Program

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Plenary: Substance Abuse
Challenging Alcohol Expectancies:
Theories and Practice for a Prevention Strategy of the Future
Peter DeBenedittis, Ph. D., Media Literacy for Prevention
Join this in-depth review of 20 years of bar laboratory research and learn how this data points the way towards classroom based lessons that can change beliefs about drinking and significantly reduce consumption in only one treatment. This session will present a new prevention paradigm that turns traditional approaches on their heads. Participants will learn how our brains create experiences to match preconceived beliefs, along with a detailed look at the science of placebo medicine. The mechanics of alcohol advertising and its ability to imprint excessive drinking habits will be explained. High school and college curricula that have been tested to effectively reduce consumption will be demonstrated.

Plenary: Recovery
Strengthening Recovery and Rehabilitation for Diverse Populations
Harvey Milkman, Ph.D., Metropolitan State College of Denver
This presentation shows how standard CBT practices of modeling, role-playing, and structured group exercises are tailored to the special needs of specific treatment populations (e.g., criminal justice, women, adolescents, and trauma-affected clients). A psycho-educational aftercare protocol is unveiled whereby clients can strengthen their recovery and rehabilitation in community settings by learning and practicing positive methods for selfcare, mood alteration, enhanced relationships, and meaningful engagement of talents beneficial to the individual and society.

Plenary: Mental Health
Myths and Realities of Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Clinical Applications
Handout
Art Freeman, Ph.D., Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Given the popularity of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), there has been a great deal of misinformation and mythology about how it is best used and applied.Originally developed for the treatment of depression in adults, CBT has now been applied in just about every clinical setting, with most client groups, and with most clinical disorders. CBT stands solidly as a meeting point for Psychodynamic, Systemic, and Behavioral therapists. This presentation will address the core structure of CBT and how it is applied, and debunk the popular mythology regarding CBT treatment.

Plenary: Community
AD/HD Issues in the Classroom and at Home
JoAnn Deak, Ph.D., The DEAK Group
In the last 10 years, there has been a great deal of research and practice leading to better diagnosis of attentional issues and what to do about children who fall into this category of learning and behavioral difference. Although there are presently no medical tests for ADD or ADHD, participants in this session will be exposed to comprehensive ways of identifying the issues, deciding whether medication is needed, and looking at options for the teaching/learning and parenting needs of children in this area.

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Prevention
Strategies to Create Healthier and Safer Campus Communities in Texas
Nicole Holt, Texans Standing Tall
Communities often lack understanding of college-based alcohol problems and evidence-based prevention strategies. Texans Standing Tall has developed tools for effectively communicating the problem and solutions that increase community readiness for implementing prevention strategies. Utilizing Texans Standing’s Tall newest tool — Report Card on Texas Higher Education: Alcohol Use and Prevention — participants will discover how this credible resource, widely respected among prevention specialists and state agencies, is used for engaging a broad spectrum of support for campus/community collaborative initiatives to change college drinking norms and related problems through enforcement of laws and policies for reducing risk factors and promoting a protective environment. This is the first statewide assessment of the state of underage alcohol use and binge drinking in Texas. To create this report, nearly 200 campuses were contacted to complete a survey on their campus alcohol-prevention practices and policies.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
Behavioral Cognitism in Treating Chemical Dependency
Glenn Richardson, LCDC, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
This session will address counseling toward primary behavior change to develop thought patterns in treating Addictive Disease, a brain disease, in place of expectations that an impaired brain will function cognitively as the primary initial method to address recovery.

TRACK: Recovery
Maintaining Recovery for Opiate Addiction
Facilitator: Kerby Stewart, M.D., Department of State Health Services
Heinz Aeschbach, M.D., USAOTP, Addiction and Psychothrapy Services
Matt Masters, Jr., M.D., American Board of Addiction Medicine
Carlos Tirado, M.D., M.P.H., Southwestern Medical School
Utilizing case history review and other didactic methods the panel will discuss best practices for maintenance therapies for opiate dependency. This discussion will include comments on how the nature of the field may be evolving and the impact of healthcare reform and the impact of rapidly increasing prescription opiate abuse on current practices.

