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 Keynote Presentations

I. Personal Story Keynote Presentation:                                                                              Healing Journeys: How Trauma Survivors Learn to Live Again      
 by Linda Daniels, Psy.D.                                          Link to Bio                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Dr. Daniels is a forensic and clinical psychologist and core member faculty at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. As the former Chief Psychologist at The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Dr. Daniels is a direct survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. She later treated over 200 other direct survivors of 9/11, including civilians, police and other emergency personnel. Subsequently, she published the book entitled “Healing Journeys: How Trauma Survivors Learn to Live Again” Dr. Daniels will highlight the diversity and uniqueness of each individual’s healing path and the role of “telling my story” in trauma recovery.

 II.  Keynote Presentation: Holistic Care for Disaster Stress      
 by Valerie Cole, Ph.D.                                 Link to Bio  

 Dr. Cole will discuss her experiences as a first responder and present  current research on the effect of natural and human-caused disaster stressors and  traumas on immediate and long-term consequences of disaster. Recognizing  anticipated responses to disaster is key to providing the appropriate intervention. Dr.  Cole will discuss the differences between disaster stress and trauma and present a  holistic approach to caring for victims of disaster that includes mind, body and spirit.

 

III. Personal Story Keynote Presentation: Acute Psycological Trauma-Early Intervention and Stabilization: The Practice of Psycological First Aid                    
by Robert Macy, Ph.D.                            Link to Bio                                                                                       

Dr. Macy will outline in detail the fundamental principles of practice for Psychological First Aid (PFA). PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism.PFA does not assume that all survivors will develop severe mental health problems or long-term difficulties in recovery. In fact, PFA isdesigned to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping skills.

 

 

 Workshop Descriptions:

A. Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG): An Ancient Wisdom                             by Linda Daniels, Psy.D.  

PTG is positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with a major life crisis or a traumatic event. PTG is present in ancientspiritual and religious traditions, literature, and philosophy. This workshop will challenge participants to consider a paradigm shift whenconceptualizing loss and trauma. Participants will identify potential entry points in which PTG may be fostered in trauma survivors, andshare strategies to enhance PTG in individuals and organizations.

B. Your Oxygen Mask 1st: Force Health Protection Strategies for Disaster Responders                     
 Stephen M. Cahn, Esq. Memorial Worshop                                                                              by Valerie Cole, Ph.D.

 The ability to fulfill the mission of the organization will be the focus of this workshop. Participants will identify the obstacles that prevent themfrom practicing effective self-care during a disaster response. Participants will develop an individual and organizational response approach toremove obstacles and mitigate the long-term effects of disasters on the responder workforce.

C. Application of Community Based Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) to Support Resiliency Processing with Survivors of the Boston Marathon Bombings                                                           by Robert Macy, Ph.D.

 Participants will learn how both play and movement, in many form (yoga, theater, imaginative play, dance, etc.) support recovery from trauma. Participants will  develop an understanding of how to take the information about the neurobiology of trauma and put that into clinical interventions. We know that the body remembers trauma, and by engaging clients both physically and imaginatively, we can help them heal.

D. Postvention: Responding to Schools and Communities Following Adolescent Suicide             Link to Bio
   by Joanna Bridger LICSW – Clinical Services Director for the Riverside Trauma Center

 This training teaches participants how to address the needs of their communities in the    aftermath of a sudden and often public death. Thistraining is based on Riverside            Trauma  Center's Postvention Protocols, which have been approved for listing in the Best    Practices  Registry forSuicide Prevention, a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention  Resource  Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

                                                                                                                           

E.  Working with Military and their Families                Link to Bio                                                                                    by Louise Graham, Ph.D. –  Professor- Graduate Department of Counselor Education Bridgewater State

Veterans and their families face enormous difficulties when transitioning to home. Civilian counselors, often unfamiliar with military culture and the emotional aftermath of war, are being called upon to provide counseling to veterans and their families as veterans reintegrate into civilian life. This presentation will address the military as a culture and how this world view can play out in the counseling session.  Resources for the military family and techniques to help the family and military person will be discussed. 

F. Yoga and Self Compassion Skills To Support Self-Care In Mental Health Profession                     by Deirdre Fay, MSW, LICSW                                              Link to Bio                           

Trauma and attachment issues leave bodies ruptured, constantly mobilizing for    threat. As mental health professionals, we may haveour own trauma histories which  can get activated by our clients healing process. This workshop provides evidence  based yoga and self-compassion skills that are practical and concrete for  professionals and clients to use in supporting the development of moresatisfying life  patterns.

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