2018 Fall Convention - Saturday

Ethical, Legal, and Professional Considerations for Early Career Psychologists

Note: This workshop is for Newly Licensed Psychologists only through special invitation.

CE credits: 1.0 (Ethics)

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

• Use the standards of practice for Washington Psychologists for sufficient case documentation
• Apply the standards of practice for Washington Psychologists for avoiding multiple relationships

Program Description:

This workshop will address common ethical, legal and professional questions that arise for early career psychologists. 

About the Presenters, G. Andrew H. Benjamin, J.D., Ph.D., ABPP and Stephen Feldman, J.D., Ph.D.:

Please see the biographies below under Duty to Protect.

The Duty to Protect: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Considerations

CE credits: 3.0 (Ethics)

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

In light of the judicial activism that changed to duty to protect in Washington, participants will be able to meet the new standard by:

1. engaging in sufficient assessment of the threats of violence, even vague threats, and its documentation;
2. implementing appropriate interventions based upon the assessment; and
3. creating sufficient ongoing documentation of the interventions.

Program Description:

Volk v. Washington changed how psychologists in Washington must work with a client who threatens any type of physical violence, even a vague threat of violence. During this three hour workshop participants will learn how to assess the risk of violence, even a vague threat. The workshop will focus on what type of data should be obtained and how to document the assessment adequately. Based upon the assessment, appropriate steps must be delineated for addressing the risk of violence. Further documentation of these steps as well as a justification for the steps taken must also occur.

About the Presenters, G. Andrew H. Benjamin, J.D., Ph.D., ABPP and Stephen Feldman, J.D., Ph.D.:

While working with families engaged in high-conflict litigation and lawyers suffering from various mental health and drug abuse problems, and in various governance positions, Dr. Benjamin has received multiple awards from such groups as the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington State Psychological Association, and the APA.

A Clinical Professor of Psychology and Affiliate Professor of Law at the
University of Washington, he has published 72 peer-reviewed articles in Psychology, Law, and Psychiatry journals.  He is the author of five books published by APA, and one book published by Sage. Two of his lectures about issues related to child custody are posted: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFoundation1020?feature=mhee. More information about him can be obtained at:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/andybenjamin

Dr. Feldman has practiced and taught law for over 30 years. He has served on the law faculties of Harvard, Georgetown, Nebraska, and Seattle Universities. He is a consultant to the Washington State Bar Association as a clinician with legal expertise, and reversing hats, as a consultant to the Washingtons State Psychological Association as an attorney with clinical expertise. He also consults with counseling services and private practitioners throughout the state.

A Primer on Atypical Antipsychotics: What Psychologists Should Know

CE credits: 3.0

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

1. Participants will be able to identify the core physical findings in "metabolic syndrome."
2. Participants will be able to describe at least three appropriate, FDA approved, uses for atypical antipsychotics as a class.
3. Participants will be able to identify one way that atypical antipsychotics are different from conventional antipsychotics and one way that they are similar.
4. Participants will be able to explain the primary antipsychotic action of atypical antipsychotic medication.
5. Participants will be able to name at least two behavioral health conditions for which atypical antipsychotics are frequently used "off label" (not FDA approved).

Program Description:

This program will provide an overview of the class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. The participant will become familiar with the medications in this class, how they are thought to work, FDA approved uses, proposed "off label" use, and the relative risk/benefit analysis for different disorders/symptoms. The participant will learn the signs of metabolic syndrome, extrapyramidal side effects and other possible adverse effects. The program will review evidence for and against the use of this class of medications for a variety of behavioral health problems.

About the Presenter, David Shearer, Ph.D., MS:

Dr. Shearer is a clinical and prescribing psychologist working as a civilian at Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC) in Tacoma, Washington. He is embedded in a large family practice clinic and has been actively prescribing for the past ten years. Dr. Shearer is the Director of Behavioral Sciences and a faculty member for the Department of Family Medicine Residency Program at MAMC. He is a faculty member of the Army Psychology Internship Program also at Madigan. Research interests include psychopharmacology education and the combination of psychological with psychopharmacological treatments.

Psychological Evaluation of Asylum Seekers: Foundational Skills

CE credits: 3.0

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the basics of the asylum process in the US and why a psychological evaluation may be useful in this process.
2. Utilize a basic framework when conducting a psychological evaluation of an asylum seeker.
3. Understand when to apply validated measurement tools during a psychological evaluation of an asylum seeker.

Program Description:

This training is designed to give an overview of the asylum process in the United States, and the role that mental health clinicians can play in helping someone pursue asylum. The basics of a mental health evaluation for an asylum applicant are reviewed, with special emphasis on the nexus between the evaluation and the legal standard for asylum. Participants also have an opportunity to volunteer in the future of this field.

