The Maine Psychological Association presents....
Psychotherapy in a Tumultuous Sociopolitical Climate
Featured Speakers:
Michael Kramer, Ph.D. and Tom Negron, Ph.D.
3 CE Credits
$85 Members
$119 Non-members
$25 Students
Workshop Description: This workshop will examine the impact of the current social and political climate on clients, psychotherapists and the practice of psychotherapy. As has been well-documented, the current climate in America is characterized by a significant decline in civil discourse, a lack of collaboration among elected officials and an increase in hate speech and hate-filled violence.
The initial segment of the workshop will discuss the potential origins of this highly negative climate-including relevant phenomenon in nature, the unique human capacity of representation and the use of language to share ideas. The influence of social media in creating and maintaining this climate will also be examined.
The next segment will be more clinically oriented and will be devoted to helping participants identify “best practices” in psychotherapy to address the concerns of clients. This will include intervention strategies for when clients raise topics such as lack of civility, immigration policy, gun rights, climate change, etc. The final segment will focus on those topics as they pertain to working with psychotherapy groups and professional organizations, since the impact of the sociopolitical climate arises in these larger clinical settings.
Objectives: At the end of the workshop participants will:
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be more aware of factors that have contributed to the current sociopolitical climate and the impact on our society.
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be able to identify “best practices”in psychotherapy to address issues raised by clients.
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be able to more carefully evaluate the relative merits of therapist self- disclosure in psychotherapy when this content arises.
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have a broader understanding of counter-transferential reactions when clients raise sociopolitical topics.
Presenters:
Dr. Michael Kramer is a clinical psychologist who has been in private practice in Portland, Maine since 1984. He received his doctorate at the University of Kentucky and completed his internship at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Dr. Kramer has a varied clinical practice that includes providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. He also provides clinical consultation to a number of mental health providers. Two additional areas of his practice include Sports Psychology and Organizational Consultation.
Dr. Tom Negron is a clinical psychologist who has been in private practice in Portland, Maine since 1989. He received his doctorate at the Clinical Psychology Program of The Graduate Center of the City University of New York and completed his internship at Kings County/Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Current interests focus on individual internal processes in therapy, group process in group therapy, and non-linear external processes affecting populations.
Cancellations: No refunds after September 13, 2019.
Hotel Stays: The Fireside Inn and Suites is located at 81 Riverside St. Portland ME.
Tel: 207-774-5601.
Directions: Take I-95 (Maine Turnpike) to Exit 48. Go through the toll gates and turn left at traffic light (Riverside St.). Entrance is on the immediate left.
Questions? Email the MePA office at mepaaug@aol.com or call 1-800-287-5065
The Maine Psychological Association is approved by the Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists to offer continuing education for psychologists. MePA maintains responsibility for the program.