April 28, 2012 (9am - 12pm)
Advocates for Justice: Social Workers in the Court Room
Normal Wassel, LICSW, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services
Social workers are increasingly being utilized by criminal defense attorneys to address the complex psychosocial issues that may impact their clients' involvement in the criminal justice system. This workshop will present an overview of the role that social workers have in this relatively new area of practice, including best practices, with a focus on skill development for presenting effective reports to the court.
Areas to be covered include petition for permanent removal of children, court ordered supervised visitation with children, immigration deportation, sex offender classification, commitment for psychiatric and substance abuse treatment, and the juvenile and adult criminal justice system.
Objectives
- Participants will gain a better understanding of forensic social work and the legal system
- Participants will review and identify the best practices and the benefits of utilizing social work intervention in enhancing fair and just legal outcomes for clients
- Participants will identify effective components of written testimony on behalf of clients, including presentation of mitigation factors
This will be an interactive presentation with time for discussion, questions, and case examples, and review of redacted court reports. Handouts of relevant articles and best practice models will also be available for program participants. Both full-time and consultant opportunities, such as sentecing advocated and mitigation specialists, death penalty work, and expert witness will also be discussed.
Norma Wassel is currently the Director of the Social Services Advocates Program at the Committee for Public Counsel Service, the state's Public Defender agency. She is a licensed social worker and holds an MSW from Columbia University. Over the years, Norma has worked on both in macro and clinical practice. This has included human services administration and community development in different parts of the country as well as abroad, including in Eastern Europe, assisting newly countries in social work development after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In addition, she has taught graduate level courses in social work and provided crisis intervention work, including during 9/11.
Registration opens Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
May 11 - 12, 2012 (10am - 6pm)
Utilizing Mind/Body Resources with EMDR in the Treatment of Complex PTSD
Patricia Thatcher, LICSW, The Lifeworks Center
In this workshop you will come away with tools you can use immediately:
- Develop an understanding of how to accurately diagnose Complex PTSD and DID from a developmental perspective. This will include the theory of Judith Herman, Bessel van der Kolk, Ego-state Therapy, Structural Somatiform Dissociation, and Internal Family Systems Therapy.
- Review the normal stages and developmental tasks that are compromised with early trauma.
- Experience various ways to utilize imagery & breathing techniques to reduce stress and build resources.
- become familiar with various ways Tapas Acupressure Technique® (TAT)® is useful to reduce stress and develop stability.
- Become familiar with a basic overview of how these resources are helpful in preparing a client to use EMDR.
- Use a developmental chart to systematically organize treatment strategies.
- Integrate these modalities into your work and life.
- Have the opportunity to present cases, ask questions.
Patricia Thatcher, LICSW has over 25 years experience working with trauma & dissociation specializing in the use of mind/body methods including EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), the Tapas Acupressure Technique, The REMAP Process and hypnosis. She presents at local & national conferences, is president of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma & Dissociation and maintains a private practice in Cambridge, Ma where she works with adults, children, couples and families.
Register online: $249 through April 27, $299 thereafter.
