Apr
11
11:30 AM11:30

Utility of Neuropsychological Assessment in Psychotic Spectrum Disorders

Utility of Neuropsychological Assessment in Psychotic Spectrum Disorders

Drew Coman, PhD

This presentation will aim to enhance clinicians' knowledge of neurocognitive functioning in psychotic spectrum disorders as well as best practices in neuropsychological testing. Dr. Coman will describe the IEP and 504 processes within schools and resources to support our patients in school and/or workplace settings, including strategies to advocate for necessary school-based accommodations and resources.

Dr. Drew Coman is the Director of Child & Adolescent Psychology and Neuropsychology at MGB/HMS's Psychosis and Clinical Research Program (PCRP).  He received his undergraduate degree with Departmental Honors at the University of Miami and also completed his graduate studies there in Child Clinical Psychology.  He concluded his training with a pre-doctoral internship/residency and a postdoctoral fellowship at the MGH/HMS.  He has been a faculty at MGH/HMS since 2014.  Dr. Coman has training and expertise in conducting comprehensive neuropsychological and educational evaluations for a myriad of neurodevelopmental disorders, major psychiatric conditions, as well as learning and language-based learning profiles.  

Zoom Link: https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/5KBPOdGaR7uSZvHm5v6UOw

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Mar
19
12:00 PM12:00

Learning Health Systems for Serious Mental Illness

Learning Health Systems for Serious Mental Illness

Matcheri S. Keshavan, MD
Case Presentation by Jose Hidalgo, MD

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will:

  1. Explain key principles of implementation science and their application to improving care for serious mental illness (SMI).

  2. Describe the role of Learning Health Systems (LHS) in integrating data and feedback to enhance SMI treatment.

  3. Identify implementation strategies and barriers to translating evidence-based practices into psychiatric settings.

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Mar
7
11:30 AM11:30

Psychedelics & Early Course Psychosis

Psychedelics & Early Course Psychosis

This panel, moderated by Dr. Matcheri Keshavan, will bring together experts with backgrounds in psychiatry, lived experience, and indigenous communities discuss the historical and current uses of psychedelic substances, potential risks and benefits, and approaches to discussing psychedelic use with individuals in early-course psychosis care. The panelists include:

 Ryan Henner, MD Psychiatrist
Hyun Jung Kim, MD Psychiatrist
Raul Condemarin, MD Psychiatrist
Vera Muniz Suarre, CPS, MPH Lived Experience Expert
Darlene Flores DC, Traditional Medicine Keeper

Register here for Zoom link: https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/nTVuFYJGRFSLbs8A4Ip0eg

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Feb
14
11:30 AM11:30

Expanding Early Psychosis Resources for Spanish-Speaking Clients & Clinicians

Expanding Early Psychosis Resources for Spanish-Speaking Clients & Clinicians

Bernalyn Ruiz-Yu (PhD) & Joey Rodriguez

View Slides

In this call, Bernalyn Ruiz-Yu, PhD and Joey Rodriguez will discuss the needs of Spanish-speaking clients and clinicians in early psychosis programs in Massachusetts. Findings from SALUD advisory board focus groups will be presented. 

Dr. Bernalyn Ruiz-Yu is an Attending Psychologist and Instructor at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. As a clinician, she has experience working with diverse patients of all ages with a particular interest in helping adolescents experiencing psychosis and those identified as being at risk of developing psychosis. As a researcher, she seeks to improve mental health treatment for all children experiencing psychosis and has expertise in serious mental illness in adolescents and interventions. She completed her PhD at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and her doctoral internship and T32 fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles in adolescent serious mental illness. 



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Jan
21
to Jan 24

First Annual Western Massachusetts Early Psychosis Symposium

First Annual Western Massachusetts Early Psychosis Symposium

FREE TO ALL & Online and in person events

Continuing Education Credits Available

View Official Website

SIPS ASSESSMENT TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Dr. Barbara Walsh from the Prime Clinic at Yale will provide a complete training and certification for providers who want to learn and administer this in-depth assessment tool. All providers welcome! Limited spots available for certification. Tuesday January 21st all day training and Friday January 24rth certification testing.

