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A New Hope Academy's Annual​  SITH Conference for Therapeutic Heroes

March 5-6, 2026

Blue Door Venue, Las Cruces, New Mexico

About

Reclamation - The Art of Staying Whole

A Ted Lasso–Inspired Experience for Helping Professionals

Our 2026 SITH Conference invites helping professionals into two immersive days of reflection, repair, and reclaiming the parts of themselves that get lost in broken systems. Inspired by the heart and humor of Ted Lasso, this experience centers on values, courage, connection, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up for others without abandoning yourself.

Day One focuses on rediscovering the “why” that brought you into the field - not the polished resume version, but the very human story underneath. 

 

Day Two honors vulnerability, resilience, and the beauty of putting the pieces back together with intention, just like the Broken Bowl tradition reminds us: the cracks are part of the story, not something to hide.

Because the work is hard, the system is messy, and you still deserve to believe in yourself.

What is SITH

SITH stands for Supportive Innovations for Therapeutic Heroes. This unique annual conference, held in the heart of Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a transformative professional development experience.

 

It goes beyond traditional formats, offering 12 NBCC and APT CEs with a dynamic blend of learning, movement, and community to empower you to:

  • Reignite your passion: Reconnect with your purpose and find renewed inspiration for your therapeutic journey.

  • Expand your network: Build valuable connections with colleagues from across the mental health field, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.

  • Experience a unique learning experience: Combine educational growth with experiential activities and movement breaks for a holistic, restorative experience.

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"I did not know I needed this information until I learned it at the conference. Spending time thinking about purpose and also motivation to be in the helping profession helped me re-orient myself. I needed to have a serious look at burnout and didn't even realize that was where I was."  

— Previous SITH Conference Attendee

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Who Should Attend?​

This conference is designed for helping professionals seeking renewal, deeper alignment, and longevity in their work, including:

  • Mental health therapists of all modalities and experience levels

  • Supervisors

  • Marriage and family therapists

  • Play therapists

  • Social workers

  • Graduate students in clinical programs

I feel it is useful across therapeutic backgrounds to apply the Broken Bowl and Kintsugi to conversations around healing trauma and brokenness. I left this conference feeling like I worked on myself and some of my own brokenness and how I could also work on my own ideas toward applying this sort of healing work when working with clients.”

— Attendee of Broken Bowl Wisdom Training

Details & Schedule 

​Dates: March 5-6, 2026 

Location: Blue Door Venue - 1750 Calle de Mercado, Las Cruces, NM 88005

CE credits: 12 NBCC and APT CEs (more information below)

Day 1: Thursday, March 5
Return to Self: Values, Vision, and Sustainable Care

With Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S​​​​

 

“Believe.” But this time, for yourself.

Day One is about clarity and courage. Just like Ted stepping off the plane into a job he wasn’t “supposed” to succeed at, clinicians will look at their work with fresh eyes and reconnect with their purpose, their voice, and the values that guide them.

9:00 - 12:15 MT

Morning Session

Welcome & Centering Ritual: “Return to Self" - A gentle grounding to start the day. Think of this as your locker-room moment before the big game - a pause to breathe and arrive.​ Opening Keynote: The Why Beneath the Work - Ted never leads with credentials; he leads with heart. Peel back expectations, burnout, and professional noise and reconnect with the motivations that shape your practice. Workshop 1: The Values Compass: Guiding Your Practice with Purpose - Just as Ted helps his team discover why they show up, through reflective mapping & discussion you will clarify the values that anchor you.

12:15 - 1:15 MT

Lunch & Connection Time: “The Healing Locker Room”

Instead of a traditional lunch, this space mirrors the show’s best scenes: honest conversations, unexpected friendship, gentle humor, and a sense of community that helps everyone breathe easier.

1:15 - 4:30 MT

Afternoon Session

Workshop 2: Dreamcraft: Building Your Next Chapter - Ted helps players see who they could become before they believe it themselves. Through narrative exercises, collage, and expressive arts, you'll envision your professional future rooted in hope and authenticity. Workshop 3: Coach’s Timeout: Sustainable Self-Care in an Unsustainable System - This is not the bubble-bath version of self-care. This is boundaries, values, and realistic strategies - the kind of internal maintenance Ted models when he finally admits he needs support, too.

