Pawlowski, Lindsey, MSW
Presentation(s):
Tag: 1430
Coffey, Bridget, MA, MSW
Bridget Coffey (MA, MSW) is a research consultant on the Addiction Science team at UMSL-MIMH. At work, Bridget enjoys asking questions, exploring possibilities, and figuring out how things work. In the ASPIRE lab, Bridget serves as a liaison with the Addiction Science team and helper with things like Zotero and Qualtrics. She is currently interested in creating systems to nurture and champion the efforts of peer support workers in substance use treatment and recovery settings. Outside of work, Bridget enjoys spending time with her dogs, kayaking (though she doesn’t get out as much as she’d like to), and reading.
Presentation(s):
Johnston, Ethan, MD
Dr. Ethan Johnston is a current PGY3 Psychiatry Resident at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Dr. Johnston did his undergraduate and medical doctoral training at the University of Missouri Kansas City, graduating in 2021. He is currently the Residency Association President and Class Representative for the Program Evaluation Committee, and has been selected as the Chief Resident for the upcoming academic year. Dr. Johnston’s research and presentation portfolio include the following topics: Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Geriatric Population, Malingering of Psychotic Symptoms, Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children Mistaken for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Involuntary Movement Disorders. Dr. Johnston has a strong interest in LGBTQ+ care with his recent Grand Rounds Presentation “Psychiatry for All. Considerations in psychiatric care for the gender diverse”. Dr. Johnston also has a passion for teaching, currently pursuing a Masters of Health Professions Education.
Presentation(s):
Psychiatry for All: Considerations in Psychiatric Care for the Gender Diverse
Room Parasol I
Speaker(s)
Description
The transgender and gender nonconforming community faces numerous barriers. Structural, interpersonal, and individual stigmas against this community have led to health disparities, many of which are particularly relevant to the psychiatric community. Rates of most mental health diagnoses are much higher in the transgender community than in the general population, including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders, giving psychiatric clinicians ample opportunity to intervene for the good of our patients. Provider discrimination, historical stigma from the psychiatric community, and previous poor experiences from medical providers lead to continued hesitancy to best help this population. In this presentation, we explore literature surrounding this topic, understand current views from the American Psychiatric Association on the transgender community, and evaluate ways that we can help this community. We define appropriate vocabulary, explore hormone replacement therapy and surgical options, and evaluate letters of support. We review the national transgender survey outlining current trends amongst the transgender community and what we as mental health providers can do to advocate for our patients. There is evidence behind hormone replacement therapy and gender affirming surgeries in this community, and as providers with a very high likelihood of encountering several members of this community in our practices, this presentation is a call for action to provide appropriate care, referrals, and advocacy for this patient population.
Objectives
- Discuss the historical stigmatization of gender diverse individuals as related to the psychiatric community
- Analyze the prevalence of mental health disorders in this community, current thoughts towards psychiatry from transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and how we can improve
- Integrate the role of a mental health provider in aiding those seeking gender affirming care
Healing Hearts, Reuniting Families: Exploring Parental Trauma and Attachment in Foster Care
Room Leeward 74-75
Speaker(s)
Description
This presentation aims to increase understanding of infant mental health within the context of the foster care system. It explores the lasting effects of early trauma on both parental functioning and child development, emphasizing the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Practical strategies to support parents and caregivers in meeting case plan requirements are discussed, highlighting the importance of trauma-informed approaches and individualized support.
Objectives
1. Increase knowledge and understanding of infant mental health in the context of the foster care system
2. Explore the long-term impact of early trauma on parental functioning and child development
3. Identify strategies to support parents/caregivers in meeting case plan requirements
Families of Treatment Refusers: The Neglected Victims of Untreated Mental Health Problems
Room Wingate 60-61
Speaker(s)
Description
A substantial portion of individuals with mental health problems do not seek the help they need. Family and friends struggle to understand why, especially when the disorder negatively impacts their lives. They may wrongfully conclude the treatment refuser is willfully choosing to be impaired, which can lead them to react in ways that are counterproductive, resulting in substantial family conflict. This presentation explains why some people behavior in ways that are incompatible with recovery. It introduces a concept called recovery avoidance and offers suggestions for how to respond to it constructively.
