Upcoming Medical Conferences in Erie

IASTM: Practitioner Certification: Combining Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization & Movement to Improve Function & Performance is organized by PESI HealthCare and will be held on Jan 28, 2020 at Ambassador Center, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America. This course has been approved for a maximum of 6.0 contact hours / 0.6 CEUs. Target Audience: • Physical Therapists • Physical Therapist Assistants • Massage Therapists • Occupational Therapists • Occupational Therapy Assistants • Athletic Trainers • Personal Trainers Course Description: The days of painful techniques that lead to excessive bruising are over – welcome to the future of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). Rather than the old aggressive mechanical model, this certification course focuses on the neurological effects of IASTM. Modern IASTM is designed to work with the patient’s neurological system to manage symptoms, motor control and biomechanics with a very safe and gentle approach. This framework offers a dynamic assessment philosophy designed to arm clinicians and clients with an innovative approach to treatment. By incorporating a joint by joint analysis of skin, fascial anatomy, and muscles, you will be able to incorporate IASTM to: • Reduce pain • Increase mobility • Enhance proprioception • Boost performance • Instructed by industry-leading clinicians, this hands-on certification program equips you with all the skills you’ll need to begin using IASTM with the patients across the continuum of care. Objectives: • Discuss the myofascial sequencing model. • Analyze the neuroanatomy of the fascial system. • Utilize movement screening techniques to identify faulty movement patterns. • Examine the current best-evidence theory and science of IASTM. • Integrate assisted fascial manual therapy techniques with functional kinesiology taping to improve movement quality. • Design effective plans of care that incorporate dry fascial gliding to promote improved range of motion.

Internal Family Systems Therapy: Step-by-Step Procedures for Healing Traumatic Wounds and Alleviating Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Addiction and More is organized by PESI HealthCare and will be held on Feb 13, 2020 at Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America. This course has been approved for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Target Audience: • Counselors • Social Workers • Psychologists • Addiction Counselors • Marriage and Family Therapists • Therapists • Other Professionals Who Work within the Mental Health Fields Course Description: After decades of clinical innovation and recent scientific research, the empirically validated Internal Family Systems (IFS) model has been shown to be effective at improving clients’ general functioning and well-being. This effective model provides clinicians with procedures for helping clients with the most challenging mental health profiles to heal the wounded, burdened, and traumatized parts of their systems. The IFS model provides a compassionate, respectful, non-pathologizing approach to understanding the organization and functioning of the human psyche. The transformative IFS approach embraces and celebrates the natural multiplicity of the mind. Its assumption that every part of the system has good intention and valuable resources allows clinicians to approach even the most troubling of “symptoms” with compassion and respect. IFS offers therapists a powerful and effective set of tools for empowering clients with a wide range of clinical profiles to heal the wounded and burdened parts of their internal systems, resulting in: • a way to enter clients’ inner ecology without the overemphasis on containment and stabilization • symptom reduction and improved functioning for clients • deep self-healing within even the most troubled clients IFS is a powerful treatment modality. Once you experience it, you will want to incorporate it into your practice. Through instruction, video demonstration, and experiential exercises, Alexia D. Rothman, Ph.D., Certified IFS therapist and colleague of Dr. Richard Schwartz (founder of IFS) will show you step-by-step how to apply the most effective, empirically validated IFS interventions to help your clients connect with and understand their conflicting parts to facilitate deep, lasting healing. Objectives: • Present the origins and development of the Internal Family Systems Model, including empirical support for the model and the current status of research using IFS to treat posttraumatic stress disorder. • Provide an in-depth overview of IFS theory, basic principles, assumptions of the model and its treatment implications. • Describe the three major components of the psyche as outlined by IFS (parts, burdens, and the Self) including the characteristics of and assumptions regarding each component as they relate to clinical practice. • Discuss the goals of IFS therapy and case conceptualization through an IFS lens. • Provide a grounding in IFS procedures and techniques that can be implemented immediately in clinical and personal work, including the steps for facilitating the development of Self-Part relationships. • Summarize the steps of healing and unburdening wounded parts of the system in session.

