Products and Resources Catalog

  The causes of suicide are complex and determined by multiple combinations of factors. Learn more from this important training.  To view the slide deck used during this presentation, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description This training will review models of suicide behavior, assessment tools, and ways to mitigate suicide risk through clinical and cultural intervention.   Trainer Julio Brionez, Ph.D. Julio Brionez, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. He primarily serves at the UWYO university counseling center and in his private practice, JB LLC. Dr. Brionez is a first-generation college student, identifies as Latino, male, and uses he/him pronouns. He specializes in the treatment and prevention of suicide and uses interventions from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapies. 

  This is part of our Workshop Wednesday series that is held on the third Wednesday of each month.  To access the slide deck used in this session, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Approximately 45% of persons who complete suicide visited their primary care provider within in a month of their death, whereas only 20% visited an actual mental health professional in that same time period. This single statistic highlights why suicide prevention in primary care must be integrated into clinic workflows to provide good, comprehensive clinical care. This training will provide information about suicide risk screening and assessment, brief interventions using an SBIRT and behavioral health consultant model, policies and procedures, and care models that clinics may be interested in implementing.   Trainer Robin Landwehr                     Robin is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) who holds a Master of Science degree in mental health counseling from Capella University, and a Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree from Arizona State University. She currently serves as the Integrated Care Director at a Federally Qualified Health Center, and has a small private practice.  During her career, Robin has been fortunate enough to be involved in numerous writing projects and trainings, practiced as part of a collaborative care team, and provided clinical supervision. Her experience as a clinical counselor includes assisting individuals struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, health behaviors, substance abuse, and other issues. She is a certified instructor in the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) suicide prevention programs.  

  Suicide among LGBTQ+ people is rampant. Help spread awareness on this critical topic. To access the slide deck used in this presentation, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description People who identify as LGBTQ+ have higher rates of both suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. LGBTQ+ youth, in particular, have seen significant increases in suicide attempts in the recent years, often aligning with the passing of discriminatory laws or policies. While LGBTQ+ people share many risk factors and clinical needs with heterosexual or cisgender peers, the development and implementation of preventative care and interventions should also address the additional minority stressors facing this community.   This webinar will provide an overview of the critical risk and protective factors, considerations for risk assessment, and intervention strategies specific to LGBTQ+ people. Trainer Keri Frantell   Dr. Keri A. Frantell (she/her/hers) is a licensed psychologist working with university counseling students. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Her integrated program of practice, research, teaching, and advocacy centers on multiculturalism and social justice. In both research and clinical practice, she has extensive experience working with suicidality and LGBTQ+ populations. She has published on factors related to transgender suicidal ideation and attempts, bisexual oppression and the impact on mental and physical health, and the connection between religiosity and suicidality for LGB young adults. 

  Review this presentation that discussed autism best practices, challenges, and tools that can be used.  Access the slide deck used in this training by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description This talk will describe several of the most common tools for screening and diagnosis of autism. Best practices and gold standard tools will be discussed, however, complexities and challenges that may limit their use in community settings will also be discussed. Some solutions will be proposed, that may work particularly well in under-resourced environments (e.g., rural, or inner city). Trainer Eric Moody, PhD                     Eric J. Moody, PhD, is the Associate Director and a Research Professor at the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND). He received his doctorate in Social Psychology and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Denver in 2007, and a postdoc at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in autism assessment and public health/epidemiology. Following this postdoc, he joined the Faculty of the Department of Psychiatry, and expanded his research to include public health, community based participatory research, and health disparities. Dr. Moody joined the University of Wyoming, College of Health Sciences in 2018 as the Director of Research and Evaluation for WIND.  In his role at WIND, Dr. Moody oversees all research and evaluation activities. Key among these is the Equality State Research Network (ESRN), which he directs. The ESRN is a community and practice-based research network to advance healthcare in Wyoming using Community-Based Participatory Research techniques. He is also a co-director of the Project SCOPE National Training Initiative, which is disseminating a model to train multi-disciplinary teams to support infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Dr. Moody also serves as a co-director for the Wyoming Family to Family Health Information Center, focusing on a Family Mentorship program and other community-based methods to disseminate high-quality health information.   Dr. Moody's research interests include uncovering the basic mechanisms of social impairment in autism by using psychophysiological methods (e.g., electromyography), exploring novel community-based interventions for those with developmental disabilities, especially for underserved groups, and using observational methods better understand the social factors that contribute to developmental disabilities outcomes. 

