Psychologist Continuing Education

OCD: It’s Not What You Think!
October 18, 2019
Sally Winston, Psy.D.

This three hour power-point presentation will present the assessment and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, with an emphasis on the wide variety of common phenomenological presentations, the functional relationship between obsessions and compulsions and the obvious and more subtle ways in which symptomatology is made worse by the patient’s own  natural attempts to reduce distress.   The interface between OCD and GAD will be elucidated.  Rather than explore for insight into the origins of the disorder, contemporary treatment focuses on interrupting the factors which maintain and exacerbate the symptoms. These are presented as biological factors (“stickiness of the mind”), paradoxical effort, entanglement with content, and avoidance behaviors, both overt and covert. The general approach presented will be a synthesis of metacognitive, CBT exposure and ACT -based interventions which are basically aimed at changing the patient’s relationship with the contents of the mind. Common misconceptions will be addressed. Underlying false beliefs about the nature and meaning of intrusive thoughts will be presented.  Examples of typical exposure and response prevention techniques will be described. Concepts such as therapist co-compulsion, and reassurance-seeking compulsion will be introduced. There will be time set aside for Q and A.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to assess and identify the varied presentations of OCD, including the more subtle forms.
2. Participants will be able to plan treatment interventions based on a clear theoretical framework.
3. Participants will recognize   common misconceptions their patients hold and refrain from making common errors which hamper effective treatment.

Dr. Winston is recognized regionally and nationally for her expertise in the treatment of anxiety disorders. After working at Sheppard Pratt Hospital for 17 years, she co-founded The Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland in 1992.  She has served multiple roles including Chair of the Clinical Advisory Board of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and was honored with the first Jerilyn Ross Clinician Advocate Award in 2011. She is co-author of What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Anxiety Disorders: Key Concepts, Insights and Interventions (Routledge, 2014). (bio taken from www.anxietyandstress.com)

Treating Grief and Bereavement through an Existential Model
November 8, 2019
Jay Levinson, Ph.D.

This seminar will integrate the principles of existential psychotherapy, i.e. especially the work of Dr. Viktor Frankl (Meaning and Life) and Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (Meaning and Death). The goal will be to introduce a clinical model for the assessment and treatment of grief and bereavement. Participants will examine the phenomenology as well as a treatment model for facilitating the grief process and dealing with complicated grief.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will apply the existential model in the assessment and treatment of grief and bereavement.
2. Participants will articulate at least three clinical techniques for treatment of grief and bereavement.
3. Participants will integrate existential approaches in a comprehensive grief model and psychotherapy.

Dr. Jay Levisinson, is a licensed psychologist in Baltimore MD. Has been privileged to study with Dr. Frankl and Dr. Kübler-ross and has integrated their theories into his clinical practice. He has served on the faculties JH grad school and university school of medicine. He has lectured internationally, has served on various charitable boards, and is the founder of the Baltimore Ronald McDonald House.

Clinically Competent Care of Gender Diverse Clients
January 24, 2020 (Snow date January 31, 2020)
Reginald Nettles, Ph.D.

Gender identity includes the broad spectrum of gender-related identities. This program will assist participants in understanding gender identity and the unique issues that clinicians need to be aware of in working with gender diverse clients across the life span. While all individuals may be assigned or identify with a particular gender, individuals with minority gender identities (LGBTQ) include those who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.  In addition, a sub-set of each of these groups identify as gender non-binary.  Diversity within LGBTQ communities, including racial, ethical, and physical disability will also be discussed.  This program will identify and clarify contemporary and historical meanings of each of these terms.  Historically, members of minority gender identity groups have been subjected to culturally mediated stigma, prejudice, and discrimination.  While social acceptance of members of these groups has increased over the last 50 years, they nevertheless continue to be disproportionately subjected to traumas and hate crimes of various sorts, including assault and homicide.  And, suicide rates among members of these groups remain disproportionately high.  This seminar will define key terms, and provide historical background as well as contemporary issues related to sexual minority identities.  Clinical issues associated with each of the minority gender identities, will be discussed, and relevant standards and guidelines will be presented. The protective roles of social support, within and between LGBTQ and other communities, and relationships with health and mental health providers and other helping entities will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will describe identities included within "gender diverse" clients.
2. Participants will discuss cultural factors associated with trauma and resilience in LGBTQ communities.
3. Participants will list guidelines and standards for clinical care of gender diverse clients.

Reginald Nettles, PhD, CGP is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) in independent practice in Columbia, Maryland, providing individual, couples, and group psychotherapy. He completed a pre-doctoral internship in the Minority Training Program in Community and Clinical Psychology, Boston, Mass., and the PhD in Psychology at Howard University, Washington, D.C. He is an alumnus of both the Group Psychotherapy Training Program and the Advanced Psychotherapy Training Program at the Washington School of Psychiatry. 

Dr. Nettles served as Director, Counseling Center, University of Maryland Baltimore County from 1993-2003 and previously served on the staffs of Howard University and American University Counseling Centers. He is a faculty member of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute and founding chair of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Culture, both at the Washington School of Psychiatry in Washington, D.C. He has served as an adjunct faculty member in Group Counseling and Group Psychotherapy at The University of Baltimore, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, and The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. He is a Past-President of the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society, and is a former member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association Board of Directors.  Dr. Nettles has served on several committees focused on LGBT, racial and ethnic minority and disability issues in The American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA), The American Psychological Association (APA), The Maryland Psychological Association (MPA), and the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society (MAGPS), and has written, presented and consulted on these areas of identity and their intersections over many years. Dr. Nettles is co-editor (Nettles, R., and Balter, R., 2012) of Multiple Minority Identities: Applications for Practice, Research, and Training, New York: Springer Publishing Company, which explored the intersections of race, sexual orientation, and physical disability. He authored “Multiple Minority Identities in Group Psychotherapy: Within and Between”, in that volume. He is also co-author with F. Kaklauskas of "Towards Multicultural and Diversity Competency as a Group Psychotherapist" in Kaklauskas, F., and Greene, L.  (2019), Core Principles of Group Psychotherapy: An Integrated Theory, Research, and Practice Training Manual.

Navigating Ethical and Legal Conundrums in the Practice of Psychology
February 14, 2020 (Snow Date February 21, 2020)
Richard Bloch, Esq.

This presentation will discuss documentation, retention and destruction of records, confidentiality, access to records, informed consent, and mandated reporting laws. We will discuss how the role of the therapist can change, dual roles, terminating clients, and the issues associated with the use of teletherapy with clients and the impact of social media on the therapist/client relationship.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will apply the principles of proper documentation of the client's history, progress and goals.
2. Participants will analyze situations which may constitute reportable instances of abuse or neglect.
3. Participants will assess the appropriate use of teletherapy and its limitations.

Richard Bloch, Esq., is President of Shiling, Bloch & Hirsch, P.A. and has been in private practice in Maryland since 1972. He received his BA from the George Washington University and his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. His practice focuses primarily on health law, estate planning and administration, general business law, trade association law, and civil litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Maryland Bar Association, and the Baltimore County Bar Association. Mr. Bloch has been General Counsel to the Maryland Psychological Association since 1979, and also represents health practitioners before the Maryland Boards of Examiners. He has written numerous articles and lectures frequently on legal and ethical issues pertaining to the practice of psychology and mental health.