I. Administration and Scoring Training of the SASSI – Adolescent and Adult

Presentation Content and Format Overview

This training is a 3-hour training for the basic SASSI which instructs and involves active participation on the basic understanding of the SASSI assessment tool, how it was developed, how to administer it to clients, how to score it and a basic understanding of the clinical interpretation of the scores. Participants are provided with instructional materials which include verification information on the SASSI instrument, subscale instructions and sample screenings to score and interpret for clinical treatment planning. Participants receive a certificate from the SASSI Institute for 3.0 contact hours.

Goals and Objectives of the Presentation

The goals of this presentation are that all participants will have a new and evidenced-based assessment tool that will give them probability outcome measures for substance dependence and substance abuse diagnosis. The SASSI is not diagnostic but can give important information that will assist the clinician to make a more functional and accurate treatment plan in the treatment of substance abuse and dependence.

 

The Language of Addiction and Recovery:
Helpful, Harmful, or Both?
Limited: Open, must attend morning and afternoon sessions (cont. at 1:15)

The words we use to describe and discuss substance use, abuse, addiction and recovery can be a tool in the fight against stigma and discrimination.  Our language can also fuel negative attitudes and stereotypes that are harmful.  Words can inform, clarify, encourage, support, enlighten and unify.  Stigmatizing words can discourage, isolate, misinform, shame and embarrass (CSAT). 

For example, the terms abuse, abuser, addict, clean, dirty, are loaded words that carry and support society’s negative stereotypes toward people with substance use disorders.  The terms misuse, person with substance use disorder, positive or negative result are more accurate and less emotional.

The inclusion of process addictions in this conversation brings up even more challenges for our discussion about language.  Some activities are generally and scientifically accepted as “genuine” addictions, e.g. gambling, sexual addiction.  However, the word addiction has become a colloquial term for almost anything for which a person has a passion;  books, postage stamp collecting. 

This thought-provoking workshop asks participants to examine in some depth the impact of the language we use in our field, and to help to move the professional discussion toward what the alternatives should be.  Material is drawn from the works of William White, Carlton Erikson, CSAT, NAMI and other distinguished resources.   

Objectives: 

Participants will:

• Increase their awareness of language issues, labels and choices of words that affect how people with substance use disorders are viewed by clinicians, other healthcare professional, insurance companies, lawmakers, and the general public;
• Consider and debate alternatives to harmful language;
• Define their own preferred terminology to reflect less stigmatizing, more strengths based language; and
• Provide input for a statewide dialogue on the language issues that affect our treatment and advocacy efforts in Virginia

Motivational Interviewing with Clients with Co-Occurring Illness
(Continued in the afternoon) (WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL)

Review of Motivational Interviewing approach: elicit from group level of knowledge and skills. Skills practice to review OARS and to discuss current practice with clients with co-occurring illness. Skills practice with a client with substance abuse and schizophrenia. Discussion of what worked and what did not/repeat practice to improve skills. Review of strategies for eliciting and responding to change talk: what are the treatment/change goals with this client population? Skills practice based on client profile established by the group. Closure: What have we learned that works – does not work. Each participant writes or discusses: One change needed in my practice and one change needed in my program.

Objectives:

At the end of the workshop, participants will have had the opportunity to discuss the challenges and successes they have experienced in working with this client population.

Participants will also have knowledge of how to apply the principles and techniques of MI in their clinical work with clients with co-occurring illness; specifically a client with substance abuse and schizophrenia and another client profile chosen by the participants. At the end of this workshop, participants will have participated in three skill building exercises. Participants will leave this experience with specific goals for change in their practice or program.

Elizabeth Holt, MS, ATR-BC, LPC became Clinical Director at Williamsville Wellness in Hanover, VA in October 2008. Williamsville is a treatment program for gambling which earlier this year also began to treat alcohol dependence. She was Director of Clinical Services for Williamsburg Place & the William J. Farley Center for over 7 years, and has worked in the field of addiction for over 20 years. Her specialized experience has been with health care field of addiction for over 20 years. Her specialized experience hs been with health care professions and those with co-occurring disorders. She has advanced training in trauma and trauma based disorders. She is an EMDR trained therapist, and received several trainings in DBT. She regularly presents nationally and regionally on the topics of addiction, art therapy, and trauma.

