APS New England Northwest Branch is pleased to bring you the:

 

 2018 Ethics Forum and AGM

 

 The Forum will include speakers and experts on a range of topics such as:

• “Setting the Scene”: The future of psychological practice in Australia
• The risks and pitfalls in psychological practice
• Difficult ethical scenarios
• Professional Indemnity Insurance

And will include opportunities for questions and answers, hypothetical discussions and cases. 

 

 When:   Saturday 24 November

 Time:    1pm – 6pm

 Where:   Tamworth UNE Access Centre, Fitzroy St
                 (there will be a bus coming from Armidale on the day)

 Cost: APS Member - $100, APS Student - $50, Non-Member - $150

 

Speakers:

• Mr Tim Passfield is a Psychologist and Solicitor in New South Wales.
• Mr Chris Willcox is the Head of Discipline (Psychology) of Hunter New England Health.
• Dr Louise Roufeil is the Executive Manger (Professional Practice) of Australian Psychological Society.

 

The Forum will be followed by the APS NENW Branch AGM with afternoon tea and dinner provided

 

My Health Record and the eReferral System developed by HNECC Primary Health Network. 

Date:               Thursday 20/9/18

Time:              5.30pm -7.00pm

Venue:           Armidale University of New England Lewis Lecture Theatre
                        Videoconferenced to Tamworth UNE Centre

 

My Health Record

 Jamie Marshall is a Clinical Psychologist who has been in private practice in Inverell for over 5 years. He has experience working with people across the lifespan, from adults, to teens, and children. He has an interest in autism, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, Workcover-related psychological injuries, and working with those who have a disability under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). He also has extensive experience working with Aboriginal people. Jamie is currently completing a PhD in the area of digital mental health where he is specifically looking at the effectiveness of mental health apps for smartphones and tablet devices. Jamie has been contracted as a Clinical Reference Lead for the Australian Digital Health Agency to provide input into those aspects of My Health Record relating specifically to mental health, and more broadly to allied health and rural communities.

 

My Health Record allows healthcare providers to access a central database of information about individuals in order to provide more informed treatment for their patients and clients. This workshop will provide an introductory overview of how the My Health Record system works and its relevance to psychologists. It will cover how psychologists can integrate My Health Record into their existing workflow, illustrated by mental health case studies. There will also be an opportunity for participants to ask questions. 

‘Smart’ eReferral system

Tim McGeoch is the Digital Health Officer (PHN) for HNECC Primary Health Network. Tim has a nursing background within the primary health care environment (health promotion) and is currently responsible for the roll-out of SeNT referrals across the New England.

This ‘Smart’ eReferral system is a  joint initiative by HNECC Primary Health Network, HNE HealthPathways Team and Hunter New England Health to develop a whole-of-health-system eReferral solution for GPs, specialists and other primary care providers (psychologists). The System allows GPs to perform 1^st level triage and send secure referrals electronically to approving private and public clinical specialists and allied health providers. The referrals contain locally agreed clinical content, specialist forms, eReferral algorithms and referral pathways that are based on HNE HealthPathways. The result is the delivery of  standardised, issue based referrals electronically to the service who can provide the appropriate level of care required by your patients. The provider database is locally maintained and regularly updated to be able to include specific information required by the service provider (e.g. particular population groups that you service, hours of operation, waiting periods). The referral is sent from the GPs clinical software (where relevant information is auto-populated) to a secure portal (Referral Manager). The specialist service provider will be notified through their nominated email address that they have received a referral and will need to log into their Referral Manager Portal to retrieve the Referral . Currently we have approximately 30% of GP practices in the NE with SeNT installed.

We also invite participants to join the presenters for dinner after the information session.

 

 

Tic Tock:  An Introduction to Comprehensive Behaviour Intervention for Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome

 

Date: Thursday 21 June 2018

Time: 5.30pm to 6.30pm

Venue: Armidale videolinked to Tamworth and Inverell

Armidale - Lewis Lecture Theatre, UNE

Tamworth – UNE Access Centre, Fitzroy Street

Inverell – UNE Access Centre, TAFE

 

Armidale attendees  - Please join us and the speaker for dinner afterwards at the Nepalese restaurant Luniva Mo Mo on Marsh Street around 7.00pm.

 

Alice Hone

Alice is a Clinical Psychologist who completed her Masters of Clinical Psychology degree at the University of New England (UNE). After completing her degree, Alice relocated to Sydney where she worked at a private practice specialising in Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders. Here she gained experience in the assessment and treatment of Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome, as well as common comorbid disorders (i.e., OCD, ADHD). Alice has delivered Comprehensive Behaviour Intervention for Tics to individuals interstate and internationally. She has attended a workshop by Dr Douglas Woods (developer of CBIT) and is a member of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia. 

 In addition to Tic Disorders, Alice also has an interest in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours, Eating Disorders, and Schema Therapy.  She is pleased to have returned to the New England region to share her knowledge and clinical skills within the community. Alice currently works in Armidale as a private practitioner and is a casual academic at UNE.

 

Abstract

A tic is defined as an involuntary, rapid, and recurrent motor movement or vocalisation.  Within the DSM-5, Tic Disorders have 4 diagnostic categories: Tourette Syndrome, Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder, Provisional Tic Disorder and Specified/Unspecified Tic Disorder. Collectively, Tic Disorders are a relatively common neurological disorder of childhood onset, affecting approximately 25% of school-aged children. Despite this, very few clinicians have been trained in evidence-based treatment for tic disorders. Current empirical research indicates that Comprehensive Behaviour Intervention for Tic Disorders (CBIT) is an effective behavioural based treatment for tic disorders. CBIT has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of tics in children and adults, and has been associated with neuroplasticity. Behavioural skills learned during therapy have been found to thicken the neural pathway between the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex, improving an individual's ability to filter out unnecessary motor responses. This presentation aims to provide clinicians with an overview of Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome, identify maintenance factors, and describes CBIT using case examples.

Bookings are essential

 

 

 

AGM and end of year dinner

 

Please note the New England North West Branch AGM, followed by dinner, will be held on:

Tuesday 12th December 2017 @ 6pm.

Venues:
Armidale - UNE, Lewis Lecture Theatre
Tamworth - UNE Centre, Fitzroy St

Nominations for the following are being called for -  Chair-Elect and Secretary. Information regarding these positions is available here: Branch Structure and Responsibilities.

The Nomination Form is an online form.

Please note nominations close by 4th December 2017;12 midnight AEST. 

The AGM will also include a CPD activity involving ethical dilemma group discussions, courtesy of the Psychology Council of NSW. 

IT'S CHRISTMAS!! Dinner will be held following the AGM, and will be subsidised $20 per head.  
Please RSVP by Friday 1st December to Serena -  [email protected]

We would like to thank the Committee Members  for their valuable contributions this year and welcome potential new members.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the friendly Member Group team via: mailto:[email protected]

 

 

 

 Personality Disorders

 

APS New England Northwest is delighted to present Dr Clive Stanton. Dr Stanton has graciously agreed to present to the New England Northwest APS branch a talk on Personality disorders.

