Working with People: Demonstrating and Committing to Excellence! (Intermediate: Clinical, Best Practice, Professionalism): AT CAPACITY
Working with people in therapeutic or helping capacities can be both challenging and rewarding. We all enter this work hoping to provide help that can change lives. However, each individual has a host of experiences that created the person we see and interact with in a treatment environment. How do we know if we are doing “good” work? Do we have concrete tools that help us assess the what, when and why of our practices? Or are we relying on imprecise and poorly defined approaches that can create barriers to our ability to adequately assess the treatment effectiveness and durable individual engagement in the process?
A deeper understanding of the what, when and why of our practices, can assist when the invariable treatment challenges occur and help us to rapidly change course to better meet our clients where they are, and improve outcomes leading to increased confidence, skill and protection for both ourselves and the individuals we serve.
Objectives include:
- Participants will identify self-measurement and session outcome rating scales for individuals to use.
- Participants will discuss ways to increase confidence and skills.
- Participants will identify reasons why this information helps to protect you and the individuals you serve.
Speakers
Dr. Thompson is the founder and lead clinician at Empower the Mind LLC in Central Pennsylvania. She provides outpatient mental health, SUD treatment, clinical trainings, and consultation for professionals in the field. Since starting her company in 2012 she has helped to grow, develop, and coordinate several community-based prevention programs such as Connected Together – a community violence prevention program providing free mobile trauma therapy to those in need, Breaking the Cycle, Changing the Future – a SUD peer recovery support program for pregnant and postpartum women which includes consultation for the professionals working with this special population, and Lebanon County Student Assistance Program which provides services to six school districts, the career and technology center and runs a free summer camp for county youth. In 2016 Dr. Thompson was elected to join the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB). Through her involvement with the board, she has helped to develop and implement statewide best practice trainings for peers and professionals credentialled by the PCB and working in programs licensed by the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). Over the last several years she has taught at Harrisburg Area Community College, Alvernia University and Lebanon Valley College. Her passion to help other learn, grow and be well is illustrated through her work daily!