DPA - Delaware Psychological Association

Upcoming Workshops



Upcoming events

    • April 14, 2023
    • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    • Virtual Zoom
    Register


    An Introduction to Long Covid for Mental Health Professionals

    Friday, April 14th, from 12:30-2PM

    1.5 CE Credits

    Presented by Benjamin Abramoff, M.D., and Doug Tynan, Ph.D., ABPP



    As we exit the third year of the COVID 19 pandemic, it is clear that the challenge to the population has been overwhelming, and has adversely affected mental health at all ages. We know from past disasters and pandemics that this trauma results in the worsening of anxiety and insomnia. A significant number of people will develop post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as depression. 

    DPA is offering a number of continuing education workshops through grant funding received from the American Rescue Plan Act. These workshops will initially focus on post-COVID 19 related trauma. There will be universal communication on the needs of the people during the pandemic and post pandemic. Our initial upcoming CE programs will include the background framework on Covid trauma informed care, universal effective self-help strategies for PTSD, anxiety and stress. Our goal is to develop core content on these important topics that can be delivered to healthcare professionals, students, and members of the public.

    • April 28, 2023
    • 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    • Webinar
    Register

    Use of Attachment-based Family Therapy for Adolescents Struggling with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

    Friday, April 28th, from 2-5PM

    3 CE Credits

    Hosted by the Missouri Psychological Association

    Presented by Guy Diamond, Ph.D.

    Program Brochure




    Description

    ABFT is a brief, empirically supported family based treatment for depressed and suicidal adolescents. Most manualized family therapies target externalizing disorders and most manualized treatments for youth depression focus on CBT and medication. Thus, ABFT is the first family therapy model developed, tested and disseminated for adolescents with internalizing disorders. Sensitive to issues of cultural diversity and their impact on family functioning, the model is a trust-based, emotion-focused psychotherapy, yet builds on specific goals and tasks that provide treatment structure.

    Four studies have demonstrated that ABFT can reduce adolescent suicide ideation (SI) and/or depression better than waitlist controls and/or treatment as usual (Diamond et al, 2002, 2003, 2010; Israel & Diamond, 2012). ABFT is even effective with the most severe youth presenting with comorbid anxiety, severe SI, history of multiple suicide attempts, and/or a history of sexual abuse. ABFT has been adapted for use with suicidal LGB adolescents (Diamond, et al., 2011) and used as a hospital aftercare program (Diamond, et al 2011). Over 15 process research studies have been conducted examining the mechanism of change in ABFT. ABFT has been reviewed by NREPP and was included on the NREPP website. The ABFT manual was published by APA (Diamond et al, 2014).

    ABFT grows out of the clinical tradition of Structural/Multidimensional Family Therapy and Emotionally-focused therapy. Attachment theory however, provides the theoretical framework to understand and guide the clinical process. Rather than focus initially on symptom reduction, ABFT therapists assume that, for many adolescents, depression/suicide is a coping response to family or environmental stress. The quality of the parent-child relationship partially mediates adolescent capacity to manage these stressors. Treatment therefore, focuses on resolving family conflicts that have ruptured the secure base of the family. This helps reduce conflict and increases trust, but also provides emotionally charged in-vivo conversations for improving affect regulation and interpersonal problem solving. With attachment on the mend, treatment focuses on promoting the adolescent’s autonomy (e.g., behavioral cooperation at home, reintegration into school and social life, identify formation). Improved attachment security reestablishes the normative family context of adolescent development, which helps buffer against depression and suicide.

    Although the therapy is trauma-focused, it is brief, structured, yet flexible. Treatment is characterized by five tasks: a)relational reframe, b) adolescent alliance, c) parent alliance, d) attachment and e) promoting autonomy. The Relational Reframe Task focuses the therapy on what prohibits the adolescent from going to his/her parent(s) when feeling depressed or suicidal. For some adolescents, this may be “big” traumas (e.g., neglect, abandonment, abuse) or “little,” but chronic, traumas such as intense conflict, divorce, or parental depression. Regardless, Task 1 aims to shift the initial goal of treatment from behavioral control or symptom reduction to resolving relational ruptures that inhibit trust and security.

    The Adolescent Alliance Task with the adolescent alone helps the adolescent identify and articulate these relational traumas and how they contribute to the depression/SI. With this connection better understood, the therapist helps the adolescent prepare to talk with the parents about these ruptures.

