommodations. For other accommodations, please click here for more information.
Past Presentations
Attachment in Action – Understanding and Cultivating Secure Relationships
with Charity Simpson, Georgia LPC
Attachment is the deep psychological and emotional bond that connects individuals. Rooted in the research of Harry Harlow, John Bowlby, and Mary Ainsworth, attachment theory explores how we form, maintain, and function in relationships throughout our lives. While early attachment patterns develop in childhood through interactions with primary caregivers, research shows that people can cultivate secure attachment styles and build healthier, more fulfilling relationships at any stage of life. This presentation offers an experiential and insightful overview of attachment theory, its development, and the four primary attachment styles in action. Attendees will engage in an interactive exploration of their personal attachment journey and discover practical strategies for fostering secure attachment patterns in themselves and clients. Participants will leave with a solid understanding of attachment theory and actionable tools to enhance their own relationships, support clients, and strengthen the therapeutic process
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Objectives: Following this presentation, participants will be able to
1. Define Key Concepts – Participants will be able to accurately define attachment theory, its origins, and the four primary attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized).
2. Assess Attachment Patterns in Self and Clients – Attendees will identify their own attachment style and analyze its influence on their relationships, as well as identify and analyze clients’ attachment styles through assessments, observations, and clinical interviews.
3. Apply Attachment Theory to Relationships – Participants will demonstrate an understanding of how attachment styles in self and clients influence communication, emotional regulation, and interpersonal dynamics, including their impact on the therapeutic relationship, transference, and countertransference.
4. Enhance Therapeutic Alliance and Client Relationships – Therapists will implement strategies to build trust and attunement with clients, fostering a secure and supportive therapeutic environment while supporting clients in developing healthier, more securely attached relationships.
5. Develop Strategies for Secure Attachment – Attendees will practice and discuss techniques to foster secure attachment, improve emotional bonds, build trust, and enhance communication in both personal and professional settings.
Where you can see my presentation:
California Pathways to Practice Symposium, Virtual Speaker Series
Purchase the video of the live event below
This event is intended to be accessible to all. If financial barriers would otherwise prevent your attendance, please reach out to Robyn@alignedcarecenter.com to discuss financial accommodations. For other accommodations, please click here for more information.
We extend our gratitude to the sponsor of this presentation for making it possible for us to compensate the speaker and make this event accessible. ​
