People have the right to participate in their own lives to the extent they can, and this applies to people with mental illnesses and other vulnerable populations. In this presentation, Dr. Linhorst defines empowerment, lays out the conditions and circumstances under which empowerment is likely to take place, and provides concrete examples of applying the principles of empowerment.
Emotional fitness is a set of skills that allow the user to experience the full range of human emotion and respond appropriately and effectively. Sandra Martin explains the implications of recent neurological studies indicating the brain’s ability to modify itself through repetition, and outlines the steps necessary to make permanent, positive changes in the ways that we handle emotions.
The diagnosis of diabetes is serious, and of particular concern when an individual also has a mental illness or a developmental disability. People need to take an active role in the management of diabetes just as they do with a mental illness. In this presentation, Ms. Farley explains how diabetes is recognized and managed, and shares her experiences caring for people who have diabetes along with a developmental disability or a mental illness.
Vetta Sanders-Thompson, PhD, and Jermine Alberty, BSB/M, MDiv, will discuss the taboo subject of mental illness in the African American community. They will explore topics surrounding the causes of the illness, the reason for the secret, and the need to break the silence.Sanders-Thompson and Alberty will address major mental health issues in the African American community, their causes, their effects on physical health, and the taboos surrounding them. They will also discuss the role of the clergy in combating the stigma against mental illness, and Mental Health First Aid-an education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Validation is a critical component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and a skill which practitioners will need to learn, practice, and fine tune in order to be truly effective. Dr. Ronda Oswalt Reitz talks with us about who benefits most by the use of validation. She also explains in detail the Six Levels of Validation as proposed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the architect of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Understanding and practicing these validation levels will help you as a clinician and the people you serve to engage each other in an open, trusting, therapeutic environment.
In this program, Dr. Alec Pollard discusses the changes in approaches to treating complex Anxiety Disorders, the move from diagnosis- driven interventions to model-driven interventions, the significant role basic laboratory research plays in the life of the clinician, the use of medications alongside psychotherapies, and near- and far-term research. Treatment resistance and ambivalence, and family inclusion are also addressed.
MIMH is proud to announce its newest educational tool for mental health professionals: the Surviving Compassion Fatigue kit.
The Surviving Compassion Fatigue kit utilizes the LARC method, which means that it contains resources designed to help the user:
Learn about Compassion Fatigue;
Assess the severity of the syndrome;
Renew well-being and professional satisfaction; and
Commit to an ongoing routine of self-care
Included within this easy-to-use kit are videos, MP3 files, assessment measures, and worksheets – all created to promote the personal well-being of caregiving professionals.