Day 2:  Friday, March 6
Restoration: The Broken Bowl Experience​​

With Jessica Cauthorne, LCSW, RPT-S

Honoring imperfection, reclaiming wholeness.

Day Two honors vulnerability, resilience, and the beauty of putting the pieces back together with intention. Just like the Broken Bowl tradition we invoke in this one-day immersive, experiential workshop reminds us: the cracks are part of the story, not something to hide.

9 - 4:30 MT

Building on the reflective work of Day One, this full-day experiential workshop invites clinicians to move from clarity into care. Using the metaphor of the “broken bowl,” participants explore how emotional ruptures, developmental disruptions, and relational injuries shape the stories we carry - both as clinicians and as humans working within imperfect systems. Rooted in play therapy principles and accessible across disciplines, this workshop uses play, metaphor, and experiential processes as ways of understanding, not techniques to master. Through guided activities, reflective dialogue, and embodied play, participants will engage with themes of safety, symbolism, and attuned presence as pathways for regulation, connection, and repair across the lifespan. Throughout the day, attention is gently placed on the clinician as part of the healing process. Rather than focusing on fixing or resolving, the work centers on learning how to hold complexity with intention, allowing meaning, resilience, and hope to emerge through story, play, and relationship. This day is about integration: bringing values into practice, insight into presence, and care back to the self that does the work.

Click for Day 1 and Day 2 learning objectives & presenter bios

*Presenters and topics may be subject to change

All times are posted in Mountain Standard Time. See how this translates into your timezone.

Schedule
What Previous Attendees are Saying...

"I enjoyed the conversations this generated. Seeing my peers also interact with this information and understanding things from their perspectives was a great learning experience for me."

2024 SITH Conference Attendee

Registration

Registration Rates

Diamond Dogs

Full Rate Professional Pass

$300 Full Conference

✓ All day March 5-6 (lunch included both days)

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Believe

Mid-Rate

Professional Pass

$250 Full Conference

✓ All day March 5-6 (lunch included both days)

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Crown & Anchor 

Student & Accessible Professional Pass

$180 Full Conference

✓ All day March 5-6 (lunch included both days)

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CE information: Some workshops may be appropriate/eligible for specialty Play Therapy CEs from APT and Culture CEs; and A New Hope Academy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7816. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. A New Hope Academy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. More information to come!

Please contact Maria at maria@anewhopeacademy.org if you have questions or need assistance! 

Channel Your Force

SITH is not your typical conference - you are invited to come, dressed to move and learn.

 

Have a fandom or interest? Wear your geek gear! Appropriate attire includes yoga pants or leggings or comfortable pants you can move in topped with your favorite t-shirt proudly displaying your interest - Star Wars, Harry Potter, Star Trek, Marvel, DC, Anime, Bands, Punny Ts (or of course, Ted Lasso!).

 

*We do expect them to be appropriate in that there is no nudity, offensive messages or political affiliations. This is to ensure a comfortable environment for all.

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Sponsorships & Scholarships

Smells like potential

Do you want to bring hope to the mental health community?

 

Our sponsorship opportunities offer you a unique chance to promote your business to thousands of mental health clinicians throughout New Mexico, while also supporting heroic apprentice and lower-income clinicians to attend this incredible event!

Traveling to Las Cruces?

Set against the Organ Mountains and big Southwest skies, Las Cruces invites you to slow down. Named on national travel lists as one of the top places to visit in 2025, it offers a rare blend of natural beauty, culture, and ease that makes it ideal for a restorative getaway.

Getting here is straightforward. Fly to El Paso International Airport, just under an hour away, or Albuquerque if you’re extending your stay. Once you arrive, everything is close, navigable, and refreshingly free of crowds. 

We’re happy to help you find hotel and lodging options across a range of budgets, whether you want something convenience or more retreat-like. 

Come for the training. Stay for the sunsets and the space to breathe.

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CONTACT US
info@anewhopeacademy.org

Tel: (575) 556-9585 

715 E Idaho Ste 2B, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001

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