Psychologist Continuing Education

Mindfulness and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice
September 14, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
L. Mickey Fenzel, Ph.D.

Mindfulness practices are becoming more widespread in professional and non-professional circles. Examine what mindfulness is and how it contributes to changes in brain functioning and behavior, as well as to psychiatric symptoms and physical pain is clinically useful. This seminar will provide an introduction to theoretical basis of mindfulness practices, research findings on the benefits of mindfulness, illustrate mindfulness-based clinical approaches, and demonstrate mindfulness activities that can be used by clinicians and clients to improve awareness and wellness.

At the conclusion of the seminar, participants will be able to:

1. Articulate and explain what mindfulness is and apply it to the process of psychotherapy.
2. Identify and practice 2-3 activities that therapists or clients, or both, can use to increase mindful awareness to facilitate the psychotherapy process;
3. Describe at least two different mindfulness-based therapies and explain at least two limitations in conducting research on the outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions;
4. Create at least two ways of incorporating mindfulness practices in therapeutic settings.

L. Mickey Fenzel, Ph.D. is Professor and Chair of the Pastoral Counseling Department and Loyola University Maryland and possesses a doctorate in developmental psychology from Cornell University, as well as a Masters in clinical psychology from Loyola. He operated a private therapy practice for 20 years and has been a student of mindfulness and Buddhist meditation for over 15 years. He currently serves as meditation mentor with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, has trained in the Shambhala and other insight traditions, and is a member of Loyola’s Heart of Zen sangha. Dr. Fenzel has examined mindfulness and Buddhist psychology and practices with students in the psychology and pastoral counseling departments at Loyola. 

Beyond Jihad: Understanding and Providing Culturally Competent Care for Muslim Clients 
January 18, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Durriya Meer, Psy.D.

In the current sociopolitical climate, Muslims are in the limelight for many reasons, unfortunately, none of them positive. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Report shows a steady increase in hate crimes against Muslims – from 11.6% in 2012 to 13.7% in 2014. This is despite there being a drop in the number of hate crimes across the country, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (2015). This presentation aims to increase awareness of the religion (as practiced around the world), its beliefs and attitudes toward mental health and prepare clinicians to provide culturally competent treatment to Muslim clients. A related objective is to understand the diversity within Islam, which is mostly perceived as a monolithic religion.

At the conclusion of the seminar, participants will be able to do:

1. Describe basic concepts in Islam and explain how they may impact the psychotherapy process.
2. Identify and dispel common misconceptions and biases toward the religion and Muslims that could interfere with clinical competence.
3. Demonstrate effective clinical strategies for providing culturally competent therapy to Muslim clients.

Durriya Meer, Psy.D. is the Associate Director/Training Director at the Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center. Previously she served as Staff Psychologist and Assistant Director of Psychology Training at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), University of Michigan. Originally from Bangladesh, she successfully lobbied to establish the country’s first counseling center. She received her Doctorate in Psychology from Wright State University, OH, and completed her internship at Michigan State University. Her passion lies in training and mentoring psychologists as they prepare to take on professional roles in a rich, complex and rapidly changing field. Her clinical and outreach interests are working with students of color, violence against women, international students, bi-cultural identity development (especially conflicting identities such as being Muslim and gay), family of origin, and relationship concerns. She has specialized interest in working with Muslim students, and Asian/Asian-American students, especially those from South Asia. Her approach to counseling is based on an integration of multicultural, feminist and psychodynamic theories.

Legal and Ethical Issues for Psychologists: Avoiding the Pitfalls!
February 8, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Richard Bloch, Esq.

This presentation will discuss the legal and ethical issues psychologists encounter, including confidentiality, informed consent, social media, and mandated reporting laws. We will look at how the role of the therapist can change, dual roles, terminating clients, the potential legal risks associated with teletherapy with clients, and the importance of documentation, maintenance, retention, and destruction of information.

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

1. Understand and assess confidentiality and the limitations and exceptions.
2. Analyze and determine whether an abuse or neglect report must be filed.
3. Apply the lawas and regulations applicable to documentation.

Richard Bloch, Esquire earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Maryland School of Law. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Baltimore County Bar Association. He is admitted to the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, and to the Supreme Court of the United States. He is the President and Senior Attorney to Shiling, Bloch, and Hirsch, PA. Since 1979, he has served as the General Counsel to the Maryland Psychological Association. He is an active lecturer and scholar regarding matters related to the law and mental health practice.

Strategies for the Clinical Management of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
March 8, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Maria Mouratidis, Psy.D.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a serious clinical problem that is often tenacious and dangerous. It is a misconception that NSSI is strictly a feature of borderline personality disorder. This seminar will focus on critically evaluating psychological and biological theoretical models of NSSI, the motivation and functions of NSSI behavior, assessment strategies, and treatment interventions. Models of emotions can be applied to analyze the phenomenology of NSSI. Assessment strategies will be identified and participants will be able to develop a strategy for assessing NSSI behaviors. Sex-differences in terms of NSSI behaviors will be explored. The relationship between NSSI and suicidal behavior will be examined. Designing clinical management strategies will be explored to help clinicians create effective treatment plans, manage countertransference, and manage risk.

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

1. Describe an emotion dysregulation model to explain and analyze NSSI as a problem behavior.
2. Compile at least two assessment strategies of NSSI.
3. Demonstrate at least three clinical strategies for the clinical management of NSSI.

Maria Mouratidis, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist, full tenured professor of psychology and chair of Notre Dame’s department of psychology. She received her both her undergraduate and masters degrees in clinical psychology from Loyola University Maryland. She received her Psy.D. from Argosy University. Before coming to Notre Dame, she was a member of the faculty at Yale University and served the Department of Defense as a civilian psychologist providing psychological services to our wounded warriors and their families, training professionals, educating leaders, and helping to develop policy. Dr. Mouratidis is well published and considered an expert in the areas of trauma, traumatic brain injury, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Dr. Mouratidis has developed and led DBT programs at multiple institutions, teaches DBT at the undergraduate and graduate level, and provides training and supervision in DBT for mental health professionals in a range of clinical settings. She has been teaching for over twenty years and had been committed to educating, mentoring, and treating women.