Mariya Javed-Payne MSW, LICSW, LADC

Presenter Bio: Mariya Javed-Payne is a Minnesota-based Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and International Brainspotting Trainer and Consultant. She is the owner of Awaken Consulting Services, where she offers somatic therapy intensives for complex PTSD and addictions, as well as training and consulting on the topics of cutting edge PTSD and addiction treatments. She has over 13 years of experience working with SPMI and addictions and leading teams of mental health professionals in various settings. Her passion is offering depth of heart and human connection as well as therapeutic methods that have a strong basis in neuroscience. She identifies as a somatic abolitionist working to dismantle oppressive forces within systems as well as within our bodies.

Description: Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment, enhanced with BioLateral sound, adn can be adaptable to almost all areas of specialization. Brainspotting identifies activated eye positions designated as Brainspots through identifying and locating somatic activation around an issue. Once located, Brainspotting utilizes focus on these eye positions to mindfully observe and process the physiological and emotional experience held within, allowing clients to discharge truncated survival reflexes stored in the body and return to homeostasis. Brainspotting's core foundations includes a strong emphasis on relational and neurobiological attunement, which sets the frame for clients to process difficult issues in a contained way, including clients who experience dissociation. Brainspotting provides therapists with powerful tools to enable their patients to quickly and effectively process through the deep brain sources of many held traumas, emotional, somatic and performance problems.

Objectives:

1. Identify 4 ways that trauma can be defined or show itself

2. Understand the neurobiological underpinnings of Brainspotting

3. Understand the theory and principles of Brainspotting.

Please be advised that this training session you are about to access are pre-recorded and not delivered in real-time. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, it's important to note that this session was conducted live and may not reflect the most current information or developments.

Participants are encouraged to engage with the material critically and understand that any interactive elements such as quizzes or discussions may not be available for participation or immediate feedback. Additionally, any references to specific dates, events, or circumstances within the training may be based on the time of recording and not necessarily reflective of the current context.

By accessing and utilizing this pre-recorded training material, you acknowledge and accept the aforementioned disclaimer.

Kayla Estenson Williams, MA, LMFT

Presenter Bio: Kayla is a local therapist who runs a small group practice, Minnesota Attachment Collective. She is passionate about supporting clients in navigating attachment trauma, fertility challenges, and perinatal mental health. Kayla utilizes parts work, narrative therapy, mindfulness approaches, and somatic techniques with her clients. She is also a MN Board Approved LMFT supervisor driven towards helping new clinicians grow in the field and build a career authentic and supportive to them.

Description: Many clients who present to therapy with concerns around anxiety, depression, or adjustment difficulties have underlying attachment wounding that contributes to their experiences around mental health. Yet, these can often be missed if we are just focusing on current presenting symptoms. Working to support clients in healing and long-term growth often requires unpacking their attachment history and exploring how this may be impacting their present day concerns. These experiences are often conceptualized as Complex Trauma, Attachment/Childhood Wounds, or Generational Trauma. When a client presents with awareness about these wounding experiences, it may be easier for us as therapists to conceptualize how past trauma impacts their present day challenges. But, often, clients may not be aware of the impact of past experiences- or even view their childhood as mostly positive and dismiss moments of wounding. In this presentation, we will review common attachment wounding experiences, how to assess for them with clients, and how to treat childhood trauma in our adult clients. Here, you will learn to apply therapy techniques you may already be familiar with (such as parts work, narrative techniques, and mindfulness/somatic practices) with the clients you work with- and have a framework from which you can more comfortably explore future therapeutic growth in treating trauma.

Objectives:

1. Learn how to assess for attachment wounds/childhood trauma in adult clients

2. Learn how to communicate the impacts of childhood trauma to adult clients

3. Learn foundational techniques in treating attachment wounds/childhood trauma in adult clients.

Please be advised that this training session you are about to access are pre-recorded and not delivered in real-time. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, it's important to note that this session was conducted live and may not reflect the most current information or developments.

