Second Saturday Seminars

How You Make it Easy to Discredit You and How You Can Fix It

Saturday, January 9th @9:00 am (CST)

We’ve all been trained on the importance of clinical recordkeeping and various approaches to it. We mostly learn that our notes are for our own use or, at worst, to protect us from legal action. However, few clinicians expect that others will read those records or that they will be used in legal proceedings. When a forensic psychologist is involved in those legal cases, there is a strong chance those records will be scrutinized very closely – and by someone who knows exactly what is supposed to be there.

Many clinicians keep poor records, but not for the reasons you may think. Clinicians frequently fail to document the most basic, relevant, and accurate facts, which makes it easy for a forensic psychologist in a legal case to cast doubt or even discredit them – and the writer. This seminar aims to help you think differently and better about the notes you write. By the end, you’ll look at recordkeeping differently and you’ll write better, not longer, notes that make it harder for people like me to challenge and discredit you and your decisions.

Saturday, March 13th @9:00 am (CST)

With an increase in therapeutic focus on the digital world as a direct result of Covid-19, play therapists have needed to adapt in order to provide services in a way that both includes and respects the tenets of play therapy through digital formats. With this being said, utilizing digital tools in play therapy is not new to the playroom. This 3-hour training will briefly explore an overview of the history of utilizing digital tools in play therapy, use of various digital tools in play therapy sessions (ie apps, Virtual Sandtray App®©, Roblox) and documentation of digital play therapy sessions.

How to Treat, Recognize, and Know When to Refer

Saturday, April 10th @9:00 am (CST)

Have you ever said, “I don’t work with eating disorder clients?” Statistics show that even though you don’t work with that direct population, you are seeing them show up in your practice. Many clients who present for treatment with anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, trauma, and other co-occurring issues, also have identified eating disorders. From overeating to undereating and compulsive exercise to no exercise, dysfunctional eating patterns need to be addressed in order for there to be progress with the presenting concern. However, if you are not an eating disorder professional, you may be doing more harm than good with a lack of knowledge. How do you know when to refer or when to treat it as disordered eating, or following an “addiction” model for treatment? Many therapeutic modalities can be very effective for dysfunctional eating behaviors, however there are also some key differences when treating a client with an eating disorder. We will discuss treatment of the core issues, including shame and control. Sub-clinical eating disorders, which are much less talked about, such as drunkorexia and orthorexia, will be reviewed with key signs to look for within clients.