Good Workshop Today!

I thought that Dr. Santiago did a nice job with a very difficult topic in today’s workshop on PTSD. I don’t know about you, but I learned a few things. He was very direct that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not well defined in the DSM-IV & is a work-in-progress for the DSM-V. He also made the point that people in the community don’t usually panic in the face of disaster. I was surprised by this; perhaps I watch too many disaster movies?
I appreciated the research data on community and individual response to both manmade and natural disasters. I also appreciated the neurobiological components, especially his comments that medical treatment and some psychotherapy techniques may help the patient deal with immediate anxiety symptoms after trauma for the moment but interfere with the recovery.
He responded in-part to my pre-workshop question about the importance of “Psychological First Aid”. Intuitively, this process works well to help victims of a disaster cope with extraordinary stress. But does it prevent or reduce the impact of PTSD? His response was “We don’t know. Yet!” He did tell us about a major study in progress that is looking at this question.
His presentation was fun and scored high on the “Edutainment Scale” The audience asked very good questions and he was appreciative and responded well. He acknowledged that he was under strict military guidelines regarding his presentation but he still managed to answer questions directly without challenging military policy. What a tightrope that he walked? Great job!
I still wonder why he asked the press in the audience to identify themselves. Very mysterious!
What are your thoughts, impressions or questions?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Psychiatric Responses to Trauma and Disaster

Another timely workshop topic from Foundations Community Partnership. Dr. Patcho Santiago's December, 2 2009 workshop on psychiatric responses to trauma will address how the psychological response to trauma will determine how a person, a family or a community recovers. From campus shootings, the attack on the world trade center, and Hurricane Katrina to flu pandemics and military deployment, almost everyone is affected in some way by disaster. This enlightening workshop will cover psychosocial responses to trauma, disaster and psychological first aid.

In light of the recent shootings at Fort Hood, the daily reports of casualties in the middle east, the impact of natural disasters worldwide, and ongoing violence in the community, I am looking forward to suggestions for "psychological first aid" for my patients, families and the community.

What a great workshop. On the “Edutainment Scale” (Edutainment = Educational Information presented in an Entertaining format), Dr. Kendall’s presentation scored 10 of 10 points! His workshop managed to cram 400+ publications and 24 years of experience running an anxiety clinic into a 3 hour presentation. I was getting anxious when I noticed that we were on page 9 of a 13 page handout with only 30 minutes left. Despite numerous questions from the participants, somehow Dr. Kendall managed to bring us across the finish line on time, without the feeling of emptiness that I sometimes experience with hurried workshops. I still would have enjoyed a full day for this workshop.

A few thoughts.
1. My question was answered. He addressed the importance of “facilitative” anxiety as appropriate for children and adolescents and provided treatment suggestions.
2. Dr. Kendall highlighted the need for the child to be “exposed” to the “fear” over many practice sessions, and the importance of preparation before, and debriefing after each session. Unfortunately, parents, teachers, and therapists often believe that one or two exposures are enough, and simple dialogue with the patient/parent is sufficient.
3. He gave permission for the therapist to feel afraid that the intervention may not work, despite the preparation. His encouragement suggested that the planned intervention may fail, but it’s okay. Just keep trying! His workshop encouraged reward for effort, not just outcome for the patients and the therapists.

What are your thoughts?

Change of topic. During the break, a school counselor requested increased opportunity for teachers, school counselors, private therapists, nurses, or others working in schools, hospitals or institutions etc, and other participants to discuss topics of interest at these workshops in more detail. Please let FCP know if you would be interested in “Break-Out” sessions or some other venue for this opportunity.

FCP "Anxiety in Youth" Workshop with Dr. Phillip Kendall

Thursday, November 5, 2009, Phillip Kendall, Ph.D., Professor, Author, and Director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University will provide an overview of the nature, symptoms and experience of anxiety in youth. He will address specific treatment intervention strategies that comprise Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. His presentation will include a discussion considering when anxiety is developmentally reasonable and when it is disordered. Treatment strategies will be described and illustrated with case examples. Research outcomes will also be presented to illustrate what we know and what we still need to learn about anxiety in this population.

I am looking forward to this workshop. "Facilitative" anxiety, as apprpropriate for the developmental level of the child and adolescent is a question that I frequently encounter in my Practice. I'm especially hoping that Dr. Kendall is able to match the treatment with the symptoms for each age group.

Please share your thoughts on this and other questions about Dr. Kendall's Workshop.

Welcome To the FCP 2009 Fall Workshops!

This Fall (2009), Foundations Community Partnership will present two informative and exciting workshops for mental health professionals, educators, consumers and all others interested in children and adolescent behavioral health issues.

