Higginbotham, Jennifer, MSW, LCSW

Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University. While at the Brown School of Social Work, Jennifer was first introduced to Independence Center as a practicum student. She was instantly passionate about the Clubhouse Model approach of psychosocial rehabilitation. Jennifer is on the Faculty for Clubhouse Development as well as the Advisory Council for Clubhouse International. She has also been instrumental in mentoring the other Clubhouses in Missouri and initiated the first Clubhouse Coalition in the state. Jennifer received the Mortimer Goodman Mental Health Professional award from NAMI St. Louis. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is currently the Chief Program Officer at Independence Center where she has worked for 36 years.
Presentation(s):

Trauma-Informed Supports for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities – the Path to Healing

Nautical Wheeler


 

Speaker(s):

Harvey, Karyn, PhD

Description

Trauma-Informed Supports for People with IDD – The Path to Healing
This session will provide an in-depth look at trauma in the lives of people with IDD and the effects of that trauma. The biological, psychological and social effects will be explored. Next, there will be a discussion of healing. Three components of healing will be reviewed: safety, connections and empowerment. The Positive Identity approach will be introduced as well. Finally the happiness assessment and daily happiness worksheet tools will be introduced.

Objectives

1. Identify sources of trauma for people with IDD
2. Identify the positive identity development approach.
3. Utilize workbooks that develop a positive sense of self.
4. Utilize the happiness assessment.

Using “Dosing” as a Model for Self-Care: Clinicians and Clients Alike

Leeward 74-75


 

Speaker(s):

Scaccia, Jamie, PsyD

Wilson, Amy, PsyD

Description

Self-care. Did you flinch? Did you roll your eyes? Self-Care has developed a bad reputation. With caregivers and professionals regularly overtaxed and under-resourced, self-care is like a weight at the bottom of a to-do list. Unfortunately, we remain stressed, anxious, depressed, and burnt out as a result.

Instead of spa days, let us start thinking about self-care as a dose of medicine. Each spoon full is a few minutes of recharging time that adds up to a healthy treatment of our minds, bodies, and relationships. We will use our time to explore what dosing means, how it can be understood within a clinical relationship, and how we may apply it to our own lives.

(Please note for this and our other presentation submission, slides do not include those that are copyrighted and will be more thorough for presentation. Copyrighted slides will be used with permission from author.)

Objectives

1. Define “dosing” within the context of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (Dr. Bruce Perry).
2. Identify what makes self-care hard to follow through on, despite knowing its value and relationship to secondary trauma and burn out.
3. Practice dosing self-care and outline how it may be implemented in their lives and lives of their clients.

Sccaccia Wilson Handout

CBT for Chronic Pain: Core Strategies

Windgate 62-63


 

Speaker(s):

Steffen, Ann, PhD, ABPP

Description

There are a wide range of health conditions and injuries that lead to persistent pain. This presentation features key strategies from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) that help individuals manage chronic pain and engage in daily living that is consistent with personal values and life goals. Clinicians will learn effective means for helping their clients apply the gate control theory of pain to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that increase pain perceptions and disrupt value-based living. This presentation also describes clinical resources for assessment and intervention (e.g., psychotherapy and integrated primary care sessions). The presentation will emphasize strategies that are responsive to the needs of culturally diverse clients across the lifespan, including within the context of telehealth.

Objectives

1. Describe the relevance of the Gate Control Theory of pain and strategies for enhancing client understanding
2. Identify assessment tools that are a good fit for busy clinical practices
3. Explain 3 core strategies used in CBT for chronic pain

Steffen Handout

Steffen Resources

Race Matters – Creating & Implementing Racial Equity Sessions in the Workplace

Paradise Ballroom A


 

Speaker(s):

Jones, Diana, BA, CDEIL

Harris, Shaunte, MSN, PNMHP

Thumann, Kathryn, MSW, LCSW

Anderson Hawkins, Cheryl, RN

Raymond, Lily, PhD

Description

This presentation will review the history and implementation of Racial Equity Learning Sessions at St.Louis Forensic Treatment Center. We will discuss our origins and growth over the past 7 years, including how we approached our efforts during the pandemic, gaining buy in from leadership, and key points we address when presenting information to our workforce in our learning session.

