April 20th - 21st, 2026 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Louisiana Mental Health Conference is a boutique conference experience focused on providing educational training with throughout provoking topics presented by industry leaders. Attendees will have the privilege of hearing from premier clinicians who have elevated the field with their expertise and influence.
The Louisiana Mental Health Conference Committee has worked diligently to bring together leaders within the mental health community to present new, exciting and thought-provoking topics. It is with tremendous pleasure that we announce our 2026 keynote speaker,
DR. DAVID FORSTADT
PSYD, LMHC, LPCC, LPC
ABOUT
Dr. David D. Forstadt is a licensed psychotherapist and Clinical Outcomes and Neuropsychological Testing Pathway Consultant at Lifeskills, specializing in addiction, dual-diagnosis populations, Narcissistic Personality Disorders, and comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological testing. With more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health, he is known for an outcomes-driven yet human approach that integrates rigorous assessment, research-based interventions, and inclusive care.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Daemen College, a Master of Science in Community Mental Health from Canisius College, and both a Master of Science in Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Medaille College in New York. His clinical training emphasized psychological testing, outcome measurement, and integrative treatment planning across forensic and residential settings. A nationally board-certified therapist licensed across multiple states, Dr. Forstadt has consulted on and helped develop treatment programs nationwide, authored peer-reviewed publications on substance use and mental health, and serves on the Clinical Council Committee Board for Odyssey Behavioral Health.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Dr. Forstadt is committed to advancing culturally responsive, affirmative care and improving services for historically underserved populations.
The Louisiana Mental Health Conference was created to bring clinically exceptional learning opportunities to the clinicians of the Great State of Louisiana while supporting the incredible nonprofits that serve our communities. It is with this goal in mind that we are excited to announce that all profits of the LMHC 2026 will be gifted to two incredible non-profits:
“Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response, better known in the communities we serve as STAR, is a nonprofit sexual assault center that provides advocacy, counseling, and legal representation to survivors of sexual trauma throughout 15 parishes in central and southeast Louisiana. All our services to survivors are free and any donations to STAR, like the funds Louisiana Mental Health Conference contributes, go toward program expenses such as salaries, licensure fees, rent, and/or utilities. ”
LION UP Collegiate Recovery Program at Southeastern Louisiana University provides a nurturing, affirming environment in which students recovering from addictive disorders can successfully pursue academic, personal, and professional goals for the purpose of enhancing their quality of life and to make meaningful and lasting contributions to society.
The funds donated from The Louisiana Mental Health Conference, directly go towards the scholarships for the Students In Recovery at Southeastern Louisiana University.
