4th International Conference on Clinical and Counseling Psychology August 12-13, 2019 Tokyo, Japan

Session Introduction

Chan, Tsun-Hung Albert

Gratia Christian College, Hong Kong

Title: Common Heroes: Positive Narrative Approach with Male Cancer Survivors

Biography:

Albert Chan is the Head and Professor of the School of Psychology, Gratia Christian College and is the Senior Clinical Psychologist at Maggie’s Cancer Caring Center in Hong Kong.  He also is an Adjunct Professor for Macau University of Science and Technology, Mongolia University of Science and Technology and Baptist Hospital Nursing Program.  He was invited to be a visiting professor for McGill University in 2018.  He is a dynamic clinical psychologist and an experienced marriage and family therapist and approved supervisor. Albert offers inspiring insights and stimulating experiential facilitation and psychological services that cultivate participants’ strengths and motivation to develop innovations and practical solutions.   His recent publication includes a book chapter “The Preternatural in Chinese Cultural: A Ghost Story.” and co-authored “Existential psychology East-West.  2nd Vol., Colorado Spring, The University Professors Press”

Abstract:

In Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in Hong Kong participants of men support group usually share their heroic stories on their life struggles.  Their narrated positive character strengths and virtues are easily matched with those which proposed by Paterson and Seligman in developing positive psychology (2004).  These positive character strengths and virtues are in following 6 areas: 1. Courage: Integrity, Persistence, Bravery, vitality 2. Humanity: Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence, 3. Transcendence: Aesthetic Ability, Gratitude, Hope, Humour, Spirituality, 4. Temperance: Self-regulation, Prudence, Humility/Modesty, Forgiveness and Mercy, 5. Justice: Leadership, Fairness, Citizenship, and Wisdom and knowledge: Creativity, Curiosity, Open-mindedness, Love learning, Perspective. This study intents to identify the existed positive character strengths and virtues among the participants in the men cancer support group through their life narratives.  The positive character strengths and virtues will be identified and reflect on through narrative group process. Participants are encouraged to support one another, to tell and retell their own and others’ stories to identify positive character strengths and virtues.  In order to find the commonalities among participants to rate their consented positive strengths and virtues which enable them to face their struggles with cancers.

Sneha Goyal

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Banaglore, India

Title: Diagnostic and treatment implications in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Biography:

Ms. Sneha Goyal has completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram college, Delhi University, and post graduation studies from Delhi University (north campus), New Delhi, in 2014. She has completed M. Phil. in Clincial Psychology (2017) from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Banaglore.  She is currently persuing Ph. D. at the department of Clincila Psychology, NIMHANS, under guidance of Dr. Paulomi M. Sudhir, Professor, Department of Clincial Psychology, and Consultant at Behavioural Medicine Unit, NIMHANS, Banaglore. She harbours interest in adult CBT and psychotherapy, common mental disorders, and help seeking in clicnial and non-clicnical popultion.

Abstract:

ADHD is a common, chronic psychiatric/neuro-behavioural disorder impacting multiple domains of functioning and quality of life, yet underdiagnosed. Among cliniccians, there is lack of consensus over age of criteria, and symtom cut off needed. There is high overalap noted with other disorders which colours the ADHD picture. Many have a long period of psychiatric treatment as adults before the ADHD diagnosis is made. Individuals receive treatments for comorbidities, but not ADHD which has implications for treatment implications. In adults with ADHD co-morbidity is more often a rule than exception. Furthre, subclincial ADHD is far less recognized. Literature suggests that ADHD is a heterogeneous condition and subtypes are important but likely to share core features. A widely studied variable is, executive functions. Barkley’s (1997) model of ADHD comprehensively explains phenomemnon underlying ADHD. It further validates Wender Utah’s inclusion of emotion regulation (another important variable) as diagnositic, than associated feature of adult ADHD. Social cognition in adult ADHD has recently gained importance but is only in its infancy. There is a need to understand common preocesses in heterogenous cluster of adult ADHD symptoms, executive functions, emotion regulatoin, social cogniton and their implication on day to day functioning. It has implications for making comprehensive treatment guidelines for adult ADHD. The present study reviews the diagnostic challenges, regulation as a transdiagnostis thread across variables such as executive functions, emotion regulation, and social cognition) in adults with ADHD. It also critiques current treatments available for adult ADHD and future directions for comprehensive therapeutic care.