   Suicide is a growing problem in America's rural communities. Learn more during this one-hour webinar.  To access the slide deck from this presentation, please click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Suicide has been identified as a serious public health issue that has significant impacts on families and communities. According to the Center for Disease Control suicide rates have increased with nearly 46,000 deaths by suicide in 2020 thus being the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. According to SAMHSA in the year 2020 1.2 million individuals attempted suicide. Individuals who reside in rural and agricultural communities experience higher than average rates of suicide. This webinar will address the issue of suicide in rural and agricultural communities as well as identifying strategies for suicide prevention and postvention intervention. Learning Objectives At the end of this webinar participants will be able to:  Identify the prevalence of suicide in rural communities  Describe conditions and risk/protective factors that contribute to suicide rates in rural communities  Identify successful suicide prevention approaches  Define postvention and identify strategies that can assist individuals, families, rural communities heal following a suicide loss  Trainer Ken Flanagan                       Dr. Kenneth Flanagan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of North Dakota. He currently serves as a curriculum developer for the Mountain Plains Mental Health and Addiction Technology Transfer Centers.  Dr. Flanagan holds a license as a clinical social worker and provides counseling and behavioral management services with a clinical focus on depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, and chronic pain. He received his MSW and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Dr. Flanagan has held a range of clinical and administrative positions in healthcare and community-based organizations.  

  This workshop is designed to provide educators and school staff with a general understanding of what burnout is and why it matters to their personal and professional lives.  To access slide deck used in this presentation, please click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description School staff are often far too familiar with the occupational challenges of functioning within an underfunded and overworked organizational system; however, those challenges have been magnified in recent years with the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers, administrators, and other school staff have been tasked with navigating the uncharted territories of virtual learning, social distancing, and threats to the emotional wellbeing of their students and colleagues. School staff may find themselves facing unprecedented stress leading to “burnout,” a syndrome conceptualized as physical or emotional exhaustion from chronic workplace stress. Teachers and staff facing burnout may feel energetically depleted, develop feelings of cynicism towards work, and become less effective in their occupational role.      Participants will be able to identify at least three factors that increase risk of burnout and a framework to identify the associated symptoms in their colleagues and themselves. Participants will walk away with several evidence-based strategies to combat burnout symptoms and increase their ability to effectively manage stressors.   Trainer Ashley Fortier, MA, Psy.D                     Ashley Fortier is a Psychologist Candidate in Colorado and currently serves as a Technical Assistance Associate within the Behavioral Health Program at WICHE. She works with various stakeholders across states and organizations in the West to further behavioral health initiatives. Her professional mission is to increase service efficacy, accessibility, and workforce capacity in rural and frontier regions. She collaborates on numerous research projects and publications in the areas of rural behavioral health, trauma-informed care, child and adolescent suicidology, and innovations in psychology practice. Previously, much of Fortier’s clinical experiences focused on delivering mental health services to survivors of trauma and abuse, patients with severe and persistent mental illness, incarcerated adults and juveniles, and those experiencing acute mental health crises. Fortier received her B.S. in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst as well as her M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology-Los Angeles.

To access the slide deck from this training, please click DOWNLOAD above. CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Join fellow educators for this session on stress management.  Together, we will explore both the benefits and harmful effects of stress.  More importantly, we will discuss how to cope with stress and become more resilient! Trainer Geoff Gaukler                     Geoff Gaukler started in the field of education more than 25 years ago as a middle school math and social studies teacher.  He became a school counselor after spending more than a decade in the classroom.  After serving as a middle school and high school counselor for many years, Geoff went on to become the mental health coordinator for Grand Forks Public Schools in Grand Forks, ND.  Now, he is prepared to put his professional counseling license to use and will begin the next chapter of his career as a mental health provider at the Northern Prairie Community Clinic on the University of North Dakota campus.  Geoff and his wife, Monte, have a blended family with five children. 

