New England MHTTC

One of the most difficult tasks for staff in human service work is to successfully respond instead of react to agitated clients. While many trainings teach de-escalation approaches, few are explicitly grounded in an understanding of how trauma and stress impact the brain. And even fewer acknowledge that responding to an escalation requires the professional to override their natural “fight-flight-freeze” instincts. This two hour training will examine disconnecting our own stress response when responding to power struggles and escalated clients. Guided by frameworks of Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and Behavioral Change Theories, the training will educate, inform, and inspire service providers to improve practices and approaches. Frameworks presented can be used in organizational settings of both children and adults.   Presenters: Rowan Willis-Powell is an experienced systems transformation advocate with 10 years of experience using their living expertise to uplift the voices of youth peers, guide development of youth peer programs, educate the behavioral health community about supporting LGBTQIA individuals, and advocate for appropriate and equitable suicide prevention and intervention for youth. Rowan has 10 years of experience connecting and mentoring young adults with lived experience in behavioral health service settings to peer support career pathways and leadership opportunities on community, state, and national levels. Rowan has supported numerous organizations and groups with the process of developing or strengthening their youth serving programs and always strives to ensure that youth voice and youth engagement are at the focus of the work.   Liz Geisel, MSW has dedicated the last twenty years to the field of social work, specializing in healthcare, mental health and substance dependence. Her clinical approach focuses on trauma-informed practices, harm reduction and building collaborative partnerships with individuals, families and organizations. Liz has worked at several leading Boston based healthcare organizations including the Sidney Borum Health Center (now part of Fenway Health), the Institute for Health and Recovery and Boston Medical Center. Liz collaborates with the MA Bureau of Substance Abuse Services and AdCare to create impactful trainings to individuals working in the field of substance dependence and recovery. Most recently, Liz was the Director of Programs at Family Reach, a national nonprofit focused on financial toxicity for individuals living with cancer. Liz is a passionate trainer that engages participants through interactive activities, real life scenarios and lessons learned through her years of working with vulnerable populations. Liz can usually be found listening to music, playing outdoors or thrifting for old furniture in the hopes of restoring it back to beauty.     If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.  

The Massachusetts Psychosis Network for Early Treatment (MAPNET) and the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will host a virtual monthly “Early Psychosis Prescriber Consultation Series” led by Dr. Matcheri Keshavan on prescribing practices for early psychosis, including a review of a selected monthly topic. Our next call is on Monday, August 5 from 11am-12pm EST. Our topic for this month is “Long Acting Injectables” and will be presented by Dr. Raúl Condemarín.   Dr. Raúl Condemarín is a psychiatrist with many years of experience as a psycho-pharmacologist and psychotherapist. He is board certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychoanalysis. His main areas of expertise are: psychopharmacology, anxiety and mood disorders, and substance abuse disorders. He has conducted research and published in the areas of addiction, psychodynamic psychopharmacology, and the relationship between medical and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Condemarín holds an appointment as Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School through his affiliation with Massachusetts Mental Health Center, where he teaches and supervises medical students and residents. He is Editor and Trustee of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.   Attendees are invited to bring deidentified case questions to discuss with the group. Cases do not have to relate to the monthly topic but should be focused on prescribing issues in early psychosis care. Attendance will be limited to 20 participants and will be on a first come, first serve basis.     If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.  

The Person-Centered Recovery Planning (PCRP) Consultation Corner is a 6-month learning series featuring a monthly webinar on the “FAQs” of PCRP; offering practical tools and resources to support quality PCRP at the level of both individual service delivery and organizational systems change; and providing follow-up “office hours” through smaller-group technical assistance for webinar participants who wish to take a “deeper dive” on a given topic. The topic for webinar session 6 is "Staff Training, Supervision & Quality Monitoring-How to Reinforce PCRP in Practice." At the end of the series, participants will be able to: Define PCRP and its essential elements Increase familiarity with existing and emerging state and federal requirements regarding PCRP Articulate a minimum of three differences between traditional methods of treatment planning and best-practice PCRP Learn more about how the MHTTC PCRP Consultation Corner series can provide tools and resources to support the implementation of PCRP at your organization   While the Consultation Corner’s webinar series is open to a national audience, priority for technical assistance office hours following this webinar session on August 21 will be given to webinar participants from the New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire) and South Southwest (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas) regions.   Presenters: Janis Tondora and Amy Pierce Janis Tondora, Psy.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine.  Her work involves supporting the implementation of person-centered practices that help people with behavioral health concerns and other disabilities to get more control over decisions about their services so they can live a good life as they define it. She has provided training and consultation to over 25 states seeking to implement Person-Centered Recovery Planning and has shared her work with the field in dozens of publications, including her 2014 book, Partnering for Recovery in Mental Health: A Practical Guide to Person-Centered Planning. Janis’ consultation and publications have been widely used by both public and private service systems to advance the implementation of recovery-oriented practices in the U.S. and abroad. She is a life-long resident of Connecticut where she lives with her husband and beloved labradoodles after recently becoming an empty-nester with two children in college.   Amy Pierce (she/her) is an international trainer and consultant has been working in the Peer Movement in the State of Texas for over two decades. She currently serves as Recovery Institute Associate Director at Via Hope by serving as a subject matter expert on the implementation of peer services and other recovery-oriented practices. She has extensive experience in the peer support sector, having started the first peer support program in the state hospitals in Texas, working as a peer support worker in a community mental health agency, and working as the Program Coordinator for a transitional peer residential housing project.   This series is co-sponsored by the New England and South Southwest MHTTCs. More information about the series.   Continuing Education Units for this event are offered by the Office of Professional Development, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin: · Social Work · Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) · Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)   Continuing Education Units for this event are offered by the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health/South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, The University of Texas at Austin as recognized by the Texas Certification Board: · Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) · Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) · Re-Entry Peer Specialist (JI-RPS) · Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) · Certified Family Partner (CFP)   These entities are recognized as providers of continuing education credits, however, attendees are responsible for checking with their licensing or credentialing board to ensure acceptance of the CEUs issued. If you have questions about CEUs for a credential that you do not see listed here, contact [email protected].     If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.  

