Dr Dan's Blog

2011-12-07T14:07:00.001-08:00

Today’s workshop on the “Latest Treatments of BipolarDepression”, by Claudia Baldassano, M.D., was advertised to meet three learningobjectives.

1.    Identify bipolardepression.
2.    Strategize the newestmedications for bipolar depression.
3.    Explore the role ofadjunctive psychosocial treatment in bipolar depression

Dr.Baldassano spent a large amount of time during her 3 hour workshop to help identifybipolar depression (manic-depression in the old days), demographics and common misdiagnosis.She discussed the common differential diagnosis issues, including unipolardepression, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorderetc. She pointed out that this disorder is commonly under diagnosed due to theclinician failure to obtain a full family history or explore the possibility ofmanic or hypomanic events. Bipolar disorder is episodic, versus other disordersthat may be chronic. Dr. Baldassano saidthe clinician should not accept the “snapshot” presented early in the admissioninterview but should assemble the whole “photo album” by the end of theinterview including the family history as corroborated by family members. Sheemphasized the importance of including family members in diagnosis andtreatment.

Dr.Baldassano mentioned a few interesting tidbits about bipolar disorder from theresearch. The younger the onset, the worse will be the symptoms over a longerperiod. She reminded the audience that depression is a “syndrome” not adiagnosis. Depression may occur as a result of many physical and mental healthdisorders over the lifespan. She also clarified the difference between differenttypes of bipolar disorder, and different manifestation of symptoms based on theage of the patient. She also emphasized the high rate of suicides among bipolarpatients (25% above the general population).

Ona humorous note, Dr. Baldassano presented a slide that suggested that a “softsign” of bipolar disorder is someone who wears a red necktie, a red belt andhas a red car. After checking my own tie and belt, I was amused to note thatothers around me were doing the same.

Althoughmedications to treat bipolar depression, have not dramatically changed in the pastcouple of years, Dr. Baldassano presented research on the effectiveness ofmedical treatment. She said that many antidepressant medications are at best, ineffectivein alleviating depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder, and at worst, maytrigger an increase in a manic episode cycle. She presented several researchstudies, using placebo controls to illustrate her point. Dr. Baldassano did anice job of describing the research on medical treatments that are effective intreating bipolar depression. She helped to explain the use of lithium. Sheacknowledged the dangers of this medication, but she presented research todemonstrate it’s effectiveness, especially in the reduction of suicides forthis population. She also demystified the use of electroconvulsive therapy(ECT) as currently performed, stating that this is an effective treatment,after medication has failed to alleviate symptoms.

Interesting,but sad, Dr. Baldassano presented research suggesting that despite thereduction of symptoms through current medical treatments, functionality of thepatient does not improve at the same rate.

Finally,Dr. Baldassano discussed the effectiveness of non-medical treatments such asCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) etc.

Herworkshop accomplished all three objectives to some extent, but fell a littleshort on number 3 because of time constraints. As do many presenters, Dr.Baldassano allowed questions throughout the presentation. She did ask that the questionsbe kept short, and said that she would allow time for more questions at the end. Afterthe third lengthy question in the first 15 minutes, it occurred to me that somein the audience did not understand her request. I knew that she would not be able to completeher material and I suspected that Objective 3 would suffer. I was right. Thematerial for all three Objectives was in her handouts but she ran out of time.

AlthoughDr. Baldassano answered all questions, some of the questions were very basic ortangential to the topic and did not appear to be well thought-out. Theseinterrupted the flow of the workshop. Other questions were right to the pointand demonstrated an intermediate or advanced level of knowledge of the topic. Theseenhanced the workshop. Perhaps the presentersin the future should advertise the level of these workshops for Basic,Intermediate, or Advanced audiences. What do you think?

2011-12-04T17:06:00.001-08:00

On December 7th from 8:30 to noon, FCP is hosting a workshop at the Health and Wellness Center in Warrington, PA. Please log on to www.fcpartnership.org to learn more and register for this event.

LatestTreatments of Bipolar Depression

In this informative presentation, participants will learn how to identifybipolar depression and gain an understanding of the latest treatments. The roleof traditional antidepressants in bipolar depression and when it is appropriateto use these agents will be discussed. The workshop will also cover the use ofmood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications in the treatment of bipolardepression, and present novel treatments, such as Transmagnetic Stiumulationand psychosocial treatments.

Workshop Objectives

At the end of this activity, the learner will:

Identify bipolar depression.
Strategize the newest medications for bipolar depression.
Explore the role of adjunctive psychosocial treatment in bipolar depression.

Presenter:Claudia F. Baldassano, M.D. is Director of the Bipolar Outpatient ResidentTeaching Program and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Hospital of theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Formerly the Medical Director ofReserach at Friends Hospital, Dr. Baldassano has spoken at the AmericanPsychiatric Association, American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists and herresearch has been published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, CanadianJournal of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Review, and Comprehensive Psychiatry.