This interactive presentation will present the 5 steps of the Family Wellbeing Approach and provide examples of working with diverse family members of treatment refusers with emotional disorders.
First Step: PREPARE FOR CRISES:
The first step is to plan for the development and implementation of a sample family Crisis Plan.
Second Step: CLARIFY THE PROBLEM & SET REALISTIC GOALS
Then, the audience will be introduced to assessment forms that were designed to help families identify the impact of recovery avoidance on their lives and prioritize the changes they want to make.
Third Step: INCREASE ACTIVITY YOU VALUE
The third step shows how to build a plan to increase valued activity for a sample family member.
Fourth Step: DECREASE FAMILY DISTRESS & CONFLICT
Then, the audience will see how to develop a plan to decrease family distress and conflict for a sample family.
Fifth Step: PROMOTE RECOVERY-COMPATIBLE BEHAVIOR IN THE FAMILY MEMBER WITH RECOVERY AVOIDANCE
The final step includes developing a plan to promote recovery-compatible behavior in the person who is exhibiting recovery avoidance.
Objectives
- Describe the 5 Steps of the Family Wellbeing Approach (FWBA)
- Describe the 4 factors that can contribute to recovery avoidance
- Identify 2 common family responses that can make recovery avoidance worse
Teaching New Staff New Tricks
Room Wingate 62-63
Speaker(s)
Description
“You don’t know, what you don’t know!” This phrase fits so many therapists and case managers that start into the field of mental health and those that supervise them. This presentation is for new therapists, new case managers, and those that supervise them. We will look at the key things that new staff need to be taught and how to teach it to them. We will build strategies to help new staff learn to adjust to the “real world” of clinical work from their academic view. We will also help supervisors gain knowledge and skills to help new staff grow into the field and not leave it prematurely. We will also provide good strategies for those that are licensure supervisors for PLPCs and LMSWs.
Objectives
- Identify things that new staff do that need to be addressed up front.
- Identify things that new staff do that need to be addressed up front.
- Help new staff grow into the field instead of leaving it too soon.
A Conversation of Best Practices for Service Delivery in the Unhoused Community
Room Parasol II
Speaker(s)
Description
This presentation is for the behavioral health provider and homeless service provider. We will cover a range of information, skills, and resources that support navigation through the stages of homeless rehabilitation.
The presentation contains a lecture and case presentation.
Objectives
- Describe the Homeless System
- Review Evidence Based Practices
- Identify systematic challenges
Charting the Landscape of Missouri’s Recovery Community Centers
Room Paradise Ballroom A
Speaker(s)
Description
Recovery Community Centers (RCCs), or places where people in substance use treatment and recovery can gather to find a supportive community and access resources, have increasingly played a part in many people’s recovery journey. RCCs provide essential services to people across Missouri, providing services that range from harm reduction materials to assisting with job placement.
Missouri has recently expanded access to RCCs. The state has funded four RCCs since 2018, with four additional RCCs receiving state funding starting in 2022. Each RCC offers services individualized to its community, and while each serves people in recovery, the support received at each can look very different.
This session will begin with a 20-minute presentation about RCCs in Missouri, including an overview of what RCCs are, the types of services available at each, and a summary of RCC usage data. After the presentation, we will moderate a focus group discussion with five individuals who are involved with RCCs at different levels.
Objectives
1. Define Recovery Community Centers (RCCs) and the role they play in recovery from substance use.
2. Describe what the RCC landscape looks like in MO from the perspectives of both RCC staff and participants
3. Discuss the future for RCCs in MO
Hicks, Dawn, MA, BCBA
Dawn Hicks (she/her) graduated from Arizona State University in 2022 with an MA in Special Education and an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Completed her practicum under Nicholas Maio-Aether at Empowered: A Center for Sexuality, and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2023. Prior to that, she worked in ISL homes in various positions ranging from a DSP to a QDDP.
Presentation(s):