Peer Power 2025
Rise & Restore
Where Self-Care Meets Professional Growth
September 25-28, 2025
St. Pete, Florida
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Two days of peer focused training
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Breakfast and lunch provided
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Guest speakers
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Itinerary
Thursday 9/25
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Check in 3:00 PM
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Meet and Greet Poolside 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Friday 9/26​
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Continental Breakfast
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Session 1
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Alan Davidson, CEO for Central Florida Behavioral Health Network
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Dr. Christine Caufield, CEO for LSF Health Systems
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Special Guest Speaker, Senator Darryl Rouson
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Saturday 9/27​
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Breakfast
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Session 2
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Community Coalition Alliance (CCA)​
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Sophia West, CPA
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Dr. Melissa Dittberner
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Lunch
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Session 3
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Marissa Barbosa, DO, MS​
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Aimee Johnson, LMHC
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Sunday 9/28​
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Check out 11:00 AM
Join us for Florida’s only peer-led retreat created exclusively for Certified Recovery Peer Specialists and Peer Supporters! Hosted at the beautiful Hilton in St. Petersburg Carillon Park, this experience blends meaningful self-care, dynamic professional development, and powerful connection.
Senator Darryl Rouson
Special Guest Speaker
Senator Darryl Rouson is a long-standing champion for recovery, criminal justice reform, and behavioral health. A fierce advocate for the peer support movement, Senator Rouson has proudly sponsored legislation in Florida to recognize and expand the role of Certified Recovery Peer Specialists. His lived experience, legislative leadership, and unwavering support for peer-led solutions make him an inspiring voice at this year’s Peer Power: Rise & Restore retreat.
Alan Davidson
CEO, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network
Alan Davidson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 25 years of clinical experience across a variety of settings including outpatient specialty clinics, crisis intervention, structured outpatient programs, inpatient psychiatric, large nonprofits, and private practice.
He has provided clinical and administrative supervision to counseling students, interns and professionals. Alan is invested in emphasizing a more integrative, dynamic, and holistic approach to behavioral health. When Alan is not creating strategies for growth and improvement within the behavioral health system of care, he enjoys traveling with his wife, hanging out with his dogs, cycling, and boating.
Dr. Christine Caufield
CEO, LSF Health Systems
Dr. Christine Cauffield is President and CEO of organizations providing integrated health services from children to seniors, including acute psychiatric care for seniors in crisis. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology and completed her residency at Harvard Medical School, specializing in geriatric neuropsychology. She serves as President of both the Florida Council on Aging and the Florida Association of Managing Entities, and sits on multiple boards, including the Smart Justice Alliance of Florida. An alumna of Leadership Florida, Dr. Cauffield represents the U.S. for EuComs, a coalition of 36 European countries advancing community-based behavioral healthcare. Known for her turnaround leadership, she has developed national best-practice models and successfully integrated healthcare services in both urban and rural settings. A passionate advocate, she works closely with policymakers to champion critical healthcare initiatives.
Malissa Barbosa, DO, MS
Guest Speaker
As a triple board-certified osteopathic family physician, my work is primarily with communities on the fringe of society. The extent of my advocacy includes service on various Opioid Taskforce Initiatives, training of medical students and residents, and national service as a Board of Trustee for the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine. My interests lie with adolescents, young adults, older adults, families, people of color, women, and faith based communities.
Community Coalition Alliance
Guest Speaker
In 2008, the Community Coalition Alliance (CCA) was developed in response to a request from a Federal Project Officer to meet as a group and provide mentoring to one another. CCA provides a forum for partnerships, community involvement and participation, and interagency cooperation and collaboration by focusing on the issues with data-driven decision-making, evidence-based strategies and the risk and protective factors of youth. The group is comprised of members of community coalitions, who are made up of parents, teachers, law enforcement, businesses, religious leaders, health providers and other community activists who mobilize at the local level to make their communities safer, healthier and drug-free.
Dr. Melissa Dittberner
Guest Speaker
Dr. Mo, (Melissa Dittberner), PhD, CPS, PS, LMT, is an award winning professor in the Addiction Counseling and Prevention department at the University of South Dakota. She has a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychology in Education, a master’s in Addiction Studies and a bachelor’s in Health Sciences. Dr. Mo is a TEDx speaker, prevention specialist and peer specialist. She is the CEO of Straight Up Care, a telehealth platform for peer specialist. Dr. Mo is the Executive Director of Midwest Street Medicine. She is a co-author of, The Alcohol Reset. She does research on college students’ substance use, pedagogy, addiction, trauma, body brokering, tattoos as healing and harm reduction. Dr. Mo is a person in long-term recovery and her mission is to empower individuals to learn and navigate their paths to recovery and well-being.
Aimee Johnson
Guest Speaker
Aimee Johnson, LMHC, PAT, owns Creative Minds Counseling, LLC, offering individual and group therapy, training, and supervision specializing in trauma, addiction, and psychodrama. She also owns Creative Soul Counseling Alliance, LLC, a membership-based group therapy practice. A certified psychodrama practitioner with 12+ years of training, Aimee uses creative, experiential methods to foster healing and growth. She serves as Vice President of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and has held leadership roles including Executive Council, Membership Chair, and editor of Psychodrama Network News. She also brings 13 years of anti-trafficking and healthcare advocacy experience. She is co-owner of The Creative Wellness Collective with Kerry Conca, LMHC, PAT to train therapists.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot early!
Registration Information
Hotel: $189.00 per person/night plus tax
HILTON ST. PETERSBURG CARILLON PARK
950 Lake Carillon Drive
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
**Event ticket purchase will reserve your hotel room. You are responsible for room rates/payment upon check in at the hotel.
Peer Retreat:
$275.00 per person (Early Bird Registration ends 7/25)
$300.00 per person (Regular Registration 7/26 - 8/26)
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Space is limited, get your tickets while they last!
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Registration closes 8/26/2025
Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI088037 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.