Stetson Counseling Community Engages in Regional Mental Health Symposium

Adjunct faculty member and alumna Nicole King presented on caregiver stress and grief while students connected with regional mental health leaders and professionals.

May 14, 2026

Stetson University’s Department of Counselor Education was represented at the 11th Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium on May 13 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, where adjunct faculty member Nicole King delivered a featured breakout presentation on caregiver stress, grief, and sustainable coping.

The annual symposium, hosted by SMA Healthcare, brings together mental health professionals, advocates, educators, and community members for a day of learning and professional development focused on advancing mental health awareness and care. This year’s event featured keynote presentations and breakout sessions covering important issues in behavioral health, including treatment engagement, suicide prevention, nutrition and mental health, psychosis recovery, social media, grief, and caregiver stress.

King’s presentation, Hidden Grief, Ongoing Loss: Caregiver Stress, Ambiguous Grief, and Sustainable Coping, explored the relationship between stress and grief, particularly among caregivers and individuals navigating ongoing loss and major life transitions. Presented in a TED-style format, the session provided attendees with practical strategies for recognizing burnout, establishing healthy boundaries, supporting others compassionately, and developing sustainable coping skills.

A licensed mental health counselor and Stetson Double Hatter alumna (BA '18, MS '23), King serves as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Counselor Education while also providing clinical services and overseeing a private practice in DeLand. Her professional interests include grief and loss, trauma-informed care, caregiver support, and aging-related concerns, particularly among individuals and families affected by dementia and cognitive decline. In addition to her clinical and teaching work, she serves on SMA Healthcare’s Board of Directors and remains active in community advocacy and outreach initiatives.

Several Stetson counseling students also attended the symposium, gaining exposure to current conversations and emerging practices within the mental health profession. Opportunities like this reflect the department’s continued commitment to connecting students with community engagement, professional advocacy, and real-world learning experiences beyond the classroom.

Adjunct faculty member and alumna Nicole King joined Stetson counseling students at the 11th Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium in Daytona Beach, where attendees engaged with regional mental health professionals and community leaders.

Pictured left to right:
Jessalyn Shipley, Shelby Taylor, Troy Lovely, Brooke Romero, Nicole King