Ethics and Record Keeping

2011-11-02T17:37:00.000-07:00

Aside from today’s talk on “Ethics and Record Keeping Practices in
Pennsylvania for the Mental Health Professional”, Dr. Allan Tepper put on a great performance in
his Workshop. He reminded me of a cross between Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian,
and Chef Robert from television. I’m sure that you all know Jerry Seinfeld, a little
sarcastic, but a very funny stand-up comedian. Chef Robert is a no nonsense
chef and businessman who visits selected restaurants to tell them what they are
doing wrong and what they can do better. Dr. Tepper presented a reality check,
including risks for noncompliance for record keeping and confidentiality. Just as Chef Robert tells it like it is for restaurant owners, Dr. Tepper told it like it is for licensed Mental Health
Professionals.

Regardless of the profession, few people enjoy hearing what
they might be doing wrong and what they could be doing better. Dr. Tepper asked some pointed questions of the audience on ethical issues regarding their practice. He did a nice job of pointing
out legal and ethical issues to their response without embarrassing anyone. His
sense of humor often saved the day, or at least the moment.

Dr. Tepper is an attorney, and a psychologist. He was
able to switch hats as needed during his workshop. He reminded the audience
that his topic was limited to record keeping and confidentiality. I have
previously heard Dr. Tepper speak on many ethical and legal topics in Mental
Health. Apparently, some of the audience also appreciated his broad expertise,
as the questions were sometimes beyond the scope of this workshop. He briefly
answered the question, and adroitly steered his response back to the topic.

In short, Dr. Tepper’s Workshop met his objectives. His presentation was not “high tech” (He used a flip chart! Thank goodness, he did not allow Power Point to get between him and his audience). The three hours went by very quickly and I learned a few things. Between the humor, his presentation addressed the Therapist –Client relationship (relationship beginning and end documented.), the expected content of the records (handout provided, or contact your licensing Board), Maintenance of
records (e.g. All Boards expect five years after last session but Insurance providers may expect up to 10 years), He also discussed the the recent updates to the “Duty to Warn” obligation. This is a complex issue regarding a client who threatens someone outside of the therapeutic relationship. (Emerich case law decision, PA 1999).

Dr. Tepper advised all licensed MHP’s to frequently check their Board’s Websites for updates on new statutes and regulations.

Adolescent Risk Taking Behavior

2011-11-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

This was a great workshop today from Dr. Bradley Connor. His topic, “Risk Taking in Adolescence” included three learning objectives: 1. Demonstrate an etiological model of risky behavior in adolescence. 2. Identify in adolescents, when risky behavior becomes pathological. 3. Evaluate treatment modalities for treating pathological risky behavior for adolescents.

At the beginning of his presentation, Dr. Connor said that he talks fast. Boy, did he ever! My brain was on 78 RPM during his presentation! (that’s a very fast, old record player speed for the youngsters, under 60 years old). The good news for those of us able to keep up with his talk is that he presented a wealth of information in the three hours allotted for his workshop.

Dr. Connor presented research that discussed genetic and environmental etiology for risky behavior in adolescents. Most compelling was his ”Dual Process Model “ of risk taking behavior. He presented research that suggests that the “Mesocorticolimbic Dopamine Pathway” (It feels good!), part of the brain develops before the “Cognitive Control Pathway” (Is the risk worth the cost!). His research suggests that adolescents may take risks to feel excitement, before they are able to make a decision about the consequences. He pointed out that the full cognitive decision making process is typically not fully developed until age 25 for the adolescent.

Dr. Connor did a very nice job of defining the components of risk taking behavior. He discussed impulse control problems, and sensation seeking as separate issues. He described risky behavior related to sensation seeking as a lifelong personality trait that exits throughout the lifespan and across all cultures. Risk taking behavior is higher among boys than girls. His research suggests that this may also be a result of social influence to expect boys to take more risks than girls.

Dr. Connor’s talk showed that genetic and environmental factors play a role in adolescent risk taking behavior. Cerebral hormones such as dopamine, and the ability of the brain to process these chemicals is genetic, If the individual has difficulty metabolizing dopamine (genetics) then they are more sensitive to risk taking behavior. His research also suggests that environmental trauma such as physical, sexual abuse or sustained emotional trauma may contribute to risk taking behavior in adolescence.

Treatment methods that he suggested include: Prevention – Target children who show risky behavior in early years (elementary school), start communication and education. Open child-parent communication, offer alternative thrill seeking.Diversion-Difficult to replace learned habits of the“feel good” response for teenagers. Replace habits with alternative “feel good”activities such as adventure programs, sports programs.Motivation Enhancement Techniques to encourage behavior change, along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are effective in helping adolescents to reduce risk taking behavior.

FCP 2011 Fall Workshops!

2011-10-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, FCP will begin the 2011-2012 Behavioral Health Workshops .
The FCP Fall 2011 Workshop series will feature three workshops.

November 2, 2011
Morning Workshop - 8:30 - 12:00 a.m. - Risk Taking in Adolescence

As children enter adolescence there is a significant increase in their engagement in risky behavior, such as experimenting with drugs, driving recklessly, and engaging in risky sex. These behaviors often lead to devastating outcomes, including drug dependence, incarceration, serious injury, and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases. This workshop will help participants identify when risky behavior becomes pathological. It will also cover the genetic, psychological, and environmental etiology and the treatment of pathological risky behavior.

