Morning presentation
Treating Survivors of Gender-Based Violence (3 CE credit program)
Registration 8:30am, Program 9:00am – 12:15pm.
Presenter - Dr. Nicole “Nicki” Johnson, a faculty member from Lehigh University College of Education and Counseling Psychology Department
The overall goal of the current program is to increase providers understanding and effectiveness in working with survivors of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence (GBV) will be defined and rates of particular forms of GBV (such as, intimate partner violence, rape, and violence against gender non-conforming individuals) will be discussed. Unique factors to consider when working with survivors will be reviewed, as well as an analysis of the current state of research regarding GBV and effective treatments. Judith Herman’s three-phase approach to trauma treatment will be reviewed and applied to GBV. Appropriate interventions and techniques for working with survivors will also be reviewed within the framework of Herman’s model.
Five learning objectives
- Achieve a clear conceptualization of gender-based violence
- Identify unique factors to consider when working with survivors of gender-based violence
- Gain a general understanding of the current state of research on gender-based violence
- Understand the three-level model of trauma treatment proposed by Judith Herman
- Identify appropriate interventions for working with survivors of gender-based violence
Lunch presentation
Program 12:30-1:30 pm; Program is free of charge. There will be an option to purchase lunch.
DV 101: Recognizing, Responding, and Referring in Medical Settings: (1 hour program, no CE credit)
Presenter: Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley
This training is designed to help medical providers respond to patients/clients who may be experiencing domestic violence. Providers will learn how to recognize the warning signs of an abusive relationship, and the red flags to look for in the dialogue between patient-provider interaction. Providers will learn how to effectively screen patients for domestic violence, and how to respond upon patient disclosure. This training will help educate providers on how to cross barriers when trying to communicate with their patients on what can sometimes seem like one of the most difficult topics to navigate. Topics such as safety, sensitivity, and cultural competency will all be addressed.
Upon completion of the course, providers should feel more comfortable in successfully referring victims and survivors of domestic violence to essential tools and resources at their patients’ request.
Afternoon presentation
Training The Brain to Heal Painful Habits (3 CE credit program)
Registration 1:15pm, Program 1:45pm – 5:00pm.
Presenter - Dr. Alexandra Milspaw (M.Ed., Ph.D), a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Sex Therapist, specializing in Sexuality, Trauma, and Chronic Pain.
Dr. Milspaw's presentation will review the biomechanics of chronic stress, trauma, and chronic pain. She will review the latest research on how mindfulness and related techniques reverse the damage on the brain and nervous system. She will end the presentation with a demonstration of easy-to-learn and easy-to-apply mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- Describe at least three biological changes that occur in the brain with chronic stress, trauma, and/or pain.
- Describe at least three mindfulness-based brain exercises that heal the brain's physiology.
- Explain how pain creates "painful" habits in the brain.
- Explain how pain is processed in the brain and nervous system.
- List three interventions that bridge the science of pain with the therapeutic healing of trauma.