BREAK THE SILENCE: A FILM MADE BY FOLKS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND DISCUSSION PANEL WITH ACTORS

Learn more here: https://www.responsetorisk.org/film-breaking-the-silence

OVERVIEW OF PSYCHOSIS, CLINICAL HIGH RISK AND EARLY PSYCHOSIS

Dr. Melissa Weise will provide a back-to-basics overview of the spectrum of psychosis including assessment, diagnosis, social stigma, research, outcomes and treatment.  Melissa Weise, has two decades years experience as a clinical social worker and earned a PhD in Clinical Social Work at Smith College focusing on researching attachment, trauma and resilience. She specializes in working with adults and adolescents with major mental illness neurodivergence and LGBTQIA populations. She developed and oversaw the First Episode Psychosis Program, PREP in Holyoke, MA for seven years and now runs a small group private practice as well as a contract with the Department of Mental Health to provide training and consultation for early psychosis. Additionally, Melissa teaches various social science graduate and undergraduate courses at Boston College, Columbia University, Smith College, Elms College and Holyoke Community College.   

RELATIONAL OUTPATIENT TREATMENT OF PSYCHOSIS

Elise Manning, MSW LICSW currently works as a Psychiatric Social Worker at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she serves as a clinical supervisor within the social work trainee program and provides training and consultation on the conceptualization and treatment of psychosis. Previous work includes having taught as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Smith College’s School for Social Work and having served as regional coordinator for sexual assault services at the New Mexico Behavioral Health; Mental Health Counselor and Wellness Coordinator at United World College USA (Montezuma, NM); Behavioral Health Clinician at BHN Child Guidance Clinic (Springfield, MA); Education Director and Program Coordinator at Forty Magnolias Productions (Arlington, MA); and Congressional Liaison at United for a Fair Economy (Boston, MA). Clinical interests include working with complex trauma, attending to the nervous system, psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum symptomatology, working with previously incarcerated individuals, mind/body psychotherapeutic approaches, examining shifting discourses in the philosophy of psychiatry, crisis intervention and evaluation, and working from a social justice framework with an awareness of intersectional identity and subjective positionality. Outside of clinical work, Elise enjoys creating art, performing theater/comedy, writing, and spending time in wide open spaces.

TRAUMA AND PSYCHOSIS

Crystal Richey received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental  Health Counseling from Bay Path College. Her varied experiences in community mental health encompassed providing clinical treatment and other therapeutic support to youth and their families. Crystal believes that connecting with a person in a genuine way, that creates a place of safety and a feeling of being seen and heard is the foundation of therapy. She integrates this philosophy into her trauma-informed, strengths-based, and solution-focused approaches to treatment and care. Crystal endeavors to provide this care and more in educating the Black community about the importance of seeking mental health support. 

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND PSYCHOSIS

Dr. Lisa Youngling Howard the former director at Smith College Clinic and current medical director at Wesley will cover medication for early psychosis as well as ways in which to support and advocate for folks with their prescribers.

SUPERVISING FOLKS WHO TREAT PSYCHOSIS

Dr. Cailin Qualliotine the former director of PREP and current early psychosis specialist at Amherst College will present on a topic of her personal research, clinical supervision seen through the lens of supporting folks who work with those experiencing early psychosis.  

PSYCHOSIS AND NEURODIVERGENCE

John Knutsen who currently does research for Servicenet and teaches in the psychology department in Harvard will synthesize his research and experience with early psychosis with his other research focus, autism and neurodivergence. This is a much needed workshop as there is a high correlation between these two experiences but not much research or resources for providers.  

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Dec
13
11:30 AM11:30

Cobenfy: A Discussion on the Newest Treatment for Schizophrenia

Cobenfy: A Discussion on the Newest Treatment for Schizophrenia

Panel moderated by Matcheri Keshavan, MD

Oliver Freudenreich, MD Psychiatrist
Peter J Weiden, MD Psychiatrist
Peter Durning, Lived Experience Consultant
Michael Angelini, PharmD Pharmacist

In September 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first novel medication for schizophrenia in nearly two decades. With the widespread interest around this new drug, Cobenfy, questions have been raised by providers and patients alike about how the drug works and what it means for the future of psychosis treatment. This panel will bring together experts with backgrounds in research, lived experience, and pharmacy to discuss Cobenfy and its potential impact on psychiatry.