Presenter: Bradley T. Conner, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology at Temple University. The recipient of many awards and honors, Dr. Conner’s research involves examining impulsivity, sensation seeking, treatment motivation, and risk taking behavior. He helped develop Temple University’s Addictive and Risky Behaviors Laboratory, and he has been published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Clinical Psychology Review, the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, and Psychiatry Research. Dr. Conner has presented at the Institute for the Study of Child Development, the American Psychological Association, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
At the end of this activity, the learner will be able to:
Articulate an etiological model of risky behavior in adolescents.
Identify, in adolescents, when risky behavior becomes pathological.
Evaluate treatment modalities for treating pathological risky behavior in adolescents.

Afternoon Workshop - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Ethics and Record Keeping Practices in Pennsylvania for the Mental Health Professional

This interactive, practical workshop will focus upon recordkeeping practices and Licensing Board Rules and Regulations that impact mental health professionals in Pennsylvania. Topics include content of records, what constitutes the record, record retention practices, the release of records, response to subpoenas and court orders, child abuse reporting requirements, and the duty to protect by warning. The workshop includes a discussion of case management issues and concerns, and handouts specific to Pennsylvania.

Workshop Objectives

At the end of this activity, the learner will be able to:
Describe Licensing Board record keeping rules and regulations.
Classify specific information that is required to be maintained in a patient's record.
Infer a working understanding of record access and release issues.

Presenter: Alan Tepper, J.D., Psy.D. is a renowned psychologist/attorney specializing in representing mental health and medical professionals in licensing and disciplinary board proceedings. He also serves as an expert witness in forensic matters, with an emphasis in criminal, civil, and professional ethics matters. Dr. Tepper’s dual training, coupled with his trial and clinical experience, helps bring an additional element to the review, analysis, and presentation of ethical issues for mental health professionals.

December 7, 2011

Morning Workshop: 8:30 - 12:00 a.m. - Latest Treatments of Bipolar Depression

In this informative presentation, participants will learn how to identify bipolar depression and gain an understanding of the latest treatments. The role of traditional antidepressants in bipolar depression and when it is appropriate to use these agents will be discussed. The workshop will also cover the use of mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications in the treatment of bipolar depression, and present novel treatments, such as Transmagnetic Stiumulation and psychosocial treatments.

Workshop Objectives

At the end of this activity, the learner will:
Identify bipolar depression.
Strategize the newest medications for bipolar depression.
Explore the role of adjunctive psychosocial treatment in bipolar depression.

Presenter: Claudia F. Baldassano, M.D. is Director of the Bipolar Outpatient Resident Teaching Program and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Formerly the Medical Director of Reserach at Friends Hospital, Dr. Baldassano has spoken at the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists and her research has been published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Review, and Comprehensive Psychiatry.

Thanks Dr. Levy - Greeart Workshop in March, 2011

2011-05-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dan said...
Great workshop today! Dr. Suzanne Levy from the Center for Family Intervention Science at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia talked about Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT). Although her workshops are usually one or two days, she managed to squeeze into three hours, enough information to intrigue me to obtain more education about this topic. Dr. Levy’s presentation was dynamic and she was very knowledgeable. I especially enjoyed her brief explanation of the research and the theory behind this approach to family therapy. As I looked around the room, I noticed several folks whose training began in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, much as mine did. As she spoke, I recalled those early days with Dr. Sal Minuchin at the Child Guidance Clinic and the introduction of “Structured Family Therapy”, with nostalgia. Dr. Levy’s discussion of the research reminded us that family therapy techniques, enhanced with attachment theory etc, have evolved into an “empirically based” treatment approach.

I thought that Dr. Levy did a nice job of presenting the ABFT overview, with both benefits and risks of the family described as factors in the treatment. Although not intending to make the audience experts in ABFT, her presentation of the “Five Tasks” hit the mark to help us appreciate the “guidance” provided by the model, without the “cook-book” approach of other empirically based psychotherapy techniques (Honestly, do you always follow the rules of your “theory” of choice?). Dr. Levy’s emphasis on intentionality at each session to stay focused on the goals, allows use of clinical judgment (and the many years of training) to choose the appropriate strategies to reach the goals. I don’t know about you, but this point helps me feel more like a professional and less like a technician.

Dr. Levy was not trying to “sell” this technique to all. She acknowledged that the research supports success with this approach to a selected, but very large population of families (including single parent, alternate caregivers and other nontraditional families) with adolescents. Research is being conducted with families of younger children. Dr. Levy was quick to acknowledge that this technique is not for everyone. My understanding of her comments excluded adolescents or parents with intellectual disability or other developmental problems, serious mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction, and families where physical abuse is prevalent. In short, this treatment approach appears most effective when both the adolescent and the caregiver are capable of insight. Also, limited to therapists with a tolerance of raw emotions.

I can always tell when the audience is satisfied with a workshop by the quiet attending to the speaker and the appropriateness of questions. The audience was quiet throughout her talk. Questions were relevant and did not detract from her presentation. She responded to all questions thoroughly and checked back with each person to make sure. The audience appeared satisfied with Dr. Levy's Presentation presentation.