To access slide deck, please click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description COVID-19 changed how people access healthcare, how people receive healthcare, and how healthcare professionals deliver care. Regardless of your professional role during COVID-19 or your personal feelings about COVID, the pandemic has been a collective trauma in our history and the residue on health professionals is real. While trauma is often experienced individually, a collective experience has both protective and risk elements which will be articulated in this presentation. Placing your personal experience over the past couple of years in a larger perspective can facilitate a deeper understanding of both our own and others’ reactions, as well as discover effective strategies to heal and even grow from the events of the past couple of years.  Learning Objectives 1. Understand the experience of trauma, vicarious trauma, and secondary  stress as it relates to being a healthcare provider during the pandemic  2. Apply the principles of trauma exposure to understand the personal impact  on one’s mind, emotions, behaviors, and the body  3. Learn and practice self-regulation techniques to mitigate activation in the body.  Trainer Christine Runyan, PhD, ABPP    Christine Runyan is a clinical health psychologist, the Co-Founder of Tend Health, and  Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University  of Massachusetts Medical School. After starting her career as a psychologist in the US Air  Force, she focused her research, clinical service, and teaching on behavioral science in  family medicine as well as promoting models of integrated primary care. Dr. Runyan is also  a mindfulness teacher at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. At the  height of the pandemic, recognizing the undeniable need for expert mental health services  for healthcare professionals, she launched Tend Health. Tend Health provides specialized,  private, and accessible mental health care and education to healthcare professionals and  consultation to healthcare organizations willing to invest in their most precious resources.

To access resources used during this event, please click DOWNLOAD above Recording coming soon! Event Description Change is a constant in the work setting – developing new services, adapting to new requirements, responding to environmental issues like COVID, and conducting ongoing program improvement all create pressures to adapt. In this training, you will learn how to prepare yourself and your team for change. We’ll also talk about attitudes towards change, leadership qualities that facilitate change, crucial needs for effective transformation, strategic planning, and tools to support the change processes.    Ms. Gina Brimner and Mr. Robert Dare led this seminar. Ms. Brimner and Mr. Dare have extensive leadership experience in their respective fields, Behavioral Health, and the United States military.  They have facilitated the Mountain Plains MHTTC Leadership Academy for the past two years. Trainers Gina Brimner Robert Dare

To view the slide deck and any other resources, please click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Educators and school personnel play a vital role in promoting mental health and well-being and identifying and responding to emerging mental illness in children and adolescents. However, they often have not received the education, training, or ongoing support needed to respond in the classroom. To address this need, the Mental Health Technology Transfer Network, in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, developed a free self-guided online course, video library, resource collection, and website focused on educator mental health awareness. This webinar will introduce participants to Classroom WISE, a free 3-part training package that assists K-12 educators and school personnel in supporting students' mental health in the classroom. This training is open to anyone who works with children or is interested in promoting mental health wellness in their local schools. Learning Objectives Participants will:   Learn about Classroom WISE, a free 3-part training package for K-12 educators and school personnel on mental health awareness.   Learn strategies to promote student well-being and support students experiencing adversity, distress, and mental health challenges in the classroom.   Identify talking points and implementation ideas to support Classroom WISE utilization in schools or districts. Trainer Erin Briley, M.S., NCSP                     Erin Briley is the School Mental Health Coordinator for the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) and a Technical Assistant Associate for WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program.  As the school mental health lead, her work focuses on providing intensive technical assistance, resources, and training school staff to support school-based mental health. As a Technical Assistant Associate, her work is primarily focused on assisting in creating and implementing Psychology Internship Consortiums in rural western states. Ms. Briley has over 20 years of experience working in the schools, serving primarily as a school psychologist for school districts in California, Hawaii, and Colorado while providing direct and indirect supports for children ages 3 through 22 of all developmental levels. Ms. Briley has also served temporarily as a special education and a School Based Behavioral Health program administrator and trained and supervised paraprofessionals providing individualized supports to children with special needs. Ms. Briley has extensive experience with psycho-educational evaluations, classroom, and individual behavioral management, conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments, creating Behavioral Support Plans, special education legal mandates, and rights related to IDEA and Section 504, and learning needs accommodations to support. Ms. Briley earned her Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, her Master’s in Counseling/School Psychology and a Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at California State University Los Angeles and is working on her PhD (ABD) in Clinical Psychology; she is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. 

To access the slide deck and any other resources, please click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description This presentation provides foundational information for providers to increase their skills in recognizing emotional health crises and foundational interventions to increase their resilience in times of crisis. Trainer Julio Brionez, Ph.D.                       Julio Brionez, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. He primarily serves at the UWYO university counseling center and in his private practice, JB LLC. Dr. Brionez is a first-generation college student, identifies as Latino, male, and uses he/him pronouns. He specializes in the treatment and prevention of suicide and uses interventions from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapies.  