Venue: Tamworth UNE Study Centre

Videolink: Armidale UNE, Lewis Lecture Theatre

Date: Wednesday 30 August 2017

Time: 5.30pm

Clive is a consultant psychiatrist who grew up and trained in the UK. He emigrated to Australia 3 years ago to work in the newly built Mental Health Intensive Care Unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. For just over a year now he has been travelling to Tamworth to work as a general adult psychiatrist too.

Clive's main interest is in Personality Disorder. Clive will discuss personality disorder and why it is an important area of mental health to recognise and understand. He hopes to have a discussion about best practice in the management of personality disorder drawing on his research and experience of working in specialist services.

All welcome to join Dr Stanton in Tamworth for dinner after the presentation.

Please RSVP to mailto:[email protected]com for the presentation and/or dinner by Friday 25 August 2017. 

 

  ADHD in Childhood: A Contemporary Approach

We are pleased to offer you another CPD opportunity organised in conjunction with APS National in Tamworth!

Date: Saturday 29th July 2017

Presenter:  Associate Professor Tim Hannan 

Tim Hannan is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, with 25 years’ experience in psychological practice with children and adolescents, including periods at each of Sydney's Children's hospitals. He has completed postgraduate degrees in clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, cognitive science, and sport psychology and has a keen interest in the delivery of effective evidence-based treatment of childhood disorders. Tim is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in the School of Psychology at Charles Sturt University where he teaches in educational and developmental psychology. He was the Project Director for the WISC-IV, WIAT-II and CELF-4 and has presented over 250 professional development activities on various topics in psychological assessment and interventions around the country and overseas. Tim is a Fellow of the APS, a member of the APS Colleges of Clinical Psychologists, Clinical Neuropsychologists, Educational & Developmental Psychologists, and Forensic Psychologists, and a past president of the APS

 

Level of Learning: Introductory

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a persistent problem that frequently interferes with a child’s family, academic and social functioning and predisposes the child to behavioural, emotional and social problems in adult life. In recent years, advances in the neurobiology, psychology and genetics of ADHD have led to a fuller understanding of the disorder, with the emergence of new practices in its identification and management. This workshop summarises recent developments in research and practice in this field and explores the development and implementation of effective interventions for children with ADHD. 

Please see link for further information

http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?EventID=17508&search=1

 

 WRITING AS THERAPY HALF DAY WORKSHOP

WITH DR DAVID ROLAND

Date:   Saturday 26 November 2016
Time:   8.30am – 12.30pm
Location:  Tamworth UNE Study Centre
Videolink:  Armidale UNE, Lewis Lecture Theatre
Cost:   APS Members $100 Non-APS Members $200 Students $75

David has a PhD in clinical psychology. He is an honorary associate with the School of Medicine, University of Sydney, a member of the Australian Psychological Society and a founder of the Australian branch of the Compassionate Mind Foundation. He has trained in neuropsychological assessment and studied interpersonal neurobiology online with professor Daniel Siegel (author of Mindsight). His first book was The Confident Performer (1998). His latest book is a memoir, How I Rescued My Brain: A Psychologist’s Remarkable Recovery from Stroke and Trauma. David has also presented at various events including the Happiness and Its Causes Conference in Sydney. David is a public speaker, musician, and advocate for mental health and disability issues.

In a gentle environment, explore ways of using writing to move through difficult emotions, integrate past events, and heighten positive experiences. It’s one way of bringing the brain’s non-conscious memories into clearer focus. Exercises will include James Pennebaker’s ‘writing to heal’ exercises, journaling with a purpose, narrative integration, self-compassion and gratitude exercises. Your level of writing skill is unimportant and there will be no pressure to read out what you have written.

Learning outcomes for this workshop include the following:

1. You will be given a rationale for the Expressive Writing exercise.

2. You will gain a direct experience of how the Expressive Writing exercise works by undertaking it yourself.

3. You can expect to achieve some healing of the issues you’ve used in the writing exercise

4. Be able to assess when to use this exercise with clients

5. The protocol for delivering the exercise

6. How to evaluate the writing outcomes of the exercise

7. What pitfalls to avoid in the writing process

 

Please register as soon as possible as we expect this event will be sold out quickly.

Closing date for registration: Sunday 20 November 2016

To register, please click on the following link or paste the link into your browser: http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?ID=17164

For more information, please e-mail Serena Haridas on [email protected]

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & TALK BY ANNEMAREE WILSON FROM CRANA BUSH SUPPORT SERVICES

The 2016 APS New England Northwest Branch AGM is to be held on:

Date: Thursday 17 November 2016

Time: 5.30pm 

Location: Tamworth UNE Study Centre

Videolinks: Armidale UNE, Lewis Lecture Theatre and Inverell UNE Study Centre, TAFE  

The Minutes from the 2015 AGM and the Agenda for the 2016 AGM have been sent to members by e-mail.

As this is an election year, all positions will be vacant and nominations will be required for Office Bearers and Committee Members positions.

Branch Committees are comprised of the following elected positions:

Chair;

1. Secretary;
2. Treasurer; and
3. Up to eight (8) Committee Members. 

• Elections are held for vacant positions in conjunction with the Branch AGM.
• Nominations close at 12 midnight (AEST) seven (7) days prior to the Branch AGM.
• The term of office for elected positions is two (2) years from the Branch AGM.
• If the number of nominations received is higher than the number of positions available, a secret ballot vote will be held at the Branch AGM.
• Additional information and enquiries can be sent to the Member Groups team: [email protected] 

Any member, academic member, or associate member who would like to be appointed to an Office Bearer position on the Committee can complete a Nomination Form - nomination forms for elections are available on the APS website.
 

Presentation

The AGM will be followed by a presentation from Annemaree Wilson of Crana Bush Support Services. Event details will be emailed out shortly.

For more information, e-mail [email protected]

or

[email protected] 

 

EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGIST NETWORKING NIGHTS:

The APS New England North West Branch would like to invite all psychologists (regardless of whether they are members of the APS) to come join us at the following three locations for a casual get together.

Date: Thursday 13 October 2016

Time: 5.30pm 

Venues: 

Tamworth - Tamworth Hotel, 147 Marius St, Tamworth NSW 2340

Inverell -  Union Bar, 79 Otho St, Inverell NSW 2360

Armidale - Whitebull Hotel, 117 Marsh St, Armidale NSW 2350

Please feel free to forward this invitation to your fellow psychologists. Please RSVP to [email protected] or just turn up :-)  

We look foward to seeing everyone there!