TRACK: Recovery
The Recovery-Focused Learning Community:Creating Change through Collaboration
Anna Jackson, Via Hope / Mental Health America of Texas/ UTCSWR / DSHS
Wendy Latham, Department of State Health Services
Michele Murphy-Smith, University of Texas
A primary means of creating a recovery culture is the implementation of peer specialist positions, which are best supported in recovery oriented practice settings. Agencies that participate in the 2011 Via Hope Learning Community have the unique opportunity to lead this transformation process with ongoing training, technical assistance and resources aimed at supporting the implementation of peer specialists and other critical recovery-oriented practices. In this session, attendees will examine key elements of the 2011 Via Hope Recovery-Focused Learning Community, the evidence-based collaborative learning model that the project is based on, the role of peer support services in creating a recovery culture, and the challenges and successes of the 2011 RFLC project.

TRACK: Mental Health – Prevention
Childhood Obesity & Media: Media Literacy Approaches to Obesity Prevention
Peter DeBenedittis, Ph. D., Media Literacy for Prevention
Take a look at food advertising through the eyes of a former advertising executive who now teaches prevention. This session will preview and deconstruct dozens of food ads targeting children and young adults. Take a look at how ads teach addictive eating at an early age. Explore how branding gets entrained on children and the psychological relationship between early play/food/reward experiences and life-long associations to "comfort food" are created. Of course, advertisers don’t stop there. By a person’s teen years, a strong wiring that confuses food and sexuality are pushed in ads. Classroom lessons exposing the marketing driving excessive food consumption will be demonstrated.

TRACK: Mental Health – Treatment
Males and Females: Significant Differences from the Neck Up
JoAnn Deak, Ph.D., The DEAK Group
Although our bodies are more alike than different from the neck down [we all have arms, legs, hands, organs, etc.], those parts that are different by gender make all the difference! The same is true from the neck up: we are more alike than different anatomically. However, once the brain is asked to work, brain imaging shows that female brains and male brains are wired quite differently. This session will cover how these differences lead to a distinct difference in how females and males approach almost everything — from learning to loving, from communicating to consoling. 20 For more information, go to www.texinstitute.com or email info@texinstitute.com

TRACK: Community
Border Violence and Traumatic Stress
Luis E. Flores, RPT-S, Serving Children and Adolescents in Need Inc.
In this workshop, participants will become familiar with the phenomenon of border violence and its impact on border communities. The presentation will provide a conceptual framework for assessing mental health responses to border violence, and review epidemiological profiles of mental health in the United States, Mexico and the border region. Specific sections will then cover the relationship between border violence and post-traumatic stress disorder and how to assess for border violence exposure. Lastly, we review the issue of burnout and self-care for professionals who work with individuals who have been exposed to border violence. This presentation covers Module IV of the U.S.-Mexico Border Violence Curriculum.

TRACK: Workforce
Combating Compassion Fatigue
Paula Heller-Garland, National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
Unfortunately, if you are in the helping profession, it is not whether you will deal with burnout, but when you will burn out and how you will deal with it. In addition to giving you a symptom checklist and ideas for minimizing and overcoming compassion fatigue, this workshop will be uplifting and filled with humor.

12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. – Luncheon Keynote

Health Care Reform
Handout
Cost: Included in registration or $25 for additional tickets
John O’Brien, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration
Steven Randazzo, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration
In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (together referred to as the Affordable Care Act), which make health insurance coverage more affordable for individuals, families, and owners of small businesses. For the behavioral-health field, “health reform” includes MHPAEA, Olmstead1, and early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT)2 issues; integration with the broader health system; and increased use of health information technology (HIT).

