Registration- Youth Workshop (includes lunch) FREE
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Rachel Jeffs
Rachel was born and raised in the FLDS cult and was the daughter of the leader, Warren Jeffs. After suffering years of sexual abuse at his hands, mind conditioning, and a forced polygamist marriage. She escaped in 2015 with her five children. Since then she has published a book and devoted her life to helping others escape similar circumstances.
Workshop Title: Understanding Religious Extremism, Exploitation, & Surwvivor Healing
Workshop Description: Through story form Rachel will explain the realities of religious extremism and mind conditioning; how abusers use religion to control and abuse; and how hard it is for victims to see through the conditioning. She will talk about the effects on survivors and how to assist them through their journey of healing.
Nicole Bialko is a survivor of stalking by a former partner she met online. Her story, marked by resilience and advocacy, has been featured in news outlets, on public radio, and in podcasts, including Strictly Stalking. She has spoken at community events, professional trainings, and national platforms, such as the Conference on Crimes Against Women, where she shares lived experience and insights with law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, victim service providers, and community partners.
Nicole is an advocate for women and encourages individuals to trust their instincts, recognize relationship red flags, and understand the emotional dynamics that often precede coercive control. Through years of journaling and reflection, she has developed a voice that blends personal narrative with practical guidance, helping others identify patterns of manipulation and love bombing, and underscoring the importance of healthy boundaries.
With the Director of the Domestic Violence and Stalking Unit for Franklin County (Ohio) as a resource, Nicole wrote the article “Stand Up to Stalking”, which is as much instructional as it is a call to action. She continues to speak, write, and educate on stalking awareness and safety, focusing on building confidence, honoring intuition, and supporting those learning to trust themselves again.
Workshop Title: Stalking: A "Love" Story
Workshop Description: Stalking: A “Love” Story centers on the lived experience of Nicole Bialko, a stalking survivor and advocate. Nicole explores the emotional and psychological toll of stalking, the manipulation behind love-bombing and sob stories, and the isolating impact of abuse. She shares real examples of text messages, letters, and a photo taken when she caught her stalker watching her, offering a visceral look at the reality of stalking and the urgency of a survivor-centered response.
Participants gain practical tools for documentation, boundary setting, and safety planning, along with a deeper understanding of how confidence, intuition, and self-trust support healing and advocacy.
Nicole is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, and her collaborations span law enforcement, prosecutors, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations.
Clarissa Meda, Victim Services Manager with MADD, leading victim support efforts in Arizona and New Mexico for the past 4 years. She holds a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology, a bachelor's degree in public management and policy, and a graduate certificate in Mental Health and Wellness with an emphasis in grief and bereavement. Clarissa brings perspective of the Law Enforcement field after spending 5 years with the Tucson Police Department as a Community Services Officer, seeing first hand the impact of impaired driving and victimization, transitioning into her current role. Furthering her passion of serving and supporting our communities across Arizona, and being able to walk alongside them through their healing journey.
Workshop Title: Beyond the Crash
Workshop Description: This interactive presentation help community professionals understand trauma,communicate compassionately with victims and survivors, and respond emphatically during interactionswith victims/survivors. It also includes practical scenarios, self-care strategies, and an overview of MADD's free victim services and resources.
Lauryn Fjell
Lauryn Fjell, LMSW, is a Domestic Violence Response Coordinator for the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, where she provides training and technical assistance to organizations who work with survivors of violence. In addition to developing trainings related to traumatic brain injury, mental health, animal abuse, LGBTQ+ communities, homelessness, and more; Lauryn participates in several local and statewide task forces aimed at improving the quality of domestic violence services in Arizona and beyond. Outside of her work at ACESDV, Lauryn provides therapy to youth and adults at a small group practice. When she is not working, Lauryn enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time outdoors with her partner and their three rescue dogs.
Workshop Title: Trial by TikTok: Deconstructing Pop Culture's Role in Perpetuating Victim Blaming
Workshop Description: This workshop analyzes how pop culture and social media reporting on sexual and domestic violence often become complicit in victim blaming. Using examples from high-profile events, such as the public frenzy surrounding the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial, the presenter will illustrate the use of perpetrator tactics like DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) to manipulate public narrative, accompanied with the media’s sensationalizing of trauma, and algorithmic amplification that perpetuates harm. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of collective DARVO, the myth of the perfect victim, how public scrutiny and ridicule are fueled on social media platforms, and practical strategies to advocate for truth and combat DARVO and victim blaming in the digital age.
Melissa Brickhouse
Melissa Brickhouse-Thomas is an experienced social worker, victim advocate, crisis worker, and educator. Driven by her expertise in trauma, violence, and victimization, she takes pride in providing the most compassionate, trauma informed care to people in need. As the current Manager of Victim Services for the Glendale Police Department and Co-Director of the Glendale Family Advocacy Center, Melissa provides leadership and training in crisis services, victim assistance, and development of trauma informed protocols and best practice.
Outside the City of Glendale, Melissa is a previous Faculty Associate with Arizona State University School of Social Work. She holds several private consulting contracts providing clinical supervision, expert testimony, and training in the areas of victimization, offender treatment, and intimate partner violence to include child, sexual, and domestic violence. She holds a professional license in Clinical Social Work from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health (LCSW 10680). She earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Northern Arizona University (1995) followed by her Master’s in Social Work (1997) from Arizona State University. Most recently, she is the proud recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for Leadership from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office (2021).
Workshop Title: Why Do They Do That?
Workshop Description: This presentation will explore common counterintuitive behaviors observed in sexual assault and domestic violence cases and the trauma-related factors that may contribute to them. Discussion will explore delayed disclosure, recantation, secondary or continued contact with the abuser, lack of reporting and/or cooperation with law enforcement, and minimizing or downplaying the abuse. Participants will learn practical strategies for responding to these behaviors in ways that promote victim engagement, trust, and safety. Greater understanding of these responses can strengthen the criminal justice response by improving communication, reducing victim-blaming, supporting informed decision-making, and increasing opportunities for victims to access services and participate in the justice process.