Cobenfy Fact Sheet - Clinicians

Cobenfy Fact Sheet - Patients & Families

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Dec
12
4:00 PM16:00

NAMI Ask the Expert Cognition Series: Cognitive Enhancement - What the Research Shows

NAMI Ask the Expert Cognition Series: Cognitive Enhancement - What the Research Shows

Dr. Matcheri Keshavan, MD

In this presentation Dr. Keshavan will review the current state of the knowledge on cognitive remediation (cognitive training) in psychiatric illnesses, and its neural and behavioral targets, and summarize the factors that appear to relate to a successful response, including learner characteristics that influence clinical outcome.

While much of the early research has been conducted in schizophrenia, cognitive training has more recently been applied to a widening range of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, and substance use disorders.

Cognitive training harnesses the inherent neuroplastic capacities of the brain, targeting brain function across psychiatric disorders. Cognitive training offers considerable promise, especially given the limited efficacy of pharmacological interventions in ameliorating cognitive deficits. However, some potential pharmacological options that may be of value in improving cognition in neuropsychiatric disorders will also be briefly discussed.

Register Here: https://nami-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DDr8eb87SBSuupWXp2oOpQ#/registration

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Nov
15
11:30 AM11:30

(On a Journey toward) Improving Outcomes for Individuals with Psychosis

(On a Journey toward) Improving Outcomes for Individuals with Psychosis

Dr. Tara Niendam

In this presentation, we will discuss the continuum of psychosis, consider how social and structural factors impact the course of psychosis, and think about how interventions for psychosis (e.g. coordinated specialty care) could address the variety of factors impacting outcomes.

Dr. Tara Niendam (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry. Tara Niendam (she/her) identifies as a white, cisgender, heterosexual woman and a consumer of mental health services. She comes to this work from both personal and family experiences. She obtained a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern University and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. As the Executive Director of the UC Davis Early Psychosis Programs (EDAPT and SacEDAPT Clinics), Dr. Niendam supervises clinic and training activities, and coordinates outreach and educational presentations within Sacramento and across California. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, California Mental Health Service Oversight and Accountability Commission, and National Institutes of Mental Health, Dr. Niendam’s research uses mobile health technology to enhance early identification and treatment of youth and young adults with serious mental illness, with a focus on improving clinical and functional outcomes. The EPI-CAL project, led by Dr. Niendam in partnership with UC San Francisco, UC San Diego, University of Calgary, One Mind, and multiple California counties, brings client-level data to the clinician’s fingertips, and enables large scale data-driven approaches to improve outcomes for EP care. She also directs the EPI-CAL Training and Technical Assistance Center, which seeks to bring evidence based early psychosis care to all Californians.

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Oct
25
11:30 AM11:30

DMH Young Adult Access Centers: Driving Innovation for Young Adult Mental Health Support

DMH Young Adult Access Centers: Driving Innovation for Young Adult Mental Health Support

Heidi Holland, M.Ed & Ian Sullivan

The focus of the session will be:

  • Providing an overview of the Young Adult Access Center model:

  • Sharing key data points that show promising outcomes: and

  • Hearing  about the experiences of young adults working in and utilizing the services.

Heidi Holland, M.Ed. is the DMH Director of Young Adult Transition Services and was key in the development of Young Adult Peer Mentoring and the Young Adult Access Center models.

Ian Sullivan is a Peer Coordinator at the YouForward Access Center in Everett and has previous experience as a peer at the PEACE early psychosis program. 

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Sep
27
11:30 AM11:30

Understanding and Treating Complex PTSD

Understanding and Treating Complex PTSD

Dr. Ryan Madigan, Psy.D

This workshop will orient participants to PTSD and C-PTSD, review key mechanisms of C-PTSD, and discuss strategies and treatment approaches for treating individuals and families with C-PTSD.