    Third, the Parent Alliance Task, aims to identify current stressors and inter-generational attachment injuries that might be impacting current parenting practices. As parents develop empathy for their own losses, they become more sensitive to their child’s attachment needs. Parents are then taught emotional coaching skills that will support the upcoming parent-adolescent conversations in the next task.

    In the Attachment Task, the adolescent and parents are brought together to discuss the attachment ruptures. Therapists help the adolescent directly express, in an honest and vulnerable, yet emotionally regulated manner, feelings, thoughts and memories that drive anger or indifference, and that reinforce depression and/or suicide. The therapist helps parents acknowledge the adolescent experience and continue to express themselves. This emotionally honest dialogue provides a “corrective attachment experience” where adolescents seek understanding and support and parents provide comfort and attention.

    Finally, the Autonomy Promoting Task builds on the emerging secure base of attachment and begins to focus on autonomy promotion. Conversations might address cooperation in the home, re-engagement in school and social life, and or identify development (e.g., race, sexual identity, etc.).

    Using case studies, videos and discussion, this workshop will provide an overview of the theoretical principles, research support and clinical strategies of ABFT. We will review how attachment theory, emotional regulation, and trauma resolution inform the delivery of this experiential treatment approach. We will teach the five treatment tasks that provide a roadmap for delivering this interpersonally focused, depth psychotherapy, effectively and rapidly. Participants will learn how this model helps families repair interpersonal ruptures that have damaged trust and rebuild emotionally protective, secure parent–child relationships.

    Learning Objectives

    1. Explain the theoretical foundation of ABFT that guides therapists in therapy implementation.
    2. Discuss the purpose of the five treatment tasks.
    3. Design therapy to focus on interpersonal growth rather than behavioral control.

    Presenter

    Guy Diamond, PhD, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Associate Professor at Drexel University in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. At Drexel, he is the Director of the Center for Family Intervention Science (CFIS). Dr. Diamond is the primary developer of Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT). He has received several federal, state and foundation grants to develop and test this model. His primary work has been in the area of youth suicide prevention and treatment research. On the prevention side, he has created a program focused on training, screening and triage to be implemented in non-behavioral health settings. On the treatment side, he has focused on the development and testing of attachment-based family therapy, especially for teens struggling with depression and suicide. Much of this work has focused on inner-city low-income families. He has served as the VP of Science for Division 43 of APA and has focused his efforts on increasing the visibility of the Division as a leader in Family Intervention Science in APA. He was a main stage presenter at APA’s 2022 convention. Along with his co-authors, Drs. Gary Diamond and Suzanne Levy, Dr. Diamond has written the first book on ABFT, “Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed Adolescents,” published by the American Psychological Association. ABFT emerges from interpersonal theories that suggest adolescent depression and suicide can be precipitated, exacerbated, or buffered against by the quality of

    interpersonal relationships in families. ABFT aims to repair interpersonal ruptures and rebuild an emotionally protective, secure-based, parent child relationship. The treatment initially focuses on repairing or strengthening attachment and then turns to promoting adolescent autonomy.

    This workshop is presented by the Missouri Psychological Association in collaboration with more than 30 State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations. MPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MPA maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. Instructions for logging into the Zoom presentation will be sent to you. If you have any questions, please contact DPA via email delpsychology@gmail.com or 302-635-0311.

