Upcoming Events TBD
Previous Events
Teaching Adolescent Strategies for Improved Reflection, Relationships and Resilience
In this fast-paced world, adolescents are being “squeezed” in many dimensions of their lives: over scheduling, misperceptions about the scarcity of good colleges, perfectionistic ”never good enough” attitudes, and harsh self-treatment, to name just a few. Under these actual or perceived pressures our youth may be spending their days in an almost constant state of “fight or flight.” Not only does long-term stress leads to depression and take a toll on our physical health, but we are less intelligent, creative and compassionate when we are experiencing a highly activated threat response system. In this interactive presentation, service providers will learn, share AND experience the skills, which, when practiced in daily life have the potential to help all of us to calm down, function optimally and live happier, more meaningful lives.
Learning Objectives:
Donnovan Yisrael, MA has been working at Stanford for over 20 years in two broad areas: why young people do risky things and how we can get students inspired and curious in their education and their lives as opposed to just "Doing School" as Denise Pope puts it. He is an educator whose goals are helping people to understand themselves/ their lives and what skills and practices they need to thrive. He has spent his career learning the theories, perspectives and strategies of psychology, positive psychology, sociology, anthropology and many other fields of study and finding ways to translate them into language/mental models that can help young people to live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.
Learning Objectives:
- As a result of attending this interactive presentation, participants will be able to:
- List and explain Daniel J. Siegel’s 3 R’s of Education: Reflection, Relationships, Resilience
- Recognize how perceptions of scarcity, threat, and fear of disconnection put people in “fight or flight” which decreases access to our neocortical brain and thus decreases in our creativity, access to information, compassion, patience and optimal functioning in a learning environment
- Employ breathing and visualization techniques to induce states of calm, contentment, connection, courage and flow
- Explain how these techniques can be used in one’s work with adolescents in the home, clinic and classroom
Donnovan Yisrael, MA has been working at Stanford for over 20 years in two broad areas: why young people do risky things and how we can get students inspired and curious in their education and their lives as opposed to just "Doing School" as Denise Pope puts it. He is an educator whose goals are helping people to understand themselves/ their lives and what skills and practices they need to thrive. He has spent his career learning the theories, perspectives and strategies of psychology, positive psychology, sociology, anthropology and many other fields of study and finding ways to translate them into language/mental models that can help young people to live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.
New Connections and Blurred Boundaries: Families, Teens and Digital Technologies
Today the teen years are entangled with a networked world of video games, the Internet and social-media. The powerful combination of being a teen and coming of age in a digital culture create new opportunities and challenges for families. In this workshop, clinicians will have an opportunity to understand how to approach this new landscape from the consulting room. We will discuss why the majority of today's families need interventions that cover more than just "Internet Safety" and "Internet Addiction". The workshop will provide an approach to talking with families that includes: Safety, Trust, Awareness and Respect. This approach can be used to better determine what's normal, what needs further investigation and what is a red flag when it comes digital technology use and abuse.
Jason Brand, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and Bay Area psychotherapist. He provides support to families in a rapidly chaining world where digital technologies are transforming our lives. His work takes place in schools and with organizations where he leads workshops about safety, trust, awareness and respect int he digital age. It also takes place in the consulting room where, as a psychotherapist, he sees families with children and adolescents. His book, 1 on 1 at Home: A Parent's Guide to School-Issued Laptops and Tablets was published by the International Society of Technology and Education (ISTE) in 2013.
For a recent interview with Jason, click here:
http://www.diablomag.com/August-2014/Is-Your-Teen-Obsessed-with-Social-Media/
For a recent article, click here:
http://www.netfamilynews.org/teen-perspective-on-parenting
Jason Brand, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and Bay Area psychotherapist. He provides support to families in a rapidly chaining world where digital technologies are transforming our lives. His work takes place in schools and with organizations where he leads workshops about safety, trust, awareness and respect int he digital age. It also takes place in the consulting room where, as a psychotherapist, he sees families with children and adolescents. His book, 1 on 1 at Home: A Parent's Guide to School-Issued Laptops and Tablets was published by the International Society of Technology and Education (ISTE) in 2013.
