Careers in Mental Health Event
You are cordially invited to a free one day conference and luncheon presenting the many career options in mental health. Tailored to current bachelor and master’s degree candidates and holders in psychology and other disciplines considering a career change.
Where
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
221 Rivermoor Street, Boston, MA 02132
When
Saturday October 25, 2008
10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Space is limited. Register online today!
Discussions on health care issues related to areas such as:
Child & Adolescent Psychology
School-Based Mental Health Services
Beyond CSI: What is Forensic Psychology?
Psychotherapy
Health Psychology, Mind, Body & Spirituality
Organizational Psychology & Executive Coaching
Working with Diverse Populations in Community Mental Health Settings
Crisis & Disaster Response/Psychological Trauma
Psychological & Neuropsychological Assessment
Child & Adolescent Psychology [back to top]
The field of child and adolescent psychology is a rapidly evolving and dynamic one that places understanding and treatment within the complex matrix of development and relationships (family, peer, school, society). The need is great, and those well trained to provide empirically validated services (assessment, treatment, consultation) are in demand in a variety of roles and settings including clinics, hospitals, schools, private practice, courts and social service agencies.
School-Based Mental Health Services [back to top]
Most mental health services for children and adolescents are provided in schools. This presents a broad range of career possibilities, as school psychologists, school counselors, social workers, clinical psychologists, and nurses are among the mental health professionals who provide these services. Counseling is just one of the many ways in which children and adolescents receive much-needed assistance. Our understanding of how best to promote children’s social and emotional development has advanced considerably as a result of research and demonstration projects in recent years.
Beyond CSI: What is Forensic Psychology? [back to top]
This session distinguishes forensic psychology from clinical psychology, emphasizing that solid practice in forensic psychology is based upon excellence in the practice of clinical psychology. “Forensic psychology” is defined, the kinds of legal and organizational contexts in which forensic psychologists operate are described, and the various career opportunities available to psychologists with forensic training are reviewed. The rationale for providing a Concentration within the doctoral psychology program rather than a separate doctoral track is discussed, as is the rationale for providing a Master’s level program for persons who are not pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Questions are answered about the Forensic Concentration course requirements, placement and internship opportunities, and doctoral project expectations. The varied career trajectories of MSPP graduates with a certificate from the Forensic Concentration are offered as illustrations of the many professional opportunities available to psychologists familiar with forensic issues, even if they build careers primarily based on the provision of clinical services.
Psychotherapy [back to top]
Helping individuals, couples and families to understand themselves is one of the main areas of psychological work and among its most rewarding. In psychotherapy, relationship difficulties, issues of self esteem and identity, work problems, and difficulties with mood are discussed and plans made for change and growth.
Health Psychology, Mind, Body & Spirituality [back to top]
This is an innovative specialty area which applies the theory and applications of psychology to promoting wellness, maintaining health and preventing illness, and facilitating adaptation when an individual is living with a chronic or life threatening illness. We will discuss the health psychology model and its application in diverse areas including addressing the obesity epidemic and working with individuals living with cancer and heart disease.
Organizational Psychology & Executive Coaching [back to top]
Organizational psychologists develop and implement interventions that help workplaces achieve success through work with the “human factor”… that is, the people that work there. It is an exciting and expanding field at the intersection of the workplace and psychology that utilizes assessment, coaching, organizational development, team building, research and other skills. Organizational psychologists focus on such areas as change management, workforce (individual and team) development, and cultural, as well as other diversity issues, in the workplace.
Executive Coaches use psychological skill and business knowledge to work one to one with executives on leadership development. It is conducted primarily through one-on-one interactions driven by data from multiple perspectives and it's based on mutual trust and respect. As an executive coach, one also helps business leaders develop and implement their strategy, assess their organization, and identify the needs of the people that are working with them. Our program focuses on developing knowledge and skills in four core competencies of professional executive coaching:
- The psychology of individuals, relationships, and groups in organizations;
- How businesses work
- Organizational development
- Coaching principles, practices, skills and techniques
Working with Diverse Populations in Community Mental Health Settings [back to top]
Attention to the health of diverse communities in which we live and work has been a cornerstone of the Community Mental Health (CMH) approach. The systems/ecological perspective looks at the person in relation to his or her community, and examines all aspects of a person's environment as contributors to health. In addition, this perspective attempts to address ways in which the community can promote health and prevent illness. Prevention is a cornerstone of this approach as well, so consultation work with front line workers is critical.
A particularly important consideration for working in community settings is how to understand and address the needs of diverse communities; such diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Along with specific services to meet specific mental health needs, community oriented mental health hopes to enlarge our vision of what makes a healthy person and a healthy environment.
Crisis & Disaster Response/Psychological Trauma [back to top]
The South Asian Tsunami, China earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, school shootings, the Oklahoma City bombing...these are all well-known and well-publicized crises in our recent history. But what happens beyond the broken buildings and the medical response teams? Clearly, there are countless trauma victims from these events. Disaster response is an expanding field of psychology which focuses on applying psychological principles and interventions to the victims of traumatic experiences, frontline workers and first responders. This presentation will outline the various ways in which psychologists can significantly impact the lives of those affected by trauma on a local, national and international level. There is an abundance of work to be done in this field.
Psychological & Neuropsychological Assessment [back to top]
Recent fiscal, political, economic, and service-delivery forces hoped to minimize the professional psychologists’ role in the delivery of direct clinical services. Many in our field were coping by denying or despairing. Others were urging “cognitive reappraisal”, viewing this crisis as a way of expanding our scope of practice (e.g., prescription privileges). The wisest of our guild looked “back to the future” to reestablish the primary role of psychological assessment within professional psychology training and practice. This discussion will examine the current robust state of assessment within professional psychology. Special emphasis will be given to elucidating the current marketplace as it impacts training and practice. New models will be introduced that have been responsible for reestablishing the seminal role of psychological and neuropsychological assessment within professional psychology.
Mental health professionals will be on hand to discuss how you could embark in a successful career as a mental health professional.
Space is limited. Register today! Call 617-327-6777 x210.
Updated 6/17/08