To view the slide deck that was used during this event, please click DOWNLOAD above Recording coming soon! This was an all-day event on July 27th, 2022 that went from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. MT/10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. CT.  Event Description This all-day workshop offers a trauma-informed lens that can help parents and caregivers or providers respond to the emotional needs of children, youth, and adults in their care, and foster meaningful relationships that contribute to resilience for trauma-impacted individuals. The workshop will build strategies for well-being and emotion-focused communications skills for those caring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across a variety of settings.    The following topics will be covered during this workshop:    Trauma (what is it, prevalence, impact)  Signs of post-traumatic stress or other trauma-related reactions that might signal a need for intervention    Evidence-based mental health supports that can help families and individuals with I/DD dealing with post-traumatic stress (what are they, questions to ask when seeking services or making referrals).    Resilience (what is it, how can we cultivate it); Emphasis on the protective power of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.    Overview of specific strategies for caregivers/adults who care for individuals with I/DD to build: Skills for self-care, emotional self-awareness, and regulation(parents/caregivers/providers) Skills for understanding and responding to child/youth/adult emotional needs:  Communicating about challenging topics (e.g. trauma, stressful events or family transition)  Addressing behavioral challenges  This training was limited to 30 participants. Trainer Marcela Torres Pauletic, Ph.D.   Dr. Marcela Torres Pauletic is a clinical psychologist and Senior Research Associate from the Institute of Behavioral Science, Prevention Science Program, Center for Resilience and Wellbeing at CU Boulder. She has expertise in child social-emotional development, childhood trauma and resilience, and the protective role of relationships throughout the lifespan. Dr. Torres Pauletic regularly provides training and consultation to mental health professionals in evidence-based treatments for families experiencing trauma, and to educators, parents, and other children- and family-serving professionals in relationship-based strategies for building resilience.  

  This event was part of our ongoing Workshop Wednesday series.  To access slide deck, click on DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Clinical training around suicide most often emphasizes intervention efforts and prevention skills, but rarely includes information about how to manage the aftermath of a death by suicide. This webinar will focus on how to develop and implement plans for postvention, or what to do in the aftermath of a death by suicide. Our discussion will emphasize creating a plan, designating key tasks and assigning roles, how to effectively (and with less stigma) communicate about suicide, and how to transition from postvention back to prevention.   Trainer Keri Frantell, PhD Dr. Keri A. Frantell (she/her/hers) is licensed psychologist working with university counseling students. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Her integrated program of practice, research, teaching, and advocacy centers on multiculturalism and social justice. In both research and clinical practice, she has extensive experience working with suicidality and LGBTQ+ populations. She has published on factors related to transgender suicidal ideation and attempts, bisexual oppression and the impact on mental and physical health, and the connection between religiosity and suicidality for LGB young adults.

To access slide deck, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Description Providers of all occupations render crucial care to individuals in high-stress environments. This presentation will provide foundational information for providers seeking to increase their skills in identifying when limits and boundaries are helpful and how to set boundaries on their personal and professional time. Trainer Julio Brionez, Ph.D.                     Julio Brionez, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. He primarily serves at the UWYO university counseling center and in his private practice, JB LLC. Dr. Brionez is a first-generation college student, identifies as Latino, male, and uses he/him pronouns. He specializes in the treatment and prevention of suicide and uses interventions from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapies.  

Session 1- March 14th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 2- March 28th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above Session 3- April 11th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 4- April 25th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above Session 5- May 9th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 6- May 16th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 7- June 13th Slide deck coming soon! CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 8- June 20th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 9- July 18th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above! Session 10- August 1st Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above! CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 11- August 8th Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above! CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Building on our phenomenally successful Mindful Monday training series, we are pleased to continue our micro-mindful training series. Research indicates that mindfulness therapy and practices are very effective in helping to reduce levels of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. This series is for anyone looking to build personal resiliency while investing and developing self-care practices.   Mindful Monday sessions will feature a wide range of evidence-based practices from different disciplines, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, Evidence-Based therapy, and yoga. It is a 30-minute training that will begin on March 14th and run through August 8th.   Each session will involve a brief summary and learning of a new mindful skill, 5–20-minute application through practice in session, and resources to implement outside of session.   This is a great place to try different activities and practices, and to acquire tools and skills to apply in your everyday lives either personally or professionally!  Trainer Christina Ruggiero, Masters of Counselling Psychology, developed this training and facilitated this session. She is a Psychotherapist currently working at the University of Toronto in Ontario, CA. Christina has provided participants with practical tips and experiential activities that can be incorporated into daily routines and easily shared with others. 