 

Workshop: Using attachment to shape therapy: lessons from Bowlby and countertransference

Speaker: Dr Rob McAlpine

Date: Thursday 22 September 2016

Time: 8.30am – 5.00pm

Venue: Tamworth Study Centre, 24 Fitzroy Street Tamworth

Cost: $10

Duration: 1 full day

Refreshments: Morning Tea, Lunch, and Afternoon Tea provided by Pronto Catering         

Dr Rob McAlpine is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years’ experience working primarily with adolescents and adults. This one day event consists of theory based learning and a skill development component. It will focus upon exploration of an attachment-based intervention for depression and related disorders. A range of learning methods will be used including didactic presentations, experiential exercises, small group activities, skills demonstrations and role play.

To register, please visit: http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?ID=17011

 

PRESENTATION BY DR MICHAEL CLARKE:

"Gender and Self-Perception"

Date: Thursday 29 September 2016

Time: 5.30pm

Location: University of New England Armidale, Lewis Lecture Theatre

Videolinked: Tamworth Study Centre and Inverell TAFE

About the presenter:

Dr Michael Clarke has been a practicing psychologist since 2011. He recently completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of New England and was awarded the APS Clinical College prize in 2015. Michael is currently practicing at the University of New England’s Student Support Counselling Service and also teaches professional practice in the Psychology Honours program

About the presentation:

Gender is regarded as one of the building-blocks of our identity. Consequently, the messages that society conveys in regards to appropriate behaviour for each gender have important ramifications for our own self-concept and actions. In this talk, I will review the relationship between social identity theory and self-perception. I will discuss the results from my recent PhD thesis and findings that show that simple manipulations of what is considered ‘normal’ for each gender can sway our perception of our own functioning. This may be especially pertinent in regards to our sense of our emotional and sexual functioning. How this may relate to the client/therapist relationship will also be discussed with particular focus on couple’s therapy, as well as working with younger clients and clients experiencing sexual dysfunction.

This presentation will be approved for active CPD points.

Please RSVP to Serena Haridas: [email protected] by Friday 23 September 2016.

"REFLECTIONS ON THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE: IMPLICATIONS OF ATTACHMENT ON ALLIANCE"

- A Talk by Nisha Dhani and Rob McAlpine

Date: Wednesday 6th April 2016

Time: 5.30pm

Cost: Free

Location: Tamworth UNE Study Centre, 24 Fitzroy St Tamworth

And by videoconference to ARMIDALE: University of New England, Lewis Lecture Theatre.

                                       INVERELL: UNE Access Centre, Inverell TAFE, Wood St.

Please RSVP to [email protected]

 

APS Presentation

Brief Biography of Presenters

Robert McAlpine PhD MAPS is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years experience as a clinician and trainer. He provides training and supervision in Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Australia and USA. He has conducted workshops in IRRT throughout Australia. Since 2001, he has provided a range of adolescent mental health presentations as part of the NSW School-Link and the Queensland EdLinQ programs. Rob spends most of his professional time as a clinician in regional NSW.

Nisha Dhani MClinPsych MAPS has significant experience working in a range of settings, including occupational rehabilitation, private practice, and Community Health, in both regional and rural areas. She has facilitated groups for various providers, in both the private and public sector. Nisha currently works with adolescents and their guardians, with a broad range of clinical presentations.

This presentation will be approved for active CPD points.

 

Important note: Dr McAlpine and Nisha Dhani are also planning an Imagery Rescripting & Reprocessing Therapy workshop in Tamworth on Thursday 7^th April 2016 and Friday 8^th April 2016 dependent upon adequate workshop participants.

Consequently, the APS presentation will be dependant upon whether their workshop goes ahead. Members will be advised by 30 March 2016 if the APS presentation is cancelled.

 

Workshop

 

The Early Bird pricing for Dr McAlpine and Nisha Dhani’s workshop in Tamworth will close on 28 March 2016, please click through to registration for the early bird prices.

 

Details for the workshop are as follows:

 

Imagery Rescripting & Reprocessing Therapy: Managing Trauma When Words Aren't Enough

Presented by Nisha Dhani MAPS & Dr Robert McAlpine MAPS

 

Tamworth 7th & 8th April Sydney 12th & 13th May Brisbane 9th &10th June

Early Bird $590 Standard Fee $650

 

Imagery Rescripting and Reprocessing Therapy is an intervention originally developed for managing complex trauma. IRRT acknowledges that the bio-psychological environment in which traumatic memories were formed often leaves these memories inaccessible to talking therapy. In these cases, words aren’t enough. IRRT employs schema-based therapeutic approaches that directly access maladaptive trauma-related images, and create new experiences of these memories characterised by mastery and nurture. This workshop will begin with an overview of recent developments in assessment and management of trauma, then proceed to an explanation of IRRT and a synopsis of new developments in the field. However the focus of the workshop is skill development. Prior to presentation of the five modules of IRRT, the generic therapeutic tool of anchoring will be described then demonstrated before participants are given the opportunity to rehearse this skill in pairs. Anchoring is a stand-alone tool often used in the somatic management of anxiety. A variation of anchoring specific to IRRT will be re-visited in Module 5:“Homework”.

 

The five IRRT modules addressed in this workshop are:

1.    Accessing trauma imagery

2.    Rescue

3.    Nurture

4.    Verbal processing

5.    Homework

The presentation of each module will follow a similar format: first, a case example will be presented; second, the trainers will do a live demonstration of the skill; third, participants will, in pairs, rehearse the skill experiencing it both as clinician and client; and fourth, participants will be given the opportunity to apply the skill to a current case, before discussing this case with a fellow participant.

 

Registration is available online at:

http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?EventID=16371&search=1

 ______________________________________________________________

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

FOLLOWED AFTERWARDS WITH A TALK BY PROFESSOR GRAHAM JAMIESON

When: Thursday 26th November 2015

Time: 5.30pm (with dinner afterwards)

Cost: Free (dinner at own expense)

Location: University of New England, Armidale - Lewis Lecture Theatre

Videolinks to: Tamworth UNE Study Centre, 24 Fitzroy St. Tamworth

                    Inverell UNE Study Centre, Inverell TAFE, Cnr Woods & Evans Sts. Inverell

Please RSVP to [email protected] with your preferred location and/or dinner attendance.

 

The Black Dog Institute Presents: "BREAKING DOWN DEPRESSION & BUILDING RESILIENCE" - A talk by Peter Langston

When: Thursday 24th September 2015

Time: 5.30pm

Cost: FREE (donations to the Black Dog Institute will be welcomed on the night)

Location: Tamworth UNE Study Centre, 24 Fitzroy Street Tamworth (followed by dinner with the guest speaker for those available)

Videolinks:  Armidale UNE, Lewis Lecture Theatre
                   Inverell UNE Study Centre, Inverell TAFE, Cnr Wood and Evans Sts.

Please RSVP to [email protected] with your preferred location and/or Tamworth dinner attendance (own cost).

Peter Langston Brief Bio:

Peter began a teaching career at Nowendoc in 1981. His real love, though, was writing.

