The Hope Builders Clinical Training Collective is the continuing education arm of Arkansas Counseling & Wellness Services. Dr. Kristy Burton is solely responsible for all aspects of the program, which is approved by NBCC for continuing education credit (ACEP #7353).
We built Hope Builders because continuing education should feel energizing, practical, and deeply human, not like a box to check. Our trainings are interactive, grounded in current research, and designed for counselors, supervisors, peer professionals, and organizations committed to meaningful, ethical, compassionate care.
Training areas
Clinical ethics
Ethics live where boundaries and self-awareness collide. Our ethics trainings look at ethical decision-making through the lens of real practice, helping counselors spot red flags early, avoid ethical drift, and stay aligned with both the code and their values. Courses approved by NBCC for continuing education hours in ethics.
Motivational Interviewing
Dr. Burton is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). Our MI trainings range from foundational skill-building to advanced clinical application, with live coaching and practice opportunities.
Trauma-informed care
Trauma-informed practice is not a buzzword, it is a discipline. Our trauma-informed care trainings give clinicians the framework and the skills to recognize trauma presentations, avoid re-traumatization, and build safety into every stage of the therapeutic process.
Co-occurring disorders
Mental health and substance use almost never show up alone. Our co-occurring disorders training equips clinicians to assess, formulate, and treat when both are present, without fragmenting the care.
Reflective supervision
For supervisors and counselors supervising others, our reflective supervision trainings build the skills that make supervision transformative, not just procedural.
Who our trainings are for
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs, LPC-Ss, LACs)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs, LMSWs)
- Addiction specialists (LADACs, AADCs, MACs)
- Peer support providers
- Marriage and family therapists (LMFTs, LAMFTs)
- Counseling interns and practicum students
- Organizations commissioning in-house training for their teams
Upcoming training events
NBCC-approved continuing education from Hope Builders. Each training is offered both in person at our Fayetteville office and virtually via Google Meet. The virtual link is sent 48 hours before the event. Registration is handled through our secure Cognito Forms portal.
From Advice-Giver to Change Evoker: Ethics of Breaking Your Fix-It Reflex
Monday, October 26, 2026 · 1–4 pm CT
Ever catch yourself jumping into “fix-it mode” with clients? From Advice-Giver to Change Evoker: Breaking Your Fix-It Reflex is a dynamic training that helps clinicians shift from directing change to evoking it. Grounded in the spirit and skills of Motivational Interviewing and informed by ethical counseling practice, this session emphasizes honoring client autonomy, avoiding the pitfalls of over-directing treatment, and fostering collaborative, client-centered care.
Whose Change Is It Anyway? Ethics, Autonomy, and the Fix-It Reflex
Friday, November 20, 2026 · 1–4 pm CT
What if ethical counseling was less about directing clients toward the “right” choice and more about creating space for them to discover their own reasons for change? This training explores Motivational Interviewing as an ethical framework for promoting client autonomy, empowerment, and self-determination. Participants will practice MI skills—including open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and evoking change talk—to reduce the “fix-it” reflex, navigate client ambivalence without coercion, and support clients in making choices consistent with their own values and goals. Emphasis will be placed on the ethical balance between professional responsibility and respecting each client’s right to direct their own change process.
New Supervisor Survival Kit: What They Didn't Teach You
Monday, February 1, 2027 · 1–4 pm CT
Stepping into a supervision role can feel exciting—and overwhelming. This 3-hour supervision and ethics training bridges the gap between textbook knowledge and the real-world challenges of clinical supervision. Whether you’re brand new to supervising or still finding your footing, this session offers practical guidance you can actually use.
Participants will learn how to
- Navigate difficult supervisee dynamics
- Provide clear, ethical, and effective feedback
- Manage documentation and liability concerns
- Balance support with accountability
You’ll leave with tools, structure, and confidence to supervise effectively from day one.
Motivational Interviewing Coaching
Ongoing — one-on-one with Dr. Burton
Dr. Kristy Burton is a current member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, and offers individual MI coaching and coding (skill assessment via recorded session review). Coaching is structured to your stage of MI practice, from foundations to advanced clinical application.
Continuing Education Hours: Arkansas Counseling and Wellness Services has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Kristy Burton is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. 7353.
Custom and on-site training
Agencies, private practices, and academic programs can commission Hope Builders to deliver custom training on-site or virtually. Past topics include ethical decision-making, MI for clinical teams, trauma-informed workplace culture, and supervision for emerging clinical leaders.
Sign up for trainings or mailing list
Join the Hope Builders mailing list for new training announcements, registration openings, and clinical practice resources. We send only when there is something worth saying. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer to talk to a person? Email Kristy@arcounselingandwellness.com or call 501-205-4570 for custom training inquiries or to discuss your organization's continuing-education needs.
Continuing education credit statement
Arkansas Counseling and Wellness Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7353. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Arkansas Counseling and Wellness Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.