Wayside Counseling Skills Training Institute

Invites you to attend our 2009-2010 trainings 

co-sponsored by Advocates, Inc. 

All trainings are FREE for Wayside staff ($70 for guests/ cash or check) and are held at the Plymouth Church, 87 Edgell Rd. in Framingham from 9 am to noon. Registration is from 8:30 – 9 am. Three Continuing Education Units will be awarded for LMHC's, MSW's and LMFT's.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Please call the Wayside Registration Line at 508-879-9800 ext. 311 to register.

If you need an ASL interpreter, please register on our TTY line at (508) 872-4721

Facility is handicapped accessible. 

October 2009 

Assessing Substance Abuse in Adolescents; Considerations for Treatment  

Wednesday, October 21 - 9 a.m. to Noon 

Talking with youth about their substance abuse and assessing their level of risk can often be a challenging task. What are the current substance abuse realities for youth? How do we talk with youth and families about using? What is the impact of substance use on functioning and what are the implications for dual diagnosis? This workshop will focus on accurately assessing substance abuse in adolescents; understanding and addressing signs, symptoms and red flags, how to determine level of risk and make referrals for appropriate intervention and treatment. In addition, considerations for treatment planning and implementation, the review of evidence-based screening tools to assess the level of intervention needed as well as ways to access and utilize resources for youth in Massachusetts will be explored.   

Shari Van Hook, PA-C is Director of Research Operations Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at Children's Hospital Boston (CeASAR). She is a Physician’s Assistant at ASAP, Children’s Adolescent Substance Abuse Program providing science-based, family-oriented, and developmentally appropriate adolescent treatment, including comprehensive diagnostic assessments, outpatient treatment and monitoring, and referral services. She is also a Research Associate in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. 

Maggie Giles, MA, LMHC is the Director of Youth Services at The Institute for Health and Recovery in Cambridge, MA. Her professional focus has been on identifying trends and treatment for adolescents struggling with substance abuse issues and improving the state’s efficacy and perspective on adolescent substance abuse and resources. Maggie is a certified GAIN National Clinical Trainer and a certified A-CRA Supervisor has master’s degrees in Theological Studies from Weston School of Theology and in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University.

November 2009

Health, Wellness and Mental Illness: The Crisis and the Opportunity

Wednesday, November 18, 9 am to Noon 

People diagnosed with mental illness often experience health complications that have enormous physical and emotional impact on clients and their families. This is often referred to as Metabolic Syndrome and we will learn about the nature, causes of Metabolic Syndrome and the cultural, racial and ethnic disparities in care. We will explore the importance of a person-centered, person-directed, holistic approach to health and wellbeing as one powerful way of addressing this health crisis. Holistic definitions of care, assessment of levels of wellness and sustaining supports and models for improving care will be highlighted.  

Christopher Gordon, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist in practice for over 30 years and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Gordon has been the Medical Director of Advocates, Inc. in Framingham, Massachusetts, for the past 14 years.  He has written numerous articles and book chapters, focusing on collaborative practice, particularly in crisis situations. He was the recipient of the Commissioner of Mental Health Distinguished Service Award in 2007 and of the Edward Messner Award for Teaching Excellence at Massachusetts General and McLean Hospital’s Psychiatric Residency Program in 2008.  

December 2009 

Modern Oppression:  New Melodies for the Same Old Tunes

Wednesday, December 16, 9 a.m. to Noon

This workshop assumes that racism, homophobia, ageism, and transphobia still exist.  While the most blatant forms of these oppressions have diminished, subtle and unintentional forms of oppressions still occur.  This workshop explores the new forms that modern oppression takes in our relationships with colleagues and in working with youth who identify as being culturally and/or sexually diverse.  Learn about behaviors that people in the ‘dominant’ group and people in the ‘targeted’ group exhibit that maintain the status quo and create barriers to change.  Alternative behavioral options will be explored as well.  

Chris A. Miller is a white, transgender, multicultural consultant who has 25 years of experience in leadership and change management in both for-profit and not-for profit organizations.  Chris has led multicultural trainings in schools, social service agencies, healthcare organizations, corporations and foundations.  Chris has a B.A. in Social Work from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from Boston College. Amy Stickles is the Diversity Initiative Program Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (formerly DSS).  In her role, Amy is responsible for leading the Department’s diversity efforts. Additionally, as a black, transracially adopted woman, who is the parent of a black son, she enjoys working with youth on cross-cultural issues in independent schools.

January 2010  

Improving Compliance in Medical Record Documentation 

Wednesday, January 13 - 9 a.m. to Noon 

Accurate, consistent and timely documentation of client records is a critical component of providing quality mental health services. Documenting medical necessity can not only assist providers in successfully diagnosing and treating clients, it can also ensure utilization review compliance and billing reimbursement. This training will instruct practitioners on creating treatment and service plans that show medical necessity and guide the course of provision of services.  

Carol Flinn-Roberts, MA, LMHC, is the Director of Clinical Services for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. She has over 25 years experience in community-based behavioral healthcare settings that include senior management, supervisory and direct service. She has worked with a broad and diverse range of clients; young children, older youth, families, adults and older adults who are recipients of mental health, substance abuse, and child welfare services.  

