Transforming Tragedy: Finding Growth Following Life’s Traumas Workshop, March 8, 2013, Tampa, FL

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THE MARCH 8, 2013 SESSION IS CLOSED. THE NEXT SESSION WILL BE OCTOBER 20, 2013. 

Transforming Tragedy: Finding Growth Following Life’s Traumas is a high-energy, entertaining yet informative workshop designed to appeal to a wide variety of healthcare providers who want to better understand and apply cutting edge treatments and new approaches to treat anyone suffering and dealing with a trauma. This workshop is conducted by Edward J. Hickling, PsyD, Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida. Dr. Hickling is an internationally known psychologist, author and lecturer specializing in the area of post trauma disorders and psychological treatments.

In addition to the work from Dr. Hickling, our very special guest speaker Donald Meichenbaum, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Waterloo University and Director Research, Melissa Institute will share information from his newest book “Roadmap to Resilience”. Dr. Meichenbaum discusses the differences between adults (both military and civilians) who evidence resilience and those who have persistent difficulties adjusting following traumatic experiences.

[EXPAND COURSE DESCRIPTION ]

Transforming Tragedy: Finding Growth Following Life’s Traumas is a high-energy, entertaining yet informative workshop designed to appeal to a wide variety of healthcare providers who want to better understand and apply cutting edge treatments and new approaches to treat anyone suffering and dealing with a trauma. This workshop is conducted by Edward J. Hickling, PsyD, Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida. Dr. Hickling is an internationally known psychologist, author and lecturer specializing in the area of post trauma disorders and psychological treatments.

This workshop is a response to the growing number of critical findings in our knowledge base of psychological treatment that clinician’s need to know to provide current care, how it is so many people endure traumas successfully and for some there is even evidence of positive psychological growth in the aftermath of the trauma. The treatments for PTSD while utilizing diverse methods of intervention, all show about the same treatment outcomes. The current level of knowledge allows for a look behind the superficial differences, while identifying the common threads that permeate treatment, as well are present in the understanding of how individuals are resilient and how some show psychological growth after tragic events.

More literature has been generated on the diagnosis of PTSD in the past decade than any other emotional disorder. Yet, PTSD is not even the most common reaction that can follow a traumatic event. Mental health professionals are urgently tasked to help people move from the struggles that can follow a trauma toward a productive, desired life.

Every human being will at some point face personal trauma and tragedy. Mental health professionals are faced with how to best understand the causes and treatment of adverse reactions to traumatic events. This workshop not only summarizes our knowledge in directly applicable ways, but also will add novel applications to treatment that can be used immediately in one’s clinical care with trauma survivors, whatever level of sophistication the health provider may have, novice to seasoned clinician. The knowledge shared will be applicable to returning veterans, community survivors of traumatic events, including rape, physical assault, community disasters and the other tragic events that occur in our lives and the lives of our patients.

This workshop is the first of its kind to integrate clinical interventions and research in such an integrated fashion that is directly applicable to clinicians who work with this large population of individuals. The workshop draws from the recent book by the same name, which includes Dr. Hickling’s own experience with a near death trauma and how he survived, through all the trials and tribulations of that injury. It succinctly and memorably using multi media presentation of findings and examples of the very latest and best of what we know about treating psychological trauma, how and why many people are resilient to these tragedies, and how some people go on to show positive growth through these painful experiences. It liberally shares anecdotes found in literature, patient vignettes, as well as eastern and western philosophy to connect in teachable and meaningful ways. Common features of successful evidenced based therapies for PTSD are extracted, and ways to implement the features found in resilience and post traumatic growth are woven into methods that can immediately add to one’s clinical practice, no matter the level of experience, when treating post trauma reactions. Use of narratives, personal meaning, CBT approaches, mindfulness, and other important components such as self-compassion and social support are shared in practical ways.

The workshop will enhance the knowledge and skills of a professional audience by:  providing a current review of our knowledge in treatment of post trauma reactions, resilience and post traumatic growth; outline common threads shown to contribute to growth and positive psychological outcomes; offer novel use of personal narrative exercises to offer an empirically informed treatment alternative/adjunctive intervention to evidenced based treatments; offer direct application of social support, cognitive, relaxation, and mindfulness approaches to trauma survivors; and provide direct presentation and skills in how to utilize self-compassion, forgiveness and value based intervention for those dealing with trauma and life’s tragedies.