Sandra Rasmussen, Ph.D.
For 40 years Sandra Rasmussen has affirmed and advanced addiction services for individuals and families. Dr. Rasmussen received her PhD in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard. She is a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) in alcohol, other drugs, and gambling; a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC); and a registered nurse (RN). She is a member of many professional associations including the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
As Director of Consultation, Education, and Prevention for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, she developed essential mental health services throughout the Commonwealth. As Executive Director of the NORCAP Center for Addictions, she spearheaded state-of-the-art addiction treatment and prevention for children, adults, and families. Her research includes addiction clinical trials for Brown University and psychiatric epidemiology studies at Harvard School of Public Health. Her publications reflect scholarship, especially Addictive Practice: Theory and Practice which won an AJN Book of the Year award. Sandra received the Virginia Public Health Association Award for “outstanding leadership, commitment and support to the public health of Virginia.” Sandra is a recognized addiction teacher and trainer.
Today Sandra teaches graduate students in public health, psychology, and counseling. She serves on editorial boards of two journals. She is the Family Therapist at Williamsville Wellness, in Hanover, VA, and she is an addiction therapist at Williamsburg Place & W.J. Farley Center, Williamsburg, VA. She is Secretary-Treasurer for the Helping Problem Gambling Foundation. As parish nurse, Sandra coordinates an active health ministry for St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Sherman Master, M.D.
Born in Massachusetts, Dr. Master is a graduate of the University of Virginia and earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Interned at Emory University in Internal Medicine and completed his residency in Psychiatry also at Medical College of Virginia.
Clinical professor of Psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (previously MCV) and past president of the Richmond Psychiatric Society. He is listed in Best Doctors of America. Clinical Director at Williamsville Wellness.

Gambling in the 21st Century: From Casinos to Computers

Gambling is a disorder characterized by an overwhelming, uncontrollable obsession to gamble. Typical behavior patterns include a preoccupation with gambling; spending increasingly larger amounts of time, money, or emotional energy; gambling to escape unpleasant feelings; and continuing to gamble despite adverse consequences that affect family, relationships, educational or vocational pursuits. Gambling is similar to Substance Use Disorders in terms of intense cravings, its use to medicate uncomfortable feelings, obsessive behaviors, and the tendency for the activity to become an overly high priority. It is unlike SUD in that there is no substance ingested and usually no obvious signs such as slurred speech. Hench, it has been called the ‘invisible addiction’.
The general prevalence estimate is that 1.7% of adults (3% to 5% of youth) meet diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling and an additional 3 t0 5% have serious gambling problems. Those figures are often higher in jurisdictions where gambling has been legal longer. Gambling problems are especially high among alcoholics and other drug abusers.
Most people in the gambling field view Internet gambling as the fastest-growing segment of the industry, generating millions and, according to some, billions of dollars each year. Internet gambling has been called the ‘cocaine’ of gambling.
This presentation will cover diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. Its prevalence, and treatment approaches. The treatment program at Williamsville Wellness will be reviewed and discussed. Similarities and differences of Gambling and SUD will be discussed.

Objectives: 

1. Identify diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling.
2. Articulate one question to include in assessments to identify problem gambling.
3. Compare and contrast similarities and differences between SUD and Pathological Gambling.

Introductory Co-occurring Disorder Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals
(continued in the afternoon)

Topics included are:

Overview for Providers treating LGBT clients
Cultural Issues in working with LGBT clients
MH, SA and Co-Occurring issues with LGBT clients
Overview of Legal Issues
Overview of Treatment Approaches, Modalities and Issues of Accessibility in the Continuum of Care

Objectives: 

• Participants will be able to describe how the pattern of substance abuse in the LGBT community is different.

• Participants will be able to describe three aspects of LGBT culture and its relevance to treatment.

