Bess Hart, MA was a licensed clinical social worker for 15 years and has specialized training in community mental health, grief & loss, reproductive health, trauma, perinatal mood & anxiety disorders, and as a doula. She has supervised and trained interns, and taught Grief & Loss and Suicide Assessment at Tulane University School of Social Work. She believes her feminist-relational approach to the therapy relationship can enhance meaningful interventions and decrease their relational and systemic trauma. She lives and works in New Orleans, raising her 3 children.

In this workshop we will look at statistics about suicide and evidence about prevention tactics that are demonstrated to reduce attempts and completion of suicide. We will differentiate factors of chronic suicidal ideation, acute ideation, and self harm. We will look at diagnoses with higher incidence of suicide and other contributing factors. Through a relational lens, We will carefully consider the therapeutic role, responsibility and limitations in preventing suicide. With self-reflection, we can understand the ways our own anxiety can impede on meaningful intervention. Participants will walk away with evidence based-tools and a meaningful crisis intervention strategy.

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

*SOLD OUT*

Dr. Maestri is a native of New Orleans and a Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) College of Pharmacy Alumnus.  He is one of only four board certified psychiatric clinical pharmacy specialists (BCPP) in Louisiana. He currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at the Xavier University of LA College of Pharmacy and gratis Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry the LSU Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry.  In his role, he offers didactic, research, and experiential learning opportunities to Xavier College of Pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, LSU and Tulane Psychiatry residents, and XULA physician’s assistant program students. His educational focus is on pharmacologic treatment of psychiatric and substance use disorders as well as pharmacy ethics. His current practice site is in the outpatient setting of psychiatry at Ochsner Medical Center.

This presentation will review the mechanism of action and adverse effects of common medications used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

This workshop will provide a fresh look at grief and it various types. It will provide both an understanding and some practical techniques for working with clients who are grieving. It will address normal, traumatic, and complicated grief. It will include some gentle interaction.

Dr. Friedman earned a PhD in Counseling from the University of  New Orleans, a M.ED in Counseling from The University of Texas and a BS in Education from LSU. She has presented locally, regionally, and nationally over the last 30 years in such fields as Women’s issues, LGBT+ issues, Domestic violence, Crisis Intervention, Disability Issues, Trauma, Grief, Ethics, and Mussar. She has practiced counseling in public and private agencies, and has been in full-time private practice of counseling and supervision for more that 20 years. She has taught as an adjunct and guest lecturer at many local colleges and universities.  She holds the following licenses and certifications: LPC-S, LRC-S, LMFT, NCC, CRC, CCM. She has been studying, practicing, and teaching the model of Mussar and integrating Mussar into counseling for the past five years.

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

*THIS IS A ZOOM CEU*

Ashley Comegys is a licensed clinical social worker with a multi-state online therapy practice that helps women with anxiety navigate life transitions, such as motherhood, grief, trauma, and loss. She holds an MSW from Tulane University as well as a certificate in disaster mental health. Additionally, she is a certified perinatal mental health provider, who specializes in working with women experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Throughout her career Ashley has worked extensively with client’s who have experienced trauma across their lifespan, including experiences such as community violence, traumatic grief, hurricane and weather related trauma, and medical trauma.

In this CEU, we will learn to identify the differences between clinical diagnosis of acute stress response and post-traumatic stress response. We will examine three strategies to help participants prepare for working with clients who have experienced trauma related to a hurricane. Participants will learn to identify unique triggers associated with hurricane trauma reactions. We will also discuss three clinical tools/modalities/techniques to use to treat trauma. Finally, we will explore tools to help support clinicians in caring for themselves while treating hurricane trauma.

*Sold Out*

This workshop will provide a fresh look at grief and it various types. It will provide both an understanding and some practical techniques for working with clients who are grieving. It will address normal, traumatic, and complicated grief. It will include some gentle interaction.

Dr. Friedman earned a PhD in Counseling from the University of  New Orleans, a M.ED in Counseling from The University of Texas and a BS in Education from LSU. She has presented locally, regionally, and nationally over the last 30 years in such fields as Women’s issues, LGBT+ issues, Domestic violence, Crisis Intervention, Disability Issues, Trauma, Grief, Ethics, and Mussar. She has practiced counseling in public and private agencies, and has been in full-time private practice of counseling and supervision for more that 20 years. She has taught as an adjunct and guest lecturer at many local colleges and universities.  She holds the following licenses and certifications: LPC-S, LRC-S, LMFT, NCC, CRC, CCM. She has been studying, practicing, and teaching the model of Mussar and integrating Mussar into counseling for the past five years.