Objectives

Describe WHY race still matters and the value of courageous conversations.

Describe the WHY behind providing Racial Equity(RE) sessions in the workplace.

Identify the five content areas of our RE Session

Describe the HOW of RE Sessions (approach, challenges, lessons learned).

Thumann Presentation

Screening and Diagnosis (CHR and FEP)

Wingate 60-61


 

Speaker(s):

Rakhshan Rouhakhtar, Pamela, PhD

Description

This talk will provide a overview of psychosis symptoms, highlighting the developmental trajectory and severity spectrum of mental illness with psychosis. A brief broad over of psychosis with precede an in depth review of early identification and intervention for early and attenuated psychosis. Practical considerations and best practices practices for screening and assessment of attenuated and early psychosis will be discussed, and challenges and special considerations for early psychosis identification reviewed.

Objectives

1. Identify the symptoms and typical developmental trajectories of mental illness with psychosis.
2. Distinguish between the constructs/conditions of attenuated and early psychosis.
3. Describe best practices and tools for the screening and assessment of early/attenuated psychosis.
4. Discuss some of the challenges and special considerations for psychosis screening and assessment.

Rouhakhtar – Screening and Diagnosis of Psychosis.pptx

Sandidge, Isaac, MA

Isaac Sandidge graduated from Eastern Ilinois University with an MA in Gerontology. He has over 7 years of experience as a clinician in community behavioral health centers. Sandidge organized, implemented and conducted New Employee Orientation for all staff within the community behavioral health organizations on topics such as Motivational Interviewing, Recovery Oriented Services, Personal Growth, Life Safety, Corporate Compliance, Trauma-Informed Care and Compassion Fatigue, Enhancing Consumer Engagement, ASAM, Golden Thread, IL Rule 132, DLA-20, PHQ9, and Mental Health First Aid. He is currently an instructor in Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid with certification in Public Safety, Higher Education, and Older Adult modules of the program. Sandidge is also an instructor for CALM (Counseling on Reducing Access to Lethal Means, and Conversations on Reducing Access to Lethal Means).

Presentation(s):

Compassion Fatigue

Raymond, Lily, PhD

Lily Raymond, Ph.D., is a licensed Psychologist at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center – South providing treatment for clients in the Transitional Rehabilitation Program. She completed her B.A. from Notre Dame in 1984 and her Ph.D. from the State University of New York – Albany in 1991. Her clinical interests and activities include risk assessment for violence, providing treatment focused on prevention of future violence and management and recovery from serious mental illness. She chairs the facility’s Forensic Review Committee. She also has lifelong passion for racial equity and justice; at SLFTC, she chairs the SLFTC Cultural Competence and Racial Equity (CCaRE) Council and is a member of the steering committee for the statewide DMH Mental Health Equity & Inclusion (MHEIA).

Presentation(s):

Race Matters – Creating & Implementing Racial Equity Sessions in the Workplace

Anderson Hawkins, Cheryl, RN

Cheryl Anderson-Hawkins is a Registered Nurse and Assistant Nurse Executive at Saint Louis Forensic Treatment Center. Ms. Anderson-Hawkins has a Masters Degree in Gerontology, Bachelors of Science in Health Care Management, and Associate Science in Nursing and 3 years theory in Adult Education EdD from Lindenwood University. Ms. Anderson-Hawkins has over 31 years of services with Missouri State Government in the areas of healthcare, supervision and leadership.

Presentation(s):

Race Matters – Creating & Implementing Racial Equity Sessions in the Workplace

Harris, Shaunte, MSN, PNMHP

Shaunte Harris is a Chief Nurse Executive and board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Saint Louis Forensic Treatment Center. Ms. Harris completed a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s Certificate Program at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Education. Ms. Harris has over 20 years of healthcare experience, specializing in mental health, supervision, and leadership.

Presentation(s):

Race Matters – Creating & Implementing Racial Equity Sessions in the Workplace