Session Introduction

Guahara Dominguez

Psychotherapist. Social Pedagogue. Biodanza, United Kingdom

Title: Healing Movement and Biodanza as a method of increasing the sense of enjoyment and optimism in Mental health difficulties

Biography:

Guahara completed her degree in Social work in Las Plams de GC. She proceeded to train as a Gestalt Therapist with the Gestalt Institute of Valencia and Las Palmas  and  qualified in 2009. She underwent the Official Biodanza training with Rolando Toro School .Guahara works as a Training and Developing Consultant and Psychotherapist. She completed her Master Degree in CBT and Compassion Focused Therapy as part of her Clinical Consultant role.  She is the Founder of the "Sitting on Fire" and "The Reset" workshop. Guahara Dominguez has pusbished the “Guide for Holistic Education” in collaboration with Las Palmas City Council.

Abstract:

Midnfulness and body presence has been clinically proven to be a supportive method of interventation for the effective treatment of multiple mental health disorders including depression and anxiety as well as being a preventive and managament technique for stress and mood desregulation. In this workshop participants will be able to exprience a variety of guided movement and dance which wil lead to an inmediate sense of enjoyment and optimism. We use this discipline to support the cognitive reestructuring and behavioural changes that we try to induce using more tradtional methods of Psychotheray including CBT and sistemic therapies to reinforce the renewal of vitality, creativity and closeness in the participants. The session  also serves to integrate the participants with each other, so we get a feeling of belonging, connection and being part of a group. This session will also aim  to promote the detachment for the intellectual mind ruled by the ego and the conecction with a higher understanding and feeling rules by a higher consciueness . Biondaza and healing movement is intended to increase well-being and general health by encouraging self-expression and self-management through music, dance and interaction.This is an opportunity for clinicians to experiment the impact of the Healing guided movement as an effective method of therapeutic intervention.

Session Introduction

Isabel Li

Educational Psychologist, Hong Kong

Title: The Growing Importance of E-Counseling Services in Burdened Asian Cities

Biography:

Isabel is a psychologist, arts therapist and social entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of TheraTalk – a mental healthtech startup in Hong Kong providing comprehensive technology-based mental health services. She  has graduate training in Family Counseling, Educational and Child Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy.

Abstract:

The rise of the Internet and mobile applications have drastically changed the means by which people obtain information and communicate in busy cities like Hong Kong. Everyday, millions of citizens are communicating through social networking and messenging platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp and Wechat. Seeking mental health services has always been a taboo in Chinese culture, as such, the internet reaches the heavy-burdened citizens who are desperate to get help by providing immediate and convenient support for them with mental health professionals. This presentation address the paradigm shift for mental health pracitioners in Asia to use technology for psychological interventions,  the development, advantages and obstacles to implement onilne counseling in Asia, as well as suggestions for future development in the field to prepare practitioners in Asia to adopt technology into their services.

Session Introduction

Mohammad Tahan

Islamic Azad University, Iran

Title: Designing and evaluating a questionnaire (knowledge and awareness of children about sexual abuse)

Biography:

Mohamad Tahan, Clinical Psychologist,,Member of Young Researchers and Elite Club, Islamic Azad University  & Social determinants of health research center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences.

Abstract:

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a public health problem of epidemic proportions worldwide (Barth, 2013). In the United States, approximately 1 in 10 children reports having experienced sexual victimization,2 and approximately 15% to 32% of women and 5% to 16% of men report being sexually abused as children.3–5 Among US children, the incidence rate of sexual abuse was 24% in 2009,6 and in 2012, 62 936 cases of CSA were substantiated nationwide. In addition, authorities suspect that large numbers go unreported (Pulido, 2015). Despite the large number of prevention programs that have been developed in the past ten years  to  teach  children  ways  in  which  they  might  deal  with  sexual  abuse  should  they  be approached or molested, there is only a beginning body of research on their efficacy. Reviews of the available published research (Tutty, 1990; Wurtele, 1987) cite approximately 26-30 studies that have investigated whether children from a wide age-range of three to 13 years can learn and utilize  the  knowledge  and  skills  taught  in  prevention  programs.  This  research  has  been interpreted as providing beginning support for child abuse prevention programs on the part of the reviewers previously cited, but others remain sceptical about their utility (Reppucci & Haugaard, 1989).  Continuing  investigation  of  how  children  respond  to  such  programs  is  necessary, especially given the complexity of the developmental changes experienced by children (Tutty, in press), and the influence of cultural and family beliefs that may contradict the messages given in prevention  programs  (Tutty,  1991;  Tutty,  1993).  However,  a  recent  nationwide  survey  of American school-based prevention programs (Bolden, 1992), found that, while most programs expressed an interest in evaluation, one of the major constraints was finding appropriate research instruments. This study will examine the main concepts that will be taught in schools for the prevention of child sexual abuse. These concepts, the Children's Abuse Awareness Questionnaire, will be made to measure changes in knowledge and attitudes toward abusive prevention concepts in children aged 6 to 13 years.