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA (PENDING)

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

*Sold Out*

Roughly 1 in 50 individuals experience symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The presentation will cover diagnostic criteria, symptom severity levels, and evidenced based strategies to alleviate symptoms.

Eleanor B. McAuliffe, LPC-S, CEDS-C is a counselor licensed in Louisiana & Virginia and is the former Program Director for two inpatient eating disorder treatment facilities. She provides a number of services including interventions, therapy, supervision, & education. As a trained Clinical Interventionist, Eleanor travels to help families support their loved one into treatment for their eating disorder. Eleanor continues to supervise master’s level interns through her doctoral coursework at The University of New Orleans. Eleanor also mentors and supervises clinicians across the country towards their Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS) credential. She continues to work in higher level of care as a subject matter expert in eating disorders for the HCA hospital system and at Reflections Eating Disorder Treatment Center just outside of Washington, D.C. Her private practice is located in Uptown New Orleans.

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

*SOLD OUT*

The presentation will cover the the evidenced-based practices and treatment modalities for each level of care for eating disorders. This will include appraisal for what level of care an individual may need and the ethics behind providing the the right referral recommendation. Severity of symptoms for an eating disorder will indicate the need for a specific level of care. The presentation will describe and differentiate across inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, & outpatient treatment.

Eleanor B. McAuliffe, LPC-S, CEDS-C is a counselor licensed in Louisiana & Virginia and is the former Program Director for two inpatient eating disorder treatment facilities. She provides a number of services including interventions, therapy, supervision, & education. As a trained Clinical Interventionist, Eleanor travels to help families support their loved one into treatment for their eating disorder. Eleanor continues to supervise master’s level interns through her doctoral coursework at The University of New Orleans. Eleanor also mentors and supervises clinicians across the country towards their Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS) credential. She continues to work in higher level of care as a subject matter expert in eating disorders for the HCA hospital system and at Reflections Eating Disorder Treatment Center just outside of Washington, D.C. Her private practice is located in Uptown New Orleans.

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA 

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

*SOLD OUT*

The presentation will address the medications associated with various disorders in DSM-5, including chemical dependency. It will also cover data surrounding the medications in the treatment of these disorders. This workshop will provide a review of the counselor and social worker role in medication experience for clients. The goal of this session is to gain a better grasp on how medications play a role in the behaviors and feelings that an individual can experience in their daily lives.

Dr. Thomas Maestri is a native of New Orleans and a 2014 grad of Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) College of Pharmacy. He is one of only four board certified psychiatric clinical pharmacy specialists (BCPP) in Louisiana. He currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at the Xavier University of LA College of Pharmacy and holds a gratis appointment as Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the LSU Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry. In his role, he offers didactic, research, and experiential learning opportunities to Xavier College of Pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, LSU Psychiatry residents, Tulane Psychiatry residents, and XULA physician’s assistant program students. His educational focus is on pharmacologic treatment of mental health and addictive disorders as well as pharmacy ethics. His current practice site is in consult addiction and psychiatry services at Ochsner Medical Center. He also offers community outreach by providing harm reduction services such as naloxone distribution, lockable pill bottles, drug deactivation kits, and wound care as a means of combatting the opioid epidemic and promoting safe practices in medication use to the community.

3 General Hours, LCA 

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS AN IN PERSON CEU*

Veronica Mollere, LCSW-BACS  is the founder of Well Psychotherapy, a trauma-informed group mental health practice in New Orleans. She is trained in EMDR, clinical hypnosis, Deep Brain Reorienting, and holds an Advanced Certificate in the Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociation from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. She is passionate about bringing awareness and competency to all levels of practitioners when treating complex trauma and dissociation, and offers group and individual supervision specific to these areas of focus.

The presentation:  Have you ever heard the complaint “typical therapy isn’t enough” for trauma treatment? We’ll show you why, and more importantly we’ll break down the elements of trauma treatment and the often unrecognized flexibility in the phase-oriented model that has gained popularity with the work of pioneers in trauma-focused treatment.

3 General Hours, LCA 

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*THIS IS A VIRTUAL CEU HELD VIA ZOOM*

3 Diagnosis Hours, LCA 

3 Clinical Hours, LABSWE

*This is an IN-PERSON CEU*