Dr. Ryan Madigan founded the Boston Child Study Center (BCSC) in 2013 with the mission to push the mental health field to better understand and treat mental illness by changing antiquated treatment models, unethical reimbursement practices, and social and cultural inequities in the mental health field. Dr. Madigan has taught at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels at Wellesley College, Rutgers University, Boston University, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. As an attending clinician at McLean Hospital, Dr. Madigan co-founded the DBT trauma and exposure program specializing in suicide, non-suicidal self-injury, trauma, personality disorders, and psychosis. His research focuses on the development of a single transdiagnostic intervention for trauma and emotion disorders.

This webinar is co-hosted with the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC).

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Jul
26
11:30 AM11:30

Navigating the Overlap: Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder

Navigating the Overlap: Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder

Roscoe Brady, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School, Vice-Chair of Research, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

This presentation will explore the role of medications in both treating and preventing mood episodes in bipolar disorder. We'll discuss diagnosis briefly and mainly focus on treating medication resistant mood symptoms in individuals with this diagnosis.

Dr. Brady is an associate professor of psychiatry and vice-chair for research at the Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. He is well known for his work in improving our understanding of the biological basis and innovative treatments for serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. 

This webinar is co-hosted with the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC).

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Jun
28
11:30 AM11:30

Cognitive Remediation: A Contemporary Way to Treat Psychosis

Cognitive Remediation: A Contemporary Way to Treat Psychosis

Luis R. Sandoval, Ph.D.
Psychologist & Clinical Researcher, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Instructor in
Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

This presentation will discuss the history of cognitive remediation and its early application in medical conditions. Also, we will talk about how psychology and psychiatry have incorporated CR into their techniques to treat psychiatric disorders, including psychosis. This talk will show a couple of clinical cases to illustrate how cognitive remediation can improve social skills and neurocognition. 

Dr. Sandoval is a researcher and a clinician in the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sandoval is a senior psychologist, supervisor, and researcher with an extensive background in mood, cognitive, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Sandoval has over 20 years of experience applying his expertise in multicultural settings, translating theoretical and clinical knowledge into clinical, research, and academic contexts in English and Spanish. Dr. Sandoval has led research studies and collaborated on NIH, NIMH, PCORI, and NASA-funded studies, mainly focusing on innovative treatments for cognitive issues in mood and psychosis disorders using computerized intervention. Dr. Sandoval has served as a senior clinical research consultant at the Yale School of Medicine, NASA-Johnson Space Center in Houston, Hartford Hospital, McLean, BIDMC, The Guidance Center, UT-Austin, among others. 

Dr. Sandoval's expertise includes applying cognitive remediation in medical conditions (i.e., Sturge Weber,  Epilepsy, TBI) and psychiatric conditions, including psychosis, depression, Bipolar Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, and other neurocognitive illnesses. Additionally, Dr. Sandoval's research and clinical areas include digital psychiatry and psychodynamic psychotherapy. 

As part of his research work, Dr. Sandoval trains and supervises clinicians in cognitive remediation treatments for early and chronic psychosis across the U.S. and how to improve cognition in medical and psychiatric conditions, combining digital tools with evidence-based therapies.

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the New England MHTTC

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May
31
11:30 AM11:30

Integrating Peer Specialists in CSC Teams

Integrating Peer Specialists in CSC Teams

Abbe Duke

Join Abbe Duke (she, her, hers) from OnTrackNY to learn more about the role of Peer Specialists on Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) teams. This training will offer an overview of the OnTrackNY approach to the role of Peer Specialist, examples and lessons learned from implementation in NYS, and ample time for Q&A and dialogue. For more information, visit OnTrackNY.org to read our Peer Specialist manuals, view our Peer Specialist intro modules, and review our many tools for the role.

Abbe Duke (she,her,hers) is a long time NYS Peer Specialist and the Recovery Specialist & Trainer supervisor at the OnTrackNY initiative at the Center for Practice Innovations. OnTrackNY is an innovative model of coordinated specialty care, which has thoughtfully integrated the role of Peer Specialist throughout its development. Abbe brings her decade of experience working as a Peer Specialist in a variety of settings throughout NYS , as well as her training and technical assistance work for the NYS Office of Mental Health and for OnTrackNY. Abbe is particularly proud of the development of the recent OnTrackNY Peer Specialist manual and the introductory training modules for OnTrackNY Peer Specialists- all of which can be found at OnTrackNY.org.

