Events & Spotlight

Events | Spotlight | Continuing Education | Press Releases

9/18/2008
Inspiring Leadership
Good ideas and people skills all contribute to being a good manager, but leadership requires more than management. A leader moves followers from a strategic plan to a compelling vision of the possible. People follow inspiring leaders even without the certainty of success. They move from building teams to leading teams. These leaders exhibit courage and a blend of both heart and hand. This workshop will focus on models of leadership and identify skills and characteristics of those who go a step beyond. A model of Vision, Inspiration and Action will be explained. Participants will have the opportunity to identify special leaders, and assess and improve their own abilities to become inspiring leaders in non-profit agencies.


10/2/2008
Advanced Group Skills: Working with Some of the Most Challenging Populations
Overview: For experienced counselors, this training will build on counseling theory and general practice as we delve into ways to effect change in some of the most difficult adult populations. Persons involved in the criminal justice system are usually not interested in what we have to offer, are unwilling to disclose or invest in the process, and have difficulty in trusting others, which is so necessary for groups to work. Persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are not a homogeneous group, but our programs are often structured as if they were, leading to a great deal of frustration and difficulty in achieving positive outcomes. Participants will learn: what approaches work best in groups with adults with co-occurring disorders, those in the criminal justice system, and with other typically resistant populations; additional techniques in the provision of group counseling, particularly in working with these challenging clients; many of the barriers to success with these populations; how to more effectively utilize counseling theory, motivational counseling in a group setting and identify systemic supports to provide better outcomes with these populations. Course content reflects evidence levels A, D- see page 13 in catalog.


10/3/2008
Online: Overview of the Nature and Treatment of Trauma
Overview: This online course offers the training in a video format and all course handouts can be viewed or printed. Human service professionals working in today’s society cannot avoid the overwhelming responsibility of working with trauma survivors. The scope of this issue is so broad that it is often difficult to define the boundaries. This online course will define trauma and trauma disorders; explain the impact of trauma, including neurobiological, psychosocial and community/cultural/political effects; and provide an introduction to assessment and treatment. Participants will: be able to identify models of trauma; become familiar with neurobiological basis of trauma; learn about symptomatology and diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; learn about a variety of effective treatment models; understand the issues related to early, middle and late phase treatment. Course content reflects evidence levels B, C, F- see page 13 in catalog. Course offering limited to 60 participants. Online discussion board will provide the opportunity for participants to ask questions of the course facilitator. NOTE: 80% correct completion of questions for each module is required to verify participation in course and receive certificate of completion.

Using Dreams to Enhance Trauma Treatment
Overview: Limited to 12 clinicians who are currently providing therapy to adult clients in trauma treatment. What do you say when a client shares a powerful dream and wants to know what it means? People often remember and want to share their dreams when they are in treatment for trauma. As they progress, they may have even more vivid dreams which may be helpful in the therapeutic process. This seminar is based on the theories of dream interpretation including the work of Jeremy Taylor, author of several dream books including Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill. Participants will learn: overview of the theories of dream interpretations; effects of medications and stress on the REM sleep (period of sleep when dreaming takes place); specific techniques for helping clients explore and interpret their own dreams in both individual and group trauma treatment; how to blend dream discussion and insight into other trauma treatment approaches. Content reflects evidence level D - see page 13 in catalog.


10/10/2008
Developmentally Based Treatment of Traumatized Children
Overview: Human service professionals in every service system encounter children who have been traumatized. There are multiple layers that must be understood when working with children and families. The type of trauma, developmental stage, pre-existing developmental challenges and current interactive systems (family, school, peers) must all be investigated when assessing and treating children who have been traumatized. This training will help professionals organize these issues for effective assessment and referral or assessment and treatment, depending on the service system. It focuses on children who have had a recent traumatic experience as well as those who have been involved in longer term trauma. Case discussions and exercises will take the content from theory to practice-exploring potential developmental problems and how developmental “wounds” change treatment and the writing of treatment plans. Participants will learn: how typical child development (from an Eriksonian psychosocial perspective) can potentially be altered drastically by different types of traumatic events- sudden and unexpected vs. prolonged and routine- which impacts a child’s response and their treatment needs; how trauma impacts the brain of a child and their current functioning; how to identify the long term potential problems of experiencing trauma and its impact on future functioning; how the timing of a traumatic event or events has an impact on different ages of children at different levels of development; how to develop treatment plans that are informed by “developmental wounds,” incorporate the stages of victimization, and focus on skills needed to repair developmental deficits and negotiate the stages of recovery from trauma. Content reflects evidence levels B, C- see page 13 in catalog.