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Prevention
Earlier Screening and Brief Intervention for Campus Communities
Nicole Holt, Texans Standing Tall
Dr. Craig Field, Texans Standing Tall
Dr. Amanda Drum, Texans Standing Tall
Scott Montegna, Texans Standing Tall
Texans Standing Tall (TST) is translating research on the underage drinking prevention strategy of Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) into practice for communities by pioneering a model in pre-emergency, injury, or judicial situations. The evidence-based approach couples a reliable screening tool with an effective brief intervention process, providing an opportunity for reframing self-perceptions of risky drinkers to reduce alcohol consumption and avoid the harmful consequences of abusive drinking before campus judicial sanctions are required. Presenters will describe the planning process used to develop, introduce, and implement this innovative approach at four-year and community college campuses within the TST Statewide Coalition.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
Adolescent-Focused Prevention, Treatment & Rehabilitation (Part 1)
Harvey Milkman, Ph.D., Metropolitan State College of Denver
This workshop focuses on evidence-based prevention and treatment programs for at-risk teenagers and youthful offenders to work toward a juvenile justice system that focuses on positive youth development. Significant reductions in juvenile crime, substance abuse, and emotional distress can be achieved through an integrated system-wide focus on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and restoration. Moving beyond simple risk-avoidance, guidelines are presented for empowering a network of evidence-based, cost-effective, and strategically situated community programs across a continuum of prevention, intervention, and treatment services. Special attention is devoted to family involvement, co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems, and gang affiliations, as well as to the facility-to-community transition process for youthful offenders.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
The Overlap of Internet, Sexual Health, and Substance-Abuse Disorders (Part 1)
Handout
Weston Edwards, Ph.D., PRIDE Institute
This interactive workshop will address the overlap of sexual health issues and substance-use disorders. Our experience suggests that nearly 40 percent of our clients simultaneously struggle with sexual health concerns and problematic Internet behaviors that trigger ongoing substance-use relapse. A review and introduction to the slang of the Internet will provide examples of the linkage. The workshop will broadly conceptualize sexual health to allow clinicians to promote both sexual health and chemical health. A cognitive-based treatment model in treating sexual compulsivity will be reviewed as a complement to a 12- step model of treating substance-use disorders.

TRACK: Counseling Essentials
HIV Update (Part 1)
Susan Gallego, Department of State Health Services Texas HIV Connection
By the end of this course, participants will be able to describe global, national, and local trends related to HIV/AIDS; discuss developments in prevention, testing, and treatment; and identify issues for persons dealing with substance use and HIV. This course reviews the latest statistical information related to HIV/AIDS from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Trends will be examined in the larger context of health disparities that are currently impacting communities. Advantages and challenges related to new methods of prevention and advancements in testing and treatment are also discussed. Finally, this training takes a special look at the connections between HIV and substance use, and considers approaches for those clients struggling with the diseases of HIV/AIDS and addiction.

TRACK: Criminal Justice
Juvenile Justice: 2011–2012 Legislators’ Guide to the Issues
Mark Levin, JD, Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation
In the last several years, juvenile crime in Texas has declined while taxpayers have saved more than $200 million in net costs. The reduced spending has resulted from downsizing Texas Youth Commission (TYC) state lockups and reinvesting a share of the savings in juvenile probation. This session will go in-depth to discuss other legislative changes and their impact on the issues.

TRACK: Mental Health – Prevention
Recovery from Mental Illnesses: Principles and Practices (Part 1)
Handout
Melanie Kinley, BA, CADC, Thresholds
This session will provide an opportunity for participants to examine the elusive concept of recovery, specifically as it relates to recovering from serious and persistent mental illnesses. Research, evidence-based practices, and practitioner skills and qualities will all be addressed with ample time for experiential activities.

TRACK: Mental Health – Treatment
Piecing It Together, Peacefully – A New Approach to Trauma Treatment (Part 1)
Handout
Daria Dato, MBA, LCSW, Private Practice
This session will demonstrate ways to build on and meld together attachment theory, basic psychoanalytic concepts, and holistic understanding of person-in-environment when working with attachment-disordered clients. This customized approach to treatment enables the clinician to better understand and diminish treatment difficulty for individuals who identify trauma history combined with current affective instability, identity diffusion,and chronic feelings of emptiness. Recognized as potentially realizing great benefit if treated from this perspective is the group identified as presenting with borderline traits, a population considered to be treatment-resistant, and willfully engaging in behaviors that lead to poor treatment outcome. Learn how to simply and sensibly depersonalize “bad behavior” and gain knowledge of practical solutions to treatment quandaries. When acting out is decreased, meaningful work can be accomplished, and real progress can be seen and celebrated by both client and therapist.

