2026 Covington Conference Curriculum

Early bird pricing! Prices are subject to change on August 1st, 2026.

Join us for this innovative and highly acclaimed conference offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of gender-responsive and trauma-informed services. The emphasis is on five research-based treatment interventions developed by Dr. Stephanie S. Covington. Each participant selects one curriculum for their in-depth training.

This two-and-a-half-day conference is designed for counselors, therapists, clinical supervisors, correctional professionals, and program administrators. The 2026 Covington Curriculum Conference will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Bristol, Connecticut on September 29 – October 1 (special conference rate is available). Dr. Covington and her approved certified trainers will be presenting as well as available throughout the conference to address individual or organizational inquiries.

Participants will need to choose which core curriculum track they want to take prior to the conference. 

Each attendee will receive a workbook for the training session they select for core training. Participants are not required to purchase any books or materials to attend the training.

Registration includes one workbook of the core curriculum track they will attend. However, if you want to enhance your training with supplemental materials or plan to lead groups in the future, you can purchase a facilitator guide. Facilitator guides can be pre-ordered from Covington Books or via the publishers, and a limited number will be available for sale on-site during the conference.

Participants will receive an email prior to the conference with a link to handouts for the PowerPoint presentations for the appropriate track.

Evening programming is provided! You can register for the evening programs here.

Register a group of 5 and get the 6th free! Email us at [email protected] to register your group.

If you are a student and would like to inquire about a student discount, please email [email protected]

COVID PRECAUTIONS: We strive to practice collective care and the health and safety of our communities is a priority. To be in solidarity with our elders, immunocompromised attendees, and our broader sick and disabled kin, we ask that attendees take a covid test before attending. We will have masks available for anyone who needs one. We ask that If you are experiencing any symptoms of respiratory illness or have recently had a COVID exposure, please stay home.

**Registration will open at 7:00am all 3 days**

Participants must sign in and out each day to earn credit.

Day 1: Tuesday September 29th, 2026

7:15am – 8:30am Breakfast
8:30am – 10:00am Opening Session: Creating Healing in an Uncertain World — Stephanie S. Covington
10:00am – 10:20am Morning Break
10:20am – 12:00pm Opening Session continues
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:45pm Core Curriculum Tracks (chosen when you register)
2:45pm – 3:05pm Afternoon Break
3:05pm – 4:30pm Core Curriculum Tracks continue
4:30pm – 7:00pm Break to enjoy dinner on your own
7:00pm – 8:30pm Evening Session Day 1: Hidden Healers: Justice-Impacted Women — Stephanie S. Covington

Day 2: Wednesday September 30th, 2026

7:45am – 8:30am Breakfast
8:30am – 10:00am Core Curriculum Tracks continue (aattendees participate in the same Track as Day 1)
10:00am – 10:20am Morning Break
10:20am – 12:00pm Core Curriculum Tracks continue
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:45pm Core Curriculum Tracks continue
2:45pm – 3:05pm Afternoon Break
3:05pm – 4:30pm Core Curriculum Tracks conclude
4:30pm – 7:00pm Break to enjoy dinner on your own
7:00pm – 8:30pm Evening Session Day 2: A Woman’s Way through the Twelve Steps — Stephanie S. Covington

Day 3: Thursday, October 1st, 2026

7:45am – 8:30am Breakfast
8:30am – 10:30am Special Topics (Topic picked at registration)
10:30am – 11:00am Morning Break
11:00 – 12:15pm Closing Session: Endings...and New Beginnings — Stephanie S. Covington

Each attendee will receive a workbook for the training session they select for core training.

Helping Women Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction

Training by Carol Ackley

Over the past forty years our knowledge of women’s lives has increased dramatically, and we have added significantly to our understanding of the treatment needs of those with substance use disorders. Based on Dr. Covington’s evidence-based curriculum Helping Women Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction, this training offers a comprehensive treatment model that integrates theories of addiction, women’s psychological development, and trauma.

Designed to give counselors, clinicians, and program administrators a basic understanding of the essential elements needed for the development of gender-responsive programs, the training focuses primarily on recovery. The emphasis is on the key issues of self, relationships, sexuality, spirituality, and the trauma-informed therapeutic techniques for dealing with these issues. Updates in the 3rd edition include trauma-sensitive yoga exercises, updated gender information, new brain research as it relates to addiction and trauma, and expansion from 17 to 20 sessions. Throughout the workshop, your trainer also discusses how the special edition of the Helping Women Recover program materials is used with those in the criminal justice system.

Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women

Training by Eileen Russo and Maggie Young

This training introduces the evidence-based Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women program materials. The second edition incorporates the insights of neuroscience with the latest understanding of trauma and PTSD to assist both new and seasoned group leaders. Cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness, expressive arts, and the principles of relational therapy are integrated in this strength-based approach. The curriculum also has a psycho-educational component that teaches what trauma is, its process, and its impact on both the inner self (thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values) and the other self (behavior and relationships, including parenting). The focus of this training is on interactive exercises that demonstrate techniques that counselors can use to help clients develop coping skills, as well as emotional wellness. In addition, the end of each of the twelve sessions has information on adapting the material for youth.

Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls

Training by Candice Norcott

Built on a foundation rooted in Resiliency Theory and experiential learning, Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls (2nd Edition) is designed to encourage girls and young women to find and express themselves. This training describes the needs of youth, as well as provides an overview of the elements needed for creating gender-responsive services. It was created to address the unique needs of adolescents with modules about self and connecting with others to exploring healthy living and the journey ahead. Today we are hearing more about bullying, the pressures of social media, early puberty, gender exploration, human sex trafficking, and binge drinking. Texting, social media, and online or “in real life” (IRL) friends are part of the changes in their social lives.

The focus is on interactive exercises that demonstrate the strategies that service providers can use with adolescent girls and young women (as well as those who are gender diverse). The topics covered include developing a positive sense of self, building healthy relationships, problematic substance use, physical and emotional wellness, sexuality, and planning for a positive future. Pathways to the criminal justice system and the experiences once they become involved are also addressed.

Beyond Violence+ / Beyond Anger and Violence+: Programs for Women and Gender Diverse People

Training by Patricia Esparza

NEW EDITIONS! We live in a world where anger and violence are all around us, including in the news, our television shows and motion pictures, and our families and relationships. Anger is often connected to violence and, in some cases, leads to violence. Even though anger is a common emotion, many people find it difficult to understand and regulate their anger. Beyond Violence+ and Beyond Anger and Violence+ are programs for those who struggle with issues related to anger and/or violence. Beyond Violence+ focuses on women, transgender, and nonbinary people who are involved in the criminal justice system and Beyond Anger and Violence+ focuses on those in community programs. There are many overlaps in each approach; this combined training will also review the differences between the two programs.

The training is designed to explain and explore the topics of anger and violence on multiple levels: the personal level; the relationship level, including anger and violence directed toward them; the intersections of anger, violence, and substance use; and the effects of anger and violence in our communities and society at large. This is an interactive training that integrates the evidence-based practices of cognitive-behavioral, relational, mindful, and expressive-arts therapeutic techniques into a holistic approach to anger and violence prevention.

Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction

Training by Shane Pugh

This training presents the 2nd edition of Helping Men Recover, a gender-based, trauma-informed treatment program for substance use disorders that has been expanded to twenty-one sessions. The curriculum addresses what is often missing in prevailing treatment models: a clear understanding of the impact of male socialization on the recovery process, a consideration of client's relational needs, and a focus on the issues of abuse and trauma. Existing models often provide little direction in helping those to establish a healthy sense of self outside of stereotypical masculine scripts. In contrast, this is one of the primary goals of Helping Men Recover. It is suitable for men, trans men, and nonbinary people who have a masculine experience of the world.

Helping Men Recover integrates a theory of addiction, a theory of trauma, and a theory of male psychosocial development. The program materials consist of a facilitator manual and a participant workbook. There is a community version and a criminal justice version. This presentation provides a historical overview of the history of men’s treatment and the research that establishes the foundation for this new curriculum. However, the main focus of this training is on the interactive exercises drawn from the curriculum.

You will be prompted to register for one of the evening events during check out.

Tuesday Evening Session

Hidden Healers: Justice-Impacted Women

Presented by Stephanie S. Covington

This presentation focuses on the most invisible women in our society… women in the criminal justice system. By sharing her over thirty years of experience working with this system, Dr. Covington recounts her journey as well as those of the women. Her book Hidden Healers: The Unexpected Ways Women in Prison Help Each Other Survive is based on over twenty interviews with formerly incarcerated women. It documents the 1) overwhelming need for help and healing, 2) how prisons and “the system” do not provide this, and 3) how women- even those who have their own struggles- are moved to help others. The inspirational anecdotes from the book are accompanied by challenging questions for us all.

Wednesday Evening Session

A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps

Presented by Stephanie S. Covington

The focus of this evening’s event is on the best-selling book, A Woman’s Way through the Twelve Steps. This book empowers women to take ownership of their recovery and to grow and flourish in sobriety. The life stories included in this new 30th anniversary edition are rich in diversity - reflecting differences in age, race, and ethnicity, class, gender, religion, geographic location, occupation, choice of partner, and role as mother. Dr. Covington discusses some of the interactive exercises from the workbook and facilitator guide. She also highlights how women use the Steps and she shares their wisdom and inspiration. To register for only this evening event, please visit the A Woman's Way event page.