Helping the Healers

Several noteworthy postgraduate workshops are planned for the coming weeks and months as the School of Social Work continues its commitment to providing excellence in professional development and continuing education.

First, there’s the Social Work Practice Fellows (SWPF) program, with sessions set for September 25 to December 5, 2018, on Adelphi’s Garden City campus.

Then there’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): A Therapist Guide for Personal Self-Care and Professional Practice, scheduled for October 2 to December 4, 2018, at Adelphi’s Hauppauge Education and Conference Center. A third, Training in Trauma Competency for the 21st Century, will be offered at Adelphi’s Manhattan Center from October 29 to October 31, 2018.

The eight-week Mindfulness course, including information on how social workers, counselors and psychologists can use it in their practice and their own lives, “sold out very quickly,” said Joanna Suppa, the School’s coordinator of continuing education and professional development. The instructor is James D’Aconti, practicing psychotherapist at the Long Island University Center for Healthy Living. Classes will involve meditation, reflection and yoga.

The instructor for the Training in Trauma Competency workshop is J. Eric Gentry, Ph.D., a professional therapist with 36 years’ experience. He will teach cutting-edge interventions and protocols that clinicians can use to augment their work in treatment of survivors of trauma and traumatic stress.

“We continue to bring state-of-the-art training in evidence-based practices to clinicians that pertain to their private practices so they can develop their skills to provide the best possible care,” Audrey Freshman, Ph.D., School of Social Work director of continuing education and professional development, said.

The School plays a vital role for the region’s mental health professionals and their clients through its Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development. Run by Dr. Freshman, the office’s programs enable professionals to earn continuing education units, which various state departments require professionals earn to update their skills and maintain their licenses. The School holds these workshops throughout the year, at all campus locations.

“This year’s Summer Institute provided valuable training to our professional community that will enable them to help their clients overcome what can be devastating mental health disorders and live happier, more productive lives,” Dr. Freshman said.

During the week of July 23, 2018, mental health professionals learned cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at the School of Social Work’s annual Summer Institute. Growing numbers of Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma and substance abuse. Many are being helped by CBT, an approach widely recognized as effective.

During that week, social workers, therapists, counselors, psychologists, nurses and others gathered in the Ruth S. Harley University Center to learn how to administer cognitive behavior therapy—in effect, rewiring patients’ brains. By working with a CBT-trained professional, clients learn to reinterpret experiences and replace negative thoughts, beliefs and actions with positive, more realistic ones and go on to lead happier, more productive lives.