In 2000, his robust world collapsed. Full scale breakdown followed: suicide attempts, a year of friendly faces looming from the darkness to offer assurance and lots of wrong diagnoses about his mental state. After 14 months of grim existence, he recognised he was at the whim of bipolar disorder, doctors and psychiatrists had consecutive “ah-ha” moments and the right medication and excellent therapy somehow managed to put Humpty back together - but he has since avoided the wall.

Peter writes or edits his way through most weeks, preferring to see himself as a story teller than a poet. Some stories are personal, some observational and some are as old as man’s existence and woman’s discontent. A few are his stories but most are ours, just retold through his vision.

"Six Nines" (Dec 2009) was his first book of poetry, a second collection "Head Full of Whispers" May 2012) followed and the third "Straightening My Tie" , was launched by Eric Bogle in January 2015.

Individual poems have previously been published in newspapers and anthologies such as “Semaphore Dancing” – Poets At The Pub (2009) and on the websites of the ABC and The Black Dog Institute. In November 2011, "Self-Portrait of a Difficult Pleasure" was selected for the "1000 Words" exhibition at NERAM in Armidale and in January 2012 and "When Dougie Did The Double" was selected for the "100 Years of Tests" exhibition at the Sydney Cricket Ground. "His Favourite Chair", "Losing Weight By Proxy" and "Susie" from the first collection have all been selected and dramatised on stage at the Armidale Festival of Short Plays.

He also contributed an essay to “Journeys With The Black Dog” (Allen & Unwin 2007) and has written feature articles for the Northern Daily Leader, The Armidale Express, The Weekly (Mudgee), the Daily Examiner (Grafton) and frequently appears in the letters section of the Sydney Morning Herald. His website "thecricketragics" has a strong popular following, attracting more than a thousand page views a week, with subscribers from four continents visiting every day for news and views about cricket. Peter is also an accomplished and prize winning photographer. In recent summers he has appeared regularly on ABC radio as a cricket journalist.

In 2013, he began working as a volunteer for the Black Dog Institute, combining his life experience and his teaching expertise in delivering community presentations on mood disorders and teenage depression and speaking with groups of medical practitioners about a client's perspective of their services. In January of 2014 and again in October, he was a guest on ABC radio's national broadcast Conversations with Richard Fidler.

He no longer plays cricket but still hits a ball on a string and sends his hat size and phone number to Cricket Australia every September, just in case. Such optimism is evident in his poetry.

 

Interpersonal Psychotherapy - One Day Workshop With Dr Gavin Clark

When: Saturday 22nd August 2015

Time: 9am - 5pm

 

Where: Tamworth - UNE Access Centre

            24 Fitzroy Street Tamworth

            (next to the Town Hall)

 

Cost:  Members $100

          Non-members $150

          Students $50

 

For more information, contact Marisa Barnes: [email protected]

 

To register for this event, please go to online registration: http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?EventID=15880

Dr Gavin Clark Bio:

Dr Gavin Clark is a Lecturer in Psychology and Teaching Fellow at the University of New England. Dr Clark completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford, completing his final year at Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre (OCTC). Dr Clark worked as the Director of the University Training Clinic and Lecturer/Clinical Tutor at the Charlie Waller Institute of Evidence-Based Psychological Therapy at the University of Reading. Dr Clark has carried out extensive clinical work in the NHS and University settings. He has also provided training and supervision on the application of evidence-based psychological therapies to clinicians at various stages of training and qualification throughout the UK.

Workshop Descritption:

The workshop will provide an overview of fundamental aspects of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and provide attendees with a working understanding of how IPT is applied clinically. The presentation will include an introduction to the theoretical background of IPT, the process of assessment using this approach and the key steps involved in treatment. 

• Overview of IPT approach
  Time will be spent describing the structure of IPT interventions and how the IPT model can be used to conceptualise psychological distress.
• Assessment and Conducting The Interpersonal Inventory
  The key components of effective information-gathering in an IPT intervention will be discussed, along with practical exercises focused on gaining experience of some of the techniques used to efficiently gather this information.
• Identifying a Problem Area and Treatment Planning
  The four problem areas that are defined within the IPT approach will be described.  Time will be spent discussing how to best identify and prioritise the focus of treatment
• Using Communication Analysis Effectively in Treatment
  
• Communication analysis is fundamental in understanding patients’ emotional well -being and modifying counterproductive patterns of interpersonal behaviour.  The workshop will provide an opportunity to explore how communication analysis can be used to assess interpersonal problem situations and increase client well-bein

Motivational Interviewing - Half Day Workshop With Associate Professor Debra Dunstan

When: Saturday 11th July

 

Time: 8.30am - 1pm

 

Cost: Members $50

         Non-members $70

         Students $20

 

Location: The APS New England Branch is committed to extending our abilities to support our wide member group through trialling the use of videoconferencing technologies. Therefore this workshop will be hosted across two sites.  
1. Lewis Lecture Theatre, UNE, Armidale (where the workshop will be delivered "live").
2. UNE Access Centre, Fitzroy St, Tamworth (where the workshop will be delivered by videoconference).

Abstract: Miller and Rollnick (2013) define Motivational Interviewing (MI) as “a collaborative conversational style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change”.  In this half-day workshop, participants will be introduced to the key features of MI and its application in practice.  A description of the spirit and four processes of MI will be followed by experiential exercises involving observation, participation and reflection.  Copies of the workshop slides, therapy handouts, and critical questions and statements will be provided.

Bio: Debra Dunstan PhD MAPS is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Director of the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of New England, Armidale.  She is a registered clinical psychologist and physiotherapist with over 25 years’ experience in the Health Services sector.  Debra’s clinical expertise is in the area of occupational rehabilitation, where MI is used to assist clients to overcome the limitations of chronic pain, conflicting demands and job loss.  When not working on her next research paper, Debra enjoys undertaking home building and decorating projects.

 

To register for this event, please go to online registration:

http://www.psychology.org.au/Events/EventView.aspx?EventID=15814

Please indicate which site is your preferred venue. 

For more information, contact Marisa Barnes: [email protected]

Recruiting The Best Psychologists: Perfecting Your Social Media Profile & Opportunities In Occupational Rehabilitation - A Presentation by Dimity Smith, Psychologist & Recruitment Consultant

When: Monday 4th May 5.30pm

Where: UNE Access Centre, 124 Fitzroy Street Tamworth (next to the Town Hall).

This presentation will also be videolinked to Armidale and Inverell.

Armidale: The Lewis Lecture Theatre, University of New England.

Inverell: UNE Access Centre, Inverell TAFE, Cnr Wood & Evans Streets.

Cost: Free

RSVP is essential: Marisa Barnes - [email protected]

For those interested, there will also be dinner afterwards in both Tamworth and Armidale for people to network. Dimity will be attending the Tamworth dinner. Please note that the APS are unable to cover the cost of dinner for this event. Details about dinner are as follows.

Tamworth: The Tamworth Hotel, 147 Marius Street (just around the corner from the UNE Access Centre).