March 2, 2011 2:55 PM

Great Pediatric OCD Workshop

2011-05-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

This was a great presentation today by Dr. Martin Franklin on Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in children and adolescents. This was his return visit to the Foundations Community Partnership behavioral health lecture series by popular demand. Dr. Franklin presented last fall on “Trichotillomania” in adolescents. Today’s workshop was a full house. He was welcomed back.

Today’s presentation was both enjoyable and informative. This was one of the few times where I’ve seen the audience readily postpone a break in the middle of the three hour workshop, to learn more about the presenters treatment techniques. The 3 hours went by quickly. His workshop included the necessary elements including: Phenomenology and description of the disorder, assessment instruments and strategies, research to support the theory and treatment, and an overview of treatment techniques. He did not simply read his slides, he told humorous but very relevant stories, provided case examples and included research studies. He quickly came back to his point for each item. Overall, I thought that his presentation was well balanced, and all elements were covered. He really knows this stuff!

Sometimes, I attend workshops where the presenter is stilted, defensive, or awkward at handling questions. In some cases, questions from the audience appear as an attempt to “hurry” the presentation, with the presenter saying “I will get to that later.” All questions today appeared relevant and current to the items being presented. Dr. Franklin listened carefully and answered each question fully. He also allowed questions at the end. Questions did not interrupt the flow of his workshop. He was gracious and thorough in response to questions. The audience was satisfied.

As usual, I learned a bunch of things from Dr. Franklin this morning. His focus on the Obsessive Compulsive Cycle (Obsession-Distress-Compulsion-Relief) is important. He reiterated that his treatment will increase obsessive thoughts and distress, while limiting or eliminating compulsive behavior. Tolerating and habituating to the obsessive thoughts and eliminating the compulsion is essential in treatment. He described many creative techniques to increase exposure to the obsessions that need to be challenged without the relief provided by the compulsive behavior. At one point during Dr. Franklins presentation, I almost thought that it would be fun to be a kid with OCD, so I could participate in his treatment (I said almost!). Dr. Franklin pointed out that these techniques also work with children and others who do not have high ability for insight. He said that the clinician must work hard to find creative but concrete opportunities for exposure to obsessions, because the person may not recognize that the obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable. As usual with CBT research, combination of medication (SRI’s) and CBT treatments appear most effective.

Dr. Franklin mentioned that research often explains very complex things in complex ways. He was trying to make it simple in his presentation. As the former college linebacker and current coach, father, Philly sports fan, and everyday guy that he appears, Dr. Franklin did just that. As he stated, his daughter, at age six did better. She described his treatment methods in a couple of sentences.

“Blah, blah blah, do the thing you’re afraid of.
Blah, blah, blah, the more you do it, the easier it gets.”

Any other thoughts?

Workshop by Dr. Martin Franklin on OCD for kids

2011-04-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

FCP is pleased to host Dr. Martin Franklin again, on May 4, 2011 at the Doylestown Health and Wellness center in Warrington PA. This time, his workshop will focus on pediatric OCD. He will help us to better help kids with anxiety disorders.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for pediatric anxiety disorders has strong empirical support yet poses unique challenges even to experienced therapists. Dr. Franklin will discuss the use of CBT techniques in clinical practice with children and adolescents with OCD, and will describe adaptations of CBT for use with related conditions as well. He will also respond to audience members' questions about OCD and related conditions and their treatment with CBT.

Workshop Objectives:
At the end of this activity, the learner will:
•Demonstrate fluency in the nature and diagnosis of pediatric OCD.
•Extrapolate the current empirical evidence on the treatment of pediatric OCD.
•Demonstrate the rationale and nature of CBT of pediatric OCD.

Presenter: Martin Franklin, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, and Director of the Child & Adolescent OCD, Tic, Trich, and Anxiety Group (COTTAGe). He is also a Special Member of the Graduate School Faculty, Purdue University Graduate School and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. Dr. Franklin's scholarly publications include scientific articles and book chapters on the treatment of adult and pediatric OCD, social phobia, trichotillomania, tic disorders, PTSD, and readiness for behavior change. Currently, Dr. Franklin is a principal investigator of several multicenter studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), including the treatment of pediatric OCD and Family-Based Treatment of Early Childhood OCD and a frequent invited lecturer around the United States and abroad.

ADHD Workshop: Family School Success

2011-04-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Thomas Powers, Ph.D., presented today on “Family-School Success: A Psychosocial Intervention for Students With ADHD” When I saw this workshop advertised, I first thought “Oh no, another talk about medication effects on ADHD Symptoms”. I was right and I was wrong. Mostly wrong!

Dr. Powers’ presentation did talk about medications and improvement of ADHD symptoms for children. He also said that there is limited evidence that medication alone can help students gain academic skills over time, despite reduced symptoms. That woke me up! Everyone knows that psycho-stimulants reduce ADHD symptoms in 75% of children with this disorder. Everyone assumes that learning improves if ADHD symptoms are reduced. Dr. Powers presented research that suggests “everyone” is not correct. In short, reduction of ADHD symptoms does not always improve academic learning or life success.

