Call for Proposals

Submit Proposals for the 2025 Great Lakes Counseling Psychology Conference

“Counseling Psychology Rooted in Community: Advancing Critical Consciousness and Systemic Change”

Wayne State University
McGregor Center
495 Gilmour Mall
Detroit, MI 48202-3603

Call for proposals

We are currently open for proposals for the 2025 Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference. The 2025 Great Lakes Conference will be co-hosted by Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. It will be held in-person March 21-22, 2025 at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

The theme of the conference is “Counseling Psychology Rooted in Community: Advancing Critical Consciousness and Systemic Change”. We welcome proposals relevant to the conference theme. Presenters can choose from the following presentation modes: Symposia, paper sessions, posters, roundtable discussions, or workshops. Each proposal must include an abstract of no more than 250 words. A masked review will be used to examine each proposal. Presenters can be listed as first author on no more than two proposals. The deadline for submitting proposals is January 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST. Notification of acceptance or rejection of proposals will be e-mailed to the lead presenter around or before February 3rd, 2025.

Proposals can be completed online using the following link:
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/ir_submit.cgi?context=great_lakes_conference

A. Symposium (50 minutes)

A symposium typically involves several presentations addressing a common theme or issue. Each symposium will be organized by a chair who will introduce the individual presentations (typically 3 to 4) and may include a discussant who will provide brief comments on the presentations. Presenters should prepare their presentations in advance so that the chair/discussant can prepare a coherent summary. A brief question and answer period and/or discussion with the audience may follow.

For symposia, provide a 250-word summary of the symposium and a 100-word summary of each presentation in the symposium; each summary should include a title specific to the individual presentation. Symposia will be allotted 50 minutes.

B. Paper Presentation (10-15 minutes per paper)

Papers will be presented orally to an audience. Presentations are expected to be in the 10 to 15-minute range and include a description of completed research or research in progress. The presentation should highlight key information related to the rationale, methodology, analysis, results and discussion. Paper presentations will be combined around a common theme during an extended session time.

For paper presentations, provide a summary of the study, including rationale, method, data analysis, and results. For research in planning or in progress, provide the rationale and method as well as the anticipated date of completion. Maximum proposal length is 250 words.

C. Poster Presentation (50 minutes)

Poster presentations allow presenters and attendees to engage in discussions about the author’s research findings, new ideas, innovations and possible advances in the profession. Poster materials should briefly highlight the key components related to the particular type of work. At least one presenter should attend to the poster during the entire length of the poster session.

For poster presentations, provide a summary of the study, including rationale, method, data analysis, and results. For research in planning or in progress, provide the rationale and method as well as the anticipated date of completion. Maximum proposal length is 250 words.

All poster/symposium presenters should arrive to their designated room 10 minutes before the start of the session. The recommended poster size is 36” (height) x 48” (wide). Posters will be expected to fit on a poster board that is 48” (height) x 72” (wide). Tacks will be provided to display posters.

D. Round Table Discussion (30 minutes)

Round table discussions are an opportunity for facilitators and session participants to informally discuss a particular topic of interest and exchange ideas. Participants may ask questions and discuss issues in more detail than is typical in other session formats. In the proposal description, the presenter(s) should include a list of questions that will be used to facilitate discussion.

For roundtable discussions, provide a summary of the relevant topical issues and the plan for discussion (Maximum 250 words). Roundtable discussions will be allotted approximately 30 minutes.

E. Workshop (50 minutes)

A workshop session may be an experiential activity or demonstration of skills that will allow the presenter(s) to address clinical (e.g., counseling, supervision, assessment), pedagogical or research skills with the audience through an activity. Presenters will provide a brief explanation of how the activity/demonstration works and when it can be used, as well as the conceptual and empirical basis for the activity/demonstration. A majority of the time for this type presentation should be used for the experiential activity or demonstration, and the presenter(s) should indicate how the time will be allocated (e.g., introduction, demonstration, engagement of the audience, questions, group discussion). In the proposal description, the presenter(s) should explain the rationale and empirical evidence for the activity/demonstration, provide a description of what will be done during the session, and offer suggestions for when and with whom to use the intervention/activity.

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Acceptance of proposals does not exempt presenters from paying the full registration fee. Due to space limitation, the program committee reserves the right to change the requested proposal type.

If you have questions about submitting a proposal, please contact Drs. Samuel T. Beasley and Sarah Kiperman, co-chairs of the Proposal/Programming Committee, at cp_glc@wmich.edu.

We look forward to receiving your proposals!