Armidale: The Royal Hotel, Marsh Street (to be confirmed).

Continuing professional development points are applicable for this event. Students are encouraged to attend.

 

Abstract

With social media being a part of our everyday lives &, both a personal and professional platform to express oneself, everything is on show for potential employers to see what we get up to (Broughton, Foley, Ledermaier & Cox, 2013).  From your wild weekend on Facebook to a promotion at work on LinkedIn – nothing really is a secret. The only issue with this is that limited privacy means ALL of you is on show and potentially may not be what a company is looking for in their new staff member.

More recently, LinkedIn has become a progressively effective & transparent way of finding the best candidates for a role – anywhere in the country. At Big Umbrella, we commonly use this as a tool to seek out the best candidates & see if they may be interested in what our Occupational Rehabilitation clients may have to offer. Given these innovations to the way that recruitment works & the reduced amount of opportunities for roles as Provisional Psychologists, it is essential that you give yourself every opportunity to secure a great role.

Within this presentation, Dimity will be focusing on the best ways to present yourself as a Provisional (or Registered) Psychologist to a Recruiter on both LinkedIn, your CV & in person. In addition, Dimity will provide updates on opportunities across Australia & the huge benefits to commencing your Psychology career within the Occupational Rehabilitation industry.

 

Biography

Dimity Smith is a Registered Psychologist & Recruitment Consultant from Macquarie University & moved to Tamworth as a Provisional Psychologist in 2009. Dimity has since worked for a national Occupational Rehabilitation Provider as a Team Leader, Senior Consultant & Specialist Consultant for 5 years with 2 years also spent in a part-time role in Private Practice. Following a break in London in early 2014, & determining HR & Business development was a major interest, Dimity returned to Tamworth to commence a role as an Allied Health Recruitment Consultant for Big Umbrella - specifically focusing on recruitment of Psychologists for Occupational Rehabilitation. Big Umbrella is based in Sydney & recruits allied health & medical candidates for roles all over Australia.

 

 

Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the New England Branch of the APS to be held on Wednesday, 3 December 2014

VENUES:

Armidale - Lewis Lecture Theatre, UNE

Tamworth - UNE Access Centre, Fitzroy Street

Inverell -  UNE Study Centre (same building as the library), Inverell TAFE

Guest Speaker: Assocaite Professor Drew Khlentzos

Topic: Logic, language comprehension and reasoning

Dinner with the guest speaker at the Royal Hotel will follow the AGM for those attending in Armidale.

Please RSVP to [email protected] by Friday 28/11/14 with your preferred venue.

Talk Abstract:

Studies of human reasoning in psychology seem to have dispelled the myth that humans are essentially rational, encouraging some psychologists to question whether human minds obey logical rules at all. Yet language acquisition studies tell a different story: quite sophisticated logical abilities seem to be required to understand certain linguistic constructions. This presents a puzzle. Recently, cognitive neuroscientists and psychologists have used more advanced techniques for detecting reasoning. The picture of human reason that emerges is more complex than the folk myth of intrinsic rationality allows: a reasoning system that can often be trumped by  time-saving heuristics, yet one that is aware of its own bias. The role logic plays in such a reasoning system is at present undecided.

 

Bio: Drew Khlentzos is an Associate Professor in Psychology, UNE. He is an Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre for Cognition and its Disorders (CCD) and Visiting Professor in Linguistics at Beijing Language and Culture University. Together with Distinguished Professor Stephen Crain and A/Prof Blake Johnson (both from CCD), he is currently investigating children's comprehension of logical words for an ARC-funded Discovery Project. Drew originally trained as a logician, doing his Ph.D in logic at ANU. He taught logic and philosophy at UNE for many years before seeing the light and joining UNE Psychology. He currently teaches a unit on judgment and decision-making.

 

Previous events

• Please click here to view past events

• Audio and powerpoint recordings of all past presentations can be viewed here
  http://www.une.edu.au/current-students/resources/academic-schools/bcss/study-areas/psychology/research/australian-psychology-society-seminars

Audio and powerpoint recordings of all the following presentations can be viewed here:

• http://www.une.edu.au/current-students/resources/academic-schools/bcss/study-areas/psychology/research/australian-psychology-society-seminars

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Thursday 11 September 2014 @ 5.30pm

Mental Health/Illness: Two Continua Model of Complete Mental Health

Dr Navjot Bhullar

 

Abstract: 

Mental health is a complete state consisting of not merely the absence of illness (psychopathology) but the presence of something positive. There is now a strong body of evidence suggesting the absence of mental illness as a minimal outcome; and the presence of positive mental health comprises flourishing in which individuals report high levels of emotional, psychological and social functioning. This presentation will outline evidence that mental health promotion and protection is premised on the dual continuum model, and describe results from a range of studies exploring predictors, correlates and/or antecedents of complete state of mental health. These findings will challenge the de facto approach of mental illness treatment and prevention through risk reduction.

 

Bio: Dr Bhullar is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at UNE and conducts research in the area of mental health and well-being. Her work mainly focuses on examining and understanding a range of factors, including psychological, societal and environmental influences on human (mental) health. Navjot is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, International Association of Applied Psychology and Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association.

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Thursday 19 June 2014

Psychology Competencies and their Role in Life-Long Professional Development

Dr Nick Reynolds

Abstract: Like all professions, psychology is based on the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in chosen areas of practice. Competency models for psychological practice currently exist within the APS and the Psychology Board of Australia. While these models are comprehensive, their structure and content are such that it is difficult expressing exactly what a psychologist does, what training they need to undertake before practicing independently, and the direction that their future professional development will take. This PD event presents the development of a competency model for psychological practice that is outcome-oriented and fully integrated across the professional lifespan. The first part of the presentation will cover development of the overarching framework. Detailed content of the framework will also be presented as well as an outline of how it will be used moving forward to structure courses aimed at providing competent psychologists. The second part of the presentation will describe how the competency framework is being used to enhance psychologists' ability to undertake focussed development across the whole of their professional life.

 

 

Bio: Dr Nick Reynolds, FAPS
Nick is a Director of Bainbaci Pty Ltd and a non-executive Director of the Australian Psychological Society.  His areas of expertise cover a wide range of organisational psychology functions including Leadership Development Coaching, Job and Competency Analysis, Employee Selection Methods, Assessment and Development Centres, Performance Management, and Employee Attitude Surveys.
After a long career in the Army as a military psychologist, Nick developed his consultancy expertise working with both the Hay Group and SHL. He has also been National Assessment Consulting Manager for Davidson Trahaire Corpsych.
Nick has been an adjunct Associate Professor of organisational psychology at the University of Canberra, has headed an international human resources group, and is past national chair of the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Organisational Psychologists.  He has also headed a committee within the Australian Psychological Society on Psychological Testing and Assessment, has been a member of an APS committee reviewing Alternative Modes of Entry into the Society’s Colleges, was a member of the Education and Training working group that created the new model of psychology education. He is also on the advisory group for the new APS Training Institute.
He is head of the APS Professional Development Advisory Group and prior to his election as an APS Director was the PD representative on the COP National Executive. 
He has worked professionally across most sectors of the economy, including Banking and Finance, Mining, all tiers of Government, FMCG, Industrials, Pharmaceuticals and Professional Services. Much of his current work is being undertaken assisting Medical Colleges in developing and implementing processes ranging from Selection, through Training, to Continuing PD.