Dr. Powers did a nice job of providing a brief overview of ADHD - genetic vulnerability and environmental interaction, and the current medical/behavioral treatments for this problem. In answer to a question from a participant, he acknowledged that the prevalence of ADHD has increased in the past 10-20 years. He suggested that improved survival rates for low-birth weight infants, increased expectations/standards of pre-school programs, and increased exposure to “environmental toxins” (stress) for young children contribute to the increased diagnostic prevalence for ADHD. He was also careful to acknowledge the impact of “co-morbid” conditions such as anxiety, oppositional defiance, learning disabilities, and other diagnoses, serve as complications for cause and treatment of ADHD.

Getting back to the title of the presentation, Dr. Powers presented a recent study that showed the importance of the parent-child relationship, the parent – teacher relationship and child-teacher relationship to decrease ADHD symptoms and to improve learning and peer relationships. Dr. Powers Presented results from the Family-School Success (FSS) study that was recently concluded. This study was supported, in part by the National Institute for Mental Health. Specifically, this study compares children receiving a traditional treatment for ADHD with Children receiving the FSS model of treatment. Parents were given the option of medication or no medication in both treatments. In short, the results indicate that the FSS model helps the student with ADHD improve in parent-child relationships, parent-teacher relationships, student teacher relationships, reduced ADHD symptoms and improved academic learning. Life success has not yet been measured.

In general, the scientist-practitioner model was supported in this workshop. Both a researcher and a clinician, Dr. Power was quick to point out that research, although important, took a back-seat to the clinical needs of the kids. He rejected or eliminated many children from the results of the study due to their clinical needs. During the presentation, Dr. Power provided succinct answers to questions from the quiet and attentive audience. He managed questions well to stay within the time allowed for the workshop. He also freely acknowledged limitations of the study, and was excited about the future of this research. I enjoyed his presentation.

PS: the last FCP Workshop on “Attachment Based Family Therapy” talked about the importance of relationship and bonding with the parent or caregiver. I suspect that the behavioral health field has returned to the importance of “rapport” as a necessary ingredient regardless of technique in parent training, psychotherapy, and education. Am I overstepping boundaries here? Please let me know!

FCP Presents ADHD Workshop for Mental Health Professionals, Nurses and Educators

2011-04-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

This presentation will review the diagnosis, developmental course and causes of ADHD. The primary focus will be on interventions for children with ADHD, including children from 3 to 18 years. The presentation will include a brief review of pharmacological interventions and Dr. Power will emphasize psychosocial treatment for promoting children's success in family and school settings. Workshop Objectives: At the end of this activity, the learner will be able to: • Identify comorbid conditions that frequently occur in conjunction with ADHD. • Illustrate several strategies for building parent-child relationships and improving children's self-regulation skills. • Examine several strategies for building collaborative family-school partnerships and resolving children's problems in school. Presenter: Thomas J. Power, Ph.D. is Professor, School Psychology in Pediatrics (CE), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Interim Chief Psychologist, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Director, Center for Management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The recipient of many awards and honors, Dr. Power has held editorial positions at School Psychology Review, Journal of School Psychology, Journal of Attention Disorders, and the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. He has been an invited lecturer at many national conferences, including the American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists, Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and the International School Psychology Association. Dr. Power is co-author of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV and The Clinician's Practical Guide to Attention.

FCP 2011 Spring Workshop

2011-02-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

FCP has a great lineup of woekshops for the Spring 2011 professional education series. The first workshop of the season "Attachment Based Family Therapy" will be presented by, Suzanne A. Levy, Ph.D. on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is the only manualized empirically informed family therapy model specifically designed to target family and individual processes associated with adolescent suicide and depression. ABFT initially focuses on repairing or strengthening attachment and then turns to promoting adolescent autonomy. This workshop will provide an overview of the theoretical principles and clinical strategies of ABFT using lecture and tape review.

Workshop Objectives:
At the end of this activity, the learner will be able to:
• Formulate the theoretical foundation of ABFT.
• Extrapolate the purpose of the five treatment tasks of the model.
• Evaluate the strategies used in the five treatment tasks.
Presenter: Suzanne A. Levy, Ph.D. is Director of Training of Attachment Based Family Therapy, Center for Family Intervention Science at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also Trainer and Facilitator, Master Resilience Trainer Course at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy is a reviewer for Addiction Magazine and she has also been published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Health Psychology, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Pediatrics Magazine. The recipient of the University Research Council Grant at the University of North Carolina and a Pre-doctoral Training Fellowship from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Dr. Levy has presented nationally at the Society for Prevention Research, Society for Research in Child Development, Society for Research on Adolescence, American Association of Suicidology, and the Joint Council on International Children's Services.

FCP Double Header - Two Workshops on Wednesday, December 1st.

2010-11-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Infants and Toddlers

In this timely presentation, Dr. Landa will present information that is needed to detect autism spectrum disorders early in life. She will describe signs of developmental disruption in infants and toddlers, and patterns related to the onset of autism. Video examples will be provided on social, communication, and behavioral characteristics of very early signs of autism.

Workshop Objectives At the end of this activity, the learner will be able to:
• Recognize the need for early detection of autism.
• Define two different onset patterns of autism.
• Articulate four red flags for autism in very young children.