Online: Screening and Assessment of Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Overview: This online course offers the training in a video format and all course handouts can be viewed or printed. Content will be for newer staff and those with some experience, as well as some advanced content for more experienced staff. It will present definitions unique to integrated treatment, philosophies and benefits of integrated approaches, prevalence rates, an introduction to the New York Model, the No Wrong Door philosophy of engagement, principles of Stages of Change, and building therapeutic relationships through empowerment and collaboration. Participants will be introduced to screening tools to identify mental health, substance abuse, trauma and readiness issues and how to utilize multi-axial, comprehensive, longitudinal, contextual, and functional assessments to determine level of care and treatment, and service planning strategies. Participants will learn: a recovery model of treatment in language and practice; how to screen and assess for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders using empirically validated tools and technologies; how to fully assess and functionally analyze mental health and substance use and their interaction to determine appropriate levels of care and treatment matching; how to apply to the principles of Stages of Change to help understand and motivate individuals to reach their goals and achieve recovery. Course content reflects evidence levels A, B, C- see page 13 in catalog. Course offering limited to 60 participants. Online discussion board will provide the opportunity for participants to ask questions and will be facilitated by Jay Swarthout. NOTE: 80% correct completion of questions for each module is required to verify participation in course and receive certificate of completion.


10/14/2008
Co-occurring Disorders: Risk, Safety and Family Compliance
Overview: Focusing on substance use and dependency as well as the most common mental health disorders, this training will address the effects on both the individual and family members. Motivation is a dynamic variable that can be cultivated by the skilled worker and they can learn to better screen clients and raise appropriate questions to guide them through the treatment system. Treatment responses from both the SU and MH fields will be explained in consideration of philosophical similarities and differences, along with the advantages of integrated responses. Case discussions will bring theory into practice with reflection on clinician expectations for treatment in comparison to general outcome expectancies of treatment. Special attention focus on how children are affected, the roles they assume and intervention in the family system Participants will learn: how to do a brief verbal screening of SU and common MH disorders; three ways children are affected by co-occurring conditions in the family; differences in the understanding of and approaches used in the SU & MH fields; advantages of integrated responses and the New York Model of integrated treatment; safety considerations for staff, client and family; how to use motivational approaches with this population; to identify two interventions into the parenting process for parents with co-occurring disorders and two methods of assessing the effectiveness. Content reflects evidence levels A, B, C- see page 13 in catalog.

Effective Communication in Teambuilding
This workshop will focus on problem solving methods to encourage building consensus, non-defensive communication and keeping discussions focused. Participants will learn management skills that promote effective communication with employees, other administrators, board members, as well as key elements of persuasion that influence people to work effectively as a team. Participants will explore various communication styles and conflict resolution processes that enhance as well as inhibit successful communication.


10/20/2008
Evidence-based Engagement and Retention of Adults in Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Services
Overview: The first step in providing quality servcies to clients is to engage them. Good treatment can then only be provided if clients are retained in service. This workshop will provide an overview of the core principles of evidence-based engagement interventions designed to enhance initial and on-going involvement of adults in mental health and substance abuse services, including those considered “hard to reach”. Content will also cover a series of evidence-based practices and service delivery strategies of which the design is based upon consumer input. Participants can expect both exposure to the data supporting the use of these engagement approaches, as well as hands-on practice in developing core engagement and retention skills. Participants will learn: a range of collaborative strategies to facilitate engagement of “hard to reach” adults; research related to evidence-based methods of engagement and retention and how to implment them effectively in consideration of cost and staff time; how to implement these methods with time for “hands on” activities that will assist participants in designing more highly engaging services within their practice settings. Course reflects evidence levels A, B- see page 13 in catalog.