 

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Monday 28 April 2014

 

Identifying key pathways into sexual offending for juveniles

Dr Michael Gathercole 

 

Abstract: Identifying key pathways into sexual offending for juveniles can be useful in helping to reduce offending, inform treatment development and improve therapeutic targeting. Theory is sparse in this area so a multiple case study design utilising grounded theory methodology was implemented. Though similar models have been developed for adult male and female offenders (Gannon et al., 2008), pathway models have not previously been developed for this juvenile group of offenders. Data was collected via structured interviews with therapists and case managers who were working with this population. Fifty six case studies were obtained from 8 different therapists. From these, 8 distinct pathways could be ascertained: complex trauma, poorly developed masculinities, disability, inappropriate sexualisation, dependent personality, deviant arousal, psychopathic nature and poor social skills without a trauma or disability background. Most juveniles displayed multiple pathways. This new data may help future theorizing and intervention methods on this population.

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Preaching to Different Choirs:  How to Engage Audiences that are Alarmed, Uncommitted, and Skeptical about Climate Change?

Professor Don Hine

Brief Overview: 
Engaging the public about mitigating or adapting to climate change threats poses significant challenges for scientists, policy makers and others responsible for developing communication strategies.  In response to these challenges, interest is growing in audience segmentation as a possible strategy to develop more effective communications that are tailored and targeted to subgroups of the public who share similar values, beliefs, behaviours and/or policy preferences about climate change.  The presentation will outline the strengths and limitations of audience segmentation as a climate change communication strategy, and describe the results of a recent study that investigated how to tailor messages to more effectively engage Australians who are sceptical, uncommitted or alarmed about climate change.
 
BIO: 
Professor Don Hine conducts research in the area of environmental psychology. His work focuses on understanding psychological factors that underlie environmental problems such as resource over-consumption, climate change, and air pollution. Much of his work involves identifying strategies to help people change their destructive patterns of behaviour into more environmentally sustainable ones.  He is a member of the Australian Psychological Society's Climate Change Reference Group and is leader of the Effective Behavioural Triggers project for the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.

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Monday 10 February 2014

The effects of post-separation parenting arrangements on children’s mental health: practice implications for psychologists

Dr Anne Hollingworth

ABSTRACT:
As a result of 2006 amendments to the Family Law Act, the presumption in law is that the best interests of the child will be served by shared and equal parental responsibility post-divorce. Many litigants in the Family Courts (and their lawyers) have wrongly interpreted the 2006 legislation to mean that the child must spend equal time with each parent. A non-controversial underlying assumption about shared care arrangements is that children benefit from ongoing warm involvement with both their parents throughout their development, including after family separation. However the Australian legislation goes well beyond encouraging shared parenting between high-functioning ex-partners who have formed a good working alliance as co-parents despite their differences as romantic partners and opens up the possibility that shared care will be viewed as the default position even by parents in intractable conflict and/or those whose intrinsic personal characteristics seriously impair their parenting capacity.  
A recent analysis of data from the longitudinal study of Australian children (Lucas, Nicholson & Erbas, 2013) found that those from separated families had poorer mental health than those from intact families, and that this difference was explained fully by exposure to parental conflict, socioeconomic status and parent mental health, and to a lesser extent by parenting practices. The attachment literature is also eloquent about the possible deleterious effects (including lasting neurological harm) on infants of premature overnight separations from the primary caregiver (for comprehensive review see the special addition of Family Court Review, Vol 49, no 3). However, judicial officers are bound by the legislation to consider shared care arrangements unless the underlying assumption of benefit (or at least non-harm) for children can be rebutted in a given instance. Furthermore, judicial officers must rely on the evidence presented to the Court: even though they may be illuminated by insights from the psychological literature (particularly the attachment research) judges may not reference that information to justify their determination unless it has been presented in evidence by an appropriate expert (e.g. report or sown testimony of a Family Consultant or Single Expert). This presentation will deal with the practice implications for psychologists attempting to assist children and parents navigate the hazards of post-separation parenting arrangements (including stressful engagement with the legal system). Topics will include evidence-based developmentally-informed guidelines for overnight care of young children and for shared care; the relevance of spousal violence during the marriage to post-separation parenting arrangements; and understanding, dealing with issues of alienation / estrangement of the non-residential parent.

Biodata:  Anne Hollingworth
 
Anne followed undergraduate studies in Linguistics and Educational Psychology, and post-graduate studies Social Work, Psychology, Applied Linguistics and Conflict Resolution.  Anne has been working with children and their families since 1975. She started working as a marital and family therapist in 1978 (after completing her second graduate practicum at Marriage Guidance Council of South Australia in 1977). During 1979-80 she completed a two year post-basic course in Family Therapy run by Michael White at the Department of Psychiatry, Adelaide Children’s Hospital one day per week. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis (ASH). She is currently a financial member of the APS Colleges of Clinical and Forensic Psychologists, but is no longer a financial member of the Colleges of Counselling and Health Psychologists. Keeping up with the PD demands of four colleges is too onerous! Between 1987and 1998 Anne worked in staff development, consultancy and higher education (first abroad then in Australia). She opened her private practice in 1998, since which time the proportion of her referrals for child and family assessments for the Courts (Children’s Court and Family Courts) increased annually. In 2013 she ceased taking psychotherapy referrals in order to concentrate on her forensic work as a Court-appointed expert. Many referrals are for complex cases of intractable conflict about custody and access: including disputes about shared care; care and contact regimes for very young children; parenting plans for children with special or intense needs; rejection of a child by a parent typically (contested as  “alienation” versus “realistic estrangement”); allegations and counter-allegations about family violence, child sexual abuse, inadequate parenting capacity, parental mental health disorders and/or substance abuse.

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TUESDAY 13 AUGUST 2013

 

Doing Reconciliation Locally: what does the APS RAP mean to branches and members in regional Australia?

Ms Heather Gridley

ABSTRACT: The Universal declaration of ethical principles for psychologists (2008) explicitly recognises that Psychology as a science and a profession functions within the context of human society, and as such has responsibilities to society that include using psychological knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society.  In keeping with this responsibility, the Australian Psychological Society has undertaken a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to make explicit the steps the organisation is taking to address the inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to celebrate what can happen when there are genuine partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and organisations.