Presenter: Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders and the REACH research program at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Landa worked extensively as a speech-language pathologist before joining the Hopkins faculty in 1989. She has consulted and presented internationally on both clinical and research issues. Her research has focused on neuropsychological and communication processes in autism across the lifespan. Dr. Land is the principal investigator of an NIH STAART center, and the author of the Pragmatic Rating Scale and the Brief Communication Battery, which are used internationally in research and clinical programs. Her current research focus is on learning processes in autism, as well as early detection of and intervention for autism spectrum disorders.
________________________________________
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Ethical and Legal Issues with Children and Adolescents in Schools and Clinical Settings

This essential workshop will address ethical issues commonly encountered in the practice of clinical and school psychology. Topics to be covered include: age of consent to treatment; mandated reporting of child abuse; confidentiality and informed consent; record keeping; culturally sensitive services to diverse clientele; and individual and group assessment. Participants are invited to discuss ethical dilemmas from their own experience.

Workshop Objectives
At the end of this activity, the learner will be able to:
•Distinguish and apply consent to treatment, confidentiality, and release of information according to Act 147.
•Apply risk management strategies for handling questions that arise in treating childreand adolescents.
•Anticipate and resolve ethical challenges in the schools.

Presenter: Linda K. Knauss, Ph.D., ABPP is an associate professor and Director of Internship Training at Widener University. She has served as a member of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association's Ethics Committee and Co-chair of the Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists' Ethics Committee. Dr. Knauss has authored book chapters and journal articles on ethics, and has taught many workshops on a variety of ethical issues. She is the past president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation, and the Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists. Dr. Knauss is the recipient of the 2002 Ethics Educators Award presented by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association's Ethics Committee, and the recipient of the 2004 Pennsylvania Psychological Association Distinguished Service Award. In addition to her work at Widener University, Dr. Knauss maintains a private clinical practice where she sees children, adolescents, adults, and families.

FCP Workshop - ”Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Diagnosis, Assessment and Intervention Strategies”

2010-11-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

I thought that today’s workshop by Dr. Drabick on ”Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Diagnosis, Assessment and Intervention Strategies” was a great start to the FCP 2010/2011 professional workshop series. Her presentation was both professional and enjoyable. The three hours went by too quickly.
Sometimes, when I see a title of a workshop related to disruptive behavior of children and youth, I think “Oh no, not another one!”. I felt enlightened by Dr. Drabick’s discussion of tried and true social learning and behavior modification models and her presentation of new research that supports these concepts. (I admit, I am biased! I was trained in Gerald Patterson’s social-learning work and ideas from the Oregon Social Learning Center parent-training model over 30 years ago. I still use these techniques in my work with children and adolescents. I appreciated the affirmation for continued use of these techniques from Dr. Drabick’s workshop today)
This is the third year that FCP has been providing the “Blog” after each of the Professional Education Workshops. In the back of my mind, I rate each workshop on several categories:
1. “Edutainment Scale” (Does the presenter have a sense of humor, and can he/she provide professional and scientific information that is useful, meaningful ,and enjoyable for the audience?)
2. “Satisfactions Scale” (Does the audience appear satisfied with the presentation? Are questions limited and relevant to the topic, and is there a sense of conclusion at the end of the workshop?)
3. “What did I Learn Scale” (Did the workshop add new knowledge or new techniques that I can use in my practice?)
4. “What’s missing Scale” (Upon reflection after the workshop, what, if anything, was left out of the presentation? Were the Learning Objectives answered?)
5. “Anything Controversial Scale” (Did the presenter say anything that might inspire argument or disagreement in the audience?)
Applying these scales, I thought that Dr. Drabick’s presentation was excellent today. She presented research and practice information to a professional audience with humor. The audience was attentive (even the 3 month-old baby), and questions were appropriate. I thought her presentation was thorough, and unfortunately for me, she did not say anything controversial. For the most part, I felt satisfied by the workshop. I did feel a little “rushed” and would have liked more time spent on the intervention section.

FCP 2010 Fall Behavioral Health Workshops

2010-10-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Disruptive Behavior Disorders among Youth: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Intervention Strategies

Disruptive behavior problems among youth are associated with a range of negative outcomes and are often difficult to treat. This workshop will provide an overview of the symptoms, risk factors, and correlates of disruptive behavior disorders. We will consider the roles of contextual factors in the development and maintenance of disruptive behaviors. Developmentally appropriate assessment strategies, as well as potential interventions that can incorporate assessment results in multiple settings will be covered.

Presenter: Deborah A. G. Drabick, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Temple University with a joint appointment in Clinical and Developmental Psychology. She is Director of the Child Health & Behavior Study, which is designed to examine processes that may be related to externalizing problems and co-occurring psychological conditions in childhood.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Infants and Toddlers

In this timely presentation, Dr. Landa will present information that is needed to detect autism spectrum disorders early in life. She will describe signs of developmental disruption in infants and toddlers, and patterns related to the onset of autism. Video examples will be provided on social, communication, and behavioral characteristics of very early signs of autism.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Infants and Toddlers

Presenter: Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders and the REACH research program at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Ethical and Legal Issues with Children and Adolescents in Schools and Clinical Settings

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Ethical and Legal Issues with Children and Adolescents in Schools and Clinical Settings

This essential workshop will address ethical issues commonly encountered in the practice of clinical and school psychology. Topics to be covered include: age of consent to treatment; mandated reporting of child abuse; confidentiality and informed consent; record keeping; culturally sensitive services to diverse clientele; and individual and group assessment. Participants are invited to discuss ethical dilemmas from their own experience.