10/24/2008
Social Work Licensing Exam Preparation Course
Overview: Two-day intensive review program to prepare MSW graduates to pass the state licensing exam. Consists of comprehensive reviews of social work practice, policy, theory and test taking techniques to increase speed and accuracy. Participants receive the current two volume Social Work Examination Services Comprehensive Study Guide with 1400 sample questions and practice tests. **If a participant should not pass the exam, they may retake the course at no additional cost, although there is a charge if a new set of books is requested.


10/31/2008
Grieving the Loss of the Drug of Choice
Overview: No matter how much havoc or trauma an individual’s substance addiction has caused, they are going to miss their drug of choice. It provided distraction, relaxation, intensity, a quick “high” and escape from difficult experiences or feelings. They will also miss the rituals surrounding substance use including relationships with people formed around their addiction. For clients struggling with addiction, the loss of their “beloved” substance can often feel worse than a death, and this impacts their treatment planning and recovery progress. Grief, however, is an essential aspect of healing, and our clients must be allowed to grieve in order to embrace the journey (and struggle) of recovery. The physical, emotional, and spiritual manifestations of the trauma of this loss, along with the unique needs of addicts and their families will be examined. Case discussions will allow participants to explore the inner world of grief, through listening beneath the stories that clients tell themselves about their loss. Through the use of lecture, film, case studies, meditation, and other therapeutic exercises, this workshop will prepare clinicians to gently guide their clients from the pain of denial, anger, bargaining, and depression, to the serenity of acceptance and peace. Participants will learn: to identify the five Stages of Grief (as developed by Kubler-Ross) and apply them to the addiction recovery process; identify and address at least four components of “Inner Grief”; how to implement at least two treatment approaches to assist clients in recovery with the grieving process. Content reflects evidence levels C, D- see page 13 in catalog.


11/4/2008
Group Approaches to Trauma Treatment
Overview: Limited to 30 participants, individuals attending this training should have some previous group skills training or experience. One hour will be provided for a brief overview of group work principles, and an additional literature resource list will be provided. Group therapy creates a forum for normalization of a person’s struggle with trauma and a reduction in the level of isolation survivors frequently experience. Facilitation of group process with trauma survivors presents with some unique challenges for the therapist. Participants will learn: components of basic group work; issues in group facilitation specific to needs of trauma survivors; how to connect the survivor’s experience in group via experiential learning activities; factors inclusive in the design of trauma survivor treatment groups; knowledge of group work unique to specific cohorts, including domestic violence, sexual assault, initial trauma response, combat trauma, developmental factors for adolescent survivors. Course content reflects evidence levels A, B, C, E, F- see page 13 in catalog.


11/6/2008
Strategic Planning
This workshop will cover all aspects of the strategic planning process, and different approaches to planning that various organizationa would take based on their size and complexity. Participants will discuss who should be included in the planning process and the pros and cons of each. Factors that lead to a successful strategic plan as well as those that jeopardize it will be identified.


11/14/2008
Treatment Issues for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Overview: This training focuses on the theory, assessment and treatment of adult clients who have been sexually abused as children. Often a client’s first acknowledgement of abuse comes from seeking help for current issues in their lives. Participants will learn a model for recognizing sexual abuse history that is based on an initial diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This training provides the clinical tools for assessment, diagnosis and treatment of adult survivors of sexual abuse. Participants will learn: engagement skills for creating safety for survivors to work through the residue of shame from childhood sexual abuse; interventions to deal with feeling management, loss and grief for these survivors; and how to use these interventions in individual and group work. Course content reflects evidence level C- see page 13 in catalog.


11/18/2008
Creating a Comprehensive Response to Domestic Violence and Trauma: What Clinicians and Administrators Need to Know
Overview: There have been many misconceptions about the dynamics of domestic violence that have led well-meaning therapists to unintentionally contribute toward placing victims of domestic violence at greater risk. This workshop, based on the tenets of the Battered Women’s Movement, will explore ways staff and agencies can integrate current national best practices for addressing domestic violence, including standardized screening, treatment considerations, safety planning and documentation. Content is applicable to adults, adolescents and children, and is for new as well as experienced staff. It will also cover creative and innovative programming for helping children heal from the trauma of domestic violence through experiential activities; explore the link between domestic violence, mental health and child abuse; and focus on how to prioritize victim safety in our work. Participants will learn: current national best practices in addressing domestic violence; how staff and agencies can improve screening and assessment skills applicable to domestic violence; how to develop and use a domestic violence protocol as a resource; risk factors; skills to strengthen non-offending parent/child relationships. Content reflects evidence levels C, D, F- see page 13 in catalog.


