Developments in Neuropsychology

Family Paths is committed to awareness and comprehension of the newest developments in the areas of psychology and neuropsychology that directly relate to working with people exposed to significant trauma. When new research offers implications for the therapeutic process, it is especially important that we are engaged in creating learning opportunities for our staff.

Barbra Silver, MFT, Family Paths' Clinical Director, participates in an ongoing reading group with neuropsychologist Allan Schore, Ph.D., whose activities as a clinician/scientist include theoretical work on the enduring impact of early trauma on brain development. Additionally, eleven Family Paths staff members and interns are currently involved in a nine-month remote-learning "webinar" program for mental health professionals. This program, hosted by Massachusetts-based clinical psychologist Janina Fisher, Ph.D., focuses on developing greater comfort and expertise in working with complex trauma and dissociation and staying current with the most recent treatment advances. Topics covered include integrating neurobiological research into trauma treatment, using mind-body techniques in traditional talking therapy, and working with dissociative symptoms and disorders.

Clinicians Phyllis Lorenz, MFT and Gwynne Gilson, MFT Intern, are two Family Paths employees who regularly participate in neuropsychology trainings.

Phyllis has given several presentations on trauma and dissociation at Family Paths. Her main focus is on how a child's developing brain is impacted by trauma and chronic stress. She emphasizes the importance of early care-giving experiences on the development of the child. Simply put, experience shapes the brain. In a safe and attuned environment, the infant develops a sense of self in relation to others, while a history of trauma and chronic stress can affect the developing brain of a young child, specifically the ability to regulate emotion in response to stress. Phyllis' trainings include information on how individuals learn to manage the trauma they have encountered, specifically dissociation. She teaches "Structural Dissociation", a model developed by Janina Fisher, Ph.D., which outlines the creative and brilliant ways individuals learn to survive the stress and trauma of their lives.

Gwynne is currently a participant in the three-year Somatic Experiencing training program, offered by the Foundation for Human Enrichment. Through these trainings, Gwynne has gained an understanding of how the nervous system responds to trauma, including the reasons why symptoms remain "stuck" in the body, sometimes for years. Somatic Experiencing techniques are designed to restore the body's innate ability to heal and are especially useful as an adjunct to traditional talk therapy.

Family Paths remains committed to utilizing the latest research developments as we work to heal the effects of trauma and violence in our community. We know how important it is to bring up-to-date treatment options to the families in Alameda County who need it most.

Finding Your Authentic Voice When Working With Challenging Family Dynamics Training at Family Paths

This training will take an in-depth look at the issues that typically bring up the hardest emotional blocks for people who work to help multi-stressed and at-risk families. Fear, inadequacy, frustration, anger, hopelessness, urges to rescue, even desperation. These are all strong emotional experiences which, while potentially interfering with good work with families, may also be transformed through braving closer and honest examination on the part of the helper into the very keys to successful work with families. Compounding those hard emotional issues is the effect of the superstar status of “The Masters” of family work, which can make this work seem an ever herculean pursuit and set up for permanent feelings of being not-good-enough. This training will teach participants how to examine and utilize these issues to break through blocks and resistance to the work. Participants will learn how and begin to discover their own best styles for helping families while also sifting through and borrowing from the core foundations of what has thus far been shown to be effective in the field. Particular attention will be given to how to free oneself from the grip of the masters and get comfortable in one’s own flow. The ultimate goal will be to find and invite in the most authentic You, thus enhancing your ability to honor and steer the truest individuality and potential of even the most difficult families in the service of their healing. Learning will take place in large and small group, theoretical and hands on practical settings.

Registration is required by October 15th and is on a first come first serve basis.

To register send an email to smarkewich@familypaths.org or call (510) 893-9230 ext.207. If you do not register you may not be allowed in at the door.

Date: Friday October 23rd
Time: 9:30-3:30
Location: Family Paths, Inc.
Conference Room
1727 MLK Jr. Way
Oakland, Ca.

Registration and Breakfast 9:00-9:30 Lunch will be provided
This course meets the qualifications for 6 CEUs offered for MFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and is provided by Family Paths In partnership with Chabot-Las Positas Community College
District and Alameda County.

This workshop is free to those who work with foster youth in Alameda County.

Family Paths' Support Line Providing Counseling and Support to Victims of Domestic Violence in Alameda County

History about the Safe Start Grant and the Three Domestic Violence Hotline Interns:

In Alameda County the Safe Passages Program submits request for proposals to funding sources, and oversees and monitors funded agencies. One such proposal they applied for was a federally funded grant. Nationwide 15 grant proposals were funded for a 4 year time period to increase services to families affected by domestic violence. Safe Start Promising Approaches is the Oakland based project funded to meet the needs of these families. Family Paths is one of the partner agencies in the grant funded to increase services to families.

Family Paths is identified as a consultant to the Safe Start Promising Approaches grant. Family Paths’ family hotline, the Family Support and Resource line, was chosen as the Alameda County hotline number to be distributed to families needing assistance due to the affects of domestic violence. “The proposed scope of services constitutes the following: 1) Increase the capacity of the hotline services for families in Oakland, 2) Refer Oakland families with children birth to five who have been exposed to violence to the Safe Start Promising Approaches Intake Coordinator who does a complete assessment of the families needs and then refers them to all appropriate agencies, 3) Collect appropriate data and complete agreed upon paperwork, and then 4) to participate in grantee meetings”.

Within Family Paths the Family Support Program developed the Hotline Counseling Intern Project. The interns are hourly employees who work 12-14 hours per week. They each cover two hotline shifts per week, work on special projects, attend agency and community trainings, and attend weekly group supervision. The interns have assisted the staff with increasing the number of callers who are immediately responded to by the hotline, and by increasing the capacity to provide more on-going case management. They are assisting in writing training materials for volunteers and staff, gathering statistics, developing materials for the domestic violence awareness e-mails, and with other projects. Thank you interns for all the in depth counseling you do with callers!

My wish is that this information about the interns and the role of Family Support in the Safe Start Promising Approaches grant confirms for you once again Family Paths’ commitment to ending violence within families.

Peace,

Vincenza Baldino
Family Support Program Manager
Family Paths, Inc.

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Parent Education Classes Begin Soon & Flu Vaccination Availability

Parent Education Classes Begin Soon & Flu Vaccination Availability