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June 2013
The Institute Insider
Keeping you connected ~ Nurturing your professional growth
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Register for our
Fall 2013
Level I & II
Trauma Certificate Programs
In an exciting, supportive, professional environment, clinical social workers and other mental health professionals will gain an in-depth understanding of the myriad dynamics related to trauma and its reverberating effect on clients' cognitions, affect, social functioning, and behavioral choices.
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Message from Lisa Ferentz LCSW-C, DAPA
Founder and President
Dear Friends,
With the celebration of Memorial Day fresh in our minds, I wanted to devote this month's newsletter to the notion of patriotism. This time of observance is a wonderful reminder of the importance of re-connecting to the love and loyalty that we feel towards our birth country. It is also an opportunity to express our gratitude towards the brave and heroic men and women who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way for the sake of protecting and preserving all of the liberties and freedoms we tend to take for granted. It doesn't always seem fashionable to overtly express feelings of devotion for one's country, and when we do, it's often in response to a traumatic terrorist act that threatens our sense of safety, reminding us what we actually have and what we stand to lose as a nation.
Let's not put patriotism on the backburner until our American ideals are threatened. When we focus on patriotic feelings towards our country, we connect with the American Dream and all that it stands for in our lives. And despite the hard work that still needs to happen to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed, we have many reasons to proud. So, take a moment, in your otherwise hectic lives, and re-connect with the great blessing of living in America. And the next time you see a member of the armed forces in the airport, the mall, or a restaurant, thank them for their service.
 Warmest Regards,
Lisa Ferentz
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 Wounded Warrior
Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the extraordinarily brave men and women who sacrifice so much to help keep us safe. Many have lost their lives in battle, and countless more are wounded warriors. The notion of being a wounded warrior also extends to our work as clinicians. We bear witness to those who have survived the "battlegrounds" of toxic families-of-origin that include violence, neglect, abuse, addiction, poverty, or mental illness. We work with adult survivors who, in childhood, put themselves in harm's way in the name of protecting someone else in their family.
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Wounded Warrior Creed Born out of Suffering 
by David Vergun
Published May 11, 2013
In 2005, former Marine and now-retired Army Sgt. Joseph "Joey" C. Smith lay in a Veterans Affairs hospital, wracked with pain. He watched other wounded veterans around him suffering, many despondent and without hope.
Smith said that at that time, he was at the lowest point in his life.
A year earlier, he had been at a remote forward operating base in Afghanistan, on his fourth deployment when he was injured.
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Clinician Resources
Publications
Video
Website
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Counseling and Self-Care Tips
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COUNSELING:
It is remarkable how the problems associated with combat stress and trauma-such as anger and aggressive behavior, substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD-parallel what we see in our work with survivors of trauma, abuse, and neglect. In both cases, soldiers and our clients are likely to minimize their trauma and the level of impairment caused by these common symptoms. As a result, there is often initial resistance to psychological or pharmacological treatment. Ironically, when I talk to survivors of childhood trauma about the impact of being a soldier in the armed forces, they immediately understand the seriousness of that and agree that service men and women need and deserve extra support. When you make the connection between a "war zone" and the "battlefield" of their living room, it can actually help to break through the minimization and denial.
SELF-CARE:
We typically think of the concept of a "wounded warrior" as only pertaining to our clients. Unfortunately, compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, and burnout, can turn mental health professionals into wounded warriors, too. We understand the importance of being a "compassionate witness" to our clients, yet under-estimate how we would benefit from the support of peer supervision or consultation to help process, work through, and let go of the difficult client sessions we engage in all week long. Take the time to connect with mentors and colleagues who understand the work you do. Get validation and commiseration for your efforts with clients, and find professionals to brainstorm with and run cases by so you feel less alone in your work.
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NEW - Talk Radio with Lisa Ferentz
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"Understanding and Overcoming Shame"
So many people go through life burdened and overwhelmed by feelings of shame. In this hour our guest, Dr. Janina Fisher, will define the concept of "shame," distinguishing it from guilt and other emotions. We will look at some of the ways in which shame effects our thoughts, feelings, inter-personal relationships, workplace and school performance, and behavioral choices. We will explore the life experiences and relationship dynamics that can evoke a sense of shame, and whether this is a feeling that always comes from inside of us, or if it's an emotion that others can make us feel through their words and actions. Our guest will discuss how she works with shame as a clinician, processing the treatment strategies that she has found particularly effective. She will also share some success stories of clients who have been able to overcome their sense of shame while re-claiming a greater sense of self-worth and self-compassion.
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Register for Remaining Spring 2013 Trainings
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It's not to late to register for June's trainings. Click on the links to learn more and register today!
- Monday, June 3: Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice
3 Ethics CEU's
In this highly interactive three hour training, we will explore, in creative and fun ways, both the NASW and The Board of Social Examiners Code of Ethics and process the many red flags that indicate a possible deviation in the standard of care.
- Thurs. & Fri, June 6 & 7: Making Them Whole Through the Sum of Their Parts
12 CEU's
In this two-day intensive, we will learn how to creatively and experientially go beyond a singular view of the self, and embrace, instead, the notion of the many-faceted self.
- Wednesday, June 12: Master Class Consultations - Working with Trauma
6 CEU's
This training is designed to help practitioners safely process difficult cases involving child, adolescent or adult trauma survivors that evoke feelings of "being stuck," angry, frustrated, anxious , overwhelmed or afraid. As participants have the opportunity to present their cases Lisa will demonstrate how to look at them through a variety of paradigmatic lenses.
- Tuesday, June 25: Twenty Tips for Treating DID
6 CEU's
In this workshop, we will identify and explore 20 of the most important things to stay mindful of when treating the challenging diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder. As we process this framework for treatment, we will simultaneously be addressing the common missteps made by well-meaning and even experienced clinicians.
- Friday, June 28: Treating the Cycle of Self-Destructive Behaviors
4 CEU's
In this workshop we will explore the relationship between trauma, attachment, and a cycle of self-harm. Participants will learn about a specific "cycle of self-harm" which emphasizes the impact triggering events, negative cognitions and affect, dissociation, and anxiety have on self-harming behavior. It also provides helping professionals with a concrete model for intervention.
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The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education, Inc. is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland. CEU approval for all trainings is also granted to Psychologists, LCPC's and MFT's. In addition, reciprocity has been granted for clinicians in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia.
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