On Thursday, November 5, 2009, Philip Kendall, Ph.D., Professor, Author, and Director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University will provide an overview of the nature, symptoms and experience of anxiety in youth. He will address specific treatment intervention strategies that comprise Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. His presentation will include a discussion considering when anxiety is developmentally reasonable and when it is disordered. Treatment strategies will be described and illustrated with case examples. Research outcomes will also be presented to illustrate what we know and what we still need to learn about anxiety in this population.

On Wednesday, December 2, 2009, Patcho Santiago, M.D., United States Navy Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services, University of Health Sciences. Dr. Santiago served as the assistant department head of Mental Health Services at Camp Pendleton, California serving active duty marines and sailors. He was deployed in Iraq in 2005-06 where he led the Combat/Operational Stress Team. In his Workshop, Dr. Santiago will address management of psychological trauma by individuals, families and communities after a disaster or high levels of stress. His workshop will cover psychological responses to trauma, disaster, and psychological first aid.

Both of these Workshops will be held at the Doylestown Hospital, Health and Wellness Center Auditorium, 847 Easton Rd./Route 611, Warrington, PA 18976 from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

I will post a “Blog” after each workshop. Please provide us with your thoughts, ideas, comments, criticisms etc.

Final Workshops for the Foundations Community Partnership, Mental Health Lecture Series, May 6, 2009.

Morning Session:

Teach Your Parents Well: "Adolescent Development in a Dysfunctional World"

Elio Frattaroli, M.D.

The process of healing, growing, becoming our fully human selves is a lifelong process, energized by a powerful life force inside us, which is particularly strong in adolescence. We are impelled to organize our own desires, values and abilities into a unique identity, in contrast or opposition to our parents. Elio Frattaroli, M.D. will illustrate, using Hamlet's depression and his adolescent struggle to become himself to show how healing the soul-becoming ourselves- happens through paying attention to our disturbing emotions.

Afternoon Session:

The Albert Honig Lecture "Madness and Hmanness"

Based on the Academy Award nominated film "Other Voices", the film "Madness and Humanness" studies the treatment of several schizophrenic patients at the Delaware Valley Mental Health Foundation in Doylestown, PA in 1970. Containing updated footage and explanatory dialogue, this film examines the Medical Director/Founder Dr. Albert M. Honig's philosophy of treatment in a small, innovative, caring community. The film follows the course of treatment of three patients in which Dr. Honig works on "reconstructing the personality" in dealing with chronic mental illness. Following the film there will be a discussion with Dr. Honig. An esteemed psychiatrist, Dr, Honig graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1951. He is the author of "Hard Boiled Eggs and Other Psychiatric Tales", "The Awakening Nightmare" and "China Today: Sin or Virtue?". Dr. Honig has lectured on chronic mental illness around the world.

Both of these sessions pesent profound concepts in the care of patients with chronic mental health problems.

We are expecting a lively discussion based on the number and variety of registered attendee's for both sessions.

Don't forget to contribute to the BLOG!

Assessment and Intervention of Substance-Abusing Adolescents

Dr. Kathleen Meyers' workshop will focus on appropriate adolescent assessment practices, emphasizing how adolescent development processes impact assesssment. Her presentation will teach us how to use collateral reports and protect against self-recrimination by substance-abusing juvenile offenders. She will also present the pre-requisite foundational program and system components prior to selecting an evidence-based treatment for these adolescents.

I expect this to be an informative workshop, especially for those of us who work with substance-abusing adolescents.

DBT Treatment for Suicidal Adolescents.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers and non-suicidal, self-injurious behaviors are more prevalent than ever. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an empirically supported treatment aimed at helping decrease these types of behaviors. This workshop will present the theory behind DBT and will introduce the skills used to teach teens to more effectively manage their emotions.

Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD is an expert on teenage suicide. We are looking forward to her Presentation this week (Wednesday, March 4th).

Something New! Contribute to this Blog, and you may win a free FCP workshop! Details will be availible at this workshop on March 4, 2009.

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!

Foundations Community Partnership has a full and exciting schedule of Spring Workshops. All Workshops will be held at the Doylestown Health and Wellness Center, at 847 Easton Rd (Rt. 611), Warrington PA. Please contact Foundations Community Partnership, 196 West Ashland St., Doylestown PA, (267) 895-1740 or http://www.fcpartnership.org/ for registration information. The Spring Workshops include:

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Jennifer L. Hartstein, Psy.D., "Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Multiproblem, Suicdal Adolescents."

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - Kathleen Meyers, Ph.D., "Assessment and Intervention of Substance Abusing Adolescents."

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - Elio Frattaroli, M.D., "Teach Your Parents Well: Adolescent Development in a Dysfunctional World."

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - 12:45 to 2:45 PM, Film and Discussion, Albert Honig, D.O., F.A.C.N., " The Albert Honig Lecture"

The FCP Workshops are limited to about 100 participantents and "sell-out" well in advance. CEU credits are offered for Psychologists, Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Nurses, and Teachers. Please register soon and join fellow professionals in a continued dialogue via this Blog after each Workshop.

I hope to hear from you!