Participants are encouraged to engage with the material critically and understand that any interactive elements such as quizzes or discussions may not be available for participation or immediate feedback. Additionally, any references to specific dates, events, or circumstances within the training may be based on the time of recording and not necessarily reflective of the current context.

By accessing and utilizing this pre-recorded training material, you acknowledge and accept the aforementioned disclaimer.

M. Hilmar Wagner, MPH, RDN, LN, CD

Presenter Bio: Hilmar Wagner is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN), licensed in Minnesota and Washington State. Hilmar has experience working in a variety of clinical, outpatient, community, and management settings. Hilmar joined the Emily Program in 2006 and has served in a number of clinical and management roles, both at the site, regional and organization-wide levels. He currently serves as a Clinical Outreach Specialist. In this role Hilmar has presents on a wide range of eating disorder and related nutrition topics at local, regional, and national conferences. Hilmar received his bachelor’s degree in Nutrition/Dietetics and Master’s in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. He has worked in the field of eating disorders for the past 16 years. Hilmar has extensive experience working with clients of all eating disorder diagnoses in both individual and group settings. He has a particular interest in the application of mindfulness and body-centered, somatic approaches to the nutritional treatment of eating disorders.

Presenter Bio: Kelly Pertzsch is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of Minnesota. Kelly received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Richmond, the American International University in London and her Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a certificate in Eating Disorder Studies from the Lewis and Clark College. She has treated eating disorders her entire career and has worked in community mental health, private practice, and a college counseling center. She has been with The Emily Program since June 2015, holding a variety of roles from Weekend Programming Coordinator to Site Director, and now focuses on her passion for providing outreach and education to the community. Kelly has a particular interest in the intersection of eating disorder treatment and social justice, as well as Health at Every Size.

Description: There has been significant progress in our understanding of the etiology of eating disorders leading to advancements in screening and treatment. Join us as we discuss eating disorders from a bio-psycho-social perspective, highlighting new understanding of temperament and neuro-biological influences. Treatment highlights include the dramatic increase in Avoidant Restrictive Feeding and Eating Disorders (ARFID), Atypical Anorexia and Binge Eating Disorder.

Objectives:

1. Identify risk factors associated with biology, temperament and environment

2. Describe the relationship between neurodiversity and Avoidant Restrictive Feeding and Eating Disorders (ARFID)

3. Compare and contrast the awareness and treatment access between Atypical Anorexia and Anorexia Nervosa

4. Articulate at least ways the weight bias and stigma impact assessment and treatment for Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Please be advised that this training session you are about to access are pre-recorded and not delivered in real-time. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, it's important to note that this session was conducted live and may not reflect the most current information or developments.

Participants are encouraged to engage with the material critically and understand that any interactive elements such as quizzes or discussions may not be available for participation or immediate feedback. Additionally, any references to specific dates, events, or circumstances within the training may be based on the time of recording and not necessarily reflective of the current context.

By accessing and utilizing this pre-recorded training material, you acknowledge and accept the aforementioned disclaimer.

Leah Seeger, MA, LMFT, LADC

Presenter Bio: Leah Seeger, MA, LMFT, LADC is a second career therapist who specializes in serving individuals, couples, and families with struggles complicated by trauma, challenging upbringings, and/or addictive issues. Leah provides therapy from a social justice, feminist, trauma-informed lens and is working to finalize her certification in Brainspotting. Leah worked in MICD (mental illness/chemical dependency) drug treatment facilities prior to entering private practice. Leah is currently the President-Elect for the Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT), and has previously worked as an adjunct professor in the Graduate Addiction Studies program at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. Leah’s commentary on mental health issues in America has been featured in the New York Times, FiveThirtyEight, and the Washington Post.

