Social workers play a vital role in addressing children’s social and emotional reactions to trauma. We can facilitate trauma-informed, antiracist interventions in our work with children and with adults, to ensure we are building safe environments essential for healthy development.

Perinatal mental health is a widespread issue, however, often overlooked and rarely discussed within the helping profession. The reality and experiences of new parents are disregarded with an expectation that having a baby is “the best time of your life,” so parents suffer in silence. Untreated perinatal mental health leads to psychiatric needs and shattered families; having generational impact.

Ted Izydor, LPC, CSAC, ICS will go through the 4-Step Approach to Understanding and Treating Co-Occurring Disorders.  This approach provides a model for beginning and even veteran therapists/social workers to effectively assess, diagnose, decide and treat clients who are struggling with both mental health and addiction issues.  Ted Izydor will cover the key assessment and diagnosis components as well as how to conceptualize addiction/mental health issues using the 6 dimensions of ASAM and how to decide what type of treatment approach to use.

Ketamine has emerged over recent years as the only legal “psychedelic” treatment option at this time.  As such, a “wild west” of treatment centers around the country, with variable models of treatment and outcomes have emerged.  News outlets have reported on big name ketamine companies while local clinics continue to pop up, peaking client’s interest.

The presenter will talk about her recent edited volume, ‘South Asians in the US: A guide for social workers and other Helping Professionals’