See each session below to access resources. Event Description This 4-part series is designed for the first responder community including law enforcement, parole, and probation personnel, EMTs, and any other members of the community engaged in emergency and front-line efforts.     The series kicks off with a 90-minute foundational introduction to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In this session, participants will learn what TBI is, its common signs and symptoms, how it can occur, and why conventional intervention methods often don't work with individuals living with TBI. We encourage all participants to attend the first session, it will establish a baseline of understanding for all participants as we move thru the series.    This training series will provide participants with tips and strategies for first responders who may encounter individuals living with a history of brain injury when responding to calls in the community. People living with brain injury have higher rates of mental health conditions and problematic use of substances and are often overrepresented among vulnerable populations. First responders may encounter individuals and their family members affected by brain injury when responding to crisis situations such as individuals expressing suicidal ideation and intent, those who are homeless, victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence, and justice-involved individuals. Participants will become familiar with common clues of a history of brain injury and strategies to engage with individuals and deescalate as needed when encountering those living with this often-hidden disability.    Training Series Dates (participants must register for each session):    June 9th - Introduction - Kick-Off 10:00 am MST - 11:30 am MST  To access slide deck and associated resources, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   June 16th: Intensive Workshop 1 for Law Enforcement and EMT Personnel 9:00 am MST - 10:00 am MST  To access slide deck and associated resources, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Intensive Workshop 2 for Probation and Parole Personnel 1:00 pm MST - 2:00 pm MST  To access slide deck and associated resources, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   July 14th: Wrap-Up Panel  10:00 am MST - 11:30 am MST  To access slide deck and associated resources, click DOWNLOAD above Learning Objectives Attendees will be able to describe at least 3 common brain injury-related impairments  Attendees will be able to identify three signs that an individual may have a history of brain injury  Attendees will learn 3 strategies to safely engage with and redirect individuals living with a history of brain injury  Trainer Anastasia Edmonston, MS, CRC    

  Series Description Technology is a tool that we all use to navigate our schedules, and homes and allows us access to information- this is not innovative – it is a way of life that many people take for granted. For others, such as people living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities it can be a vehicle that can provide greater independence and increased choice. This series of micro- trainings will focus on how to use existing technology to create solutions for people living with IDD. This is a hands-on training that will demonstrate how to teach individuals living with IDD how to use mainstream technology to support individualized needs. Participants are encouraged to bring real-life examples of current needs (including their current technology).  This micro-series of trainings was held bi-weekly, Thursday afternoons from 1:00 pm MST - 1:30 pm MST.  Session 1 - July 14th  No slide deck available. CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 2 - July 28th  No slide deck available.  CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 3 - August 2nd Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Trainer Laurie Dale, Consultant, Senior Leader for Assistive Technology, Ability Beyond    Ms. Dale is a nationally recognized speaker on how-to-use technology to support and empower persons with disabilities.  She has worked for over 20 years with people living with IDD.  In addition to consulting, she works as Senior Leader for Assistive Technology at Ability Beyond. 

This event was held on July 13th, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT/12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Given the stress experienced by mental health professionals and the high demand for mental health services, it is crucial that mental health professionals are proactive in protecting their own psychological, social, and physical well-being. Work-life balance is commonly discussed, but how possible is finding such "balance"? If it is possible, how do we achieve it? Additionally, self-care is a commonly used buzzword, yet often misunderstood, minimized, or not tangibly supported by organizations. In this presentation, we will discuss work-life balance and self-care, including the life-long nature of these endeavors; and, we will discuss strategies to attempt to incorporate balance and wellness into your life in a sustainable way.  Trainer Melanie Wilcox, PhD                     Dr. Melanie Wilcox is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Public and Preventive Health, and Department of Psychiatry at Augusta University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2015. Prior to joining Augusta University, she was an Assistant Professor and Director of Doctoral Training at in counseling psychology at Oklahoma State University, and an Assistant Professor and Director of the Psychological Services Clinic at Louisiana Tech University. Her research agenda has three pillars: Culturally responsive psychotherapy and psychotherapy training, racial and socioeconomic inequity in higher education, and Whiteness and social justice. Across these areas, Dr. Wilcox has 24 peer-reviewed publications, 63 peer-reviewed presentations, and 32 invited presentations, including a number of continuing education workshops. She has also served in many regional and national service and leadership roles, including currently serving on the American Psychological Association’s Board of Educational Affairs and the Georgia Psychological Association’s Legal and Legislative Advocacy Committee and Academic Affairs Committee. Dr. Wilcox is also a licensed psychologist and board certified in counseling psychology, and maintains a part-time private practice where she conducts psychotherapy and psychological assessment from culturally responsive and trauma-informed perspectives.

  Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description As we face a worsening mental health crisis in the U.S., it is more important than ever to be vigilant about the stress and burnout so often experienced by mental health providers. In this presentation, we will address the stress experienced by mental health care providers, and definitions of burnout and compassion fatigue will be provided. The research about burnout will be discussed, and strategies for identifying and attempting to address burnout will be discussed.  Trainer Melanie Wilcox, PhD                     Dr. Melanie Wilcox is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Public and Preventive Health, and Department of Psychiatry at Augusta University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2015. Prior to joining Augusta University, she was an Assistant Professor and Director of Doctoral Training at in counseling psychology at Oklahoma State University, and an Assistant Professor and Director of the Psychological Services Clinic at Louisiana Tech University. Her research agenda has three pillars: Culturally responsive psychotherapy and psychotherapy training, racial and socioeconomic inequity in higher education, and Whiteness and social justice. Across these areas, Dr. Wilcox has 24 peer-reviewed publications, 63 peer-reviewed presentations, and 32 invited presentations, including a number of continuing education workshops. She has also served in many regional and national service and leadership roles, including currently serving on the American Psychological Association’s Board of Educational Affairs and the Georgia Psychological Association’s Legal and Legislative Advocacy Committee and Academic Affairs Committee. Dr. Wilcox is also a licensed psychologist and board certified in counseling psychology, and maintains a part-time private practice where she conducts psychotherapy and psychological assessment from culturally responsive and trauma-informed perspectives.  

This training was held on June 28th, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. MT/1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT. Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description This presentation will discuss the neuroscience of trauma and how trauma impacts development in childhood. Attendees will learn how trauma manifests in problems with behavior, emotions and addictions. This presentation will highlight indigenous wisdom in understanding and healing trauma.   Learning Objectives Learn how trauma impacts development.   Understand neuroplasticity and its role in changing behavior  Identify trauma related reactions  Learn how to respond to individuals with trauma in a manner that facilitates healing  Recognize Indigenous practices as valuable interventions for traumatized individuals  Trainer Tami De Coteau                     Dr. DeCoteau obtained a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology in 2003 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with specialization in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders for adults, adolescents and children.    Dr. De Coteau is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner. TBRI is a therapeutic model that trains caregivers to provide effective support for at-risk children. She is also trained in various other trauma treatment modalities including EMDR, EFT, somatic processing, attachment intervention, NMT (neurosequential model of therapeutics), and TF-CBT. Dr. De Coteau has extensive experience working with patients who suffer from complex trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, grief, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking.    Dr. DeCoteau has worked in a variety of outpatient settings and with a diverse patient population, including Veterans and Native Americans. She received the Indian Health Service 2009 Health Professional of the Year Award for outstanding service and the American Psychological Foundation 2010 Early Career Award for providing culturally competent practice techniques for Native Americans and for developing training programs in rural, underserved areas. Dr. DeCoteau was appointed by a member of the U.S. congress to serve the Commission on Native Children to help address the challenges faced by Native children.    Aside from clinical work, Dr. DeCoteau has given numerous lectures on how trauma impacts attachment and brain development, in-school strategies for working with traumatized children, and historical trauma. She is an enrolled member of the American Psychological Association, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.