Erna Marina Kusuma

M.Psi. C.Ft, Vier Psychology Services; Indonesia

Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF NERVE ACTIVATION TO LANGUAGE ABILITY AND CONCENTRATION ON CHILDREN

Biography:

Erna Marina Kusuma is a Child psychologist who is experienced in optimizing the development of children, specializing in special needs children. Having expertise in developing communication skills in children who experience speech delays or concentration problems. Together with her husband who is also a psychologist, established a psychology clinic to help the society both individually and organizationally. Completed her psychology education at the University of Surabaya, Master of Psychology at Padjadjaran University and took a short course in Kinesiology. Had also taken short courses and seminars in Adelaide Australia. Since 2007 has been speakers in various media such as magazines, radio and television for the topic of Child Development in Indonesia. Until now still actively providing parenting seminars in various schools in Indonesia and also recently started to develop themselves as a speaker couple with her husband for the topics around Family Problems.

Abstract:

  

Since the digital era began, especially in the 2000s, children began to recognize computers or gadgets in their daily activities. In Indonesia, for the last few years, children of 2-year-old play a lot of gadgets and watching TV in their daily activities. Busy working live and hectic schedules mean parents are often running out of time to spend with their children, so that children often live with babysitter all day and often just watching tv or playing video games to keep the child quiet. Anamnesis results show that on average, babies are played television shows for about 6 to 8 hours a day. This resulted in the interaction of children with the surrounding people to be reduced. Reduced interaction to the surrounding affects children's ability in communication, focus and socialization of children in the future. Over the past 10 years, 80 percent of patients who have speech delay, hyperactivity and other developmental disorders are starting from the use of gadgets and televisions since they were infants. The most common development disorders is the lack of response to the surrounding and delayed 2-way communication. This shows the use of electronics such as gadgets and   watching TV excessively since infants will affect the development of the cerebrum where the brain is very useful for language development and response to the surrounding. A natural way that can help the brain become actively re-integrated is by activation of the nerves. Nerve activation is a combination of a variety of simple movements and light massage integrated into the head and inside the mouth. This movement and massage can be done passively or actively. Some of this nerve activation movement is simple and can be done at home. Since 10 years ago it was seen that patients who were given the method of nerve activation had increased 95 percent in speech ability compared with patients who were not given neural activation method. The categories of patients in this case are aged 3 to 5 years, experiencing speech delays and concentration disorders, have never tried any therapy, given the method of nerve activation in therapy for 4 months with a duration of once a week in the mouth activation and every day 3 hours of motion exercises in home, a 95 percent increase in speech and 2-way communication and focus.

       

Session Introduction

Ofra Shalev

Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

Title: Personal and inter-personal sexuality conflicts in newlyweds

Biography:

Ofra is a certified couple and family therapist and a supervisor with over 20 years of clinical experience. She is working with straight and gay couples as well as families. In parallel, Ofra has developed a rich academic career and she received her PhD from Bar Ilan University at 2010. At the Bar-Ilan university she is leading the family studies and paracticum for MSW students. She has published papers in reputed journals and presenting in leading conferences.

Abstract:

Although sexuality is an integral part of  married couples everyday life, little is known about first sexual experience within  marriage. Studies investigating first sexual experience focus largely on relationships at a young age and among teenagers, whereas studies of that experience in the context of marriage are extremely sparse and focus mainly on clinical population of unconsummated marriage. The presented study is an initial attempt to fill the gap by exploring the subjective perceptions of first sexual experience among a non-clinical religious population. Thirty six men and women of the Modern Orthodox Jews of Israel were interviewed during their first year of marriage. The interviews revealed unique challenges and difficulties related to everyday sexuality in general and to first sex experience in particular. The findings indicate that for both men and women the first sexual experience was associated with emotional and behavioral difficulties, which appear to be rooted in the traditional nature of their religious background. The findings explore reasoning and justifications for these challenges and detail different coping strategies of the individual and of the couple, embedded in their daily behavioral routines. The findings are relevant for other traditional societies in which couples experience sex only after marriage. The findings might also support professionals and sex therapists in addressing newlywed couples’ needs in similar traditional populations, such as those of Indians couples, traditional Chinese couples and many other traditional communities worldwide.