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the New England MHTTC

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Apr
26
11:30 AM11:30

Youth Cannabis Use: Harm Reduction

Youth Cannabis Use: Harm Reduction

Brittany Carney, DNP, FNP-BC & Elizabeth Robinson, MSN, RN

The speakers will describe the role of potency in cannabis products, review risks associated with youth cannabis use, and discuss strategies to mitigate potential harms through a harm reduction approach.

Objectives: 

  1. Recognize the role of CBD and THC in potency of cannabis products/formulations 

  2. Recall three health outcomes associated with youth cannabis use

  3. Identify potential risks and adverse health risks associated with cannabis use. 

  4. Develop a basic understanding of strategies to mitigate potential harms of youth cannabis use

Brittany Carney, DNP, FNP-BC (she/hers) is a clinical nurse educator for Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance. She is a doctorally prepared, board-certified family nurse practitioner. Her passion is caring for youth and families, especially those with substance use disorder. Britt has published on various topics, including stigma for youth, caring for adolescents with substance use disorders and the role of addiction training for providers. She has also co-authored a book chapter on caring for adolescents with substance use. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and AMERSA (The Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction). She received her Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master's in Nursing degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Graduate School of Nursing. She also has a Master's in Medical Science from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Elizabeth Robinson, MSN, RN (she/hers) is the full-time nurse for the CATALYST Clinic at Boston Medical Center. CATALYST is a program for teens and young adults (up to age 25) with substance use disorder. As the team nurse, Liz helps with care management for our patients in need of addiction treatment, primary care needs, assist with coordination of appointments for behavioral health, and provide harm reduction for those who are interested.

Please register in advance to receive a link for this meeting:

https://bostonmedicalcenter.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lcOCspzwvGNfqw0e3ln3fvG_WJjKO_qPN

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Mar
29
11:30 AM11:30

Your Guide to SMI Adviser – Advancing Interdisciplinary Care for Early Psychosis

Your Guide to SMI Adviser – Advancing Interdisciplinary Care for Early Psychosis

Robert O. Cotes, MD & Sherin Khan LCSW

SMI Adviser is a 6-year initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the American Psychiatric Association. SMI Adviser’s vision is to transform care for people who have serious mental illness so that they can live their best lives. To date, the website has been accessed over 1.9 million times and has been a resource for over 70,000 interdisciplinary learners.  In this presentation, we will provide clinicians a guide to the resources at SMI Adviser, with a focus on resources for working with individuals with early psychosis. We will also highlight resources that are found in our Centers of Excellence section, focusing on tools in the Clozapine and Long-Acting Injectable areas. We will also guide clinicians through our consultation service and share insights from the types of questions our users most commonly ask.

Learning Objectives

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the available resources on SMI Adviser’s educational catalog and knowledge base.

  2. List and describe three tools in SMI Adviser’s Clozapine or Long-Acting Injectable Center of Excellence.

  3. Outline the process of accessing SMI Adviser’s consultation service, demonstrating the ability to effectively seek guidance to help make evidence-based treatment decisions.

Bio:

Robert O. Cotes, MD, is an Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He serves as Physician Expert for SMI Adviser (www.smiadviser.org), which is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the American Psychiatric Association. SMI Adviser provides evidence-based resources to clinicians, individuals with serious mental illness, and their families.

He is Director of the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis at Grady Health System, which comprises of three clinical programs.  The PSTAR Clinic provides evidence-based, recovery-oriented care for individuals with persistent symptoms of psychosis, specializing in the use of clozapine. Project ARROW is a coordinated specialty care team for people experiencing early psychosis, offering comprehensive, person-centered care using a multidisciplinary approach. Youth and Family TREE provides care to adolescents and young adults with a mental health condition and substance use. Dr. Cotes is an investigator for multiple research studies focused on treatment options for people with psychosis. His research focuses on clozapine and early psychosis.

