An Introduction to Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

November 15, 2019

9:00 am – 1:30 pm

PRESENTER: Catherine Wright, MSW, LCSW

Catherine Wright is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in St. Louis, Missouri. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavior at Vassar College and her Master’s at Columbia University School of Social Work. She currently works for Washington University Medical School’s Division of Adolescent Medicine as a therapist, and provides mental health services to young people The Spot, a youth center for which provides free medical and social services, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy, and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Prior to working in Missouri, Catherine worked as a social worker and therapist in New York City and Pittsburgh, PA.

Workshop Summary

Are you working with young people who have experienced trauma? Would you like to work with this population, but aren’t sure how to approach treatment? Come learn about Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), an evidence-based therapeutic modality that helps children process their personal trauma experiences. This presentation will take you step by step from assessment to termination, as you learn the eight key treatment components of TF-CBT. Creative strategies will be shared to help you envision what implementation of each component looks like with children who are at different stages of development. Effective ways to involve a trusted adult in the treatment process will be discussed, as well as ways to avoid or navigate potential barriers to implementation. An overview of the research behind this treatment will be provided, as well as information on how to become TF-CBT certified.

Participants in this can expect to:

• Learn who can benefit from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and what assessment strategies are used to engage clients
• Name and describe the 8 treatment components (PRACTICE) of TF-CBT
• Learn creative approaches for implementing each treatment component, including the trauma narrative
• Identify implementation challenges and solutions
• Learn about the research supporting this evidence-based practice and the process for becoming certified in TF-CBT

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Play Therapy with Teens & Tweens

July 19, 2019

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

PRESENTER: Stephanie Williams, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S

Stephanie Williams, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist­-Supervisor with over 15 years of experience in counseling and play therapy. She is an Approved Provider by the Association for Play Therapy and provides play therapy trainings on a variety of topics. Stephanie also provides clinical supervision for mental health professionals working toward their RPT, SB-RPT and/or LCSW in Missouri. In addition to her clinical work with children and families, she has over 5 years of experience in managing and supervising staff and programs. Stephanie also developed and taught a play therapy sequence of graduate level classes for the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

You’re never too old to play! Play therapy can be a beneficial and fun way to engage with adolescents. Come learn more about working with this age group and leave with many new interventions you can use today with your teen and tween clients.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the benefits of play therapy for adolescents and how play therapy fits with adolescent development.
• Identify special considerations for using play with adolescents, including introducing play, the play environment and other confidentiality concerns.
• Utilize play therapy interventions to engage adolescents and build rapport.
• Use therapeutic games that are helpful for adolescents in play therapy.
• Explain how sand-tray can be beneficial to adolescents.
• Demonstrate art play therapy interventions to use with adolescents.

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Social Justice & Ethics in Counseling

March 29, 2019

8:30 am – 1:00 pm

PRESENTER:  Kirsten LaMantia, Ph.D., LPC, NCC

Dr. LaMantia is an Assistant Professor at Southeast Missouri State University and Clinic Director at the university’s Counseling Training Clinic. She teaches courses in ethics, practicum/internship, social and cultural diversity and others. Dr. LaMantia has published numerous articles on social justice, advocacy for marginalized populations and LGBTQ issues in counseling. She has also presented on the same topics at the local, state and national levels. Program will discuss current social justice and advocacy trends and will discuss decision making models that incorporate a thoughtful and intentional application of the ACA Code of Ethics when working with clients with a social justice influence.

Program will discuss current social justice and advocacy trends and will discuss decision making models that incorporate a thoughtful and intentional application of the ethical codes when working with clients with a social justice influence.

The learning objectives for attendees are to:

• Learn about current social justice and advocacy trends for ethnic and sexual minorities, people with disabilities, mentally ill and other minorities within the field of counseling.

• Become better acquainted with the professional ethical codes, specifically with regard to advocacy and social justice

• Explore professional ethics pertaining to advocacy

• Integrate the ethical codes with decision making models within counseling practice

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Attachment Disruption & Addiction: Treating Addiction as a Symptom of Attachment Trauma

PRESENTER: Travis Smith, Ph.D., LPC

Travis Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Doctor of Counseling and Supervision (PhD). Travis received his Master’s in Marital, Couple and Family of Counseling in 2006 and his Doctorate in Counselor Education and Counseling in 2009 from Idaho State University. In addition to being Director & Owner of Great Oak Counseling, he is an Associate Professor at Southeast Missouri State University and has presented at the local, state and national levels and published his research on topics related to couples counseling, private practice, ethics in counseling and addiction recovery and treatment. Travis has advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

This program will expose attendees to advances in treating addiction that are rooted in attachment theory. With a focus on developmental trauma, abuse, neglect and violence, the program will provide an expanded conceptualization of addiction that advocates for trauma focused intervention to ease the effects of trauma and, therefore, impulses toward addictive and compulsive behavior.

The learning objectives for attendees are to:

• Identify cycles of addiction tendencies, including both alcohol abuse, chemical dependency and process addiction
• Learn the various types of traumas that impact attachment relationships and cognitive function.
• Learn models of addiction that explain addictive behaviors as a form of emotional regulation,including issues related to triggers, unhealthy thinking patterns, rituals of addiction and affect regulation.
• Apply specific techniques to help improve a client ability to securely attach and regulate affect.

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