TRACK: Community
Mentoring & Eating Disorders
Shannon Cutts, MentorCONNECT
This workshop addresses how adding a mentor to the treatment team positively impacts the life cycle of the recovery process for clients, their loved ones, treating professionals, mentors, and mentoring organizations, all working together to provide a red-carpet continuum of care. Cross-disciplinary applications of mentoring will be addressed. NOTE: As a part of this presentation, research results will be presented from the first comprehensive research study (sponsored by Texas A&M University under the direction of Marisol Perez, Ph.D.) designed to evaluate and quantify the benefit of adding a mentor to the treatment team in an eating-disorders recovery setting.

TRACK: Clinical Supervision
Clinical Supervision Practicum: An Advanced Practice Seminar (Part 1)
Handout
Richard Gelb, Self-Employed Consultant
Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., Texas State University-San Marcos
This workshop will provide a practical understanding of and professional competency in the clinical supervision process, using an in-depth study and analysis of clinical supervision case presentations. This seminar will use material from workshop participants’ supervisory sessions to demonstrate the application of clinical supervision theory and practice. Participants will be required to present portions/segments of supervisory experiences, i.e., case presentations of supervisor/supervisee clinical supervision meetings, for in-depth study and analysis.

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Prevention
The Protected School – A Comprehensive Approach to
Reducing Violence and Substance Abuse
Handout
Darby Merriman, BA, BS, ACPS, paxUnited
This highly interactive session will provide participants an opportunity to learn about the impact that a comprehensive approach to violence and substance abuse prevention can have on a campus. It can drastically alter the school environment and have a lasting impact on the students. This workshop will explore the issues that currently face the youth of our nation and what we can do to help them become successful, pro-social members of society. Participants will learn how to begin and maintain programs, how they impact conflict, and how they can deter terror and bullying in our schools. Comprehensive planning equally addresses the needs of every student in the school.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
Adolescent-Focused Prevention, Treatment & Rehabilitation (Part 2)
Harvey Milkman, Ph.D., Metropolitan State College of Denver
See description for Part 1.

TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
The Overlap of Internet, Sexual Health, and Substance-Abuse Disorders (Part 2)
Weston Edwards, Ph.D., PRIDE Institute
See description for Part 1.

TRACK: Counseling Essentials
HIV Update (Part 2)
Susan Gallego, Department of State Health Services & Texas HIV Connection,
See description for Part 1.

TRACK: Criminal Justice
Disproportionality of Minority Youth in the Texas Juvenile Justice System
Handout
Jon Olson, BA, Texas Department of Family Protective Services
Disproportionality is the over-representation of a particular race or cultural group in a program or system, compared to its proportion of the general population. African American children and families make up a larger percentage of Child Protective Services (CPS), juvenile probation, and TYC interventions, compared to other groups. Juvenile probation and child welfare are increasingly seen as two sides of the same coin, separate systems serving the same families. This interactive workshop will focus on racial disparities in these Texas systems. We will conduct a close examination of data and trends. The session will include brainstorming about potential solutions to address disproportionality in all of our systems and strategies to strengthen collective partnerships aimed at improving services for all children and families.

TRACK: Mental Health – Prevention
Recovery from Mental Illnesses: Principles and Practices (Part 2)
Melanie Kinley, BA, CADC, Thresholds
See description for Part 1.

TRACK: Mental Health – Treatment
Piecing It Together, Peacefully – A New Approach to Trauma Treatment (Part 2)
Daria Dato, MBA, LCSW, private practice
See description for Part 1.

TRACK: Community
Clinical Depression in the Elderly
Handout
Jason Schillerstrom, M.D., UTHSCSA Department of Psychiatry
Clinical depression in the elderly is common. Late-life depression affects about 6 million Americans age 65 and older. But only 10 percent receive treatment for depression. The likely reason is that the elderly often display symptoms of depression differently. Depression in the elderly is also frequently confused with the effects of multiple illnesses and the medicines used to treat them. This presentation reviews the DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorders and screening questions for depression, identifies the prevalence of suicide and risk factors, and discusses suicide-risk assessments.

TRACK: Clinical Supervision
Clinical Supervision Practicum: An Advanced Practice Seminar (Part 2)
Richard Gelb, Self-Employed Consultant
Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., Texas State University-San Marcos
See description for Part 1.