SMI Adviser is a 6-year initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the American Psychiatric Association. SMI Adviser’s vision is to transform care for people who have serious mental illness so that they can live their best lives. To date, the website has been accessed over 1.9 million times and has been a resource for over 70,000 interdisciplinary learners.  In this presentation, we will provide clinicians a guide to the resources at SMI Adviser, with a focus on resources for working with individuals with early psychosis. We will also highlight resources that are found in our Centers of Excellence section, focusing on tools in the Clozapine and Long-Acting Injectable areas. We will also guide clinicians through our consultation service and share insights from the types of questions our users most commonly ask.


Sherin Khan, LCSW is Vice President of Operations and Strategy for Thresholds, Illinois’ oldest and largest provider of mental health services. Sherin also serves as the social work consultant as part of SMI Adviser, a SAMHSA funded clinical support system for people living with serious mental illness. She has over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector with a focus on serving those who are disempowered. She received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and excels at relationship management, strategic planning, leadership and organizational development, and change implementation. Expertise in clinical areas includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. 

Sherin has extensive knowledge of Certified Community Behavioral Healthcare Clinic (CCBHC) standards, guidelines, and reporting requirements, as well as experience in the implementation of CCBHCs developing necessary infrastructure and coordinating with collaborative partnerships to ensure access to comprehensive, integrated behavioral health services. 

She has held both clinical and administrative leadership positions and excels at project management, process improvement, and designing and enacting programs and trainings to improve organizational and workforce effectiveness.


Zoom Link: https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vceCppjoqH9JDMxQoWVLoUR38_-nk-LGe

 This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the New England MHTTC

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Feb
23
11:30 AM11:30

Harm Risk in Early Psychosis: Psychotherapy Strategies and Case Discussion

Harm Risk in Early Psychosis: Psychotherapy Strategies and Case Discussion

Michelle West, Ph.D

This presentation will provide a brief overview of how harm risk (suicidality and self-injury) can present in young people experiencing early psychosis. We will then review a selection of psychotherapy strategies that can be helpful in targeting these concerns, highlighting functional analysis, distress tolerance skills, and the CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality). We will discuss these strategies in the context of disguised client examples, and encourage suggestions and case consultation from the audience.

Dr. West is a clinical psychologist who specializes in assessment, treatment, and research for young people showing possible early risk for psychotic spectrum illnesses. She is particularly interested in adapting psychosocial treatments, including treatment of co-occurring concerns like risk for self-harm. She is the director of a psychosis risk program (“PEACS”) through University of Colorado School of Medicine. She previously worked in Massachusetts, where she was Assistant Director for the CEDAR Clinic. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and philosophy at Colgate University, her master's in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and her doctorate in clinical psychology at the City University of New York (CUNY).

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the New England MHTTC

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Feb
9
10:00 AM10:00

Ask the Experts: Updates on Sustainable Payment for CSC in Massachusetts

Ask the Experts: Updates on Sustainable Payment for CSC in Massachusetts

Brenda Jackson & Joshua Cranston

The goal of this meeting is to explain the results of a survey and follow-up interviews led by the NASMHPD Research Institute (NRI) and TriWest team. In 2023, NRI and TriWest gathered utilization, staffing, and other data from first episode psychosis programs across Massachusetts to set a sustainable team-based rate (both monthly and encounter rates across different program sizes/types) for coordinated specialty care.

Click here to view a fact sheet describing recent updates to billing for CSC in Massachusetts.

Our Speakers

Brenda Jackson specializes in policy, program design and implementation and regulatory analysis for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) with a focus on delivery system innovation, value-based purchasing (VBP), behavioral health system redesigns and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy compliance. Brenda worked on behavioral health, home and community-based services (HCBS) and managed care policy when she was employed by CMS, the State of Kansas, and Deloitte & Touche Management Consulting. While employed by CMS, Brenda was the Iowa State Representative and reviewed all Iowa waivers and amendments as well as reviewing all managed care authorities and contracts for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. Brenda has been in this field since 1993. Brenda is the parent and guardian of a 23-year-old son on the KanCare I/DD waiver.