In September 2012, the inaugural APS RAP was launched at the 47^th APS Annual Conference in Perth amid shared sense of excitement and commitment, with four broad areas of priority:

1.   Respectful relationships

2.   Governance

3.   Cultural Competence

4.   Indigenous education and employment

But what has been happening since then? What difference does the RAP make to APS members in the professional frontline, and to their local Indigenous communities? This presentation will provide an update on the achievements inaugural RAP process to date, and some ideas for implementing the RAP at the local level. Branch members attending will be invited to offer comment, ask questions, and consider how the RAP can help us move towards a more inclusive psychology.

About the speaker: Heather Gridley's career history as a humanities-based psychologist with a passionate commitment to social justice bridges the practitioner-academic divide.  Her interest in community psychology stemmed from her work in community health in the 1980s, where she became aware of the limitations of interventions directed solely at individuals. 

In 1990 Heather joined the fledgling Victoria University, where she coordinated the postgraduate program in Community Psychology, one of only two in Australia.  She served two terms on the APS Board between 1997-2002, and is currently employed in the National Office as Manager (Public Interest), where she has responsibility for furthering the Society's contributions to the promotion and enhancement of community wellbeing, and enabling the development of clear APS positions on issues of public interest and social justice. Heather was a founding member of the APS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Interest Group, and contributed to the APS Position Paper on Racism and Prejudice.  She now has oversight of the APS Reconciliation Action Plan.

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Friday 19 July 2013

Juvenile Justice and Aboriginal over representation

Dr Michael Gathercole

Abstract:The presentation will commence with a brief overview of crime, its fluctuation over time and the primary causes of this variation. This will be followed by an examination of what young people in Juvenile Justice Programs look like, in terms of health, mental illness rates, disability, gender, social background and ethnicity. Unfortunately 56.3% of those sentenced to detention and 39.6% of those on remand (in 2007-8) were either Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. Yet in NSW there are only 114,000 who identify as either Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander of a population of 6.98 million (1.6% of population or 35 times over represented). The presentation will then look at some of the key issues that underlie this over representation then some of the possible solutions to these.  

Bio:Dr Michael Gathercole is currently a Senior Forensic Mental Health Psychologist at Juvenile Justice. He is the first Aboriginal to hold such a position anywhere in the department.  He is also in the process of completing his second Master of Psychology at UNE and is again the first Aboriginal to do the course. Michael has more experience in the field than he cares to acknowledge but will admit to starting his career when psychologists of any ethnic background were rare in rural locations. His PhD was exploring human wellbeing changes in 20^th Century Australia, some of his results will be included in the presentation.

 

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Wednesday 26 June 2013

Pedophilia, Sexual Offending, and the Royal Commission 

Dr Amy Lykins

 

Brief description: Sexual offending against children is a challenging topic, both because of the emotions it often stirs in people and the difficulties in its management. I will first discuss the diagnosis of and diagnostic issues associated with pedophilia, and how this relates to legal issues associated with sexual offending. This will be followed by a discussion on Australia's ongoing Royal Commission hearings, and end with a discussion on treatment options and outcome data.

 

The Speaker:  Dr Lykins was awarded her Bachelor degree in Psychology and Sociology from Indiana University in 2001. While at Indiana University, she worked for four years as a research assistant at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Amy attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for her graduate studies, earning her Master degree in 2004 and her PhD in 2008. She completed her clinical internship, postdoctoral fellowship, and supervised practice in the Forensic Clinical Sexology Services of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario. Her current line of research investigates the cognitive processing of sexual information in sexually functional and dysfunctional populations.

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Monday 20 May 2013

The rise of positive psychology and its integration into traditional CBT 

Mr Jamie Marshall

Abstract: Positive psychology is a growing movement quickly establishing itself as an empirically driven and popular approach towards increasing happiness for individuals. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a long-standing therapeutic approach to alleviating depression and other health issues. This presentation will focus on research conducted for a Masters thesis that examined the effectiveness of a group CBT program for depression incorporating positive psychology interventions versus the same program without additional positive psychology content. While both programs proved effective, the positive psychology enhanced program was more effective at reducing psychopathology and improving wellbeing. Variables associated with treatment success will be examined, as will the various positive psychology interventions used. The future of positive psychology will be discussed, and questions, opinions and comments about positive psychology will be encouraged.

 

Abstract:   The overall aims of the Heart Health Program were to:

• improve heart health by achieving reductions in cardiovascular risk factors.
• improve quality of life of participants and life satisfaction
• provide participants with the ongoing self management life-skills and knowledge to identify and modify their own personal risk factors
• link individuals to sustainable ongoing community services and group support for long term maintenance of change

The Heart Health Program was developed in collaboration with other psychologists and dieticians from the Heart Foundation and funded by the Vietnam Veteran' Counselling Service. It consisted of a core exercise program (Heartmoves) combined with a self-management behaviour change and education program (Heartthoughts).  This multi component and multi disciplinary exercise and behaviour change program was designed to provide Vietnam Veterans with the knowledge, skills and practice to help them make sustainable heart health behaviour changes, to improve their heart health and quality of life.Veterans were provided with the knowledge and skills required to self manage behaviour change. The education sessions were designed to facilitate veterans developing a set of attitudes and beliefs, firstly that change will be beneficial for heart health and secondly that behaviour change is achievable.  Veterans were presented with the opportunity to practice their selected target behaviours, and reinforcement and support from family and friends were encouraged.  With increased frequency, target behaviours can become habits for lifetime health, increasing the likelihood of physiological changes in heart health risk profile.  This model facilitated social interaction and networking amongst veterans while they were participating in exercise and established group cohesion prior to the start of the behaviour change sessions. The closed group format also provided reinforcement opportunities and maintained participation in physical activity. This format also provided a non threatening "support group" environment for veterans to share experiences, problems and successful coping strategies, within a safe yet non-therapeutic setting.Apart from the primary objectives of reducing heart risk behaviours and increasing heart health behaviours, other  objectives of the project were to improve veteran's physical, mental and social functioning, self esteem and life satisfaction, increase networking and social interaction among veterans and increase access to health resources locally. These factors represent the important predisposing and enabling factors, likely to facilitate sustained behaviour change and improved health status. On a broader population level, the program aimed to build the capacity within local communities for sustainable heart health programs and increase the skills of health professionals and fitness leaders for both the veteran and the wider community.  

The Speaker: Amanda Nagle is a behavioural scientist, (specializing in population health and prevention) and has recently taken up a position as Associate professor in the School of Rural Medicine at the University of New England. Amanda has returned to Academia in a full time capacity after an extensive career in the Non-Government Sector “putting theory into practice”. Her professional and research interests have included lifestyle behavior change at a population level, (including tobacco, physical activity, nutrition and stress management), as well as focus on innovation diffusion, systems change, and the role of general practice in prevention .

Associate Professor Amanda Nagle Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology (Hons) UNSWPhD Discipline of Behavioural Science in Relation to Medicine, at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Newcastle. Title: Impact of Hospitalisation on patient smoking: Current practice and potential for nurse-provided smoking cessation care.