For a recent interview with Jason, click here:
http://www.diablomag.com/August-2014/Is-Your-Teen-Obsessed-with-Social-Media/
For a recent article, click here:
http://www.netfamilynews.org/teen-perspective-on-parenting
Annual Networking Event
Please join us for our fifth annual Bay Area Therapists Specializing in Adolescents (BATSA) networking event! BATSA is a professional organization of therapists specializing in adolescents and includes multiple disciplines (e.g, MFT, LCSW, MD, PhD/PsyD) as well as non-clinicians (e.g., mentors, school professionals). It will be held in an "open house" style, so please arrive when you are able and stay for as long as you like. It will provide a nice forum to support and connect with mental health and related professionals treating adolescents in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is an "Open House" style meeting, so please remember to bring cards and any other business materials you would like to share with group members.
Mindfulness Based Interventions with Adolescents
Mindfulness-based interventions have gained an increasing amount of empirical efficacy over the last four decades. While still in its infancy, the field of mindfulness as applied to adolescent populations has increasingly developed over the last 10 years with empirical evidence suggesting its feasibility as an intervention and potential to increase well-being. This two hour didactic talk will define mindfulness, overview the importance of having a relatable definition, present three imperative therapist qualities necessary for incorporating mindfulness into therapy with adolescents, and present effective methods for presenting, teaching, and processing the practice of mindfulness meditation.
Sam Himelstein, Ph.D., is a Licensed Psychologist (PSY25229) in the state of California. A formerly incarcerated youth himself, Sam is passionate about working with underserved, marginalized, and incarcerated populations. He is a Behavioral Health Clinician at the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center (ACJJC), has a private practice in Oakland, CA where he specializes in working with adolescents and adults, issues of trauma, addiction, anger, and personal and spiritual growth. Sam has published both empirical research and theoretical clinical articles in peer-reviewed, scholarly journals, and his book, “A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Working with High-Risk Adolescents,” was published by Routledge in 2013. Sam is currently finishing his second book, “Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment with Adolescents: A Guide for Clinicians, Teachers, and Mentors,” also being published by Routledge, in the summer of 2015. For more information and to get on Sam’s email list, go to www.samhimelstein.com
Sam Himelstein, Ph.D., is a Licensed Psychologist (PSY25229) in the state of California. A formerly incarcerated youth himself, Sam is passionate about working with underserved, marginalized, and incarcerated populations. He is a Behavioral Health Clinician at the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center (ACJJC), has a private practice in Oakland, CA where he specializes in working with adolescents and adults, issues of trauma, addiction, anger, and personal and spiritual growth. Sam has published both empirical research and theoretical clinical articles in peer-reviewed, scholarly journals, and his book, “A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Working with High-Risk Adolescents,” was published by Routledge in 2013. Sam is currently finishing his second book, “Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment with Adolescents: A Guide for Clinicians, Teachers, and Mentors,” also being published by Routledge, in the summer of 2015. For more information and to get on Sam’s email list, go to www.samhimelstein.com
Interpersonal Psychotherapy with Adolescents: Relationships, Real-Life and Recover
Therapists working with adolescents are universally aware of the importance of relationships in maintaining and exacerbating the course of most psychiatric illnesses. As adolescents engage in a broader range of relationships, illnesses that impact the ability to engage others, become intimate, and resolve relational conflict set the stage for creating chronicity by short-circuiting the adolescent's ability to learn and resolve important adolescent conflicts. This presentation offers an introduction to IPT principles and interventions with adolescents, drawing from both depression and eating disorders applications. Applications to inpatient, outpatient and group settings will also be reviewed.
Presenter: Kara Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Presenter: Kara Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Combining Research and Practice: How Adolescent Brain Development Research is Changing the Ways We Understand and Work with Teens
Anatomic magnetic resonance imaging has fundamentally changed the way scientists and non- scientists alike think about what it means to be a teenager. But the use of imaging technologies to shape best interventions towards healthy adolescent development is still in its infancy. Adolescent brain development can best be described as complex and asynchronous. What conclusions, if any, can accurately be drawn from what we currently know about how the adolescent brain develops?
In this workshop, Michael Y. Simon—a Bay Area psychotherapist, educator and author—will present an overview of the field of adolescent brain development research, discuss challenges of accurate translation from the lab to the clinician's office and outline some of the implications of adolescent brain development research for the practicing psychotherapist.