Session Introduction

Brian McCann

Newpark Autism Centre; Dublin, Ireland

Title: The lived experiences of autistic adults as novice Aikido martial artists: A thematic analysis

Biography:

Brian McCann is a doctoral student at University of Dundee. He has  M.Phil. in Applied Linguistics  (Trinity College, Dublin), an MBA in Educational Management (University of Leicester) and  4^th Degree Black Belt (Yon Dan)  (Aikido from World Headquarters, Tokyo). He has four post-graduate diplomas in Special Education (University College Dubli; Queen’s University, Belfast and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth) and eighteen licensed certifications in Autism Research and Oriental Studies taught by MIT and the Universities of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London, Tokyo and Keio. He teaches Samurai weaponry (Jo, Bokken, Shinai) to autistic students at the Newpark Autism Centre, Dublin.

Abstract:

The research questions what it is to be an autistic adult as a novice martial artist in the practice of Aikido. This responds to a gap in the literature on martial arts as an intervention in autism and investigates the impact of martial practice on life-worlds and levels of happiness.. Four participants met with two inclusion criteria: firstly, aged between eighteen and sixty-five; secondly, hold a clinical diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder  (ASD). The research was conducted using Thematic Analysis (TA). The sample engaged in an adapted Aikido course taught by officially registered black belt instructors within a formal dojo setting. Video and photo elicitation were used in the semi-structured interviews. The participants logged their experiences. Two phases of semi-structured interviews followed the course.  Phase Two followed between four and six months after Phase One to register any longitudinal changes.  The researcher personally transcribed over sixty-six thousand words of interview data. TA was selected because it focused on semantics and also combined the latency of hermeneutics, idiography and phenomenology. Phase One revealed superordinate themes across the four transcripts, revealing issues of fear, bullying, threat, protection, anxiety, comfort and safety.  Phase Two revealed a significant longitudinal impact on the life-worlds of participants, ranging from a newly acquired life-world structure to an augmented  peace of mind. The study contributes to the current wave of advocacy for the autistic nation and may inspire further research. On a pragmatic level, it may offer guidance to martial art instructors teaching autistic adults in their classes.

Session Introduction

Sam Vaknin

Professor, Southern Federal University ; Russia

Title: Dissociation and Confabulation in Narcissistic Disorders

Biography:

Sam Vaknin is the author of "Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited" and other books about personality disorders. His work is cited in hundreds of books and dozens of academic papers: He spent the past 6 years developing a treatment modality for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Over the years, with volunteers, it was found to be effective with clients suffering from a major depressive episode as well.

Abstract:

Narcissists and psychopaths dissociate (erase memories) a lot (are amnesiac) because their contact with the world and with others is via a fictitious construct: the False Self. Narcissists never experience reality directly but through a distorting lens darkly. They get rid of any information that challenges their grandiose self-perception and the narrative they had constructed to explicate, excuse, and legitimize their antisocial, self-centred, and exploitative behaviors, choices, and idiosyncrasies. In an attempt to compensate for the yawning gaps in memory, narcissists and psychopaths confabulate: they invent plausible "plug ins" and scenarios of how things might, could, or should have plausibly occurred. To outsiders, these fictional stopgaps appear as lies. But the narcissist fervently believes in their reality: he may not actually remember what had happened - but surely it could not have happened any other way! These tenuous concocted fillers are subject to frequent revision as the narcissist's inner world and external circumstances evolve. This is why narcissists and psychopaths often contradict themselves. Tomorrow's confabulation often negates yesterday's. The narcissist and psychopath do not remember their previous tales because they are not invested with the emotions and cognitions that are integral parts of real memories.

Irene Lee Lines

Keys 2 UR Success, LLC. NE 68130 USA

Title: Integrated Calm Assertive Response (ICAR)

Biography:

Irene Lines completed her Masters’ of Clinical Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA.  She is known for developing the Respite Care Program for families with children who have severe emotional disturbances. When working at a Residential Treatment Center for aggressive adolescents, she created ICAR. She is passionate about supporting and assisting clients to be resilient. Currently, she is an International Traveling Social Worker on military bases in America, Japan and Korea.

