Winter 2013

Tier 1 Intensive Training

for Clinicians and Educators

January 28th- 30th, 2013

This winter Think:Kids and the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) are pleased to offer our Tier 1 Intensive Training featuring Dr. Larry Epstein and Dr. David Whelan. Think:Kids promotes an innovative and evidence-based approach to understanding and helping children and adolescents with behavioral challenges called Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). This two and a half day intensive training is intended for mental health clinicians and educators who have some prior exposure and are interested in becoming more proficient in the CPS approach. 

Those who attend this training are qualified to attend the Tier 2 Training scheduled for: August 7th-9th, 2013.

Conference Content

Focusing on:

• Providing an in-depth exposure to both the assessment  and intervention components of the model.
• Practicing drilling down to identify specific triggers.
• Practicing identifying the specific cognitive skill deficits contributing to challenging behavior.
• Learning how to solve problems and train skills using the Collaborative Problem Solving process.
• Distinguishing between direct (explicit) and indirect (implicit) skills training and knowing when each approach is required.

Additional Topics Include:

• Troubleshooting Plan B.
• Strategies for when a child refuses or has difficulty expressing his/ her concerns.
• Dealing with common resistances to the approach
• Troubleshooting other barriers to implementation such as integrating with other models in schools such as Positive Behavioral Supports.
• Implementation in entire classrooms and transforming school-wide disciplinary policies.
• Opportunities for continued learning and networking.

Prerequisite: A one-day Think:Kids  Introductory Training or the online Think:Kids Introductory Training.  

About the Presenters 

Larry Epstein, Ph.D., is Director of School-Based Services at Think:Kids. He is also an Assistant in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at MGH and Clinical Instructor in Psychology the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Epstein has extensive experience utilizing and teaching the Think:Kids approach across avariety of settings including educational and clinical programs and outpatient practice. He has trained numerous parents, teachers, administrators, mental health and support staff in the approach. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Epstein spent several years as a classroom teacher, while also overseeing implementation of the Think:Kids approach in a general education setting.

For the past 17 years, Dr. Epstein worked for the Cherry Creek School District in Denver, Colorado during which time he helped develop the district’s intensive treatment program for students with significant behavioral challenges. Dr. Epstein also served as a member of the district social-emotional-behavioral services team, where he assisted numerous schools to implement systemic behavior programs while at the same time consulting with these schools regarding their most challenging students.

Dr. Epstein has a particular passion for helping schools implement systemic behavioral interventions and has published extensively on this topic. He is also a nationally certified bullying prevention trainer and helped found the non-profit organization Creating Caring Communities, where he served as Board President. He has also has spent the past several years helping schools implement behavior interventions thatare culturally responsive. Dr. Epstein received his Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver and completed his internship at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

David A. Whelan, Psy.D., is Director of Outpatient Clinical Services at Think:Kids. Dr. Whelan has worked with behaviorally challenging youth and their caregivers for over a decade in diverse settings including outpatient, residential and inpatient treatment as well a psychiatric emergency room context. Specifically, Dr. Whelan worked at the Collaborative Problem Solving Clinic and trained on the first child and adolescent inpatient units to implement the approach. He has published on the care of challenging children and presented on our approach in a variety of contexts to parents, educators, and mental health professionals.

Dr. Whelan earned his doctorate in clinical psychology at The George Washington University and completed his internship at Bronx Psychiatric Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a postdoctoral fellowship in Child and Adolescent Acute Services at the Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School.

Additional Details

Schedule:

Day 1: 8:30am registration and breakfast, 9:00am-5:00pm training

Day 2: 9:00am-5:00pm

Day 3: 9:00am-12pm

Accreditation

Educators: This training has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for 16 PDPs

Psychologists: Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education of psychologists, and maintains responsibility for this program. An application has been submitted for 16 continuing education credits.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors: An application has been submitted to the MMCEP for 16 continuing education credits.

Social Workers: An application has been submitted to the NASW Collaborative of Boston College and Simmons College for 16 continuing education credits.

Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Other: A certificate of attendance will be provided for 16 units which can be submitted to the corresponding professional organization for consideration.

Travel/Parking: We recommend that you take advantage of public transportation (www.mbta.com) if possible, as parking in the area can be costly. The building is located a short distance from the: T-Red Line, Charles Street; Commuter Rail, North Station; and the T-Green Line and Orange Line, North Station. To check rates of area lots/garages, go to: www.bestparking.com . You will need to enter "West End" neighborhood to search or click here for a PDF showing typical daily parking rates* in the area. The building is located  on Cambridge Street near the intersection with Blossom Street. The North Station garage ($15/day, in by 9am out by 6pm) or lots in the North Station area tend to be the least costly and are only a short work to the training location. From North Station you can walk up Staniford Street and turn right at William O'Connell Way (just past 50 Staniford Street) where you can access walkway to Charles River Plaza. The building will then be on your right, just past the CVS. Please note: The MGH garages and Charles River Parking will likely be aout $40/day and we are unable to provide vouchers.

Room Reservations: Rooms can be reserved at area hotels, including: the Liberty Hotel (866) 507-5245, Holiday Inn –Beacon Hill (617) 742-7630, Onyx Hotel (617) 557-9955 and the Bulfinch Hotel (617) 624-0202. Be sure to ask if they offer MGH discounted rates! Reserve early to ensure availability.

Cancelation Policy: Non-refundable. Substitutions are permitted. Further Information and Registration: Visit our training site at www.thinkkidstrainings.eventbrite.com for further information and to download a registration form.

Questions: Email: bedelstein@thinkkids.org or call Beth Edelstein at (617) 643-9331.