Mar
9
1:00 PM13:00

Psych Assessment in YOUR Practice! (3 CEs)

Hear from a panel of experts the ins-&-outs of helping our community access needed expertise in testing and assessment of all kinds. Our goal is to encourage psychologists to pick up some assessment time in their schedule. Come learn about common referral sources, the work involved, the training, and the pay.

Panel Moderator: Sam Shachner PhD. Featuring Tad Gorske, PhD, Ara Schmitt, PhD, & Melissa Sutcliffe, PhD. Food and Drink will be served!

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Nov
10
12:00 PM12:00

The Magic of the Clubhouse (2 CEs)

Come visit and learn about the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse. This is a consumer-run psychiatric rehabilitation center located in Squirrel Hill. Presentation will include an educational representation, as well as a tour of the facility and a view of it in action. Lunch will be served!

CEs are $25 for 2 CEs.

Registration: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/vp5qwxn

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Oct
13
to Oct 14

44th Pittsburgh Family Systems Conference and Symposium

Working with Emotional Cutoff and Distance: A Challenge in Applying Family Systems Theory

Register here: https://www.wpfc.net/event/annual-fall-conference/

Friday, October 13, 2023 – 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday, October 14, 2023 – 9:00AM – 4:30 PM

Hybrid Format – Available both in person* and online** via Zoom. All registrants will have access to a video recording of the conference.

  • **Online registrants will be emailed information to connect to the conference on the morning of each day at 7:00AM, and participants are asked to connect fifteen minutes before conference start time. Participants are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the use of ZOOM technology before the meeting.

About the 2023 Pittsburgh Family Systems Conference and Symposium

Since its inception in 1979 by Paulina McCullough MSW, WPFC’s annual fall conference and symposium has provided a forum for lay and professional persons to present their ideas and efforts to apply family systems theory.  Continuing a multi-year theme of challenges in applying Bowen theory, this year’s conference focuses on the intriguing concept of emotional cutoff.  Keynote presentations addressing this concept will start off each day and be followed by talks on various aspects of cutoff and related topics in family systems theory. Lively panel discussions among the speakers and Q & A sessions for both in-person and online participants will round out the two-day event.

An optional, informal reception will conclude the day on Friday, featuring light refreshments and the opportunity to socialize with in-person presenters, fellow attendees, and WPFC faculty and board.


Conference Theme

Murray Bowen M.D. described his concept of emotional cutoff in 1975 as a process between generations of a family, varying in intensity with the degree of unresolved emotional attachment between young adults and their parents.  For the younger generation, getting geographical or emotional distance from their parents may seem to promise relief from the felt intensity of parental pressure or conflict. 

In fact, distance can be useful in assuring safety and navigating challenging situations between the generations and in a variety of other relationships.  However, relationship distance and cutoff can also result in long-term declines in the effectiveness of families and social groups.   Avoided conflicts can remain unaddressed and unresolved, and systems can become less flexible and innovative in addressing future challenges.  The stress and anxiety of an original conflict can be sustained in normalized distant relationships, long after the original triggering issues are forgotten.

This conference will explore emotional cutoff from diverse perspectives including its relationship to transgenderism, clinical case studies featuring cutoff, personal observations of family cutoff and efforts to bridge it, and the benefits of extended family connections, to name a few.


Keynote Presenter

WPFC is pleased to announce Priscilla Friesen LICSW as the conference keynote speaker.  Ms. Friesen wrote the seminal article, “Emotional Cutoff and the Brain,” which was published in Peter Titelman’s book, Emotional Cutoff, in 2003.

Ms. Friesen first encountered Bowen family systems theory in 1976 while in graduate school at the University of Kansas. Once kindled, her interest compelled her to move to Washington DC and begin her 45 years’ professional association with Bowen theory and the Bowen Center for Study of the Family.  

In her decades of teaching and clinical work, Ms. Friesen has pursued a fascination with how the brain, mind, and relationships operate in synchrony.  Her two presentations at this conference will reflect this enduring interest:

  • Emotional Cutoff Redux: An Update on Emotional Cutoff and the Brain will review research and experience since Friesen’s 2003 article on the relationship of brain physiology and the functioning of individuals in systems marked by varying degrees of emotional connection and cutoff.

  • Emotional Cutoff and the Process of Aging and Death will explore the relationship of emotional cutoff to the course of aging and death in a family system.

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Oct
13
12:00 PM12:00

Ethically Choosing a Secrets Policy in Couples Therapy

Featuring Elizabeth Polinsky.