Presenter: Linda K. Knauss, Ph.D., ABPP is an associate professor and Director of Internship Training at Widener University. She has served as a member of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association's Ethics Committee and Co-chair of the Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists' Ethics Committee. Dr. Knauss has authored book chapters and journal articles on ethics, and has taught many workshops on a variety of ethical issues.

All workshops are held at the Health and Wellness Center, on Route 611 in Warrington PA. Please visit www.fcpartnership.org or call 267-247-5584 for more information.

Autism: Untangling Complex Cases

2010-04-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

On May 5th 2010, Dr. Craig Newschaffer will be conducting a workshop on Autism, from 8:30am to 12:00pm at the Doylestown Health and Wellness center in Warminster PA.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to hear the world-renowned Dr. Craig Newschaffer from Drexel University talk about findings, trends, and what's ahead in the research on the causes of autism. Dr. Newschaffer is the Principal Investigator of the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI), the most comprehensive study of autism etiology in the world. During his presentation, Dr. Newschaffer will discuss the highly complex disease of autism and talk about what we are learning about the condition's causes. He will also touch on some of the challenges faced communicating findings on autism risk factors to different audiences.

Problem Solving Therapy

2010-04-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I am always open to learning about techniques to help my patients solve problems. In his presentation this week, Dr. Arthur Nezu will suggest treatment strategies to help our patients cope more effectively with difficult life situations by fostering the adoption and effective implementation of adaptive problem-solving attitudes and behaviors in order to reduce depression.

Dr. Nezu is Professor of Psychology, Medicine, and Public Health at Drexel University and co-author of "Problem-Solving Therapy: A Positive Approach to Clinical Intervention". He has contributed to over 175 scientific and professional publications, including 20 books. He co-developed Problem Solving Therapy (PST), a cognitive-behavioral intervention that has been empirically found to be efficacious for treating a wide variety of populations.

I am looking forward to his workshop!

A Surprisingly Great Workshop!

2010-03-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

I had heard remarks from colleagues that Dr. Franklin is a knowledgeable and excellent speaker, but perhaps a little low key in his presentation, and his topic may not interest many people. Right, Right, Wrong and Wrong! His workshop today was full of knowledge and he kept the full house of participants attentive and amused for three hours. I don't remember a recent workshop that inspired such a high level of participant questions and participation. I learned a lot and very much enjoyed Dr. Franklin's presentation.

I must apologize to Dr. Franklin. In my earlier "Blog", I put TTM in the OCD category. He convinced me today that it is more closely related to addictions. I especially appreciated that he took the time to answer numerous questions during his presentation, while still finding the time to focus on treatment techniques for Trichotillomania and other body focused disorders,

After the workshop, I couldn't help but wonder if adolescent "cutting" behavior fits the same model. Please contribute any other thoughts about this or any other comments about today's workshop.

I must confess that I almost put my hand over the bald spot on the back of my head at one point in the workshop. If asked, I was ready to announce "It's male pattern baldness, not pulling". My only disappointment in today's workshop is that I cannot yet say "Trichotillomania" 3 times fast.

Trichotillomania and Other Body-Focused Behaviors

2010-02-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Trichotillomania (TTM). If you have heard this word before then you probably work with emotionally disturbed, autistic, or mentally retarded children, adolescents or adults. Trichotillomania is one of many obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) with this population. Specifically, this disorder includes compulsive pulling of the hair, sometimes leaving bald spots on the head. Dr. Martin Franklin, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, and Director of the Child and Adolescent OCD and Anxiety Group at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. His workshop on March 3rd will discuss research and treatment techniques for TTM and other body-focused OCD behaviors. Dr. Franklin is a recognized expert in OCD. He is a principal researcher for the National Institute of Mental Health and has published widely in treatment techniques for OCD. I am looking forward to this workshop. (Aside from the scholarly knowledge and practical treatment suggestions, I hope Dr. Franklin can teach us to say "Trichotillomania" 3 times, fast!)

Good Workshop Today!

2009-12-02T15:45:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-29T14:33:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-11-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-09-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-05-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-25T12:45:00.000-08:00

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!

Upcoming Workshop - Mood Disorders in Children & Adolescents

2008-11-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Dr. Elizabeth Kastelic (Assistant Professor, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University & Hospital) will be providing a workshop on the presentation, course, risk factors and treatment of Mood Disorders in Children and Adolescents. The workshop will be held at the Doylestown Hospital Wellness Center, 847 Easton Road, Warrington PA. The Workshop will be from 8:30 AM to 12 Noon.

Dr. Kastelic is an experienced practitioner, teacher, and researcher in the treatment of Mood Disorders in children and adolescents. I am looking forward to her presentation and comments/ questions from those lucky enough to participate in this workshop!

This BLOG is an open forum for discussion of the workshop by participants.