Art Therapy: Creative Interventions for Kids with Trauma, Anxiety, ADHD and More! is organized by PESI HealthCare and will be held on Feb 26, 2020 at Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America. This CME Conference has been approved for a maximum of 6.0 contact hours or 0.6 CEUs / 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Target Audience: • Counselors • Social Workers • Psychologists • Case Managers • Psychiatrists • School Psychologists • Marriage and Family Therapists • School Counselors • Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants • Educators • Speech-Language Pathologists • Creative Arts Therapists Course Description: Do you have clients who are stuck, repeating the same patterns over and over and you feel like you’re powerless to help them? You know, the ones who repeatedly refuse to listen and don’t stop to think before they act. Or those who refuse to take responsibility for their behaviors and constantly pass blame onto others. Do they leave you feeling stagnant and burnt out in your practice? Do you work with challenging children, teens and families who seem absolutely resistant to every intention you offer? Let me help you, like I have helped other therapists Attend this seminar and learn new innovative interventions to help even your most resistant clients become unstuck. Your day will consist of creative, interactive, hands-on training that will re-energize your work. You will leave with fresh new art strategies and approaches that you can use immediately to engage even your most difficult and challenging clients. No art experience is necessary, just an openness to try something creative. Objectives: • Explore art therapy directives to immediately implement into therapy practice to help children regulate their emotions and behavior. • Consider the ethical implications and clinical limitations of using selected art therapy in clinical practice. • Determine the stages of a child's normative development, and identify the indicators suggesting a need for additional clinical support. • Summarize the benefits of utilizing an art therapy approach in assessment, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of mental health disorders. • Develop a plan for introducing art into clinical practice for treatment resistant and challenging children and families. • Determine the neurobiological implications of using art therapy among clients with various diagnoses.

Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Recognizing & Treating the Emerging Epidemic is organized by PESI HealthCare and will be held on Mar 18, 2020 at Ambassador Center, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America. This course has been approved for a maximum of 6.0 contact hours. Target Audience: • Social Workers • Psychologists • Counselors • Teachers • School Administrators • Occupational Therapists • Speech-Language Pathologists • Marriage and Family Therapists • Other Helping Professionals Who Work with Children Course Description: he increasing rate of stress and trauma to children, which includes divorce, family breakdown, violence in society, the media, and a failing school system, has produced a “shell shocked” generation suffering from anxiety in many cases. The challenge for clinicians is to recognize anxiety in children and help them cope. Dr. Steve O'Brien will teach you how and why anxiety develops in children and adolescents. She will present practical treatment strategies that can be applied immediately. The seven key anxiety disorders along with case examples to be addressed include: • Separation anxiety disorder • Panic disorder • Overanxious disorder • Obsessive-compulsive disorder • Social anxiety disorder • Phobias • Post-traumatic stress disorder Other co-occurring disorders (e.g. behavior problems, medical conditions, depression, ADHD, learning disabilities, selective mutism) will also be discussed. Emphasis will be on creative interventions involving insight-oriented, cognitive-behavioral, biological, mindfulness, expressive arts and family systems approaches. Objectives: • Apply the “Three Ingredients” framework for understanding how, why and when anxiety occurs in children. • Draw from 10 specific stress-management strategies to target the "when" factor in child and adolescent anxiety. • Recommend 8 steps teachers can take to reduce anxiety in the classroom for more focused attention. • Implement at least one effective treatment strategy for each of the 7 key anxiety disorders to modify sources of stress. • Designate 3 steps that schools can take to create a safe, calm environment for meeting the needs of anxious students. • Create a therapeutic alliance with parents to improve the effectiveness of clinical treatment with anxious kids.