11/20/2008
Understanding Lifetraps: Schema Focused Therapy for Trauma-genic, Personality and Co-occurring Disorders
Overview: Course includes the book Reinventing Your Life by Jeffrey E. Young, PhD, developer of Schema Focused Therapy, and Janet S. Klosko, PhD. The effectiveness of behavioral health clinicians can be greatly enhanced with a practical knowledge of the Schema Focused Therapy Model. Participants will become acquainted with the nature of each of the 18 Lifetraps or maladaptive schemas, their domains, the pathogenic early learning in their origin, and the ways they play out in self-defeating behaviors of the adult. An overview of the model, components of assessment, case conceptualization, and the phases of treatment will be presented. At the conclusion of this course, participants will have an understanding of the model and the steps for using this integrative tool for the treatment of a wide range of clients who have histories of psychological trauma and meet criteria for personality or other mental health, substance use disorders. Participants will learn: an overview of the model of Schema Focused Therapy; to understand the concept of Lifetraps and how to identify them in patterns of adult life; how to complete a schema focused assessment and case conceptualization; how to apply Schema Focused Therapy techniques that address the client’s cognitive, affective, relational and behavioral characteristics; how to address transference and counter-transference from a schema perspective. Content reflects evidence levels A, B, C- see page 13 in catalog.


12/2/2008
Medication Changes: Staying Current in Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Disorders
Overview: This workshop is for new as well as experienced staff who need current information about new medications being prescribed for adults and children with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Whether working with a client who has already been prescribed a medication or advocating for someone who needs a medication or a medication change, understanding the latest developments in psychopharmacology is critical. The use of Consta, Cymbalta, Symbyax and Invega are just a few of the medications that will be discussed. Newly marketed medications and investigational compounds with promise will also be explored. Content will include the use and main effects of current medication protocols in treatment of mental health disorders as well as the latest research contributing to the clinical application of these medications. Participants will learn: overall classes of psychiatric medications currently being marketed; clinical uses of the medications; potential problems with these medications as treatment; how to recognize specified effects/side effects of these medications in clinical practice. Course content reflects evidence levels A, B, C, D- see page 13 in catalog.


12/4/2008
Human Resources
This workshop will focus on elements of human resource management including development of policies and procedures covering such areas as compensation, evaluation, promotions and terminations. Training will also cover the range of human resource issues that entry and mid-level administrators face as well as the ethical challenges they may confront.


12/5/2008
Best Practices in Case Management
Overview: Case management is a collaborative process of activities and components that includes: assessment, coordination, planning, monitoring, implementation, evaluation and achievement of service outcomes for clients and their families. Coordinated case management practice facilitates service monitoring and evaluation of service options for clients and their families within the service arenas of: mental health, chemical dependency, developmental disabilities, schools, parole, foster care, community-based services and other systems. This training will focus on best and promising case management concepts, principles and strategies, including service monitoring, management and evaluation. Participants will learn: current best practices and models in the field of Case Management; Case Management quality of care indicators for screening, psychosocial assessment, intervention methods, documentation and measurement of outcomes; how to effectively promote a team-oriented and client centered approach to case management. Content reflects evidence levels C, D, E- see page 13 in catalog.


12/12/2008
Therapist Vicarious Traumatization and Self-Care
Overview: This training focuses on theory, assessment and techniques of self-care for the clinician. A review of current research will be covered with a discussion of personal, professional and organizational sources of burnout, counter-transference, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatization. The clinician’s well-being when working with survivors of trauma will be emphasized. Participants will learn: how self-care influences their effectiveness as a clinician; how to reach a better balance between personal and professional life; how such work may uniquely affect them through the use of assessment tools to identify their issues related to compassion fatigue, counter-transference, burnout and vicarious traumatization. Course content reflects evidence level C- see page 13 in catalog.