Speakers and Keynotes

The Henderson County Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals, healthcare providers, educators, community organizations, and people with lived experience to share evidence-based practices and strengthen systems of care across Henderson County and Western North Carolina.

Keynote Speakers

The conference includes three keynote presentations throughout the day.

Philip Cooper

Chief Change Agent, Operation Gateway
Opening Keynote | 9:00 a.m.

Philip Cooper is a regional leader in reentry, recovery, and community-driven behavioral health solutions. He works at the intersection of justice involvement, substance use, workforce development, and equity, building bridges between systems and people with lived experience. Philip’s keynote will focus on authentic engagement, second chances, and what it means to design services that truly work for the people who use them.

Kelly Crosbie

Director, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services,
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Lunch Keynote | 12:00 p.m.

Kelly Crosbie is the Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. She leads statewide efforts to strengthen North Carolina’s behavioral health system, expand access to care, and support the workforce. Kelly’s keynote will highlight statewide priorities, funding opportunities, and partnerships that can support local work in Henderson County.

Sarah Merritt Ryan

Mental Health Advocate
Closing Keynote | 3:30 p.m.

Sarah Merritt Ryan is a mental health speaker, author, and advocate who shares her lived experience with early-episode schizophrenia and recovery. She writes and speaks about stigma, hope, relationships, and life after psychosis, and facilitates peer support spaces through NAMI in North Carolina. Sarah’s keynote will focus on emotional recovery, resilience, and what it means to create communities where people living with serious mental illness are seen, heard, and supported.

Breakout Session Speakers

The conference features 35+ breakout session speakers representing healthcare systems, higher education, public health, community-based organizations, and lived experience–informed providers.

Sessions include presenters from organizations such as:

  • Abide Inclusive Therapy
  • AdventHealth
  • Appalachian State University
  • Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders
  • Catalyst Consulting
  • Community Care of North Carolina
  • Creating a Family
  • Land of Sky Regional Council Area Agency on Aging
  • Lewis Family Consulting
  • Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)
  • Mountain Creative Arts Counseling
  • Missing Pieces Counseling Services
  • North Carolina Technical Assistance Center
  • Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness
  • UNC Health Pardee
  • UNC Asheville
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • Western Carolina University
  • and additional regional and community partners

Breakout sessions address a wide range of evidence-based and practice-informed topics, including suicide prevention, youth and family mental health, trauma-informed care, substance use and recovery, crisis response, workforce sustainability, and system-level innovation.

Learn More

Full session descriptions and presenter details are available on the Agenda and Sessions page.