Please Learn more and register here: https://pgheft.org/event-5338257

After this workshop:

  1. Participants will be able to describe the four types of secrets policies for couple therapy.

  2. Participants will identify ethical principles related to secrets policies for couple therapy.

  3. Participants will compare and contrast the ethics of the four types of secrets policies for couple therapy.

  4. Participants will choose a secrets policy in alignment with their professional ethical code.

About Liz:
Elizabeth "Liz" Polinsky, LCSW, LMFT is a Certified Emotionally Focused (EFT) Marriage Counselor and EFT Supervisor Candidate. She has spent the last 4 years working almost exclusively with couples in her private practice, Elizabeth Polinsky Counseling. When not providing therapy or training postgraduate therapists in EFT, she enjoys swing dancing with her husband, making homemade wine, and hosting The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships. You can learn more about Liz at 
www.ElizabethPolinskyCounseling.com

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Sep
30
10:30 AM10:30

Exercises for Therapist Back Pain (Self Care Series!)

Therapists put a great strain on their backs. This can result in significant back pain and even nerve damage. Lynsey Arch is a certified Pilates instructor, and will demonstrate some basic exercises any therapist can do at home. We will both strengthen our core and stave off pain. (Yes, this is interactive, so wear sweats!)

We will also get some fresh juice, and practice a focusing/mindfulness walk through Allegheny North Park ... all in service of grounding ourselves, and providing our clients the best care we can muster.

Questions: gppapittsburgh@gmail.com

3 CEs - https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9cgrh7a


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Sep
20
7:00 PM19:00

Developing Effective Safety and Lethal Means Plans for Suicidal Patients

Led By Sam Knapp, Ed.D. ABPP

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and perhaps the most frequent crisis encountered by psychologists. One of the first goals when treating suicidal patients is to reduce the likelihood that they will attempt suicide. Fortunately, researchers and clinicians have developed safety-plan-type interventions, including lethal means counseling which can substantially reduce the likelihood of a suicide attempt. This workshop will describe the steps in safety plans and how psychologists can present those plans in a manner likely presented to increase their success.

Please Register HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkd-6pqT4uHNa2JA4IOoCKOtu2WbNFzx8Q

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Sep
15
9:00 AM09:00

Assembling and Deepening Emotion Toward Enactments/Encounters in EFT

Hone in your skills to access, organize, and deepen core emotional experience in order to shape

enactments with your couples and individual clients! In this workshop we will learn to identify,

follow, and unpack emotional handles to assemble core affect so that we can choreograph organic

enactments in stage 1 and 2 of EFCT and EFIT.

To register: https://pgheft.org/event-5322108

Email: EFTPittsburgh@Gmail.com

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Aug
23
6:00 PM18:00

End of Summer Networking Social!

We will be gathering at the beautiful Narcisi Winery & Beer Garden to enjoy music and comradery. This is a chance to catch up with other psychologists, as well as learn GPPA’s plans for the fall. GPPA will provide some finger foods and drinks (including non-alcoholic!), you just need to provide your wonderful self!

This is the musician who will be playing: Andrew Bicsey.

Here is details on the Narcisi Winery and how to get there.
NARCISI WINERY, 4578 GIBSONIA ROAD, GIBSONIA, PA 15044, UNITED STATES. 724 - 444 - 4744

As a side note we are trying to do more events not in Pittsburgh, so that we can truly call ourselves the psychology association of “Greater Pittsburgh.” If you have other places outside of Pittsburgh you think would be good to meet, please let us know!

(Registration information will be coming later!)

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Aug
5
2:00 PM14:00

Combating Clinician Burnout through the lens of ACT

There is an increasing need to support psychologists as the demand for psychological services is steadily rising. In response to a 2022 APA survey, 38% of psychologists surveyed report that they are working more than they did before the pandemic, and 45% of them report feeling burnt out. This workshop will identify the causes of clinician burnout, use of the Maslach Burnout Inventory to detect clinician burnout, and then will apply the six targets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help reduce clinician burnout. Participants will engage in self-reflection, value identification, and mindfulness exercises during the presentation.

Those interested in registering should email gppapittsburgh@gmail.com.

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Aug
1
7:00 PM19:00

Zoom CE: Working with Alexithymia

People with fewer words for the emotions (alexithymia) they feel or sense in others are at a disadvantage in understanding themselves and relating to others. Our culture socializes people differently in regard to emotions and this can lead to conflicts. Many people want to meet their partners' emotional needs but do not fully understand the other, not because they themselves are less emotional, or lack empathy, or are genetically or hormonally different, but because they lack the verbal tools to relate more fully. After a discussion of the nature of emotions and their expression, we will practice using emotion wheels and other tools to expand our emotional vocabulary. We will explore emotion words in other languages, some not translatable, neologisms for complex emotions, and emojis’ meanings. Warning: Some discussion will include exploration of the uses of the F-word and words for excrement because they illustrate the issues so well.

