EDGY Conference

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Dana Wyss & Vanessa Garcia
Stars Behavioral Health Group (SBHG)
Dana Wyss & Vanessa Garcia
Dana Wyss, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC, RPT is a licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified clinical art therapist, registered play therapist, and co-author of The Invisible String Workbook and Hope and The Winds of Grief Workbook. Her doctorate in expressive therapies has led her to create programs integrating art, play, poetry, sports, and animal-assisted therapy in clients' healing process and staff's self-care. For the last 25 years, Dr. Wyss has worked in psychiatric hospitals, group homes, community mental health, and nonpublic school settings to manage crises, conduct training, coach staff, and support children and families. Vanessa Garcia a trainer and educational designer at Stars Behavioral Health Group. They have over 15 years of educational design and talent development experience. Vanessa’s professional passion resides in designing and facilitating educational experiences that provide welcoming and authentic opportunities for clinicians, peers, and advocates to explore interpersonal connections with the LGBTQ+ community, CSEC survivors, and individuals in recovery. Vanessa’s personal passion resides in directly advocating for their genderfluid family, community, and creating a brave space for their peers. Educational Background: Associates in Chemistry Bachelors of Science (Microbiology) Certified Pharmacy Technician (2014-2018)

SESSION OVERVIEW

Allyship in a Messy World: Building Courageous Allyship Through Creativity and Connection
Allyship is not a destination—it is an active, intentional, and consistent process rooted in trust, introspection, and education. It goes beyond symbolic gestures or one-time actions. While support often appears when circumstances are easy, true allyship matters most during times of risk or uncertainty. In those moments, allyship may look different. It may shift, adapt, and require courage. At its core, allyship is a lifelong commitment to learning, honoring privilege to amplify marginalized voices, and challenging injustice. It means stepping forward to build bridges and elevate others, sometimes through quiet reflection and connection, and other times through bold advocacy and pursuit of justice. Today’s landscape presents significant barriers to safety, support, and connection—barriers that can lead to fatigue and fear, even among those striving to advocate for others. In this workshop we aim to help build a map. A guide that will support your personal journey. Through creativity and collaboration, we aim to rebuild bridges and explore ways to both offer and accept support. Together, we will examine internal barriers, unrecognized privilege, and external forces that shape our ability to be the allies we aspire to be—whether for one individual or an entire community. This quest requires bravery, problem solving, creativity, and unwavering commitment. Allyship is not passive; it is an active pursuit.