February 2010 

Ethical and Risk-Management Issues in the Delivery of Services to Youth and Families 

Friday, February 5, 9 a.m. to Noon 

This training will provide participants with a comprehensive overview of ethical, malpractice, and risk-management issues encountered in working with clients.  Using extensive case material, participants will learn how to handle complex practice-based ethical dilemmas, prevent professional malpractice and avoid liability.  Emphasis will be on practical strategies designed to protect clients, professionals and the agency.  Key topics will include the limits to clients’ right to confidentiality and self-determination, privileged communication, informed consent procedures, the use of high-risk treatment approaches, boundary issues and dual relationships, conflicts of interest, defamation of character, consultation and referral, supervision, termination of services, documentation, and the problem of impaired practitioners.  Participants will be provided with a typology of compelling ethical dilemmas and “high risk” areas with a focus on practical decision-making strategies.   

Frederic G. Reamer is a professor in the graduate program of the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College, where he has been on the faculty since 1983.  His research and teaching have addressed a wide range of human service issues, including mental health, health care, criminal justice, public welfare, and professional ethics. Dr. Reamer has served on the state and federal level for the U.S. Department of Justice,  the Governor of Rhode Island  and  the Rhode Island state housing finance agency .  He was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Social Work Education and Associate Editor of the National Association of Social Workers Encyclopedia of Social Work (20th edition).

March 2010  

Trauma Assessment and Treatment Planning for Youth in Our Care

Wednesday, March 17, 9 a.m. to Noon  

Our clients often come to us with heightened trauma reactions and we want to respond to their immediate emotional and/or physical safety needs. We are alert to the possible escalation of behaviors and the ways our settings can retrigger painful histories. Whether we are working with clients in the very short-term or are working with them for longer periods of time, the intake process and on - going assessment and treatment planning are critical for recognizing and responding to trauma. This training will explore effective ways of creating safety and therapeutic pacing, implementing appropriate treatment goals that reflect developmental and cognitive strengths and challenges and engaging clients in effective and healing care.   

Ellen Ransel DeVoe, Ph.D, is Assistant Professor in Boston University’s School of Social Work with a focus on clinical practice and trauma. Dr. DeVoe was a Family Violence Research Training NIMH Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire.  She has been the principal investigator for several grants researching the effects of violence exposure on children (including September 11th, domestic violence, sexual abuse) and has written and presented extensively about intervening with children and families to mitigate the consequences of violence.   

April 2010 

Plugging Into Connections - Defining and Mobilizing Community 

Wednesday, April 28, 9 a.m. to Noon  

What defines community?  How can we think outside the box, creating meaningful, strength-based connections that truly reflect the richness of community? How are team building and collaboration vital elements of providing quality behavioral health services to children and their families? This training will explore effective and creative ways of engaging members of our clients’ families and communities. By building on strengths that already exist and  identifying other supports and resources, we can assist families in sustaining positive changes that they have identified as important.  We will consider some of the challenges inherent in getting stakeholders to one table; training participants will learn practical applications for mobilizing and activating community teams that best serve our clients.   

Steven Ridini, Ed.D., is Vice President of Programs at Health Resources in Action formerly The Medical Foundation in Boston, an organization founded to help people create healthy communities through prevention, health promotion, and research. He is a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he teaches a course on School Community Partnerships: Supporting Healthy Youth. He is a former director of Wayside’s Regional Prevention Center in Framingham. Steve has a Doctorate of Education and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, and has over 20 years experience in the prevention field. He is the author of two books on social change, Health and Sexuality Education in Schools: The Process of Community Change and Grassroots Social Action: Lessons in People Power Movements.   

May 2010 

Personality Disorders in Youth: The Myth, the Mystery and Other Clinical Considerations   

Friday, May 21, 2010 – 9 am to Noon  

Explore the clinical factors when considering an Axis II diagnosis for an adolescent. What are some 'clusterings' of traits and symptoms? What is environmental / reactive and what is genetically predisposed? What is a normal range of developmentally expected behavior, what is manifesting as a trauma reaction and what is a budding personality disorder? This training will examine possible differential diagnoses and some of the risks around labeling youth with an Axis II diagnosis.   

Mimi W. Thein, M.D., is a Board Certified Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. In addition to her practice at The Counseling Center of Nashua, Dr. Thein is on staff at Children's Hospital, Boston and is an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Thein maintains a practice treating the complete range of ages and a wide range of conditions. She has specialty interests in the psychopharmacologic treatment of depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder, and also many topics related to children and adolescents. Dr. Thein has received teaching awards from the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine as well as from Children's Hospital.    

DIRECTIONS TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH

87 Edgell Road, Framingham 01701 

From 495:Take Route 9 East to Edgell Road exit. Turn left at light onto Edgell Road. Plymouth Church is 0.1 mile down on right.  

From Mass Pike:Take Exit 13. Turn right onto Route 30, which merges onto Route 9 West. Take Route 30 Exit off Route 9 West. Turn right at light, onto Edgell Road. Plymouth Church is 0.1 mile down on right.  

Parking: Parking is available behind the church. In the event of inclement weather, call the Wayside Training Line at (508) 879-9800 Ext. 311 after 7 a.m. for cancellation and reschedule updates.