The Future of Mental Health in America

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 

Welcome Reception • 5pm - 7pm • Delamar Hotel, West Hartford, CT
 

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Conference • 8:30 AM - 5PM • Delamar Hotel, West Hartford, CT

Session I: How We Got Here
Exploring the historical, cultural, and institutional forces that shaped modern responses to emotional distress.

8:45 AM | David Cohen | Setting the Stage
A historical overview of how modern responses to emotional distress developed over the past sixty years and how certain institutions and ideas became dominant.

9:10 AM | Jeffrey Lacasse | The Commercialization of Distress
An examination of how diagnostic tools, research practices, and commercial influences shaped prevailing interpretations of emotional distress.

9:35 AM | Robert Whitaker | Psychiatric Drugs and Long-Term Outcomes
A critical look at how psychiatric drugs became central to mainstream care and what long-term outcome data show about their real-world effects.

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Session II: The Consequences of Medicalization
Investigating how medicalized ideas have shaped identity, care, and the meaning of distress.

10:05 AM |  Joanna Moncrieff | The Mythology of Chemical Imbalances and Chemical Cures
An exploration of how biochemical explanations for emotional suffering became embedded in public culture and clinical training.

10:30 AM | Panel: The Medicalization of Childhood
Moderator: Mollie Adler | Panelists: Gretchen LeFevre Watson, Nick Taber, Alan Cassels
A discussion of the expanding focus on diagnosis and treatment in childhood and the forces that steer young people into clinical pathways.

11:10 AM | Jan Baszucki | Informed Choice from a Parent's Perspective
A family-member perspective on informed choice, transparency, and navigating limited options within the mental health system.

11:35 AM | Panel: The Impact of Medicalization on Psychiatrists
Moderator: Kelsey Osgood | Panelists: Javeed Sukhera, Mark Horowitz, Joanna Moncrieff
An exploration of how medicalization shapes the inner lives of psychiatrists, narrowing the scope of meaning and practice and placing them in roles that conflict with their own judgment and values.

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Session III: Remediating, Reforming & Moving Beyond the Mental Health Industry
Exploring practical, clinical, and cultural pathways beyond diagnosis-driven care.

1:30 PM | Anders Sørensen & Mark Horowitz | Clinical Deprescribing 
An overview of the clinical application of hyperbolic psychiatric drug tapering, including strategies for supporting clients during withdrawal.

2:15 PM | Facilitated Conversation: Helping Veterans Recover from Psychiatric Drugs
Moderator: Kim Witczak | Speakers: Derek Blumke, Angie Peacock
A discussion about helping veterans recover from the harms caused by psychiatric drugs and advancing informed-consent reforms that protect those who come after them.

2:50 PM | Laura Delano & Mollie Adler | Moving Beyond Therapy Culture
A discussion on how to move beyond therapy culture and the reflex to frame emotional struggle through diagnosis and treatment.

3:15 PM | Panel: The Future of Therapy
Moderator: Kelsey Osgood | Panelists: Nicole Laurent, David Walker, Roger McFillin
A discussion of alternative clinical modalities to support people instead of diagnoses and medications, including somatic and metabolic approaches.

4:05 PM | Lauren Kennedy West | Moving Beyond Diagnoses and Meds
A personal account of moving beyond diagnosis and medication toward a different understanding of suffering and self.

4:30 PM | Panel: Media & “Mental Health” 
Moderator: Cooper Davis | Panelists: TBA
A discussion with reporters and journalists about how “mental health” is being covered in the media.

 

Evening Gala Dinner • 7:30pm • Delamar Hotel, West Hartford, CT
 

Where to stay

Delamar West Hartford (conference venue)

• We’ve secured a discounted room block at the Delamar West Hartford for our event guests for 2 nights (from December 3-5). Breakfast and valet included. To book, please call the reservations team at +1 (860) 937-2500 or email dwhreservations@thedelamar.com. $289 per night (exclusive of 15% occupancy tax plus a $15 service charge per room, per night). Room block discount expires on November 10, so please book ASAP.
• Located just steps from West Hartford Center, the Delamar offers elegant rooms, a full-service spa, and fine dining. Guests staying here are right at the heart of the conference, with immediate access to all sessions and events.

Courtyard by Marriott Hartford Farmington (approx. 12 min drive)

• A modern business-friendly hotel with spacious rooms, on-site dining, and easy highway access. Convenient for travelers seeking a quieter setting close to shopping and restaurants in Farmington.

The Capitol Hotel, Downtown Hartford (approx. 9 min drive)

• Boutique hotel in a historic Art Deco building, offering stylish accommodations in downtown Hartford. Walkable to Bushnell Park, restaurants, and nightlife. A good fit for attendees who want a city feel with quick access to West Hartford.

The Goodwin Hotel, Downtown Hartford (approx. 11 min drive)

• Upscale boutique hotel known for its dramatic architecture and refined atmosphere. Offers luxury amenities, creative dining, and a lively downtown location, ideal for guests who want a distinctive stay.

Avon Old Farms Hotel (approx. 14 min drive)

• Charming countryside inn with classic New England character. Surrounded by woodlands but only a short drive from West Hartford, it offers a more relaxed, scenic environment with full amenities and traditional hospitality.

Getting to West Hartford, CT

Nearest airports

• Bradley International Airport (BDL) – (approx. 25 min drive)
• Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) – (approx. 55 min drive)
• Hartford Union Station (Amtrak & Greyhound) – (approx. 10 min drive)

Ground transportation

• Rideshare (Uber/Lyft), local taxis, and rental cars available
• CT Transit bus lines connect West Hartford to Hartford and surrounding towns

Parking information

• Valet is complimentary for all guests staying overnight at the Delamar West Hartford. For all guests driving in, we kindly ask that you park at the nearby Memorial Parking Garage. You can also prepay and reserve at the Isham Garage (located across the street), through the Town of West Hartford.

Food & dining

Conference attendees will find a wide variety of food options within walking distance of the venue:

• Whole Foods Market (Blue Back Square) – Ideal for grab-and-go meals, healthy snacks, or dietary-specific needs
• Maruichi Japanese Grocery – A specialty store offering authentic Japanese ingredients, prepared foods, and a small selection of ready-to-eat meals.
• Blue Back Square Restaurants – A vibrant hub featuring a range of sit-down and casual dining, from American bistros to global cuisine.
• West Hartford Center Dining – Dozens of independent restaurants, cafés, and bars right outside the hotel doors, offering everything from fine dining to cozy coffee shops.

Recommended attire

• Wednesday evening reception: Cocktail attire
• Thursday conference: Business casual
• Thursday evening reception & gala dinner: Black-tie optional

Interested in sponsoring?

• If you’re interested in sponsoring this event or our work generally, please email us at hello@theinnercompass.org. We’d love to hear from you!