Presenter: Brett Schur, PhD; Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP

This is a workshop about the difficulties of working with chronically suicidal patients who may periodically experience an escalation into acute suicidal crisis.  This workshop addresses the day-in, day-out challenges of working with individuals whose suffering leads them to think about suicide every day of their lives, with goals of helping patients find relief through a reliable set of self-soothing and other coping tools, challenging the thinking errors associated with suicidal ideation, and treating the underlying problems that sustain suicidal ideation. This workshop fulfills Act 74 requirements.

Program Learning Objectives
 At the end of the workshop the participants will be able to

a.       List differences between working with acutely and chronically suicidal patients;

b.      Describe factors that contribute to the move from suicidal ideation to action according to the interpersonal and integrated motivational volitional theories of suicide;

c.       Identify factors which protect patients from acting on suicidal thoughts;

d.      Describe how to teach patients to regulate their emotions and alter their thinking patterns; and

                     e.       Identify therapist challenges in working with chronically suicidal patients.

Presenter: Rachael Baturin, MPH, JD

In 2013 and 2014 Pennsylvania enacted numerous changes to the Child Protective Services Law. The purpose of this workshop is to review the signs leading to the recognition of child abuse and the reporting requirements for suspected child abuse in Pennsylvania. Those mandated reporters who complete this course will fulfill their mandatory requirements for licensing renewal and applicants for health care licenses in Pennsylvania will fulfill their requirement for education in child abuse reporting and recognition in Pennsylvania. This workshop describes the child welfare services in Pennsylvania, defines important terms related to the child abuse reporting law, and delineates the responsibilities of mandated reporters, ways to recognize child abuse, and other topics. 

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to

1. Describe the child welfare system in Pennsylvania;

2. Define child, child abuse, perpetrators, and other relevant terms;

3. Paraphrase the responsibilities of mandated reporters;

4. Recognize the signs of child abuse and situations where child abuse must be reported; and

5. Understand how to fulfill their responsibilities as mandated reporters of child abuse.

Presenter: Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP

This advanced workshop will review the most common difficult ethical or legal issues faced by psychologists. These often occur in the areas of professional boundaries, the licensing law, competence, and informed consent. This workshop, which assumes an understanding of ethics and Pennsylvania’s laws, will involve participant interaction. 

At the end of the workshop the participants will be able to answer common questions dealing with problems in the areas of                                                                          

            1. Protecting professional boundaries;

            2. Interpreting the licensing law

            3. Determining areas of limits of competence;

            4. Ensuring informed consent; and

            5. Other areas of ethical difficulty. 

Presenter: Thomas Treadwell, EdD, CGP; Brittni Gerrys, BA; Deborah Jane Dartnell, M.S.O.D, MA

The Cognitive Experiential Group Therapy (CEGT) model is an action model, incorporating Psycho-dramatic and Cognitive Behavioral Techniques that promote dynamic group interaction(s).  Focus is on identifying and exploring negative automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs, placing them in action utilizing Psychodrama techniques and challenging negative thinking.  This is an emotionally and concrete data-based problem-solving process.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to

1. Describe how The Cognitive Experiential Group Therapy (CEGT) model can be used to create a safe and secure environment where individuals can share their dilemma(s) without restraint.

2. Complete and interpret the Automatic Thought Record (ATR). 

3. Identify automatic thoughts and focus on 'hot thoughts'.

4. Discuss the meaning of automatic thoughts as they relate to core-beliefs and/or schemas.

5. Explain and implement the major psycho-dramatic techniques: role-playing, interview in role-reversal, protagonist, auxiliary ego, doubling, concretizing and the empty chair techniques.

Presenter: Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP

The treatment of children in Pennsylvania involves a complex web of laws, court cases, and regulations that can become difficult to navigate. This workshop will cover common ethical and legal issues that arise when working with minors in Pennsylvania including consent to treatment, confidentiality with children, access to records, and other issues. It will not cover the Child Protective Services Law.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to

1. Describe Pennsylvania’s ethical and legal standards regarding minor’s consent to treatment, confidentiality, and patient access to records

2. Analyze difficult cases using patient focused risk management principles

Presenter: Kirby L. Wycoff, PsyD; Joy Miller

Understanding maternal health inequities and the impact of systemic racism, particularly for mothers with unresolved trauma, has important implications for mental health treatment outcomes. Through the lens of intersectionality, this session will discuss outcomes from an ongoing research study that intersects public health and mental health among women of color.  

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to

1. Describe maternal health inequities related to mental health

2. Explain the role of race-based traumatic stress in young women of color

3. Discuss the role of motherhood on young women with unresolved trauma

4. Plan assessment and intervention strategies that are culturally appropriate

5. Identify the role of race-based traumatic experience on mental health. 

Presenter: Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP

This workshop will describe 10 quick steps on how psychologists can improve the quality of services to suicidal patients. These brief steps are anchored on overarching ethical principles and sound professional judgment. This workshop will fulfill Act 74 requirements. 

At the end of the workshop the participants will be able to

1. Identify ten strategies that psychologists can use that will increase their effectiveness in working with suicidal patients.  

Presenter: Jeffrey Sternlieb, PhD; Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP

Ethics should be more than a list of disembodied rules divorced from our day-to-day experiences as psychologists. This workshop looks at how we can live out our ethical ideals by developing the habit of focusing on our overarching values and being on guard unrecognized biases or fatigue that can keep us from acting in a manner congruent with our deeply held values. 

At the end of the workshop the participants will be able to

1. List deeply held values that motivate them in their professional lives;

2. Describe how self-reflection can help psychologist achieve more ethical habits of practice and reach more ethical decisions

3. Apply the spirit of the APA Ethics Code in their work. 

Presenter: Anthony Ragusea, PsyD

Medication adverse events are very common and psychologists can play a critical role in helping prescribers recognize and prevent them. We will review common medication classes, especially psychotherapists, discuss their uses and risks, review warning signs of dangerous reactions and how to assess, and discuss biochemistry of some reactions.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to

1. Define medication adverse events and understand a psychologist's role in preventing them.

2. Recognize in patients common, as well as rare and dangerous adverse reactions and interaction effects among frequently prescribed medications.

3. Prevent adverse events by recognizing risky situations, and respond appropriately when an adverse event is suspected.