When:
May 19, 2017 all-day
2017-05-19T00:00:00-04:00
2017-05-20T00:00:00-04:00

Marlborough, May 19th, 2017. The Parent Professional’s Advocacy League’s annual family mental health conference will feature a Keynote address by Linea and Cinda Johnson, authors of “Perfect Chaos: A Daughter’s Struggle to Survive Bipolar and A Mother’s Struggle to Save Her.” There will also be workshops and exhibitor tables. 
About the speakers: 
   Dr. Cinda Johnson is a professor and the director of the graduate special education program at Seattle University, and director for the Center for Change in Transition Services. Dr. Johnson is the co-author of Perfect Chaos: A Daughter’s Journey with Bipolar, A Mother’s Struggle to Save Her.
   Linea Johnson is a national mental health advocate, speaker, writer and co-author of Perfect Chaos: A Daughter’s Journey with Bipolar, A Mother’s Struggle to Save Her. She currently works as a research assistant at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the very hospital where she was initially hospitalized. She is also the associate producer of the world mental health documentary, Hidden Pictures.
For more information about RSVPs and fees, please contact
conference@ppal.net 617-542-7860 or visit http://ppal.net/.  
Workshop Descriptions: 

  • Eye of the Storm: Reconceptualizing Trauma in Individuals with Eating DisordersPresenter: Rachel Benson-Monroe, LMHC. This presentation offers hands-on strategies to holistically guide people with trauma and eating disorders to recovery.
  • Demystifying the Neuropsychological Evaluation – Presenter: Ann Helmus, PhD. The components of an evaluation and understanding the results will also be covered. Specific suggestions will be given as to what to look for in seeking one.
  • Talking with Youth about Marijuana. Presenter: Jordana Willers, EdM. An overview of the latest data and current trends of marijuana use among youth, research on marijuana and the teenage brain, perceived benefits, short-term vs. long-term effects of use, cannabis use disorder (facts about marijuana and addiction), and ways to engage youth to promote open, positive communication in order to reduce substance
    misuse. Information about how to access treatment and recovery resources for youth and young adults
    will be provided as well.
  • Why Does My Child Behave Like That? Practical Strategies for  Raising Your Child on the Autism Spectrum. Presenter: Brenda Dater, MPH, MSW, author of Parenting without Panic and Associate Director at the Asperger/Autism Network.  Learn why your child’s challenges exist and the variety of ways you can support your child’s growth and development. Also walk away with a better understanding of your own triggers and how to become a more resilient parent and family.
  • Spirituality, Religion and Mental Health – Proyecto Acceso a la Educación Especial – Presenter: Diana Santiago, Esq. Los padres de niños y jóvenes con necesidades especiales (o discapacidades) pueden tener dificultades para conseguir la ayuda que sus hijos necesitan. Para familias con diferencias de cultura e idioma, puede ser aún más difícil tener acceso a estos servicios. Las leyes de educación especial protegen los derechos de niños y jóvenes con necesidades especiales. Proyecto Acceso a la Educación Especial ayuda a padres Latinos a entender esas leyes y sus derechos. El conocer sus derechos le puede ayudar en la abogacía de su hijo/a.
  • ’You can’t make me go!”: Assessment and Treatment of School Avoidance in Children and Adolescents
    Presenters: Nathan Doty, PhD and Brian Willoughby, PhD. Often the causes of school avoidance are difficult to identify and treat. Drs. Doty and Willoughby will will discuss common clinical issues that lead to school
    avoidance, how to identify these issues and how to help access the help that is needed. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session and discussion.
  • Hearing Voices – Presenter: Natan Cohen and guest. The Hearing Voices Network offers a non-pathologizing, open way of understanding and supporting people through the experiences of hearing voices and holding unusual beliefs.  Learn more about how the Hearing Voices approach can reorient how we relate to these experiences.
  • Trauma, Children and Strategies to Help Them – Presenter: Stephanie Monaghan-Blout, PsyD. 
    Promoting Social Change through Social Media. Presenters: Kelley Chunn and Christina Maryland. This interactive workshop provides guidance and best practices to better understand creating meaningful change
    and influence through strategic use of social media. We will outline different types of popular social media: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and community forums, such as Reddit. By providing case studies of best practices or lessons learned, we will educate attendees about the power of social media influence and how these tools can be effectively used to advocate issues of concern and promote the best image of themselves and families. We also will discuss the implications of using social media to share too much information or engage in cyber wars.
  • Terapia cognitiva basada en la atención plena (MBCT) Presenter: Thomas Serrano, PhD, LMHC Grupo para prevenir la depresión y reducir el estrés El MBCT es un grupo psicoeducativo donde se enseñan las habilidades de atención plena. Estas habilidades pueden reducir las constantes preocupaciones y el efecto de los pensamientos poco saludables que crean ansiedad y depresión. El principal objetivo de MBCT es prevenir la recaída en la depresión, la ansiedad y el estrés. Los estudios psicológicos demuestran que la mayoría de los participantes del grupo MBCT educen la recurrencia y la intensidad de los síntomas de depresión y ansiedad (tenga en cuenta que para lograr los beneficios deseados debe participar en 8 sesiones y practicar los ejercicios dados en casa). Los participantes tendrán dos sesiones de seguimiento, un mes y tres meses después de la finalización del grupo.

 

 

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