2015 Conference Workshops
MORNING WORKSHOPS
Workshop 1
Witnesses to the Dark: A Frank Talk on Mental Health
Presenters: Bob Larsted, author of Witness to the Dark: My
Daughter's Troubled Times
Patricia Larsted (daughter of Bob), author of Of Meadows and
Flowers: and Crying and Hope
Description: Join the conversation with authors Bob and Patricia
Larsted about Patricia’s battle with anxiety, depression, bipolar,
obsessive-compulsive, and schizoaffective disorders. Share their
journey through the minefield of school, family, and today’s
healthcare system as they struggled to find a way for her to survive,
and, ultimately, thrive.
Workshop 2
My Child Has Been Diagnosed, Now What?
Presenter: Peter Metz, MD
Description: This workshop will provide an overview of ADHD,
Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders
regarding treatment and how each one may affect the child, family,
and school, with time for questions and discussion.
Workshop 3
Making Positive Connections with Your School
Presenter: Kathy Hassey
Description: Our children and adolescents with behavioral health
issues should have support during the school day by school health
professionals. It can be difficult for families when deciding what to
disclose to school personnel. The School Nurse, a Registered Nurse,
holds a higher standard of confidentiality and is there to support
students and families. School Nurses are the link between education
and health care.
2015 Conference Workshops
Workshop 4
Trauma and Addiction – Understanding Co-occurring disorders.
Presenter: Miriam Ervin, LMHC, North Suffolk Mental Health
Association and Michael Leach, Institute for Health and Recovery
Description: The comorbidity of trauma and mental health issues
along with substance use disorders presents individuals and families
with significant challenges when seeking treatment and support.
Adolescents and young adults with co-occurring disorders struggle
with a complex set of symptoms, higher levels of functional
impairment and higher levels of multi-system involvement.
To meet these challenges, behavioral health professionals need to be
“cross-trained” in order to provide a holistic and effective
approach. This presentation will provide education on the specifics of
co-occurring disorder, and how the system of care for youth and
young adults uses integrated approaches to provide trauma-informed
care.
Workshop 5
The Parent as Special Education Advocate: Practical Tips
Presenter: Meira Russ, Health Law Advocates
Description: When advocating for a child with mental health needs,
even the special education eligibility process can be a challenge. With
a focus on delivering practical advice, together we will discuss
eligibility, services, IEPs, team meetings, and whatever else may come
up in your questions.
Workshop 6
Hearing Voices
Presenters: Caroline White and Lisa Forestell, Western Mass Recovery
Learning Community
Description: The Hearing Voices approach offers a non-pathologizing,
open way of understanding and supporting people through the
experience of hearing voices. It assumes that hearing voices (as well as
seeing visions and other sensory experiences) can be a normal part of
human experience with a variety of meanings for people. Hearing
Voices groups are widely available throughout the United Kingdom
and many other countries and are just taking hold in the United
States.
2015 Conference Workshops
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
Workshop 7
Trans Youth and Their Families: Stories of Support and Resiliency
Presenter: Missy Sturtevant
Description: More and more youth are coming out as transgender at a
variety of ages. Parents and service providers are each looking for
ways to support these youth and their families. This workshop will
feature a panel of trans youth and their parents to share stories of
coming out, finding support from services, and lessons learned. The
workshop will briefly cover an introduction to transgender identities.
Workshop 8
Restorative Practices in a Variety of Settings
Presenter: Christy Barbee, Communities for Restorative Justice
Description: Restorative justice draws on the principle that
crime and wrongdoing are not just violations of laws and rules,
but of people and relationships. It provides for flexible responses
in instances of harm, measures that can be used to address the
needs of all stakeholders. Simultaneously, the principles are also
finding traction in schools, work settings, and family and therapy
settings.
Workshop 9
The Parent as Special Education Advocate: Practical Tips
Presenter: Meira Russ, Health Law Advocates
Description: When advocating for a child with mental health
needs, even the special education eligibility process can be a
challenge. With a focus on delivering practical advice, together
we will discuss eligibility, services, IEPs, team meetings, and
whatever else may come up in your questions.
2015 Conference Workshops
Workshop 10
Understanding How Trauma Impacts Children: Risk Factors,
Consequences, and How You Can Help
Presenter: Genevieve Kane-Howse, LMHC
Description: Audience members will learn about common causes of
trauma in young children; understand how trauma can manifest itself
in youth; learn how to identify trauma responses; and gain insight into
how to use trauma informed care.
Workshop 11
The Effects of Bullying
Presenter: Dr. Douglas Katz, Arlington Youth Counseling Center
Description: In this interactive presentation, Dr. Katz will explain the
psychological and social causes of bullying, placing the issue within the
contexts of child and adolescent development, evolutionary
psychology, and recent findings in neuroscience. He will also provide
participants with strategies to help their children and students reduce
the frequency with which they are targeted. Various types of bullying
behavior, including social exclusion, teasing, rumor spreading, and the
use of social media will be discussed. In addition, the importance of
social skills training in the prevention of bullying will be discussed, and
a practical approach to teaching these skills will be outlined.