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Friday, September 28, 2012 Sarah Herbert, M.D., M.S.W. |
There continues to be ongoing societal debate regarding the use of psychotropic medication in children, adolescents and young adults. In the media, there are stories about the overuse of medication, particularly among vulnerable youth such as children in foster care. Yet medication can be a very helpful addition to treatment for youth with emotional and behavioral disorders.
This workshop will focus on diagnostic and developmental considerations in the use of psychotropic medication in the distinct phases of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Developmental differences in the ways that emotional problems present, and the manner in which medications are metabolized at different ages, as well as the duration of treatment will be highlighted. Participants will gain a working knowledge of the most current and effective medications commonly prescribed for ADHD, anxiety, mood and psychotic disorders. The importance of appropriate diagnosis, definition of target symptoms, and collaboration among care providers will be addressed.
Sarah Herbert, M.D., M.S.W. is a psychiatrist in Atlanta who treats children, adolescents and adults. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine and adjunct faculty at Emory University School of Medicine. She was educated at Wellesley College, Wayne State University School of Social Work, and Emory University School of Medicine. She completed her Psychiatry Residency Training and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Emory University.
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Friday, September 28, 2012 Melanie Bliss, Ph.D. |
Adolescent clients bring a host of issues specific to their developmental stage. Many engage in high-risk behaviors such as cutting, substance abuse, sexual impulsivity, and disordered eating that frighten parents and often intimidate or overwhelm therapists. In addition, their use of Facebook, texting, and other forms of technology can further complicate their efforts at making effective choices. DBT offers an empirically supported and adaptable approach to working with these clients and their families.
This workshop will provide a brief, working overview of DBT, highlighting the components that are particularly relevant to therapy with teens, and then focus on practical applications. Participants will then learn step-by-step, DBT-informed strategies for forming and maintaining therapeutic bonds with teens and families in crisis, decreasing and eliminating high-risk behaviors, and effectively managing adolescents’ use of technology. Integrating a DBT approach with other orientations will be discussed, and using a DBT framework for responding to ethical dilemmas will be considered.
Melanie Bliss, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and co-owner of Thrive Center for Psychological Health. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Georgia State University and completed postdoctoral training at Emory University. She specializes in personality disorders, adolescents, sexual assault, and DBT. Dr. Bliss serves as a consultant to the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault and EMSTAR Research, Inc., and she serves as an expert witness. She has published and presented in the areas of abuse, sexual assault, and school violence.
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Friday, October 26, 2012 Erica Wise, Ph.D. |
The APA Ethics Code reminds us that “Psychologists strive to be aware of the possible effect of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work." In recent years there has been an increasing willingness to acknowledge the personal vulnerabilities and occupational hazards that are endemic to the profession of psychology.
In this lively workshop, participants will consider effective self-care strategies that include a focus on psychologists’ intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual selves in the context of research from positive psychology and mindfulness-based interventions. The therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC’s) proposed by Walsh (2011) will be reviewed in addition to the 12 self-care principles for psychologists advocated by Norcross and Guy (2007). Intriguing research will also be considered which suggests that mindfulness training may not only benefit psychotherapists personally, but may also improve client outcomes. The workshop will be in part experiential, and participants will consider ethical self-care practice vignettes as well as complete an instructive, personal self-care assessment.
Erica Wise, Ph.D. is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and has presented her popular Ethics and Self-Care workshop at the APA convention for the past five years. She frequently presents and writes on a variety of topics related to ethics, self-care and competence. Dr. Wise brings enthusiasm and substantial experience in ethics education and consultation to her workshops. She is co-chair of the North Carolina Psychological Association and is a former member and chair of the APA Ethics Committee and the North Carolina Psychology Board.
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Friday, October 26, 2012 Boadie W. Dunlop, M.D. |
Psychopharmacology has had a tumultuous last few years. There have been widely publicized concerns about whether antidepressants are effective beyond placebo effects. In contrast, there have been exciting developments in the field including promising research involving the neurotransmitter glutamate, which has opened new treatment horizons for mood and anxiety disorders. Additional developments have included: the use of ketamine and scopolamine for mood disorders, the introduction of vilazodone as an antidepressant agent, the use of psychopharmacologic approaches to enhance psychotherapy outcomes in anxious patients, and the introduction of a blood test to “diagnose” depression.
This workshop will explore state-of-the-art psychopharmacological approaches for patients with treatment-resistant major depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders, based on advances in basic science, diagnosis and clinical application. The workshop will also explore the thorny issue of why medications that seem so beneficial to many patients in practice fail to look much better than placebo in clinical trials.
Boadie W. Dunlop, M.D. is the Director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at Emory University. His clinical research program is focused on the neurobiology, pharmacology and treatment of major depression and anxiety. He has served as an investigator for more than 50 clinical studies of medication and psychotherapy, is a principal investigator for two NIMH grants, and has published extensively, including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and a book. He directs the Mood and Anxiety Disorders lecture series at Emory and supervises psychiatry residents in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.
Psychologists: Application for American Psychological Association (APA) approved continuing education credit has been made for all workshops to the Georgia State University (GSU) Counseling and Testing Center. The GSU Counseling and Testing Center is approved by the APA to offer continuing education credit to psychologists in Georgia. The Herbert and Dunlop workshops will fulfill the psychopharmacology requirement, and the Wise workshop will fulfill the ethics requirement for psychologists. All workshops, including the Bliss workshop, meet requirements for Area III or Area IV CE credit.
Other Mental Health Clinicians: All participants in the workshops will receive an attendance certificate. Although the workshops are not formally approved by the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists, the hours earned at these workshops may count toward the “related” C.E. hours needed for these disciplines. It is recommended that individuals from these disciplines consult with their composite board rules to evaluate if these workshops meet their C.E. criteria.
Early registration for the 9/28/12 workshops is $70 each, and must be postmarked by 9/14/12. Early registration for the 10/26/12 workshops is $70 each, and must be postmarked by 10/12/12. After those dates, the cost for each workshop is $80. Space is limited at these workshops, so please pre-register early.
To cancel, call 404-413-6229. Refunds will be granted minus a $25 fee per workshop if notification is received at least 7 days before each workshop. No refunds will be given after that time. For returned checks, a $30 fee will be charged.
All workshops will occur on campus in the Speakers Auditorium, GSU Student Center, 44 Courtland Street, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Restaurants
Lunch is “on your own” for all workshops. A list of convenient, area restaurants and a map will be available at the workshops.