Research suggests that paternal depression affects between 8% and 13% of fathers at some point in their lives. The highest rates of paternal depression are generally seen during the postpartum period, specifically, when the baby is 3 to 6 months born. While a large body of research has been devoted to postpartum depression in mothers, far less research has studied the mental health of fathers during this critical period, especially for fathers from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. What does depression look like in men and fathers? Does it present differently than in mothers? What…

Sexual minority women (SMW; e.g., lesbian, bisexual, queer) report elevated rates of violence, alcohol use disorder, and alcohol-related harm, such as mortality and mental health comorbidities (e.g., PTSD, depression) compared to heterosexual women. This talk positions SMW’s increased risk of violence (e.g., childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence) and related mental and behavioral health outcomes within the context of societal and systemic stigma and ongoing inadequate social safety. The talk will also present a model for understanding SMW’s stress response and discuss how some SMW…

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a disorder of paradoxes, with the label itself being a misnomer. ADHD is not a deficit of attention; it’s an abundance of it, and the challenge is regulating it. This challenge, nevertheless, poses an opportunity: learning to harness one’s ADHD can open the doors to flourishing. However, this requires a shift as researchers and practitioners to consider not only the challenges these individuals face but also the unique strengths they possess and the conditions under which they are able to access them. Furthermore, working to acknowledge and…

The role of emotions in understanding and treating chronic medical conditions is unclear. Hypertension was long considered a quintessential mind/body disorder, yet decades of research failed to confirm that emotional distress causes hypertension or that stress reduction techniques can alleviate it. The role of repressed emotions has rarely been considered. This talk presents data that strongly implicate the unsuspected role of repressed emotions in the genesis of hypertension and many other prevalent chronic medical conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease,…

This talk will be a solid introduction to CBT for Insomnia, giving clinicians a good understanding of how to implement this treatment in their clinical practice. How to use CBT-I with current psychotherapy patients will be addressed in the context of depression and anxiety, and when and how to get further specialized training will be discussed. Although women and insomnia will be the focus, CBT-I basics will apply to all adults. When to refer out for a sleep study and/or more specialized assessment will be addressed. Speaker Shelby Harris, PsyD, DBSM, is a clinical psychologist and sleep…

Most modes of psychotherapy believe to have “parts” is pathological. NOT in IFS. In IFS, the idea of multiplicity of the mind is normal. Every part has a good intention, and every part has value. All clients have the ability to heal themselves if they listen to their parts. IFS is a very powerful tool for clinicians. Once you see it in action, you’ll be hooked! And you’ll want to immediately incorporate it into your practice. In developing IFS 30 years ago, creator Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., realized that clients were describing experiences with various parts, many extreme, within themselves.…

Chronic pain exacerbates depression, anxiety, and emotional instability due to the perceived stress that impacts the body on a physical and chemical level. Pain, such as low back pain, is a common problem. For example, in 2017, nearly 65 million Americans reported a recent episode of back pain and, as a result, were limited in certain everyday activities. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) offer an alternative for patients and therapists as an effective treatment for pain. Physical pain is unavoidable, but meditation practice can ease the…

Traumatic pathological relationships are relationships with a partner with Cluster B and/or psychopathic behavior. Pathological Relationships have long been undifferentiated from traditional domestic violence. Although we have had ‘battering typologies’ based on Cluster B/psychopathic behavior, they were not studied for the differences in relational dynamics, the survivor profiles, or the differences in a survivor’s resulting trauma. Consequently, these relationships and their survivors have been approached and treated as an extension of domestic violence. But should they be? Sandra L.…

Helen Fisher will be returning to WMHC to conduct our second case consultation. She will be providing feedback on a case that one of our members is presenting about a male client who has trouble finding a partner for a committed relationship. Helen Fisher’s website is: https://theanatomyoflove.com/ .

This event is approved for 1.5 CE contact hours (Lecture 10:00-11:00 am; Question & Answer 11:00-11:30 am) Can anxiety and worry be perpetuated like a habit? Anxiety levels are increasing individually and collectively in modern day. Faced with uncertainty, an overabundance of information (and misinformation), among other challenges, our minds struggle to keep up. Our brains default to old survival mechanisms to help us deal with anxiety, which can lead to the development of unhealthy coping habits and ironically feed anxiety as a habit itself. Drawing on his clinical work, neuroscience…