The Person-Centered Recovery Planning (PCRP) Consultation Corner is a 6-month learning series featuring a monthly webinar on the “FAQs” of PCRP; offering practical tools and resources to support quality PCRP at the level of both individual service delivery and organizational systems change; and providing follow-up “office hours” through smaller-group technical assistance for webinar participants who wish to take a “deeper dive” on a given topic. This series is co-sponsored by the New England and South Southwest MHTTCs.   The topic for webinar session 5 was "Person-Centered Advance Crisis Planning to Maximize Choice & Control."    

This presentation discussed the history of cognitive remediation and its early application in medical conditions. We also talked about how psychology and psychiatry have incorporated CR into their techniques to treat psychiatric disorders, including psychosis. This talk showed a couple of clinical cases to illustrate how cognitive remediation can improve social skills and neurocognition.   Presenter: Luis R. Sandoval, Ph.D. - Psychologist, Clinical Researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School   Dr. Sandoval is a researcher and a clinician in the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sandoval is a senior psychologist, supervisor, and researcher with an extensive background in mood, cognitive, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Sandoval has over 20 years of experience applying his expertise in multicultural settings, translating theoretical and clinical knowledge into clinical, research, and academic contexts in English and Spanish. Dr. Sandoval has led research studies and collaborated on NIH, NIMH, PCORI, and NASA-funded studies, mainly focusing on innovative treatments for cognitive issues in mood and psychosis disorders using computerized intervention. Dr. Sandoval has served as a senior clinical research consultant at the Yale School of Medicine, NASA-Johnson Space Center in Houston, Hartford Hospital, McLean, BIDMC, The Guidance Center, UT-Austin, among others.   Dr. Sandoval's expertise includes applying cognitive remediation in medical conditions (i.e., Sturge Weber,  Epilepsy, TBI) and psychiatric conditions, including psychosis, depression, Bipolar Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, and other neurocognitive illnesses. Additionally, Dr. Sandoval's research and clinical areas include digital psychiatry and psychodynamic psychotherapy.   As part of his research work, Dr. Sandoval trains and supervises clinicians in cognitive remediation treatments for early and chronic psychosis across the U.S. and how to improve cognition in medical and psychiatric conditions, combining digital tools with evidence-based therapies.

Three unique perspectives…one unifying vision – a world in which every LGTBQ youth has access to an affirming school community where they feel safe, respected, and embraced.  We concluded Pride Month with a dynamic panel presentation offering insights from personal, parental, and professional perspectives borne out of groundbreaking work and advocacy in support of LGBTQ youth. Be inspired and learn ways that you can contribute to urgently needed culture and systems change! Overviewed common terminology and misconceptions of the non-binary and trans community Information about the current state of mental health and distress among LGBTQ youth Heard from experts with both lived and professional experience around the importance of gender-inclusive communities in supporting the wellness of LGBTQ youth Learned about ways to support and advocate for your LGBTQ child and maintain your wellness as a parent Heard about a range of practical school-based strategies for creating gender-inclusive, welcoming communities where LGBTQ youth can thrive Panelists Tony Ferraiolo is internationally known as a compassionate and empowering Life Coach who has earned his reputation as a thought-provoking and motivational speaker and trainer. Since 2005, Tony has worked with individuals, groups, and educational institutions to reach thousands of people worldwide. In 2008, he was the founder of multiple support groups for transgender and nonbinary youth and their families. The work Tony does has allowed him to see firsthand how children’s lives are transformed from hopelessness to hopefulness through the process of simply affirming their gender, and he has witnessed firsthand the positive impact that this has on them and their families. Tony is the subject of the award-winning documentary A Self-Made Man and the author of the book series Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth. And his soon to be released memoir “Finding My Way Out of The Darkness.” He is the co-founder of the Jim Collins Foundation where he held the position of president of the board for ten years. Melissa Combs is the parent of two high school teens. Her journey through the public school system as the parent of a transgender child inspired her to launch the Out Accountability Project, an organization that aims to help schools create and maintain safe, affirming learning environments for LGBTQ+ youth. Professionally, she is a consultant and has worked with more than 50 nonprofits, primarily in fundraising, communications, and public relations. Christy Olezeski, PhD, is the Director and co-founder of the Yale Pediatric Gender Program (YPGP), an interdisciplinary team that provides services for transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth and families in Connecticut. The team includes professionals in the fields of psychology, endocrinology, psychiatry, gynecology, reproductive medicine, medical ethics and law. The YGP mission is to provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary, family-centered care for children, adolescents and young adults questioning their assigned gender and/or seeking gender-affirming consultation and care in a compassionate, respectful and supportive environment. This program is regionally well-regarded, serving clients from all 8 counties in the state, as well as 7 states outside of Connecticut.