Michael Y. Simon, LMFT is a Marriage and Family Therapist, practicing in Oakland, California (since 1996). He serves as a consultant to schools and school districts and is the author of the critically praised title on adolescent development, The Approximate Parent: Discovering the Strategies That Work with Your Teenager. Since 1990, Michael has worked in the fields of psychotherapy research, parent education program development, school crisis responding and mental health program development for teens, serving thousands of children, youth and families. For many years, Michael taught psychology, philosophy and religious studies at several American universities and colleges and in 1998 founded Practical Help for Parents—a support organization for parents, educators and mental health professionals who work daily in support of adolescents. Michael continues to provide workshops and consultation and is a sought-after local and national speaker on teens, families and adolescent development in the era of digital technology.
In this workshop, Michael Y. Simon—a Bay Area psychotherapist, educator and author—will present an overview of the field of adolescent brain development research, discuss challenges of accurate translation from the lab to the clinician's office and outline some of the implications of adolescent brain development research for the practicing psychotherapist.
Michael Y. Simon, LMFT is a Marriage and Family Therapist, practicing in Oakland, California (since 1996). He serves as a consultant to schools and school districts and is the author of the critically praised title on adolescent development, The Approximate Parent: Discovering the Strategies That Work with Your Teenager. Since 1990, Michael has worked in the fields of psychotherapy research, parent education program development, school crisis responding and mental health program development for teens, serving thousands of children, youth and families. For many years, Michael taught psychology, philosophy and religious studies at several American universities and colleges and in 1998 founded Practical Help for Parents—a support organization for parents, educators and mental health professionals who work daily in support of adolescents. Michael continues to provide workshops and consultation and is a sought-after local and national speaker on teens, families and adolescent development in the era of digital technology.
Annual Networking Event
Please join us for our fourth annual Bay Area Therapists Specializing in Adolescents (BATSA) networking event! BATSA is a professional organization of therapists specializing in adolescents and includes multiple disciplines (e.g, MFT, LCSW, MD, PhD/PsyD) as well as non-clinicians (e.g., mentors, school professionals). It will be held in an "open house" style, so please arrive when you are able and stay for as long as you like. It will provide a nice forum to support and connect with mental health and related professionals treating adolescents in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is an "Open House" style meeting, so please remember to bring cards and any other business materials you would like to share with group members.
Not ‘Model’ and Still ‘Minority’: Working with Asian American and Pacific Islander Adolescents and Their Families in Therapy
In this workshop, Dr. Mock will discuss how Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adolescents, in particular, face issues relating to their identities, acculturation stressors, roles in their families and mental wellness. Mental health research shows that it is important to work with AAPI family and community successes, yet at the same time increase awareness of continuing psychological concerns. Dr. Mock will share perspectives on the persistence of stereotypes, continuing needs particularly for AAPI adolescents, and some innovative promising and best practices for psychotherapy.
Matthew R. Mock, PhD., is Professor of Psychology with the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at John F. Kennedy University. He has also had a longstanding private clinical and consulting practice with a specialty in diversity, cultural competence and social justice. He served as the statewide Director of the Center for Multicultural Development with the California Institute for Mental Health in Sacramento, California. Just prior to this, he was Director of the Family, Youth, Children's and Multicultural Services for the City of Berkeley Mental Health Division where he was practicing for over 20 years. He was also Director of the Cross Cultural Program, and Professor of Psychology with the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) focusing on diverse children and families. As an Adjunct Faculty with the California School of Professional Psychology, he focuses on the teaching of socio-cultural and psychotherapeutic considerations with Asian-Pacific Americans.
Matthew R. Mock, PhD., is Professor of Psychology with the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at John F. Kennedy University. He has also had a longstanding private clinical and consulting practice with a specialty in diversity, cultural competence and social justice. He served as the statewide Director of the Center for Multicultural Development with the California Institute for Mental Health in Sacramento, California. Just prior to this, he was Director of the Family, Youth, Children's and Multicultural Services for the City of Berkeley Mental Health Division where he was practicing for over 20 years. He was also Director of the Cross Cultural Program, and Professor of Psychology with the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) focusing on diverse children and families. As an Adjunct Faculty with the California School of Professional Psychology, he focuses on the teaching of socio-cultural and psychotherapeutic considerations with Asian-Pacific Americans.
Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC): Helping Exploited Teen Girl
The commercial sexual exploitation of youth is a growing and insidious problem that is prevalent in the East Bay. Every day some of the most vulnerable youth are prostituted for other people’s profit and Alameda County has become known as an area of increasing activity. In this workshop we will discuss the myths and truths regarding the CSEC population, risk factors, recruitment and coercion tactics, the impact on victims and survivors, resources, best practices, and challenges to providing these practices.
Wendy Calimag, MSW, oversees all community-based programs at Girls Incorporated of Alameda County. Since 2004, she has presided over the development and administration of various Girls Inc. programs including: teen pregnancy prevention programming (peer education, school based comprehensive sexual health education, parent workshops), fitness, advocacy, family strengthening (case management, family workshops), high school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, and summer camps.
Alex Mendez, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at Pathways Counseling, the mental health department of Girls Incorporated of Alameda County. He is the Community Mental Health Services Director, serving in an administrative, clinical, consultative, and supervisory capacity. He has worked with adolescents in a clinical capacity over the past 18 years. His experience has allowed him to work with youth across the spectrum of treatment settings including: psychiatric in-patient; level 12 & 14 residential/day treatment programs for severely emotionally disturbed youth; as well as outpatient mental health and school based health centers. Dr. Mendez has also worked in a program development and policy advocate capacity, collaborating closely with the Oakland, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo Unified School Districts, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services and the Alameda County Probation Department (Delinquency Prevention Network), as well as with MISSSEY’s (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting, and Serving Sexually Exploited Children) Lasting Links collaborative serving commercially sexually exploited children.
Wendy Calimag, MSW, oversees all community-based programs at Girls Incorporated of Alameda County. Since 2004, she has presided over the development and administration of various Girls Inc. programs including: teen pregnancy prevention programming (peer education, school based comprehensive sexual health education, parent workshops), fitness, advocacy, family strengthening (case management, family workshops), high school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, and summer camps.
Alex Mendez, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at Pathways Counseling, the mental health department of Girls Incorporated of Alameda County. He is the Community Mental Health Services Director, serving in an administrative, clinical, consultative, and supervisory capacity. He has worked with adolescents in a clinical capacity over the past 18 years. His experience has allowed him to work with youth across the spectrum of treatment settings including: psychiatric in-patient; level 12 & 14 residential/day treatment programs for severely emotionally disturbed youth; as well as outpatient mental health and school based health centers. Dr. Mendez has also worked in a program development and policy advocate capacity, collaborating closely with the Oakland, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo Unified School Districts, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services and the Alameda County Probation Department (Delinquency Prevention Network), as well as with MISSSEY’s (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting, and Serving Sexually Exploited Children) Lasting Links collaborative serving commercially sexually exploited children.
The Romance of Risk: Why Teenagers Do the Things They Do
In this workshop, Dr. Ponton will discuss a new way of looking at risk taking behaviors that are seen as a adolescents finding out who they are and determining who they will become, rather than power struggles with parents or teenage rebellion. Dr. Ponton will discuss the developmental need to confront challenge and risk and how therapists can help parents to promote healthy risk taking and avoid dangerous options.
Lynn Ponton, M.D. is a practicing clinical psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, and a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. A world-renowned teacher and lecturer in the area of adolescent development, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is the mother of two teenagers.
Lynn Ponton, M.D. is a practicing clinical psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, and a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. A world-renowned teacher and lecturer in the area of adolescent development, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is the mother of two teenagers.
Annual Networking Event
Please join us for our third annual Bay Area Therapists Specializing in Adolescents (BATSA) networking event! BATSA is a professional organization of therapists specializing in adolescents and includes multiple disciplines (e.g, MFT, LCSW, MD, PhD/PsyD) as well as non-clinicians (e.g., mentors, school professionals). It will be held in an "open house" style, so please arrive when you are able and stay for as long as you like. It will provide a nice forum to support and connect with mental health and related professionals treating adolescents in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is an "Open House" style meeting, so please remember to bring cards and any other business materials you would like to share with group members
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