Joshua Cranston is a Consultant for TriWest and is based in St. Louis. He is primarily responsible for project management, including on rate setting projects for coordinated specialty care for first episode psychosis programs across the nation and on projects for institutes/foundations, state-level agencies, and community health centers. He also assists with editing, preparing documents and reports, and providing research help.

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Jan
26
11:30 AM11:30

Metacognitive Therapy for Psychosis

Metacognitive Therapy for Psychosis

Emily Gagen, PhD

Dr. Gagen will review a metacognitive framework for understanding psychosis and will discuss a specific psychotherapeutic intervention, Metacognition Reflection and Insight Therapy. We will discuss the definition of metacognition and the four main domains that are measured, the relationship between metacognitive capacity and psychological distress, and the research evidence that supports this approach.

Emily Gagen, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Brookline Community Mental Health Center. She is the director of the Massachusetts Psychosis Access and Triage Hub (M-PATH) and is also a member of the team at the Center for Early Detection, Assessment, and Response to Risk (CEDAR). Dr. Gagen has worked with individuals with psychosis and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders for 15 years and specializes in the treatment of young adults with early psychosis.

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the New England MHTTC

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Dec
15
11:30 AM11:30

Optimal Treatment of Psychosis: Clozapine, Engagement, and Community

Optimal Treatment of Psychosis: Clozapine, Engagement, and Community

Robert Laitman, MD

This talk will discuss when, how, and why to prescribe clozapine. Dr. Laitman will give specific approaches to minimize predictable side effects and maximize benefits. He will present his own data supporting this approach. 

Dr. Robert Laitman is an internist who specializes in the use of clozapine in an optimal fashion for individuals with schizophrenia or other psychotic spectrum disorders. When his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2006, Dr. Laitman became an expert on the treatment of psychosis and expanded his practice to include taking care of people with psychotic disorders. Dr. Laitman uses a biopsychosocial approach in his treatment and prescription of the antipsychotic clozapine and he works to mitigate medication side effects with a wraparound approach that includes other medications. His treatment team includes a social worker, who provides case management and other support services. Dr. Laitman emphasizes the importance of diet and exercise, and he and his staff try to help individuals with housing, education, and vocational training.

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the New England MHTTC

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Dec
13
12:00 PM12:00

Diversity, equity & inclusion in early psychosis with a focus on pathways to and through care

Diversity, equity & inclusion in early psychosis with a focus on pathways to and through care

Nev Jones, Ph.D.

Grounded in national and regional EPINET data on discharge in early psychosis services, this presentation focused on social and cultural vectors underlying the 'hard' problem of disengagement and presented alternative approaches for addressing distrust, and strengthening clinical relationships by centering lived experiences of psychosis, socioeconomic disadvantage, racism, and cultural difference.

Watch Recording | View Slides

 

Nev Jones, Ph.D., is a patient-alumna of specialized early psychosis services and currently assistant professor in the School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. As a program developer, evaluator and researcher, her work has sought to amplify the perspectives of those most impacted by the public mental health system, foreground the role of social and structural determinants, and support transformative change.

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Nov
15
2:00 PM14:00

APA Speaking of Psychology: Treatment and recovery from serious mental illness, with Dr. Kim Mueser

Speaking of Psychology: Treatment and recovery from serious mental illness

Kim Mueser, PhD

Among the many challenges people with serious mental illness face is the stigma surrounding illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Kim Mueser, PhD, of the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, talks about the progress psychology has made in treating serious mental illness, the role of both medication and psychosocial interventions, why meaningful work can play a critical role in recovery, and the truth about the connection between violence and mental illness.

Speaking of Psychology is an audio podcast series produced by the American Psychological Association (APA) highlighting some of the latest, most important, and relevant psychological research being conducted today.


Kim Mueser, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Professor at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University. Mueser’s clinical and research interests include family psychoeducation, the treatment of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, psychiatric rehabilitation for serious mental illnesses, and the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. His research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. He is the coauthor of over 10 books and treatment manuals, and has published extensively, including numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.

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