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Weird Science: Subconscious and Epigenetic Drivers of Mental Health

Speaker(s):

Rob Paul, PhD

Presentation: The mainstream scientific community has long struggled to adopt concepts that cannot be readily observed or measured. Yet, modern advances in the neurosciences have revealed that two powerful drivers of behavior and mental health operate at levels below human consciousness. A direct challenge to “I think, therefore I am”. The vast majority of information sensed by our bodies does not reach the level of conscious awareness. However, subconscious mechanisms have a major impact on our behavior, particularly emotion. Similarly, epigenetics operate “below the surface” and with dynamism that challenges most of what was once considered to be static effects of genetic predispositions on our behavior and mental health. Further understanding of both subconscious mechanisms and epigenetics will fundamentally transform the field of mental health.

Objectives:

  • Describe the subconscious mechanisms of human behavior.
  • Examine the methods of measuring subconscious brain activity.
  • Review the impact of beneficial and maladaptive subconscious processing on emotion and decision making.
  • Provide a brief introduction into the field of epigenetics.
  • Define the relevance and risk of epigenetic discoveries in contemporary health and wellness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Building Organizational Contexts for Implementing Evidence-Based Treatments

Speaker(s):

Ryan Lindsay, MSW, LCSW

Presentation:  EBT’s and EBP’s are primarily designed with one goal in mind: improved health outcomes in people. From academics to organizational CEO’s and program directors to new clinicians, you continuously hear this chant of EBP’s. Evidence-based treatments and practices give us predictability in our ability to generate changes in behavioral and health outcomes. Some were introduced to this concept while in our training programs and some of us are just now learning about new ways of moving the needle on behavioral health and health change. This workshop draws from the facilitator’s extensive history of working with organizations to implement new evidence-based treatment programs. These “lessons learned” from a decade of implementation experience will provide practical advice and a model to consider when organizations plan to adopt and implement a new evidence-based treatment. A model is only as effective as it is implemented and this workshop will help bridge the gap between failed implementation to successful implementation.

Objectives:

  • Discuss an overview of the implementation process for evidence-based treatments and practices in organizations.
  • Identify potential pitfalls in the process of implementing evidence-based treatments and practices in organizations.
  • Utilize a model for thinking about, beginning, selecting, implementing and sustaining evidence-based mental health treatments within organizations.

Slides and Handouts:

Lindsay_Creating Organizational Contexts for Implementing Evidence-based Treatments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Improving Mental Health: 4 Secrets in Plain Sight

Speaker(s):

Lloyd Sederer, MD

Presentation: My talk on Four Secrets of Mental Health Care uses patient stories, historical incidents and notable people, books and movies, and research findings to support each of the secrets, which I stress are hidden in plain sight. They are: 1) Behavior serves a purpose; 2) The power of attachment; 3) As a rule, less is more; and 4) Chronic stress is the enemy.

Objectives:

  • Identify 4 “secrets” hiding in plain sight to improve mental health care.
  • Describe how action can be taken to improve patient care.
  • Illustrate the “secrets” with science, clinical examples, stories, etc.

Slides:

Sederer-Secrets Book Flyer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lean Six Sigma in Behavioral Health

Speaker(s):

Tara Yates, BS, Kristine Norris, RN, BS and Felix Vincenz, PhD

Presentation: According to the Joint Commission of Transforming Healthcare, St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center will be one of the first behavioral health hospitals in the country to begin training in Lean Six Sigma and utilize their methodologies in their strategic plan. When Lean Six Sigma is discussed in business, leadership frequently states “We are unique, it won’t work here.” Our presentation will demonstrate to attends that Lean Six Sigma can work in Behavioral Health. The presentation will focus on the steps St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center took to certify 25 individuals as Yellow Belts in Lean Six Sigma. To be more specific, the presentation will alternate between brief Lean Six Sigma education and examples how the tools and methodologies were applied to the culture of St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center.

 

Objectives:

  • Describe how Lean Six Sigma can work in behavioral health settings.
  • Discuss the steps that St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center took to certify 25 individuals as Yellow Belts in Lean Six Sigma.
  • Explain Lean Six Sigma education and give examples of how the tools and methodologies were applied to the culture of St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center.

Slides:

Yates_The Lean Six Sigma Journey In Mental Health Option 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Using Legal Advocacy to Improve Mental Health Outcomes

Speaker(s):

W. Patrick Mobley, JD

Presentation: The presentation will be targeted to treatment providers and case managers, particularly those who work with low-income clients. The presentation will focus on 4 topics: 1. Expanding the focus of the treatment/case management relationship to include problems that cannot be solved through treatment or social work interventions alone. 2. Common legal problems encountered by individuals with mental illness that destabilize their lives or make recovery more difficult. 3. How to use holistic representation to partner with an attorney and recognize issues an attorney may be able to assist with. 4. The important example of executing a power of attorney as a means to ensure that an individual’s wishes are carried out should he or she become incapacitated. In particular, this section will focus on the important legal differences between a power of attorney and a guardianship,

Objectives:

  • Explain the role an attorney can play in improving mental health outcomes.
  • Identify the advantages of powers of attorney as a way to protect people from the imposition of guardianships.
  • Recognize common legal issues that impede mental health recovery and identify those issues with their own clients.