Rachel Cavegn, MA, LMFT, BCN

Presenter Bio: Rachael Cavegn, MA, LMFT, rcavegntherapy@gmail.com: Rachael Cavegn MA, LMFT is a mental health professional specializing in the use of neurofeedback training to address struggles with trauma/addiction, depression, anxiety, SPMI diagnoses and a wide range of additional mental health concerns. Her approach to therapy is through an Adlerian, feminist, social justice, trauma-informed lens, paying particular attention to how relationship dynamics and social systems impact our ability to establish and maintain good health. Prior to working in private practice Rachael spent 10 years specializing in trauma and addiction treatment in community-based programs and MICD (mental health/chemical dependency) treatment clinics. Rachael is a Licensed Marriage and family therapist who is board certified in neurofeedback (BCN) from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). She is also a Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (MN BMFT) approved supervisor, and an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) board approved supervisor. She has presented to community organizations throughout the metro area on the topics of trauma/addiction, grief and loss, and systems/relationship dynamics, and has developed and facilitated trainings for People Incorporated Mental Health Services, Minnesota CarePartner and Adler Graduate School.

Description: We know many mental health providers feel they have inadequate training to address addiction issues. And that addiction is regularly viewed as a separate entity from other mental health concerns.

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that “16.5 percent of the population met the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder.” If 16.5% of the population is actively struggling with an addiction issue, then the people around them are likely suffering from the effects as well.

In this training we will help providers start to think systemically and take a trauma-informed approach to addiction, just like we already do for other mental health struggles. And we will provide attendees tools to approach the root of many addiction issues. Together we can take the stigma out of addiction and equip mental health providers to support clients and families struggling with addictive issues!

Objectives:

1. How addictive behaviors are linked to trauma and other mental health struggles and how this lens may impact diagnosing.

2. What is harm reduction vs traditional approaches to addictive behaviors, and what are the benefits and drawbacks to various treatment programs/approaches (12 step/traditional, medication assisted treatment, harm-reduction).

3. How the language we use with clients influences the way they see themselves and their ability to heal.

4. Why connection/relationship is the key to helping clients heal from trauma and strategies for helping clients learn/develop skills to connect.

5. How to help clients support a loved one struggling with trauma/addiction through language, and setting appropriate boundaries that still allow for relationships/connection.

Please be advised that this training session you are about to access are pre-recorded and not delivered in real-time. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, it's important to note that this session was conducted live and may not reflect the most current information or developments.

Participants are encouraged to engage with the material critically and understand that any interactive elements such as quizzes or discussions may not be available for participation or immediate feedback. Additionally, any references to specific dates, events, or circumstances within the training may be based on the time of recording and not necessarily reflective of the current context.

By accessing and utilizing this pre-recorded training material, you acknowledge and accept the aforementioned disclaimer.

Tessa Gittleman, MA, LMFT

Presenter Bio: Tessa “Tess” Gittleman, MA, LMFT, is an AAMFT and MN BBHT Approved Supervisor, working in private practice in Golden Valley, and is the current Treasurer for MAMFT. Tessa’s specialty is in working with individuals whose success at work doesn’t translate to interpersonal success, and often feel like failures. Many of these clients have OCPD. Tessa also works as an organizational consultant and public speaker where she focuses on helping businesses think through the “Emotional Economics” of their practices, the “Emotional Infrastructure” needed for increased sustainability, and how to best manage the internal polarity that cultural and generational differences compound in the workplace.

Description: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is one of the most common personality disorders in the US, affecting 3-8% of the US population. Despite its prevalence, it is often eclipsed in education, research, practice, and culture, by other personality disorders, like Borderline Personality Disorder, which affects 1.4%, or its clinical cousin, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which affects 2-3% of the US population. This discrepancy leaves clinicians under-prepared to support people and relationships impacted by the unique set of issues that OCPD brings forth. Consequently, clients with OCPD, many of whom experience distress from their acute awareness of the problem and feel helplessness in being able to “fix it,” can leave therapy feeling even more misunderstood, broken, and hopeless. In this presentation, you will learn how to differentiate the pervasive pattern of perfectionism, rigidity, and rules from other, more familiar disorders. You will be able to understand how OCPD personality traits, such as a commitment to extreme efficiency or a preoccupation with structures and equity, can result in both occupational/academic success and interpersonal catastrophe. You will understand what about that personal paradox increases acute distress for these clients, and why they often experience a “Crisis of Competence” before reaching out for help. You will hear about what modalities and approaches have had success in helping clients work through these issues, and develop more clinical skills for overcoming the opposition, frustration, and stuckness that this population can present with in therapy. Before the conclusion of this presentation, you will have the opportunity to hear a case presentation and participate in a Q&A with the presenters. If the training is successful, you will feel you have the clinical competence to ensure you aren't doing harm to these clients, even if you find you're not the best person to help them long-term.