Challenging Geriatric Behaviors is organized by PESI HealthCare and will be held on Apr 22, 2020 at  Hilton Garden Inn Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America. Course Description: Dealing with cognitively-impaired geriatric patients can be challenging even for the experienced healthcare professional. Behaviors such as dementia, aggression, anxiety and depression, refusal of food and fluids, and inappropriate sexual advances pose significant potential barriers to the delivery of essential health care. If older adults are routinely under your care, minimize your risk of escalating the problems associated with troublesome, often irrational behavior by attending this program. Gain valuable insights into the causes of challenging geriatric behaviors and learn innovative and practical intervention strategies to improve the care you provide. Your speaker, Sheria Grice Robinson, is an expert in the field of geriatrics. Join her for a day filled with interesting case studies, insightful discussion and interactive learning. Leave with practical techniques you can apply the next day! Learner Objectives: • Assess behavioral problems of older adults with cognitive disturbances. • Compare and contrast the types, essential features, and stages of dementia. • Describe the advantages of recognition and treatment of early dementia. • Summarize non-pharmacologic interventions that address biopsychosocial needs of the older adult with challenging behaviors. • Implement specific communication strategies for patients with challenging behaviors. • Analyze evidence-based pharmacologic treatments of behavioral problems in patients. • Outline interventions for challenging geriatric behaviors including pain, nutritional deficits, sleep disorders, depression and delirium. • Evaluate causes and interventions for sexually inappropriate behaviors. • Support and educate family and professional caregivers of older adults exhibiting challenging behaviors. Additional details will be posted as soon as information is available.

Addressing Patient Behavior by Brain Lesion Site: Clinical Tools & Strategies Specific to Patient Deficits is organized by PESI HealthCare and will be held on Apr 23, 2020 at Hilton Garden Inn Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America. This course has been approved for a maximum of 6.0 contact hours or .6 CEUs / 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Target Audience: • Physical Therapists • Physical Therapist Assistants • Occupational Therapists • Occupational Therapy Assistants • Speech-Language Pathologists • Certified Brain Injury Specialists • Recreational Therapists • Nurses • Nurse Practitioners • Social Workers • Physician Assistants Course Description: Neuroanatomy is admittedly complex and overwhelming. Clinicians working in rehabilitation are faced with growing caseloads, diminished resources/reimbursement, and increasingly medically complex patients with the expectation of improving outcomes and reducing length of stay. Honing knowledge of clinically-relevant neuroanatomy and neuropathology can predict dysfunction and intuitively create a scaffold for assessment and treatment even before meeting the patient. Predetermining potential deficits leads to a more tightly defined diagnostic battery and expedites treatment formulation. By deducing the patient’s experience, the clinician can also prepare for behavioral barriers to engagement and understand the healing process with greater compassion. In this one-day seminar, participants will learn intermediate level neurophysiology as it relates to cognitive-linguistic skills and behavioral control, as well as explore mindfulness techniques for stress reduction. The overlying foci of the course are to arm treating professionals with an improved clinical eye, predicting dysfunction, and expedite the pathway to treatment. Course content will also include patient-focused educational materials for stroke and traumatic brain injury ready to utilize by treating practitioners. Objectives: • Categorize the anatomy and function of lobes of the brain as they apply to behavioral control. • Characterize the neurophysiology of memory and effect of fear/anger upon new learning and memory. • Analyze the effect of traumatic and non-traumatic injuries upon cognitive centers. • Connect neurotransmitters with the communication system within the brain. • Evaluate the optic system and lesion locations that affect engagement and accuracy in therapy. • Recommend simple neuroanatomy-based techniques to rapidly de-escalate stress for patients and caretakers. • Assess neuro-behavioral barriers that impact new learning.

45th Annual Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) Fall CME Conference is organized by Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assiatants (PSPA) and will be held from Oct 21 - 24, 2020 at Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States Of America. The target audience for this medical event is Physician Assistants. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.