Slides:

Mobley_Pat_Spring Training Institute Mobley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Using Social Media to Reach the Underserved Mental Health Population

Speaker(s):

John Cordray, MA, LPC

Presentation: If you could reach thousands of people around the world who struggle with a mental health issue, would you do it? If you could prevent someone from committing suicide half way around the world, would you do it? John has done this and more and he will teach you how you can begin to use social media to help people as well. There are a lot of mental health professionals with vast degrees and knowledge, but only a fraction knows how to use social media to help people who struggle with a mental illness. This presentation will encourage and inspire you to, at least think about ways to help people with a mental illness beyond the office. John will provide his own experience as well as provide practical ways how you can begin expanding your professional reach to help bring an end to the stigma of mental illness, and even grow your practice, by using social media while staying HIPAA compliant.

Objectives:

  • Provide emerging trends in social media and how mental health professionals can utilize them to help people.
  • Provide ethical and professional reasons for using social media to help people with a mental illness.
  • Describe how to use various social media platforms to promote sound mental health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Helping Someone on the “Borderline”: Behavioral Strategies for Better Outcomes

Speaker(s):

Teresa Rodgers, PhD

Presentation: A person whose functional level is neither significantly impaired yet not quite typical could experience the phenomena of “falling between the cracks.” Services typical for those with developmental disabilities might be too intrusive or restrictive, the stigma associated with the population and service provider off putting, even if funding (self, insurance or governmental subsidized) were available.  Resources available for the “unimpaired” might not work either.  People described as having borderline intellectual functioning often experience other co-occurring problems including those common to individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder.  Behavior Analysis offers some technology and strategies that have been effective with a wide range of problems, diagnostic categories and intellectual functioning.  Some simple to learn, but maybe hard to apply concepts that could result in better outcomes for all people, especially those with borderline intellectual functioning will be presented.

Objectives:

  • Review diagnostic criteria for intellectual functioning in the borderline range.
  • Identify common problems that occur for individuals described as having borderline intellectual functioning.
  • Describe strategies based on behavior analysis to utilize when providing assistance, support, or services.
  • Indicate ways to adapt treatment modalities for individuals with intellectual limitations.

Slides:

Rodgers_Helping someone with Borderline Intellectual Functioning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Humans of Behavioral Health: Real People – Real Ethics *Ethics Hours

Speaker(s):

Mark Shields, MEd, LPC,  Scott Breedlove, MS and Timothy Rudder, MSW

Presentation: This session will identify ethical challenges that social workers, counselors and recovery support professionals face and present methods to encourage the development of an ethics supportive workplace that adheres to each disciplines codes of ethics.

Objectives:

  • Realize the importance of creating an agency culture that is supportive of open and honest communication from staff regarding their ethical challenges.
  • Review the process by which a supervisor and staff clarifies their specific job functions and the ethical considerations related to various staff positions. (Social Worker, Counselor, Peer, Community Support Specialist).
  • Express the responsibility of supervisor and supervisee two-way communication regarding professional self-care and ethics association codes review to minimize the risk of ethical violations.

Slides:

Shields_2017 STI Ethics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mind-Body Medicine in Behavioral Health and Primary Care Settings

Speaker(s):

Thomas Kuciejczyk-Kernan, MD and Rajeev John, MSW, LCSW

Presentation: Mind-body medicine is an integrative approach that focuses on the interaction between the mind and the body and the powerful ways these interactions affect our emotional and physical health.  The core of this approach is self-care with mind-body skills that relieve toxic stress, help heal from trauma, and build resilience. Mind-Body skills are the most effective evidence-based way to reduce the adverse effects of stress which contributes to all chronic illness, mental and physical. These skills include: 1) Meditation – mindfulness practices to foster self-awareness and positive self-direction 2) Guided Imagery – conscious use of the imagination to positively affect the body as well as receive inner wisdom into consciousness 3) Autogenic Relaxation with biofeedback – self-hypnosis 4) Breath work – breathing techniques to induce relaxation and clear the mind 5) Movement – practices for releasing stress, increasing energy, and mobilizing emotion 6) Journal writing and drawing oneself – promoting self-awareness and expression 7) Healthy eating- becoming aware of one’s own relationship with food. These evidence-based skills are taught through 10-week Mind-Body Skills groups.  Participants in these groups experience transformation in relationship to self and empowerment for their own ongoing healing and well-being. This presentation will explain this mind-body skills approach and how it is useful in improving physical and emotional well-being. We will explain the biological underpinnings of chronic stress and its effect on our body and mind, and how self-care can reverse the adverse effects of stress and trauma. We will also describe how we use this approach at Affinia healthcare. This ninety-minute presentation will also include experiencing two of these skills, one quiet and one active.

Objectives:

  • Describe the physiology of stress and trauma and how they affect physical emotional well-being.
  • Express the importance of self-care and how it enhances healing and well-being.
  • Explain mind-body self-care skills can be effectively used to address the needs of a variety of populations.

Slides:

Kuciejczyk Kernan and John_STI-Mind Body Medicine in BH & PC settings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mental Health Advocacy in the Community

Speaker(s):

Joan Becker, AIB

Presentation: As a mother of a son with Paranoid Schizophrenia, I will share our family’s experience (and our son) navigating the maze of the mental health system. I will use a PowerPoint along with my speaking.

Reference and Website Materials:  Website: www.joancbecker.com Sentenced to Life – The Mark Becker Story – Mental Illness, Tragedy, and Transformation (Credo House Publishing-2015)

Objectives:

  • Share our family’s story of working through the mental health maze in an attempt to find a diagnosis and treatment plan for our son.
  • Discuss the importance of “listening” and “effective communication” with patient and family.
  • Expose the breakdown of communication between mental health agencies, law enforcement, hospitals, patient, and families in an individual’s treatment.
  • Challenge participants to do their part in closing the communication gap by brainstorming ways to communicate effectively and within the boundaries of HIPPA.

Slides:

Becker_STI2017 PP