Registration has closed. If you are interested in attending, please email delpsychology@gmail.com.
DPA's 23rd Annual Convention
In Person Workshop (No Virtual Option)
Reserve your room here.
Resilience Across the Lifespan
9 Continuing Education credits for attending both days.
Presented by Dr. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke
Program Brochure
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 Wilkes 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-respect, and 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
If this link does not work, guests may also call Sophie Trupo at 302-581-3314 or email at Sophie.Trupo@Hyatt.com 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 20th, 2025. After that date, the group rate is not guaranteed at the hotel.