Objectives:

1. Increase clinical competence diagnosis and working with OCPD individuals

2. Identify common traits, developmental patterns, and primary features of OCPD in both typical and a-typical presentations

3. Be able to differentiate OCPD from other disorders, as well as correlated conditions

4. Understand the impact of OCPD on individuals, relationships, and society

5. Learn clinical interventions that benefit people with OCPD

Please be advised that this training session you are about to access are pre-recorded and not delivered in real-time. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, it's important to note that this session was conducted live and may not reflect the most current information or developments.

Participants are encouraged to engage with the material critically and understand that any interactive elements such as quizzes or discussions may not be available for participation or immediate feedback. Additionally, any references to specific dates, events, or circumstances within the training may be based on the time of recording and not necessarily reflective of the current context.

By accessing and utilizing this pre-recorded training material, you acknowledge and accept the aforementioned disclaimer.

Live Stream: Friday, November 15th | 10:00am-11:30am

Mathew Meyers, MA, LMFT

Presenter Bio:  Mathew is passionate about relationships and has a desire to help couples redesign their relationship so it suits both partners, improve communication and understanding for parents and children, and support parents in reasserting their parental authority when feeling as though they have lost control of their family. Matt says that he is passionate about his work because, “We heal ourselves through our relationships, we become ourselves in relationships, we are who we are because of those we love and are loved by. I can think of no greater honor than to assist families, couples, parents and children in working to repair, heal build and rebuild relationships.

Michael Borowiak, MSW, LICSW

Presenter Bio: Michael has been in private practice since 1997. He specializes in helping individuals and families out of stressful and challenging dynamics, such as divorce, trauma, substance abuse, depression, anxiety and significant medical conditions. Michael has an MSW (Masters of Social Work) and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). He is trained in family systems therapy, chemical dependency, discernment counseling and child and adolescent therapy, with an undergraduate degree in psychology. Michael has been working with couples, families and children his entire career. Michael enjoys running, adventures, and spending time with his wife and family.

Description: Working with a family, couple or an individual with significant conflict, especially those that have had court involvement can be very anxiety provoking. This presentation will support clinicians in understanding best practices in working with families with these conflicted dynamics and how to discern when to get out! Guardian ad Litem’s, Parenting Consultants, CPS investigations OH MY! Conflicted couples and families (or an individual within a conflicted family system) can create a great deal of anxiety for clinicians. It is not uncommon that therapists are invited to take a position on their conflict in ways that perpetuate their dysfunction and attempt to invite them if/when they have legal involvement. They can express their pain in ways that on one end of the spectrum is dysfunctional and difficult to influence out of the dysfunctional patterns. On the other end of the spectrum, they name anyone that does not participate in their dysfunctional patterns as a perpetrator of harm. This presentation will identify dysfunctional family/couple dynamics, how to avoid participating in ways that perpetuate those dysfunctional dynamics and respond if when Subpoenas show up. Individuals within conflicted family systems are often sophisticated litigants and understand how to make board complaints about clinicians which they have worked with, or family members have worked with. Many board complaints come from this profile of client. This presentation will demystify the process responding to a board complaint.

Objectives:

1. Gain a familiarity with AFCC (Association for Family Conciliation Courts) guidelines for court involved therapy to enhance their systemic therapeutic approach. ​

2. Understand how to respond if/when clients attempt to involve them in court related conflict (subpoenas or other requests for records)​.

3. Participants will learn how to discern if/when the client would benefit from a referral to another provider or for a different service.