Past events

March 31, 2023 An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults
February 10, 2023 Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Challenging Times
January 27, 2023 The Minds, Lives, and Motivations of Mass Attackers
November 11, 2022 DPA's Annual Convention: Embracing Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylees through Trauma Informed Care
September 09, 2022 Two Trains Running: Whiteness and Racism in Psychotherapy
August 26, 2022 Don't Let the "TR" Fool You: The DSM-5-TR is Far More Than a Text Revision
June 17, 2022 HIPAA, Encryption, and the Thorny, Not-Always-Clear Regulations Around Email and Texting
June 10, 2022 Digital Tools/Software – How to Choose Really Great Stuff and avoid the Not-So-Great
June 03, 2022 What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR?)
May 20, 2022 Equipping psychologists to advocate for LGBQT+ youth in our communities and beyond.
May 06, 2022 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) 2-Day Workshop
February 18, 2022 Ethical Myths and Mysteries
February 04, 2022 A Conversation about Blackness, Whiteness, Psychology, and Humanity
November 06, 2021 DPA's Annual Convention with Dr. Courtois - SATURDAY ONLY. Sexual Boundary Violations in Psychotherapy: Facing Indiscretions, Transgressions, and Misconduct.
November 05, 2021 DPA's Annual Convention with Dr. Courtois - FULL CONFERENCE - (Friday and Saturday Discounted Rate)
November 05, 2021 DPA's Annual Convention with Dr. Courtois - FRIDAY ONLY. Innovations in Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: The PRISM Meta-Model and Its Application.
September 10, 2021 Understanding and Treating Racial Trauma
June 04, 2021 The Trust Presents...Sequence X: Perplexing Problems in Psychological Practice: Decision Science, Ethics & Risk Management
May 14, 2021 Clinician’s Guide to Psychological Treatments for Chronic Pain in Kids, Teens, and Young Adults: A Skills Based Workshop
April 23, 2021 Principles of Forensic Psychology: National and Local Perspectives
February 19, 2021 Ethical & Clinical Assessment & Intervention with Inappropriate Sexual Behavior in Children, Adolescents, and Adults
January 29, 2021 Working with Transgender and Gender Expansive (TGGE) Youth: Ethical and Practical Considerations
November 06, 2020 DPA Annual Convention: All Psychologists Should Strive to be Anti-Racists: Using the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training (CBRT) to Reduce Bias, Prejudice & Racism
November 06, 2020 DPA Annual Meeting for Members
October 23, 2020 Diabetes and Mental Health
September 25, 2020 Transitioning from the War on Childhood Obesity to the Battle for Body Diversity: Strategies for Reducing Weight Stigma in Pediatrics
July 14, 2020 Talking with Children about Race and Identity: Considerations for Providers and Caregivers
November 08, 2019 DPA Annual Convention
June 07, 2019 The Trust presents: Ethics and Risk Management in Complex Clinical Conundrums
April 12, 2019 Evidence-Based Assessment of Learning Disabilities and ADHD in Older Adolescents and Adults
March 08, 2019 HB 302: The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Delaware's New Gun Law, A Legal and Ethical Discussion
November 09, 2018 DPA Annual Convention - Using Emotionally Focused Therapy with Difficult Clients: Application to Individual and Couples Therapy
June 01, 2018 CE Workshop - Awareness, Identification & Management of Culture-based Countertransference
May 04, 2018 CE Workshop - Theaters of the Mind; The Psychodynamics of Dream Process
March 16, 2018 Mindfulness for Clients and Ourselves: Concepts, Benefits, and Practices
November 10, 2017 DPA Annual Convention: Treating Complex Trauma and Paying Attention to Your Own Self-Care
September 08, 2017 Developing and REsearching Advanced Models of Integrated Primary Care (DREAM IPC Conference)
August 25, 2017 Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR)
June 16, 2017 CE Workshop - Beyond the Basics of Sleep
May 12, 2017 CE Workshop - The Trust presents: Legal and Ethical Risks and Risk Management in Professional Psychological Practice Sequence VII: Working with Couples and Families, Risk Management with the Suicidal Patient, and Legal and Ethical Issues
April 28, 2017 CE Workshop - Minimizing Health Disparities
April 07, 2017 Issues Arising in Cases of Parental Alienation
March 17, 2017 CE Workshop - What Every Psychologist Needs to Know About Law
December 02, 2016 The Trust's Ethics and Risk Management Webinar: "The Affordable Care Act and Professional Psychology: Everything You Didn't Want to Know and Were Afraid to Ask"
October 21, 2016 DPA Annual Convention - Interpersonal Treatment of Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating and Body Image Issues: Integrating Neurobiology, Attachment, Affect Regulation and Clinical Conundrums
June 10, 2016 Psychopharmacology Update Children, Teens & Adults
March 11, 2016 "Reporting Child Abuse: The Legal Mandate"
October 23, 2015 DPA Annual Convention - Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care: The Business Case, the Skills Needed, and the Future
June 12, 2015 Ethics and Risk Management in the Age of The Affordable Care Act: Everything You Didn't Want to Know and Were Afraid to Ask
April 30, 2015 Interdisciplinary Integrated Care Forum
April 17, 2015 Introduction to WISC-V
February 27, 2015 CBT for Pediatric Anxiety and Related Conditions
October 24, 2014 DPA Annual Convention - Developmental Milestones and Clinical Practice with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Sexually-Fluid Individuals
June 13, 2014 Sussex County - Boundaries, Borders, and Multiplicities in Psychotherapy: Ethics and Professionalism for Psychologists
June 13, 2014 New Castle County - Boundaries, Borders, and Multiplicities in Psychotherapy: Ethics and Professionalism for Psychologists
May 16, 2014 CE Workshop - Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Theory, Practice, and Strategies to Enhance Distress Tolerance
March 07, 2014 Continuing Education Workshop: "Treating Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders"
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