Register HERE

(https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIudu2hqTgiHtQzH13BjYYnMiY9ZvcKRM0c)

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Jul
13
7:00 PM19:00

Zoom CE: When I'm Sorry Isn't Enough

Every relationship comes with expectations and when these are violated the resulting disappointment, anger, blame, and guilt threaten the continuation of the relationship. Repair of these ruptures requires negotiation, readjustment of expectations and rebuilding of trust. Really good apologies (with all seven components) lessen the hurt, improve trust, and support forgiveness, all necessary for rebuilding the damaged relationship.

Most apologies lack several of the seven core components. This program will describe and explain each element of a complete and satisfactory apology. Each will be examined and practiced until clear enough to be recalled and implemented when actually needed. Many of the failures seen in “non-apologies” will be presented to deepen the understanding of the components. Specific resistances to offering some components are to be expected and will be explored and addressed.

We will look at “non-apologies” offered by public figures, after their crimes have become public, to better understand the core elements and we will practice defective apologies with humor. We will not address forgiving as it is well covered in hundreds of books and classes.

Taught be Ed Zuckerman, Ph.D.

This is an interactive, online Zoom CE event. It provides 2 CEs. (Free for GPPA members, $25 for non-members) Register HERE

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUldOGtpj8pH9dqEYosal0Gm_0XQgt_lAro:

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Jun
14
12:00 PM12:00

GPPA Juneteenth Event!

In honor of Juneteenth, GPPA will host a lunch time Zoom CE, featuring Curtis Thorpe and Keisha Jimmerson. Thorpe has worked across Pennsylvania in various mental health positions including in prisons, community mental health, and faith based situations. Jimmerson is the Associate Dean of Students for Diversity at Seton Hill. They will present on topics relevant to black mental health, with attention to informing professionals on what to consider when working with clients of color. Register HERE

(https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrcOupqjgoHdzSVTvDZrdviAg1NBWLIIXx)

Attendance is free. CEs are free for GPPA members, $25 for non-members.

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May
24
5:00 PM17:00

GPPA Spring Networking Social - 2023

Come on down after work! We’ll have food and beverages. We’ll spend some time discussing GPPA planning for the summer, including CE planning, getting our newsletter back up, and getting up a list-serve. It’s totally worth it to get in your car, and come spend some time with psychologist colleagues who ‘Get it!’

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Apr
21
12:00 PM12:00

HB-1000: Prescribing Psychology in Pennsylvania

Come learn about the legislation recently proposed by Pittsburgh's own Dan Frankel (Squirrel Hill) that gives psychologists a path to prescribing psychotropics in their practice. The course is co-taught by Dan Warner Ph.D. who co-wrote PPA's white paper on the topic (click here), and Krista Boyer, Psy.D., who is a leading advocate on psychology prescribing. Both are currently pursuing their Masters of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) from Fairleigh Dickinson University. They will explain the proposed legislation, its training requirements, and the value this would bring to Pennsylvania's strapped mental health system.

The presentation is free for all attendees. 1 CE is free for GPPA members, $25 for non-members.

Please register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcucu6hrzguGN0qyMOAqRTXCySKDpmRy9Is

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Jan
29
1:00 PM13:00

GPPA Board Meeting

  • Saturday, January 29, 2022

  • 1:00 PM 2:00 PM

All Board Meetings are open to GPPA members who would like to speak or present information to the board. Please email gppapittsburgh@gmail.com if you plan to attend a board meeting and we will send you the Zoom info. Thank you!

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Apr
21
6:30 PM18:30

Mental Wellness and Social Justice Book Discussion - rescheduled for May; details TBD

Please join GPPA for the second 2021 meeting of the Social Justice and Mental Wellness Book Discussion. We will be discussing Part 2 of “My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies” by Resmaa Menakem MSW LICSW SEP.

To register for this free program, please visit :

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpce-rqjgpGNbvEb1c6JzKAkR47yDfHJHo

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Mar
24
6:00 PM18:00

Virtual professional networking program

Please join GPPA for a Virtual Professional Networking program. There will be a panel discussion regarding applying to and interviewing for professional employment - including after graduation and during a pandemic. If interested in submitting questions in advance, please send them to gppapittsburgh@gmail.com

To register for this free program, please visit:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqfuyuqjopGtLOf-qvsNSf0qQvN9N1gJZz


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Mar
23
6:30 PM18:30

GPPA Social Justice and Mental Wellness Book Discussion

Please join GPPA for the first 2021 meeting of the Social Justice and Mental Wellness Book Discussion. We will be discussing the Intro and Part 1 of “My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies” by Resmaa Menakem MSW LICSW SEP.

To register, please visit : GPPA Social Justice and Mental Wellness Book Discussion:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrdOqspjwsH9HNh7b-5_c4ogeUY9fMv-Xk



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