Abstract:

Integrated Calm Assertive Response ICAR is an innovative protocol of various methods for resolving anxiety weaved together in a unique formula which has proven to result in clients choosing mindful deliberate action instead of the fight/flight/freeze reactions under stress. ICAR was created to help clients struggling with aggressive behaviors, thoughts to harm self or others to behave in a calm assertive respectful manner. Based on theories of childhood development, trauma informed psychotherapy and Erickson’s Hypnosis and Brief therapy model, ICAR incorporates techniques of traditional and alternative therapies to calm anxiety in the body and to rewire the brain to pathways of positive resources thus eliminating thoughts and behaviors of aggression. ICAR assists clients to rewrite their story of childhood deficiencies from caretakers, is unique to the individual by reprograming into their subconscious mind positive resources for their wholeness and well-being. Thus, clients then come to each situation from a vantage point of wholeness instead of unresolved past traumas. ICAR recognizes that the human condition can improve, and self-healing can take place in brief therapy.  ICAR innovative method of weaving in traditional therapy and energy psychology in a new treatment strategy for overcoming anxiety, depression and anger issues. ICAR leads to redirecting and deepening pathways of new thinking in the brain and changes the course of the river of consciousness. It provides access to new wisdom and resources instead of the old ways of thinking which have been deactivated and so new streams of thoughts flow automatically.

Sneha Goyal

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Banaglore, India

Title: Diagnostic and treatment implications in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Biography:

Ms. Sneha Goyal has completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram college, Delhi University, and post graduation studies from Delhi University (north campus), New Delhi, in 2014. She has completed M. Phil. in Clincial Psychology (2017) from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Banaglore.  She is currently persuing Ph. D. at the department of Clincila Psychology, NIMHANS, under guidance of Dr. Paulomi M. Sudhir, Professor, Department of Clincial Psychology, and Consultant at Behavioural Medicine Unit, NIMHANS, Banaglore. She harbours interest in adult CBT and psychotherapy, common mental disorders, and help seeking in clicnial and non-clicnical popultion.

Abstract:

ADHD is a common, chronic psychiatric/neuro-behavioural disorder impacting multiple domains of functioning and quality of life, yet underdiagnosed. Among cliniccians, there is lack of consensus over age of criteria, and symtom cut off needed. There is high overalap noted with other disorders which colours the ADHD picture. Many have a long period of psychiatric treatment as adults before the ADHD diagnosis is made. Individuals receive treatments for comorbidities, but not ADHD which has implications for treatment implications. In adults with ADHD co-morbidity is more often a rule than exception. Furthre, subclincial ADHD is far less recognized. Literature suggests that ADHD is a heterogeneous condition and subtypes are important but likely to share core features. A widely studied variable is, executive functions. Barkley’s (1997) model of ADHD comprehensively explains phenomemnon underlying ADHD. It further validates Wender Utah’s inclusion of emotion regulation (another important variable) as diagnositic, than associated feature of adult ADHD. Social cognition in adult ADHD has recently gained importance but is only in its infancy. There is a need to understand common preocesses in heterogenous cluster of adult ADHD symptoms, executive functions, emotion regulatoin, social cogniton and their implication on day to day functioning. It has implications for making comprehensive treatment guidelines for adult ADHD. The present study reviews the diagnostic challenges, regulation as a transdiagnostis thread across variables such as executive functions, emotion regulation, and social cognition) in adults with ADHD. It also critiques current treatments available for adult ADHD and future directions for comprehensive therapeutic care.

Sneha Goyal

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Banaglore, India

Title: Executive Functions, Affect Regulation, Social Cognition, and functioning in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Biography:

Ms. Sneha Goyal has completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram college, Delhi University, and post graduation studies from Delhi University (north campus), New Delhi, in 2014. She has completed her M. Phil. in Clincial Psychology (2017) from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Banaglore.  She is currently persuing Ph. D. at the Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, under guidance of Dr. Paulomi M. Sudhir, Professor, Department of Clincial Psychology, and Consultant at Behavioural Medicine Unit, NIMHANS, Banaglore. She harbours interest in adult CBT and psychotherapy, common mental disorders, and help seeking/ health behaviours in clinical and non-clinical population.