• Participants will be able to define 3 specific issues related to Co-occurring disorder treatment with GLBT clients

• Participants will gain an improved understanding of the legal issues facing LGBT clients including the impact of HIV/AIDS

I spent twenty years military and retired. I spent the last four years of my military career working at the Navy’s Alcohol Rehab Center in Norfolk as a SA Counselor and as a the Senior Prevention Facilitator. After retiring from the military, I spent the next two years as an Employment Counselor at the Navy Family Service Center in Norfolk. Then was hired at the Virginia Beach CSB as a Prevention Specialist and spent seven years there. The last two years I have been at the Office of Substance Abuse Services in Richmond as a Prevention Programs Consultant. I am also a board member of SACAVA on the Prevention Committee.

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST)

Limited: 25 participants (You must attend all sessions from the beginning to end in order to receive credit)

The purpose of the SAPST curriculum is to contribute to the development of knowledgeable and competent prevention professionals by advancing prevention science knowledge and its application to prevention program planning. This is a basic curriculum that will introduce participants to the prevention field. Becoming truly competent, sensitive, and resourceful prevention professionals is an ongoing process involving continuing education and practical experience in the field. The substance abuse prevention profession is a young and evolving profession and, whether you are new to the field or have many years' experience, continuing education and experience will contribute to their expertise in many of the areas we will overview here.

Objectives: 

Participants will learn to apply

• The building blocks of effective substance abuse prevention programs;
• The risk and protective factors approach to substance abuse prevention;
• The steps in building a successful substance abuse prevention plan; and
• The steps to effective evaluation of substance abuse prevention programs.

 

Karen Ingersoll Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia.  Trained as a clinical health psychologist, her work focuses on developing tailored treatment for people with addictive disorders, medical problems, and mental disorders.  Currently she is investigating Motivational Interviewing as a method to help people with HIV/AIDS reduce their drug use and improve medication adherence, and to help women avoid alcohol-exposed pregnancy.   She has extensive experience in Motivational Interviewing as a health psychology practitioner and researcher, and has provided training in MI to practitioners and other trainers for 15 years.

Christopher C. Wagner, Ph.D. is an associate professor and licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include interpersonal processes in mental health/substance abuse treatment, motivational interviewing and program evaluation.   He hosts the Motivational Interviewing website, and served on the central steering committee of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) for six years, including two years as chair of the committee.   He has provided over one hundred MI training workshops, and will provide his third training of trainers for MINT in June, 2009.  Along with Dr. Karen Ingersoll and Sandy Gharib, LPC, he wrote the Mid-ATTC MI group guide for community agencies.  He and Dr. Ingersoll are currently writing a book on MI in Groups. 

Intermediate, Motivational Interviewing Groups Co-occurring Medical, Substance Use, Mental Health
Limited: 27 participants, must attend morning and afternoon sessions (cont. at 1:15)

Group treatment is a common method of providing services for those seeking to reduce substance use problems.  Motivational Interviewing is a popular and effective method to facilitate behavior change, including those in addictive behaviors and health-related behaviors.   Motivational Interviewing Groups can serve many useful purposes and target a number of health behaviors that commonly co-occur with substance use.    Clinicians often have little guidance in how to infuse motivational counseling methods into groups including support groups, psycho-educational groups, and psychotherapy groups.  

In this 1-day intermediate workshop, we will present new ideas about conducting MI groups, and provide extensive opportunity for hands-on practice.  The format will blend didactic, observational, and experiential methods of learning.   Different stages of group work and many aspects of running MI groups will be explored and practiced, including joining and starting off well, exploring perspectives, broadening perspectives, resolving ambivalence, and moving into action.

Objectives: 

• to provide clinicians with an understanding of key concepts in group treatment,
• to outline and practice the fundamental skills needed for adapting motivational interviewing skills and strategies for the group treatment setting, and
•  to practice important MI group facilitation skills using small groups with revolving leadership
  

Lunch!

Lunch Box Session:

*Evidence-Based Prevention Program: Notes from the Field
Whether classes are held in schools or out in the community, there are many challenges to delivering evidence-based programs to fidelity. But without fidelity, no program can claim to be evidence-based. Hear from William and Mary graduate students who served as volunteer facilitators delivering Too Good for Drugs to a variety of students in a before- and after-school setting about the joys and frustrations they experienced.

