Keynote Speaker: Thursday, September 18, 2025
The Unfinished Business of Childhood: Recognizing, Honoring, and Healing Childhood the Childhood Adaptations of Social Workers
This presentation explores how unresolved childhood trauma and adaptations shape the professional lives of social workers. It delves into how early coping mechanisms influence professional relationships, decision-making, and well-being. By fostering self-awareness and reconnecting with the authentic self, attendees will gain insights into navigating the interplay between personal history and professional identity. The presentation will also introduce a framework for healing childhood adaptations, recognizing the wisdom inherent in those traumatic adaptations, and transforming them into sources of resilience and strength.
Keynote Presenter: Dr. Adam McCormick, MSSW, PhD, is a Professor of Social Work at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas and Assistant Professor of Instruction at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work, with over two decades of experience in social work practice, research, and education. He is the author of LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care (Routledge) and the forthcoming book The Unfinished Business of Childhood: Healing the Helping Professional’s Childhood Trauma. Dr. McCormick's recent work focuses on the intersection of childhood trauma, resilience, and social work practice, with a particular emphasis on how early adaptations and experiences shape professional identity and well-being.
Dr. McCormick has delivered keynotes and workshops across the country, sharing insights from his research and his extensive professional experience. His work integrates cutting-edge trauma theory, neuroscience, and self-reflective practices, offering a unique perspective on how helping professionals can connect with their authentic selves and heal unresolved childhood wounds.
Passionate about empowering social workers and other helping professionals, Dr. McCormick brings a deep commitment to social justice, advocacy, and personal growth. His research and teaching inspire audiences to embrace the complexities of their personal and professional lives while fostering sustainable and compassionate social work practice.