In addition to the work from Dr. Hickling, our very special guest speaker Donald Meichenbaum, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Waterloo University and Director Research, Melissa Institute will share information from his newest book “Roadmap to Resilience”. Dr. Meichenbaum discusses the differences between adults (both military and civilians) who evidence resilience and those who have persistent difficulties adjusting following traumatic experiences. He will provide practical,  “How to” ways to bolster resilience in six specific areas including Physical, Interpersonal, Emotional, Cognitive, Behavioral and Spiritual or introduced as well as ways to develop individual and family resilience-bolstering action plans. In addition, it includes numerous narrative examples of successful coping from resilient individuals, self-improvement activities (such as “hinge” questions that open the door to possibilities). Clinicians will find the information invaluable when translating evidence-based interventions into specific guidelines for their clients.

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[EXPAND PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL ]

Basic knowledge in a mental health profession and interest in trauma. [/EXPAND]

[EXPAND LEARNING OBJECTIVES ]

Upon completion of this workshop, the participant will be able to:

• Gain an understanding of the common features in current evidenced based psychological treatments for post traumatic disorders
• Integrate findings from resilience and post traumatic growth literature into practical treatment considerations
• Learn how to provide personal narrative interventions in a flexible, evidence influenced fashion
• Gain practical application of relaxation and mindfulness techniques
• Apply common elements of cognitive changes and exposure based treatment in a personalized, flexible   fashion while remaining true to current evidenced treatments

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[EXPAND TARGET AUDIENCE ] This Transforming Tragedy workshop is designed to meet the educational needs of interdisciplinary healthcare professionals such as: Nurses, Psychologists, and any other mental health practitioners with an interest in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other forms of trauma.

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[EXPAND ACCREDITATION]

NURSES:

USF Health is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Upon successful completion of this continuing education activity, 6.5 contact hours will be awarded to the nurse participant.

 PSYCHOLOGISTS:

USF Health is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. USF Health maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This activity is approved for 6.5 CE credits.  Full attendance to the conference is required. Partial credit will not be awarded.

Florida Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors:

USF Health is an approved provider (BAP#433 – Exp. 3/31/15) of continuing education credits for clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling. This program has been reviewed and approved for up to 7.75, 50-minute contact hours.

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[EXPAND MEETING LOCATION ]LOCATION USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS)
124 S. Franklin Street
Tampa, Florida 33602

www.camls-us.org

Accommodations for Disabilities: Please notify the CPD office, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 46, Tampa, FL 33612 or call (813) 224-7860 or e-mail lsabo@health.usf.edu by February 25,2013 if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed.

Equal Opportunity Events, activities, programs and facilities of the University of South Florida are available to all without regard to race, color, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, age, Vietnam or disabled veteran status as provided by law and in accordance with the university’s respect for personal dignity. [/EXPAND]

[EXPAND REGISTRATION]

Transforming Tragedy Workshop Registration Fee ……………………………………$250.00 per person

Fees include the course content, syllabus, certificate of attendance, 1 copy of Transforming Tragedy: Finding Growth Following Life’s Traumas, food and beverage functions. No registration will be confirmed without full payment.

Cancellations must be received in writing by February 8, 2013, and will be subject to a $35 processing fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations after February 8, 2013. USF Health reserves the right to cancel this program due to unforeseen circumstances, in which case a full refund will be given to participants. USF Health will not be responsible for travel expenses incurred by the participant in the unlikely event that the program is cancelled.

3 WAYS TO REGISTER 

1. Registration is NOT AVAILABLE at this time.

2. Fax registration form to (813) 224-7864

3. Mail form with payment to: USF HPCC – Office of Continuing Professional Development Attn: LS 2013413/1150 PO Box 628263 Orlando, FL 32862-8263

For questions or more information please contact the Office of Continuing Professional Development (813) 224-7860 or toll free at 1-800-852-5362.

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[EXPAND AGENDA ]

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[EXPAND COURSE FACULTY] The Course Faculty are

Edward J. Hickling, PsyD – Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida. Dr.  Hickling is an internationally known psychologist, author and lecturer. He has specialized in the area of post trauma disorders and psychological treatments. He received his Doctor of Psychology degree from the University of Denver in clinical psychology. He was Director of Training and consultation liaison psychologist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Albany, New York until he left to enter full time private practice. He has held academic positions at the Sage Colleges in Troy, NY, the University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany Medical College, and most recently at the University of South Florida. You may read more about Dr. Hickling and Transforming Tragedy on his website.

Donald Meichenbaum, PhD is the Research Director of The Melissa Institute and Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He has served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Miami, School of Education. He is one of the founders of cognitive behavior therapy. North American clinicians voted Dr. Meichenbaum “one of the 10 most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century.” He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Clinical Division of the American Psychological Association in 2008. He has published extensively, and his most recent book is Roadmap to Resilience. He is one of the founders of The Melissa Institute.  You may read more about Dr. Meichenbaum at the Melissa Institute or www.roadmaptoresilience.org.

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