About the Presenters, Dr. Ivan Molton and Beth Farmer, LICSW:

Ivan Molton, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and acting professor at the University of Washington where he works in the field of behavioral medicine and neuropsychology. Dr. Molton has been an active volunteer at Northwest Health and Human Rights where he has performed numerous psychological evaluations of asylum seekers.

Beth Farmer is a licensed clinical social worker and the Director of Refugees Northwest, a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest. Beth has been working with refugees and asylum seekers for more than a decade and has taught numerous workshops on the psychological evaluation of asylum seekers.

Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment of OCD in Adults

CE credits: 3.0

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify common subtypes of OCD.
2. Participants will be able to describe the cognitive-behavioral model of OCD.
3. Participants will be able to explain the rationale for exposure-based treatment for OCD.
4. Participants will be able to describe the components of ERP treatment for OCD.

Program Description:

The purpose of this workshop is to provide attendees information about the evidence-based assessment and treatment of OCD. Although very effective treatments now exist for OCD, the majority of mental health professionals do not have training in these treatments and many individuals with OCD do not receive state-of-the art care. Attendees will learn about: (1) common symptom presentations/subtypes of OCD; (2) common clinical issues that arise when treating OCD; and (3) the cognitive-behavioral model of OCD; and (4) core components of the gold-standard psychotherapy for OCD - exposure and response prevention (ERP). Most graduate programs do not provide training in treatment of OCD, so this material will likely be new for at least some attendees.

Note: this workshop was previously presented at Bastyr University in Spring 2016.

About the Presenter, Dr. Travis Osborne:

Travis Osborne, Ph.D. is the Co-Director of the Anxiety Center at the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle (EBTCS). Dr. Osborne is a specialist in evidence-based treatment for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, with a particular expertise in exposure-based treatments. He is passionate about the treatment of OCD and is a graduate of the International OCD Foundation’s Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), volunteers his time as a consultant to the OCD and Hoarding Support Group of Seattle, and is the co-founder and co-director of Camp DCO, an annual camp for teenagers and adults with OCD.

Diagnosing and Treating PTSD: Military and Veteran Considerations

CE credits: 3.0

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to apply knowledge of military culture to build rapport with clients.
2. Participants will be able to assess for the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a military/veteran population.
3. Participants will be able to select evidence-based treatments for PTSD in a military/veteran population.

Program Description:

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a more common diagnosis among military service members and veterans than the general population. Cultural competence is crucial for effective psychological assessment and intervention, including competence towards those who hold military or veteran identities. This workshop discusses the unique aspects of military and veteran culture and provides an introduction to how to diagnose and treat PTSD in a military and veteran population. Practical resources such as the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5 (PCL5) and Joint DOD/VA Clinical Practice Guidelines are incorporated into this workshop.

About the Presenter, MAJ Thomas Patterson, Psy.D.:

MAJ Thomas J. Patterson is an Army psychologist and the Director of Training for the Psychology Internship at Madigan Army Medical Center. He is a certified Prolonged Exposure Therapy Trainer and travels to teach Army providers this empirically-supported treatment for PTSD.

Getting the Most out of Your Session: Leveraging the Art and Science of DBT

CE credits: 3.0

Time and Room

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the philosophy, principles, and assumptions underlying DBT that are relevant to delivery of treatment in other CBT approaches.
2. Become acquainted with the research supporting DBT’s evidence base and how to translate the science into practical intervention.
   
3. Learn key strategies used in DBT to maximize delivery of DBT sessions and/or facilitate other CBT approaches.
   

Program Description:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an established evidence-based treatment designed for individuals who present with multiple complex mental health problems and challenging behaviors. The treatment is integrative, balancing the change-focused strategies of cognitive-behavioral therapy with acceptance-based principles derived from eastern Zen practices, western contemplative spirituality and validation based psychotherapy. This three-hour program is designed to help therapists apply research based elements of DBT to get the most out of their sessions. The program will summarize the research on DBT and discuss principles and core strategies suitable for integration into other forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. DBT practitioners will learn how to strive toward DBT adherence through discussion of key strategies and their application. The program will blend lecture with opportunity for group discussion.

About the Presenter, Kathryn Korslund, Ph.D.:

Dr. Korslund completed her postdoctoral fellowship under the direction of Dr. Marsha Linehan, developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She was a co-investigator with Dr. Linehan on several federally funded research studies on DBT and served as the Associate Director of Dr. Linehan’s clinical research and training center for over 15 years. Dr. Korslund is a recognized expert on DBT and provides training and consultation nationally and internationally. She is the founding President of the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification.