Child Abuse Reporting Laws: Implications for the Therapeutic Relationship from a Humanistic-Multicultural and Trauma-informed Framework
Date: August 28th- Thursday-9AM-5:30PM (7 credit hours)
Presenters: Theopia Jackson, Ph.D., Isaac Martinez, Ph.D.
Description:
The purpose of the workshop is to engage practitioners, particularly clinicians-in-training, in further developing their clinical position regarding mandated reporting. From a humanistic, multicultural, and trauma-informed framework, we will review the historical context for and types of abuse (including contemporary contexts such as trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and social media), mandated reporters’ obligations, various treatments, and implications for the therapeutic relationship. Reporting is conceptualized as a patient-centered clinical intervention with specific attention to collaborative processes with families, child protective services, and other healthcare providers. This interactive workshop will build upon the expertise and/or experience of the attendees and utilize illustrative vignettes, experiential exercises, and informative videos to deepen one’s skillset in managing the complexities of mandated reporting within a healing therapeutic relationship. This workshop satisfies pre-licensing requirements for the California Board of Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sciences. It may also meet other state requirements for master’s and doctoral-level mental health practitioners. Attendees are encouraged to review the state regulations and consult with the instructors accordingly.
Objectives:
Through a humanistic, multicultural, and trauma-informed practice framework, participants will be able to: 1. Discuss the history of child abuse and mandating reporting in the United States. 2. Describe the various types of child abuse and related behavioral indicators. 3. Articulate the responsibilities of mandated reporters and systemic responses following reporting. 4. Describe the complexities of contemporary forms of child abuse, such as social media offenses and commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC). 5. Critique theoretical conceptualizations for why children are abused and by whom (why people abuse children). 6. Explain the social determinants that may contribute to the potential of child abuse in multicultural/diverse communities, including under and over-reporting. 7. Summarize some of the more prominent theoretical approaches for treating child abuse. 8. Identify cultural factors that may impact identifying and responding to child abuse and implications for culturally attuned treatment. 9. Evaluate the literature pertaining to therapists’ experiences with reporting, particularly therapists’ reluctance, and the implications for the therapeutic relationship. 10. Critique the effectiveness of a conceptual framework that is informed by humanistic principles, trauma-informed care, social justice, and tenets of multiculturalism. 11. Apply this framework in treating children embedded in multi-stressed systems. 12. Utilize cultural competencies and cultural humility to address mandated reporting with diverse special populations.
Culinary Nutrition: The Art and Science of Cooking for Mental Health
Date: August 28th- Thursday 9AM-12 PM (3 credit hours)
Presenters: Gina Gonzalez, PhD; Jessica Weissman, PhD, RDN, LDN; Shari Youngblood, DCN, CNS, LDN; Blake Myers, ND; Maureen Molinari, PhD, RDN, LDN, CDCES; Cheryl Marsland, DCN, RDN, LDN
Description: This session provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of culinary nutrition, emphasizing the relationship between diet and mental health. Participants will explore the basics of nutrition science, macronutrients, micronutrients, and the role of whole foods in mental health and wellness. This session will emphasize practical applications of culinary skills, integrating the science of nutrition with the art of cooking, to support mental health and wellness.
Objectives:
Upon workshop completion participants will be able to:
1) Demonstrate understanding the fundamentals of nutrition science. 2) Identify the role of nutrition in mental health. 3) Describe and apply culinary techniques to support healthful cooking to support mental health.
Community Deathcare for Clinicians: The Death Midwife: Reclaiming Family-Directed Choice at the End of Life (morning) The Death Midwife as Psychopomp (afternoon)
Date: Thursday August 28th 2025- 9AM-4:30PM (7 credit hours)
Presenters: Reverand Angie Buchanan and Drake Spaeth Psy. D
Description: This workshop introduces the art and practice of death midwifery, an aspect of community deathcare. It is of potential interest to mental health professionals, clergy, nurses, physicians, clergy, and others. Elder and vulnerable adult reporting laws will be reviewed. Relevance of elder abuse and reporting laws will be discussed. Part 1 will cover how death midwives help the dying and their beloveds navigate this final rite of passage, providing emotional, spiritual, and practical support (ESP) during the challenges and complexities of dying, addressing cultural taboos about talking about death and body disposition options, and navigating grief and loss. Part 2 will consider the significance of the psychopomp archetype, a symbol of transformation that is germane to and rich with meaning and helpful insights for death midwives as well as psychotherapists
Objectives:
By the end of this workshop participants will be able to:
1. Describe the community deathcare movement.
2. Describe and apply older adult and vulnerable adult reporting laws and considerations for practice.
2. Discern the differences between a death midwife and a hospice worker.
3. Identify at least two ways in which death midwives can be helpful to clinical psychologists and the medical profession.
4. Describe the psychopomp archetype and its connections to theory and practice of supportive grief counseling.
Title: Symposium on Nature Contact and Health
Date: Friday, August 29th - 9AM-4:30 (6.5 CE units)-
Presenters: Donald Moss, PhD, Matthew J. Wichrowski, MSW, Valerie Worthington, PhD, Stuart Nelson, MA, Stephanie Shelburne, PhD, Cynthia Kerson, PhD
Nature contact, nature therapy, forest therapy, horticultural therapy, biophilia, and forest bathing are increasingly common terms for the use of nature exposure as an intervention for increasing health and well-being. Typically, nature immersion involves providing a structured program of exposure to nature, with the aim of enhancing the human being’s mental and physical well-being and resilience. This symposium will provide a series of speakers on: the biological mechanisms by which nature affects physiology and subjective well-being, the spiritual impact of nature, the lived experience of nature contact, the use of technology for virtual nature contact, and strategies for increasing access to nature for the under-served and lower socio-economic groups. The symposium will also include small groups facilitating attendees’ plans to increase nature impact in their own lives.
Objectives:
Individuals attending this session will be able to: 1) Explain the physiological basis of nature impact on health, wellbeing, and resilience, 2) Describe the lived experience of nature contact and its impact on subjective wellbeing. 3) Describe the emotional and spiritual impact of nature contact. 4) Compare the impact of virtual contact with nature and direct face to face contact with nature. 5) Describe strategies for making nature contact more accessible for disadvantaged communities.
Psychological Evaluations for Adult Autism Spectrum Disorders- A Comprehensive Overview
Date: August 29th- Friday- 9AM-3:30 PM (5 credit hours)
Presenter: Cynthia Palmisano Psy.D., Clinical Psychology Faculty
Description: This workshop will review critical domains for autism evaluation, as well as commonly used tools across assessment areas. The workshop will include background information regarding considerations for working with diverse populations, recommended practices, and limitations/cautions within the testing process and testing selection. Additionally, it will review population information, appropriate test selection, administration, and suggestions for a neurodiverse-informed testing model for diverse groups of adults.
Objectives:
Upon workshop completion, participants will be able to:
• Describe the key areas of assessment for autism evaluation
• Apply concepts discussed to appropriate assessment selection for clients
• Identify and apply Neurodiverse informed practices for within the evaluation process
• Identify the diversity within people on the autism spectrum and integrate this knowledge into assessment planning