Great Workshop Today!

2008-11-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

I thought that Dr. Tamar Chansky was a very competent speaker. Her workshop on "Stategies for Anxious Children: Shrinking Worries, Drawing on Strengths" was enjoyable. Aside from her expertise, I especially liked her humor in presenting this very serious topic. All Mental Health Professionals, many teachers and many parents deal with the day to day struggles of the highly anxious child or adolescent. Dr. Chansky offered both insight and techniques to help these children/adolescents with their everyday experience of the symptoms. She was clear that the symptoms are not alleviated overnight but over time, with the cooperation of the parents, teachers and therapists working as a team. I learned a lot & I hope you did also.

Dr. Chansky had much more material to present than time allowed during the three hour presentation. Also, I had many questions but the three hours alloted went too fast. There was little time for questions, and much material in the handouts was not covered in the presentation. Perhaps another three hours in an afternoon session would have helped?

My unasked questions included some thoughts about application of the model presented to treatment of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (especially PDD and Asperger's Disorder) and lower functioning children and adolescents. I also would have liked to hear an up-date on medication use for children with OCD. Any thoughts about this?

Please post your comments or suggestions.

Thanks,
Dan

Welcome Back!

2008-11-03T15:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back! It's another great Conference Season for Foundations Community Partnership (FCP). On November 5, 2008 Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., will speak on "Strategies for Anxious Children" She will help us to identify the Anxious Child, help reduce their anxiety and OCD symptoms through CBT techniques. On December 3, 2008, Elisabeth Kastelic, M.D., will speak on "Mood Disorders in Children and Adolexcents".She will help us to: Understand the symptoms, Interpret the course, Indentify risk factors, and treatment principles of mood disorders in youth.

Please visit fcpartnership.org for more information. Stay tuned to this "BLOG" for further discussion.
Dan

Another great FCP Conference!

2008-05-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Another great FCP Conference today. Dr. Kindlon helped us to identify the social and emotional challenges that boys and men encounter. His presentation also highlighted the destructive patterns for boys that inhibit nurturing skills as adult men. I thought that his talk was humorous and informative. The four hours went by quickly. Personally, I enjoy competent speakers & I especially enjoy getting CE credits, learning something and being entertained all at the same time. Dr. Kindlon provided such an experience today.

I always try to find some provocative question for this BLOG to stimulate further discussion. Dr. Kindlon’s presentation today did not make this an easy task, since I agreed with most of what he said. On the other hand, he made several controversial statements that deserve further comment. For example, while he clearly stated that addiction to Drugs and Alcohol is bad, perhaps he was minimizing the “Internet” and “Video-Game” addiction that is afflicting boys in today’s society. I am happy that Dr. Kindlon reminded us that parents can turn off the electricity before this problem becomes an “addiction” .

Any other thoughts?

Raising Cain? - Dr. Dan Kindlon

2008-04-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dan Kindlon, author of the best seller book "Raising Cain" will be the keynote speaker at the Foundations Community Partnership "Annual Conference on Friday May 2, 2008. Dr. Kindlon's topic will be "Gender Responsive Treatment Strategies: Boys to Men" with a focus on enhancing emotional awareness and nurturing skills in strength based treatment.

Dr. Kindlon will help us to:

1. Identify the social and emotional challenges and pressure that boys and men encounter.
2. Recognize how destructive patterns in childhood contribute to inadequate nurturing skills in many adult men.
3. Illustrate interventions to help boys and men cultivate emotional awareness and empathy, as part of their masculinity.
4. Assist clients in learning new, nurturing behaviors in place of others that may be destructive in family relations.

Regardless of your gender or profession, this will be an important presentation. Who knows? perhaps the females who attend might learn some techniques to help the men in their lives (children, spouses, colleagues, clients, patients, students etc) become more caring individuals. The males who attend probably have a lot to learn about the importance of learning better nurturing skills. Perhaps I will arm-wrestle any guy who disagrees (just-kidding).

I'm looking forward to this conference next week and the continued discussion on the BLOG afterwards.

Foundations Community Partnership - Dr. Jeff Bernstein Workshop

2008-04-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

For those lucky enough to attend, I thought that Dr. Jeff Bernstein provided a fun and informative workshop today based on his book "10 Days to a Less Defiant Child." His presentation included his efforts as a therapist and a father. Although he is an "expert" in treating adolescents with ODD, I thought that the strength of his presentation was his authenticity as a person. He established himself as a caring person trying to meet and understand each adolescent at their level, without judgement. He readily admonished himself when "judgement" mistakes occured and processed his thoughts outloud with remarkable transparency. Dr. Bernstein openly acknowledged his own "mistakes" as a parent and a therapist. I did notice a few people around me reacting to his suggestion that contingincy reinforcement is simply "bribary". Perhaps the behaviorists among use may be willing to share some thoughts?Dr. Bernstein said that he would check this BLOG for comments. He can be reached at www.DRJEFFONELINE.COM or at Drjeff4help@aol.com.Please feel free to offer your thoughts or suggestions
April 2, 2008 2:28 PM

Foundations Community Partnership - Dr. Dan's Blog

2008-02-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

This is a test of the new Blog for FCP.