This Fall, FCP is excited to offer three Workshops with a variety of topics.

Dr. Jeff Bernstein and Dr. Alan Tepper will be returning to FCP by popular demand to discuss treatment of defiant behavior in children, and ethical record keeping, respectively. Dr. Matt Specht is a first time presenter at FCP. He will provide us with information and offer new skills to assess and successfully treat a variety of complex behavioral disorders with pediatric patients.  Dr. Specht comes with multiple recommendations regarding his research, publications and presentation skills.

These three Fall workshops include:

November 7, 2012 Morning Workshop

Approaches for Reducing Defiant Behavior in Children and Teens

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

The program will provide rich personal and clinical examples to teach participants how to apply the Calm, Firm, and Non-Controlling Approach to reduce defiant behaviors in children and teens. Participants will learn how to bypass the emotional reactivity of defiant children and teens with an emphasis on understanding the often-misunderstood psychological issues of defiant children. The strategies presented are applicable to full Oppositional Defiant Disorder as well as more moderate levels of defiant behavior.

Presenter: Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D., is a well-known relationship expert and the author of “10 Days to a Less Defiant Child, ” “10 Days to a Less Distracted Child, ” “Why Can’t You Read My Mind?,” and “Liking the Child You Love.” Dr. Bernstein has presented over 600 lectures, workshops, and trainings on professional topics such as defiant children and teens, anxiety disorders in children, anger management, dealing with difficult adolescents, depression in children and teens, self-esteem and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He has a private practice in Exton, PA.

December 5, 2012 ~ Full Day Workshop

Morning Session, 8:30 — 12 Noon

Assessment of Clinically Complex Pediatric Patients: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette’s Disorder, and Co-Occuring Conditions

Youth with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Tourette’s Disorder (TD) often present with psychiatric co-occurring conditions and represent a heterogeneous and clinically complex patient group. Comprehensive assessment approaches that are expeditious and cost-effective are critical to appreciating clinical complexity and are essential to developing effective treatment plans. This valuable workshop focuses on a practical assessment algorithm for pediatric OCD and TD that can be generalized to other clinically complex patient groups.

Workshop Objectives

Presenter: Matt W. Specht, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine. At Johns Hopkins, his research is focused on examining the means through which behavioral treatments result in sustained reductions in tic symptoms. Dr. Specht has been published in many professional journals and has presented at the Tourette Syndrome Association, the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington, and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference.

Afternoon Workshop 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Clinical, Ethical and Legal Issues Related to Record Keeping

This workshop will focus upon record keeping practices for Pennsylvania mental health professionals. The interactive and practical presentation will place an emphasis on Licensing Board rules and regulations. Topics to be explored include what constitutes the record; the required content of a typical progress note; the sanitizing of the record; the use of email communications; record retention practices and periods; the release of records and testing data to the patient and via a subpoena or court order. Participants shall receive current Pennsylvania written materials, and will be encouraged to raise specific case management issues and concerns.

Presenter: Alan Tepper, J.D., Psy.D. is a renowned psychologist/attorney specializing in representing mental health and medical professionals in licensing and disciplinary board proceedings. He also serves as an expert witness in forensic matters, with an emphasis in criminal, civil, and professional ethics matters. Dr. Tepper’s dual training, coupled with his trial and clinical experience, helps bring an additional element to the review, analysis, and presentation of ethical issues for mental health professionals.

All workshops are  held at: Doylestown Health & Wellness Center Health & Wellness Center Auditorium 847 Easton Rd./Rt. 611, Warrington, PA 18976 at the intersection of Route 611 and Shetland Rd. approx. 4 miles north of the Willow Grove/Doylestown exit of the PA Turnpike. Please contact Caroline Sinton at 267-247-4588 or csinton@fcpartnership.org  for more information.