Psychology and Counseling offers Summer Institute workshops

Parents, teachers and professionals who are searching for ways to navigate difficult behavior in children will find skills for that and more this summer at Pittsburg State University.

Beginning in June, the Department of Psychology and Counseling will begin offering workshops through their 2008 Summer Institute. The courses touch on everything from bullying to specific behavioral issues caused by autism. Also offered will be a workshop that will certify professionals to serve as Red Cross volunteers, as well as a session on legal issues that sometimes arise for those working in the field.

Two workshops featuring guest speakers during the month of July touch on the issue of dealing with difficult personalities. In “You Can’t Make Me! Approaches and Techniques for Managing Resistance,” Dr. John W. Maag, a professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses ways caregivers can change their behavior to reduce resistance in others. And in “Helping Mean Girls Make Nice: Identifying, Preventing, and Interventions in Girl Bullying,” Dr. April C. Foreman, an outpatient therapist with Four County Mental Health Center in Independence, Kan., explores relational aggression in girls.

The summer schedule includes:

June 5-6 – “ADHD: Characteristics, Diagnosis, and Intervention,” presented by Dr. Jamie Wood, associate professor of psychology at PSU. Wood’s presentation will include useful strategies for parents, teachers and mental health professionals working with children with ADHD, as well as a review of medications and other approaches.

June 13-14 – “Community Disaster Response: Red Cross Certification for Mental Health Professionals,” presented by Terresia DuBois, a school social worker for the University of Kansas and clinician for COMCARE Crisis Center. The workshop introduces potential disaster volunteers to the role of Red Cross, and certifies them to assist in Red Cross responses to disasters across the U.S. Licensed professionals will become Certified Mental Health Workers.

June 20-21 – “Counseling Children and Adolescents: Directive and Non-Directive Approaches,” presented by Kimberly Larson, LPC and a national certified counselor. The session provides an overview of the elements and principles of child-centered play therapy, which allows children to express thoughts and feelings when they are unable to do so verbally.

June 26-27 – “The Complexity of Autism,” presented by Tysha Potter, M.S., a psychology instructor at PSU. The workshop covers a variety of issues on the topic, including identifying and understanding autism, navigating governmental and healthcare topics relating to autism, and locating resources for families and professionals.

July 10-11 – “Helping Mean Girls Make Nice: Identifying, Preventing, and Interventions in Girl Bullying,” presented by Foreman. During this workshop, participants learn about relational aggression as well as related environmental factors. Foreman also discusses cyber bullying and how to handle aggression in both victims and perpetrators.

July 17-18 – “Critical Issues for Schools and Communities: Self-Injury, Suicide, Youth Violence and Managing Emotionality,” presented by Dr. Scott Poland, professor at NOVA Southeastern University. Poland will present strategies on preventing self-mutilation and suicide, as well as examine two crisis-processing models used by national crisis teams.

July 24-25 – “You Can’t Make Me! Approaches and Techniques for Managing Resistance,” presented by Maag. The session covers resistant behavior and how to get what you want and control your emotions when dealing with resistant personalities.

Aug. 1 – “Legal/Ethical Issues for Mental Health and Social Service Professionals,” by Darron Farha, legal counsel for PSU, and “Effective Testimony: Be Quiet When the Judge Talks,” by the Honorable Donald Noland, a district court judge. The morning session explores legal and ethical issues that guide professionals and help them avoid winding up in court. The afternoon session is a discussion on what conduct is expected in the courtroom.

There is a $70 fee for each workshop, which may be taken for course credit. For more information on the Summer Institute or to register for a workshop, contact the Department of Psychology and Counseling at 620-235-4523.

---Pitt State---