Abstract:

Adult ADHD in the population, is often underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, have high comorbidity and significant impairments across domains. Sub clincial ADHD is far less recognized. Many have a long period of psychiatric treatment as adults before the ADHD diagnosis is made. Literature suggests that ADHD is a heterogeneous condition and subtypes are important- but likely to share core features. Further, individuals receive treatments for comorbidities, but not ADHD which has implications for treatment implications. In adults with ADHD co-morbidity is more often a rule than exception. Current treatment for adult ADHD are largely based on CBT and cognitive remediation. Meta cognitive therapy, mindfulness, and emotion regulation based therapy are only few and not guided by theory. Despite many studies documenting neuropsychological deficits in adult ADHD and its biological link to emotion regulation or social cognition, few have linked the variables together comprehensively. Barkley’s (1997) model of ADHD addresses the concern partly. Thus, understanding the variables that impact clinical manifestations and functioning, using a transdiagnostic approach is likely to result in a more unified approach to interventions. The presesnt data is a pilot study aimed at examining the core deficits in the population of adult ADHD (executive functions, affect regulation, and social cognition) in relation to functioning in various domains like biological, personal, interpersonal, financial, and work. It employs single group, cross sectional design, sample consists of 18- 45 year old adults, seeking services at NIMHANS, Bangalore. Results and implications for treatment will be discussed.

Session Introduction

Malaika Pamela Fernandes

University of Machester, United Kingdom

Title: The Application of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions: A Critical Reflection

Biography:

Malaika Fernandes is pursuing  her Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (2^nd  year) at University of Manchester, United Kingdom. She is 25 years of age.  She  is currently working as a trainee counselling psychologist with Elysium Healthcare Services (Gateway Recovery Centre) on a autism specialist ward . Her primary interests are neuropsychology, accessibility to counselling in developing countries and psycho-oncology. Most of her work has been with individuls with autism.

Abstract:

Psychologists working within the field of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) were slow to adopt psychotherapeutic approaches that are widely used in able populations. Individuals with an ASC are at risk for developing comorbid mental health disorders. Although anxiety is not listed as a criterion for those on the spectrum, it has been found to be as one of the common comorbidities with anxiety being the most common and and it has been difficult to tease apart anxiety from ASC symptoms. Current literature suggests that though there are psychological interventions available for ASC, they are only being modified and implemented with children or at-least they are the only ones that are being researched and articulated about. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been increasingly used for with high functioning children and adults on the autism spectrum. Over the past 17 years, there has been an increase in empirical evidence of CBT as an approach working with anxiety in individuals with ASC. The goal of this paper is to critically reflect on the application of CBT for individuals with ASC and also trying to understand ASC at a deeper reflexive level. This paper proposes the implementation of therapeutic practice with ASC from a pluralistic framework and presents some implications for future development.

Session Introduction

Samantha I. Gerson

Psychologist; Psychoanalyst; USA

Title: Protecting Our Youth: Conversion Therapy & Institutional Abuse

Biography:

Samantha Gerson is a Clinical Social Worker living in Los Angeles, CA. Her studies all had an emphasis on trauma and reparative educational environments. She is currently working full time as an outpatient therapist, as well as launching her own Non-Profit- UnBroken. UnBroken serves survivors of Institutional Abuse and Conversion Therapy, providing them psychological, legal and vocational resources at no cost. The crux of Samantha’s life work is to abolish conversion therapy entirely.

Abstract:

Institutional Abuse is a national epidemic that our country has chosen to ignore. Many parents send their children to Residential Treatment Facilities when the child's behavior becomes too much for the parent to handle. Other parents send their children to these facilities when the child comes out to them and they want a quick fix to what they view as a problem. While treatment facilities and educational reparative environments can be a great resource and beneficial to those they offer treatment to, many abuse their power and physically, emotionally, and sexually abuse the children they are there to care for. This epidemic is ongoing, and many lawsuits have been filed, but the abuse has not stopped. Advocates have worked with legislation to change laws, but this work has not been enough. This is true of Conversion Therapy as well, as it has not been outlawed federally. In fact, it is a common practice in many of these facilities. The truth about conversion therapy is frightening and this workshop will touch on the facts, details and all other information to what occurs behind Residential Facility’s closed doors. Television and other forms of media often make these types of environments look fun, friendly, and safe; but the truth is they often result in youth leaving with PTSD, physical disorders, and sometimes, death (by suicide). This workshop will help attendees become familiar with institutional abuse and how they can advocate against it; in addition to connecting survivors to resources. This workshop will be from a Social Work lens, and very interactive.