DPA - Delaware Psychological Association

DPA's 23rd Annual Convention

  • November 06, 2025
  • 1:00 PM
  • November 07, 2025
  • 4:00 PM
  • Hyatt Place in Dewey Beach, Delaware

Registration

(depends on selected options)

Base fee:
  • Includes program on both days, continental breakfast, lunch and happy hour on Thursday. Additional happy hour tickets may be ordered at $45 per person.
  • Includes Friday's program, continental breakfast, and lunch.
  • Includes Thursday's program. Add Thursday's happy hour @ $45 per person.
  • Includes program on both days, continental breakfast, lunch and happy hour on Thursday. Additional happy hour tickets may be ordered at $45 per person.
  • Includes Friday's program, continental breakfast, and lunch.
  • Includes Thursday's program. Add Thursday's happy hour @ $45 per person.
  • Includes program on both days, continental breakfast, lunch and happy hour on Thursday. Additional happy hour tickets may be ordered at $45 per person.
  • Includes Friday's program, continental breakfast, and lunch.
  • Includes Thursday's program. Add Thursday's happy hour @ $45 per person.
  • Happy Hour


DPA's 23rd Annual Convention

In Person Workshop (No Virtual Option) 

Registration will open Sept. 2nd, 2025

Early Bird Registration Rates through Oct. 1st

Reserve discounted rooms here through Oct. 16th


Resilience Across the Lifespan

9 Continuing Education credits for attending both days.

Presented by Dr. Mary Beth Janke


  • Thursday 1:00-4:15pm (3 CEs) and Friday 8:30am-4:00pm (6 CEs)

Thursday, November 6th and Friday, November 7th, 2025

Hyatt Place in Dewey Beach, DE.


Program Description

In an ever-changing world, the capacity to adapt, recover, and thrive is more essential than ever. Resilience Across the Lifespan invites psychologists, social workers, counselors, and allied professionals to explore the evolving nature of resilience from childhood through late adulthood. Across 1.5 dynamic days, we will examine how resilience manifests across developmental stages, cultural identities, and life circumstances — and how we, as professionals, can foster it in our clients, our communities, and ourselves. 

This engaging program blends lecture, multimedia, small-group breakouts, and experiential activities to bring the concept of resilience to life. From personal grit to systems-level strategies, attendees will leave with practical tools and renewed insight for both clinical and personal application. 

Along the way, participants will deepen their understanding of the cultural contexts that shape resilience and explore the ethical considerations of supporting others through challenge and change. This program is designed to meet requirements for 3 hours of continuing education in cultural competence and 2 hours in professional ethics.

Learning Objectives 

1. Explain how evidence-based practices can be used to strengthen resilience in clients facing adversity. 

2. Analyze the relationship between resilience and mental health outcomes. 

3. Describe the role of resilience in enhancing professional effectiveness across diverse disciplines. 

4. Analyze key factors that contribute to mental toughness and sustained well-being in any environment. 

5. Apply evidence-based strategies for building resilience that can be integrated into personal and clinical practice. 

6. Apply culturally responsive interventions that promote resilience within diverse client populations. 

7. Identify how systemic inequities influence access to resilience-building resources across different cultural and socioeconomic groups. 

8. Demonstrate how integrating clients’ cultural strengths and worldviews can enhance resilience outcomes across the lifespan.

9. Apply ethical principles (e.g., autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence) when addressing resilience-related concerns in populations experiencing mental health challenges. 

10. Differentiate between ethical and unethical uses of self-disclosure when sharing resilience-related stories or coping strategies in clinical practice.

About the Presenter: 

Dr. Mary Beth Janke has over 30 years of psychology, security, and 

investigative experience. As a psychologist, Dr. Mary Beth has worked with 

individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, adjustment challenges, 

trauma, women’s issues, stalking and domestic violence, and substance abuse. 

She has also conducted research and published work in the areas of stalking 

and domestic violence, self-esteem and young women, and stress 

management. 

Dr. Mary Beth earned a master’s in Forensic Psychology and a doctorate in 

Clinical Psychology after an illustrious and varied career that included being a 

Special Agent in the Washington Field Office of the United States Secret 

Service. She went on to become a protection agent in the private sector in 

international executive protection on numerous government contracts and is 

the only female to ever officially protect a foreign president outside of the 

United States. 

As part The Investigative Group, Inc., a global leader in investigative 

intelligence in Washington D.C., Dr. Mary Beth led an inquiry during the 

Iraqgate” investigation and an investigation for 60 Minutes on the Duke 

Lacrosse scandal. She also served as a counselor in the Stalking Unit of Victim 

Services in Queens, NY, during which time she researched and created a 

Stalking Risk Assessment Prototype. 

Dr. Mary Beth holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Widener 

University in Philadelphia and a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from 

John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. She received her 

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Indiana University in 

Bloomington, along with a minor degree in Spanish Language, following 

intensive studies at the Universidad de Sevilla. 

In April of 2020, Dr. Mary Beth’s book, ‘The Protector: A Woman’s Journey from 

the Secret Service to Protecting VIPs in the World’s Most Dangerous Places’ was 

published. It is a memoir of her life as told through the exciting and dangerous 

missions she accepted as one of the few females in the world of international 

executive protection. 

In November of 2022, Dr. Mary Beth did a TEDx Talk in Greensboro, NC 

entitled, How to Live a Badass Life at Any Age, which centers on building 

resilience and developing an empowered mindset. Drawing from her diverse 

experiences as a clinical psychologist and security expert, Dr. Mary Beth 

emphasizes that living a "badass" life means living a life of self-discipline, self-respectand of taking ownership of one's actions to face life with confidence 

and strength. 

Additionally, Dr. Mary Beth taught Abnormal Psychology and the Psychology 

of Crime and Violence at the George Washington University in Washington, 

DC for four years, through the Fall of 2021. She currently works as a therapist, 

consults in the fields of forensic and clinical psychology, and continues to 

consult in the areas of stalking, threat assessment, and protective security. 


STAY AT THE HYATT PLACE DEWEY BEACH

Below is the booking link for the guest rooms at the Hyatt Place Dewey Beach for the Delaware Psychological Association Room Block:
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/ILGZD/G-PSCH

Guests may also call reservations at 1-855-556-1297 and ask for the Delaware Psychological Association rate. The group code is G-PSCH.  

There is a two-night minimum for Friday and Saturday reservations. The group rate is $135/night for a king room type.

The cut-off date to book rooms is October 16th, 2025. After that date, the group rate is not guaranteed at the hotel.


       
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