10:00 am to 1:00 pm EST

Select one of the following classes

Class A

Dying to Live:  Death Awareness as Psychic Organizer to Live a Fully Realized Life (3 CE Credits)

We will all die. We know this. But both our culture in general, and our mental health profession in particular, suppress awareness of our mortality, and avoid talking about death. Why such bias? Denial? This new workshop addresses our perpetual oscillation between “slipping into that dreaded abyss, (and) insulating ourselves in protective omnipotent defenses “ (Shabad, 2016).  Via experiential groups, we’ll address how talking about death, to ourselves and to our patients, can enhance our experience of living our lives fully. We’ll write and talk through this protocol together. In this training we will look at history, literature, vignettes, Freud, our culture, AND how our profession avoids acknowledging the impact of our actual death. We will share views & discuss ‘existential orientation’ protocols that suggest how to talk with patients about their feelings, attitudes, beliefs about dying and their own inevitable death. Practical suggested protocols will be reviewed.
Woody Allen — 'I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens.

(Trainer, Joy Dryer, Ph.D.  wears several hats: as a Clinical Psychologist for over 40 years, a Psychoanalyst for 25 years, and a Divorce Mediator for the past 20 years. She works with individuals, couples, and families, and maintains a private practice in NYC and New Paltz New York. As a former Adjunct Associate Professor in NYU’s Master Psychology program, she continues to teach and to supervise. In addition to the Death Project that she introduces to you today, Dr. Joy is also working on a book of poetry tentatively called Covid Conversations with Colleagues, Critters, and Cannibals. Dr. Dryer writes a monthly blog on Psychology Today illustrating couples' dialogues during their PACT couples sessions. Dr. Joy specializes in couples therapy using PACT, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy. She integrates PACT’s powerful principles in her divorce mediation work where she often focuses on helping couples decide whether to stay, or to separate.)  

Class B
The Insomnia Eating Disorder Connection: CBT-I An ACT-based approach (3 CE Credits)
CBT-i is the first-line, gold standard behavioral treatment for Insomnia. Studies are showing a significant relationship between Insomnia and Eating Disorders, as they frequently co-occur and can even be a diagnostic flag for each other. In this workshop we will learn how to diagnose insomnia, how to identify when it needs treatment, and learn the components of CBT-i. Additionally, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been seen to assist in CBT-i treatment compliance. We will learn the basics of ACT, how it can help CBT-i be used more effectively, and applications for use in the eating disorder population. Case conceptualization activity and multiple experiential exercises will be used.

(Savannah Hipes, LCSW is a curiosity-driven social scientist, a.k.a. psychotherapist, who guides deep-thinkers and the data analysts of emotion toward understanding their own brain and body responses. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Abilene Christian University and her Master of Social Work from the Florida State University, then went on to complete the Rural and Underserved Interprofessional Postgraduate Fellowship with the Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System in Pensacola, Florida. Savannah treats individuals with anxiety, eating disorders, and insomnia. She values using evidence-based practices and thorough interdisciplinary collaboration and consultation to provide a premium therapy experience.)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST

Select one of the following classes

Class A

The Neuropsychology of Schizophrenia (3 CE Credits)

Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder, which can present with a variety of symptoms.  It is known to have an impact on multiple cognitive and functional domains. The study of schizophrenia is now focused on the neurodevelopmental nature of this condition.  One important idea about schizophrenia is the stress-diasthesis or vulnerability hypothesis, which hypothesizes that individuals may have a genetic or neurobiological vulnerability to developing schizophrenia but that the development of the disorder is also related to life stressors.  

Recommended treatments for schizophrenia now often focus on the use of neuropsychological evaluation measures that accurately assess areas of cognitive vulnerability.  After that is completed, there are a number of cognitively-based therapy protocols that emphasize cognitive rehabilitation, coupled with coping skills development, social skills development, and the use of education and insight. This new training will help participants understand schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental disorder, and learn how to assess, evaluate, and to treat schizophrenia more effectively. Participants will learn about resources for schizophrenia protocols.

(Trainer: Dr. Donna Veraldi, PhD is retired from over 40 years practice as a psychologist. Most of Dr. Veraldi's work involved a private practice of clinical and forensic work in Billings Montana. Dr. Veraldi has presented numerous papers and publications, is a past president of the Yellowstone Psychological Association, has taught at the college level, and has been a frequent presenter for the American College of Forensic Psychology.)

Class B
SEL RP DEIB = We Go Together! (3 CE Credits)

Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Restorative Practices (RP), and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), are all interrelated, and go hand in hand. Both SEL and RP are used to systematically and intentionally build equitable learning environments. In this session, Dr. Speight, Ph.D., LCSW-C, will briefly review the basic tenets of SEL and RP from a DEIB perspective, and discuss the integration impacts and benefits of RP and SEL in numerous settings when aligned. Participants will also gain the basic principles of facilitating Restorative Conversations from an equity lens, and learn how to lead Community Building Circles

(Trainer, Dr. Natosha Speight is a clinician, psychologist, speaker, coach, trainer, consultant, advocate and most importantly, mother. With almost 25 years of experience working with children, youth, families and adults in areas of mental health, psychological services, social services, and education, her work experience spans numerous environments and communities.  Dr. Speight received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences, a Master of Social Work degree, and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her key areas of interest and expertise are trauma, social and emotional learning, restorative practices and self-care.)

Evening Sessions

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Select one of the following classes

Sibling Therapy:  The How-Tos (3 CE Credits)

Sibling relationships are the earliest bonds that we have aside from our parents. Our clients bring the learned (or not learned) skills from childhood to their adult lives, transferring them onto their love and work relationships. This new training will start with introducing the concept of “siblings as first marriage,” as well as the four unique elements of sibling therapy:  frozen images, crystallized roles, unhealthy loyalty, and sibling transference.  We’ll spend time on these specific differences in providing sibling therapy and how to incorporate into your own therapy style. We’ll move on to how to start a sibling therapy session, therapists’ own feelings, the skills necessary for this work, and some clinical tools that can facilitate when you get stuck.  Participants will have opportunity to practice and see how to apply these concepts to their own clinical practice.

(Trainer, Dr Karen Gail Lewis, EdD, MSW, has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist for over 40 years, in both Washington, DC and in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the author of several books including Siblings: The Ghost of Childhood that Haunt Your Love and Work and Why Don’t You Understand? A Gender Relationship Dictionary. Dr. Lewis lectures both nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics, focusing on family and couples’ relationships, women’s friendships, and adult siblings. She has been interviewed by dozens of newspapers and magazines including, the New York Times, Woman’s World, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cosmopolitan, the Boston Globe, Psychology today, and the Washington Post. Dr. Lewis has taught at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Catholic University in Washington DC, and other Universities and has been on the editorial boards of four professional journals. Dr. Lewis is the founder of Unique Retreats for Siblings.)