  Series Description Over 7 million people in the United States live with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). To ensure that these individuals receive quality mental health care, providers and caretakers must receive education and training about the unique mental health needs of people living with an IDD.   Please review our resources for our 3-part series on IDD and Mental Health as we taught about the unique mental health needs of individuals living with IDD. The training series consisted of three one-hour workshops that provided attendees with an up-to-date understanding of mental health practices for the IDD community, including trauma/post-traumatic stress strategies.  Session Resources Session 1 A Public Health Perspective Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Session 2  Thru the Lens of Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Session 3  Perspectives from the Field: A Panel Discussion Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording  

This session was part of our ongoing Workshop Wednesday series. It took place at 12:00 p.m. MT/1:00 p.m. CT on June 22nd, 2022. To access slide deck, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Helping professionals, like psychologists, therapists, and counselors, are regularly exposed to the emotional turmoil and stress experienced by the clients they serve. For many, their job requirements entail active listening, validation, compassionate feedback, and helping clients manage their stressors intimately. The emotional, physical, and spiritual tolls of providing this level of support to others can compound over time, leading to secondary traumatic stress (STS). Though STS has long been an occupational hazard among helping professionals, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated adversities have exacerbated the stressors faced by clients and clinicians alike. The increased demand for behavioral health services has put an unprecedented strain on helping professionals and their capacity to support the adequately support the needs of their clients.    This workshop is designed to provide clinicians with a general understanding of what secondary trauma is and why it matters to their personal and professional lives. Clinicians will be able to identify at least three symptoms of secondary trauma and will learn to evaluate similar signs of distress in themselves as well as to identify symptoms in their colleagues. Additionally, they will walk away with a framework for determining effective coping strategies that meet their individual needs and build resilience.  Trainer Ashely Fortier, MA, Psy.D.                     Ashley Fortier is a Psychologist Candidate in Colorado and currently serves as a Technical Assistance Associate within the Behavioral Health Program at WICHE. She works with various stakeholders across states and organizations in the West to further behavioral health initiatives. Her professional mission is to increase service efficacy, accessibility, and workforce capacity in rural and frontier regions. She collaborates on numerous research projects and publications in the areas of rural behavioral health, trauma-informed care, child and adolescent suicidology, and innovations in psychology practice. Previously, much of Fortier’s clinical experiences focused on delivering mental health services to survivors of trauma and abuse, patients with severe and persistent mental illness, incarcerated adults and juveniles, and those experiencing acute mental health crises. Fortier received her B.S. in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst as well as her M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology-Los Angeles.   

To access slide deck, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Event Description Providers of all occupations render crucial care to individuals in high-stress environments while routinely experiencing secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue in the course of delivering care. Unaddressed secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and occupational stress can lead to provider burnout and a diminished capacity to provide highly effective care. This presentation will provide foundational information for providers seeking to increase their ability to experience joy, meaning, and purpose in their work. Trainer Julio Brionez, Ph.D.                     Julio Brionez, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. He primarily serves at the UWYO university counseling center and in his private practice, JB LLC. Dr. Brionez is a first-generation college student, identifies as Latino, male, and uses he/him pronouns. He specializes in the treatment and prevention of suicide and uses interventions from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapies.  

To access slide deck, click DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording This event was held on May 25th, 2022 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. MT/12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. CT.  Event Description May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness month.  As many as 1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMADs). These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, often with long-term consequences to both mother and child.  No one is immune to experiencing PMADS. Women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Symptoms can appear any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth. There are effective and well-researched treatment options available to help women recover, but stigma often prevents women from seeking help.     Join us this month as we offer two 1-hour training sessions that address sensitive topics that are often missed in the perinatal mental health conversation: Grief and Loss, and Birth Trauma.    Learning Objectives: ·      Define birth trauma and related experiences during the perinatal period  ·      Recognize symptoms and  screening tools for birth trauma and PTSD  ·      Examine effective ways to support individuals who have experienced trauma during birth  Trainer Marianela Rodriguez-Reynaldo  Marianela Rodriguez-Reynaldo is a mother, postpartum doula, Certified Lactation Educator and Clinical Psychologist specialized in Perinatal Mental Health. She completed her Master’s degree at Xavier University in Ohio and went on to complete her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the Carlos Albizu University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has been a PSI Coordinator in Puerto Rico since 2009, has a private practice and led a monthly support group for parents who have experienced perinatal loss for 11 years. She is an activist for reproductive justice and human rights in maternal infant care. Provides training on perinatal mental health and trauma for health and birth professionals, is part of the expert panel for the Observatory of Obstetric Violence in Puerto Rico and serves as a Psychology Consultant for the Puerto Rico Health Department, Mother, Child and Adolescent Division (Title V). In 2020 she co-founded the first Center for Perinatal Mental Health in Puerto Rico that focuses on research, awareness, and service for this population.