Moderator:    Davina Parmet, M.Ed., VTSF Grant Manager fro HTSAC
                        Laurie J. Rokutani, Ed.S., MAC, CPP, VASIP.COSIG Coordinator

________________________

*Peer Based Recovery: Who, What & Why!
Through CSAT, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has provided several grants to fund its Recovery Community Services Program. The focus is to provide peer-based substance abuse recovery services. This session will discuss these programs and how they compliment services offered by professionals and the 12-step community.

Presenter:  Frank Watkins, Center Director, SAARA of Virginia, Inc &

The SAARA Center for Recovery

Brianna Jarabak-Cox is an LCSW with 12 years of experience in the field of social work. Brianna graduated from VCU with an MSW in 2003 and received her bachelors in Anthropology in 1997. She is currently working for the City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services mental health and substance abuse division in the intensive clinical case management unit. Brianna has been working in with high risk, minimally engaged, intensive clients in case management settings for almost 10 years. Brianna currently facilitates one to two groups per week for the co-occurring population.

Kathleen Rodriguez has her Masters in Community Counseling and is currently working towards licensure as a licensed professional counselor. She is currently working for City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services mental health and substance abuse division as an outpatient clinician. Kathleen currently facilitates weekly groups as well as intake assessments for the co-occurring SMI population. She has experience in play therapy and has worked with at-risk children and youth.

Person-Centered Treatment Planning for Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders Utilizing Experiential Group Therapy
(Limited to 40 participants)

Traditional talk-therapy process groups tend to be ineffective in working with persons who have severe thought disorders. However practitioners using a person centered approach with activities that reinforce recovery goals utilizing multi media sensory formats and repetition can work for the co-occurring population. The goal of this workshop is to have practitioners learn a new model of person centered treatment and while having group process that give measurable outcomes and result oriented group progress for the co-occurring population. Participants should complete the workshop with skills to practice experiential group therapy and have it work with the co-occurring population.

Objectives:

Our objectives for practitioners are three fold: One, provide a concrete tool for person centered treatment planning focusing on individual client’s strengths and weaknesses. Two, facilitate recovery oriented groups for the co-occurring population that use motivational interviewing principles to help group members see beyond their mental illness. Motivation interviewing principles to include: affirmations of strength, building self efficacy, and reinforcing change talk and behaviors. Three, demonstrate practiced group techniques that can be applied to groups once the practitioner returns to work with an already designed curriculum.

II. Clinical Interpretation Training of the SASSI – Adult and Adolescent

Presentation Content and Format Overview

This training is a 3-hour training for a more in-depth clinical interpretation of the SASSI sub-scales and a more in-depth look at its use with clients. Participants will learn how to recognize a “help me” profile score and will learn what scores are used to cover up and deny issues related to substance abuse and dependence. Participants will learn about using the SASSI to give information to clients that may be issues of denial or that they might not see as a problem in their lives or barriers to their recovery. Participants receive a Certificate from the SASSI Institute for 3.0 contact hours.

Goals and Objectives of the Presentation

The goals of this presentation are that participants will have a working knowledge of the sub-scales of the SASSI and how to use the information for treatment decision making, goals and planning. The training also instructs participants on the making of a good, working substance abuse assessment in order to have the best outcome in treatment for the client.

This training is very good for breaking through denial since the disease of addiction is so stigmatized and a shame-base is often a barrier to a good assessment for most substance abusing clients. This training will give clinicians a tool that has 97% accuracy in both adolescent and adult assessments and will give clinicians the information that clients have a hard time providing. Subtle scales and scales that are collaborative are unique aspects of this assessment tool.

Charlotte Chapman, MAC, CCS, NCC, LPC

Motivational Interviewing with Clients with Co-Occurring Illness
(Continued from the morning) (WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL)

Intermediate, Motivational Interviewing Groups Co-occurring Medical, Substance Use, Mental Health
Limited: 27 participants, MUST attend morning and afternoon sessions (cont. from morning)

The Language of Addiction and Recovery:
Helpful, Harmful, or Both?
Limited: Open, MUST attend morning and afternoon sessions (cont. from morning)

Carmen Greiner,

Introductory Co-occurring Disorder Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals
(continued from morning)

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST)

Limited: 25 participants (Cont. from morning and continued on Tuesday)
(You must attend all sessions from the beginning to end in order to receive credit)