Cognitive-behavioural models have successfully been developed to guide the understanding and treatment of specific anxiety disorder diagnoses. However, such diagnosis-specific approaches do not account for the numerous individuals who meet criteria for co-morbid or non-specific anxiety diagnoses. This talk will discuss the different approaches to conceptualising and treating individuals with multiple anxiety disorders including utilising single or multiple diagnosis-specific protocols or adopting an eclectic or transdiagnostic approach. The presentation will briefly review each of these approaches, the rationale for adopting each and the empirical evidence that exists for these varying approaches.

 

The second part of the talk will describe a transdiagnostic modular cognitive-behavioural intervention which can be used to understand and treat anxiety disorders. The results of a case series which acted as a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of this approach will also be presented. The study utilised a multiple-baseline single case-series design to evaluate the 12-session modular CBT intervention in treating participants who met criteria for two or more DSM-IV anxiety disorders. The presentation will discuss the clinical application of the approach, the conceptual model which guides formulation and treatment and the results of the case series.

Biographical sketch:

Cynthia Stuhlmiller RN, MS, DNSc. PhD. is Professor of Rural Nursing at the UNE School of Health. Her previous academic appointments include: University of Essex, UK (2010-2011); Daemen College Buffalo, New York (2009-2010); University of Hawaii (2004-2009). Flinders University, Adelaide (2000-2004) and University of Technology, Sydney (1997-2000), Massey University New Zealand (1995) and University of San Francisco (1991-1993). She was a Fulbright Senior Scholar and Professor in TromsØ, Norway (1993-1995).

 

 

Her clinical background in mental health includes work with a variety of populations. She is a pioneer in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) having helped found the first National Center for PTSD in Menlo Park California (1981-1993). She is known for her work with Vietnam Veterans, emergency workers, disaster survivors, action-based therapies, experiential learning, and more recently, computer-aided and guided cognitive behavioral therapy.

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Wed 19th September, 2012

Phenomenological Correlates of the Accuracy of Discarnate Readings by Claimant Mediums Under Fully Blinded Conditions

Dr Adam Rock

Abstract
Certain mediums are able to report accurate and specific information about the deceased loved ones (termed discarnates) of living people (termed sitters) even without any prior knowledge about the sitters or the discarnates and in the complete absence of any sensory feedback. This study aimed to investigate the phenomenological correlates of the accuracy of readings for discarnates by claimant mediums under completely blinded conditions. At baseline, directly after a counterbalanced control condition, and after each of two test readings for paired discarnates (Discarnate Readings 1 and 2; DR1 and DR2), 19 claimant mediums completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI). The two readings were then given Global Accuracy scores by the blinded sitters associated with the two discarnates. A significant anomalous information reception effect was demonstrated in the DR1 condition, but not the DR2 condition. Numerous PCI variables were significantly correlated with mediumship accuracy. In addition, a significant multivariate effect for condition was found with regard to the combined PCI variables. These data highlight the usefulness of process-focused approaches to mediumship research. The results of this study constitute a preliminary step in identifying the subsystems of consciousness that are linked to accurate mediumship readings.

 

Bio:
Dr. Adam Rock is a lecturer in psychology at the University of New England. Dr. Rock is the President of the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research, a Founding International Board Member of the International Transpersonal Association, a Special Topics Editor and Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, an Associate Editor of Anthropology of Consciousness, and an Editorial Board member of the Australian Journal of Parapsychology. He has published innumerable scholarly articles in prestigious academic journals such as the Journal of Scientific Exploration, Transpersonal Psychology Review, and the Journal of Parapsychology. His various books are titled Constructivism and shamanic experiences, Shamanism and psi (with Dr. Lance Storm), and Demystifying shamans and their world (with Professor Stanley Krippner). In addition, he has presented or co-presented over 40 papers or posters at national and international conferences. His research interests include shamanism, altered states, mediumship and psi.

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Friday 10^th August 2012

Permanent and Transient Existence: How Do I Be What I Am

Mr Neville Symington

Abstract: This talk centres around the mysterious command 'Be what you are' - how to make sense of this? The lecturer attempts to get some purchase on this by reflecting on the nature of existence and the difference between permanent existence and transient existence. This exploration is one that has been undertaken by mystics and metaphysicians who believe that if this area of experience is obliterated then we get a distorted view not only of the totality of existence but of the scientific particulars as well.

Biographical Summary of Neville Symington

            Neville Symington is a psycho-analyst in private practice in Sydney, Australia.  As a young man he took a diploma in Philosophy and then in Theology.  He later did a degree in Psychology and took a diploma in Clinical Psychology.  He did his psycho-analytic training in London and is a Fellow of the British Psycho-Analytical Society. He held a senior staff position in the Adult Department of the Tavistock Clinic from 1977-85.  He was also Chairman of the Psychology Discipline for the Adult and Adolescent Departments at the Tavistock Clinic in London. 

In 1986 he migrated to Sydney, Australia where he was Chairman of the Sydney Institute for Psycho-Analysis from 1987-93. He was President of the Australian Psycho-Analytic Society from 1999-2002.  

He is the author of The Analytic Experience published by Free Association Press and St. Martins Press, of  Emotion and Spirit published by Cassell and later re-published by Karnac Books, of Narcissism: A New Theory, The Making of a Psychotherapist, The Spirit of Sanity, A Pattern of Madness, How to Choose a Psychotherapist,  The Blind Man Sees, A Healing Conversation, Becoming a Person through Psycho-Analysis  and The Psychology of the Person which are all published by Karnac Books.  He is joint-author with Joan Symington of The Clinical Thinking of Wilfred Bion published by Routledge.  He also published a novel called  A Priest’s Affair published by Free Association Press and a book of poetry In-Gratitude and other Poems published by Karnac.

In 2007 he started a clinical organization called Psychotherapy with Psychotic Patients (PPP).  It had its first conference in February 2010 with Michael Robbins as keynote speaker together with himself and Jim Telfer.  He has lectured in Britain, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, Germany, the United States, Brazil, Israel, India, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. He has a website at: www.nevillesymington.com

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Friday 11th May 2012

 

Mental Health and Chronic Illness

Dr David Clarke

 

Abstract:

The World Health Organisation says “No health without mental health”.  Unfortunately there is a strong association between mental illness and physical illness, and the causal relationship operates in both directions.  This presentation will explore the strong links between depression and chronic illness and present a model for the necessary integrated management.

 

Learning Objectives.

At the end of this presentation you will be able to:

1. Describe the degree of association between depression and chronic illness
2. Explain the nature of those links
3. Develop a management plan for the integrated care of a person with depression and chronic illness

 

Biographical Information:

David Clarke is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist at Monash Medical Centre and Professor of Psychological Medicine at Monash University.  His research and clinical interests are in the area of depression, integrated disease management and psychosomatics. He was previously the Research Advisor for beyondblue: the national depression initiative in Australia.