Veteran’s Heart Georgia

presents

OUR TURN TO SERVE:
Ethical Issues, Community Transitions, War-related PTSD and Justice

A trio of professional workshops designed for professionals who work with, or plan to work with, military personnel returning from OEF/OIF, their families, and Veterans from other eras

Friday, December 4, 2009
Workshops 8:45 am – 4:15 pm

The Cathedral of St. Philip
2744 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta 30305

Veteran’s Heart Georgia is a
A project of International Humanities Center
A nonprofit organization under 501(3)c of the IRS

Morning Workshop
3 hours of continuing education credits in ethics
8:45 am- noon

ETHICS AND CULTURAL ISSUES IN CLINICAL WORK WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS

• Self-awareness and counter-transference
• Understanding and sensitivity to military culture
• Recognition of specific trauma injuries and stressors resulting from military service and war
• The impact of compassion fatigue and burnout

Afternoon Workshop
3 hours of core continuing education credits
1:00-4:15 pm

Community-Based Responsiveness to Troops, Veterans and Their Families: Addressing the transition of Veterans, Wounded Warriors and their families, from active duty through reintegration into civilian life

• Introduction The Warrior’s Journey: needs, themes, pitfalls, and challenges
• Optimal responses from clinicians, employers, faith communities, academic institutions and service agencies
• Life Cycles of Military Families
• Intervention strategies

Faculty

Christiane O’Hara, PhD. Psychologist. Dr. O’Hara is a Red Cross Consultant in the Behavioral Health Department/TBI Clinic, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon, GA. She is Chair of the GA Soldiers and Veterans Pilot Project of ArtReach: Project America. She is a USO volunteer and USO liaison with the Warrior Transition Battalion, Ft. Gordon. She completed her internship and postdoctoral training at the Atlanta VAMC, and has consulted at Womack AMC/Fort Bragg, and Fort Rucker Mental Health Clinic.  She has co-authored a text on traumatic brain injury rehabilitation and is a Founding Member of ISTSS. She has been an Army wife and is an Army mother.

Daniel Steppe, LCSW. Psychotherapist in private practice in Atlanta. Mr. Steppe has fifteen years experience working in direct service with children and adults from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. He previously worked as a mental health therapist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Atlanta. He is Co-Chair of the GA Soldiers and Veterans Pilot Project of the ArtReach Foundation’s Project America.

Peter Bauer. LTC, USAR; LCSW, LMFT, ACSW, BCD. LTC Bauer is Chief, Wounded Soldier Sponsorship Program, Army Reserve Warrior and Family Assistance Center, US Army reserve Command, Ft. McPherson, GA. As a Clinical Social Worker, LTC Bauer served at Camp Shelby, MS, as Officer in Charge for Behavioral Health and TBI at the Medical Task Force, working with mobilizing and demobilizing military personnel serving in OIF/OEF. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has served as a military chaplain.

Emily Simerly, PhD. Psychologist. Since 2001 she has been the Clinical Director of the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Unit, GA Diagnostic and Classification Prison, Jackson, GA., and is responsible for the oversight, administration and treatment in the prison’s 550 bed mental health unit. Dr. Simerly has worked with MHM Services and the GDOC since 1997. She has authored numerous articles related to mental health, Corrections, and the criminal justice system. She recently co-presented  “Combat Veterans and the Criminal Justice System: From Defending Our Liberty to Losing Their Own” at the 12^th Annual US Army Force Health Protection Conference.

REGISTRATION
Begins at 8:00 a.m.

ALL DAY, 2 WORKSHOPS

Prior to 11/27/09–$100

After 11/27/09– $120

Contact Kaye Coker at 770-338-7463 for further information

NOTE: No refunds, group discounts, or student discount as this is a fundraiser for Veteran’s Heart Georgia.

We expect limited, if any, registration at the door.

The ArtReach Foundation Announces a Call for Veterans with PTSD and/or mild TBI to Participate in 2-Day Creative Arts Healing Group Workshop

Friday and Saturday, January 22-23, 2010

The ArtReach Foundation invites active duty military and veterans with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or mild Traumatic Brain Injury from all wars to participate in a Free 2 day creative arts healing group workshop. The ArtReach Foundation is an Atlanta based non-profit that has a ten year history of working with traumatized children and adults in war zones. In 2009 we began a new initiative for our troops and veterans called ArtReach: Project America. The Georgia Pilot Project for Soldiers & Veterans is the initial phase of Project America (www.artreachprojectamerica.com).

Program Description and Goals: Our January Workshop will include 2 full days of integrating the therapeutic creative arts (drama, art, movement and music) in group process led by creative arts therapists, mental health professionals and veterans. The goals of the workshop are to promote reconnection and healing with one’s creative Self that may have been numbed or disconnected as a result of PTSD and/or mild TBI. This work is guided and modeled in the “safe space” of a small group setting.

Participants: This group is open to men and women with combat/deployment histories who are either on active duty, in the Guard, Reserves, or Veterans. Requirements for participation include: attendance for entirety of the program; signed release by participant; and completion of pre- screening phone interview and a short post-workshop interview (at end of second workshop day). Excluded from enrollment are veterans with active substance dependence, current suicidality, moderate to severe cognitive deficits, and/or severe physical impairment. Participation in the workshop will remain confidential and no records will be given to third parties without participant knowledge/consent.

Faculty: Group Leaders, Stephanie Wise ATR, LCAT and Emily Nash, LCAT, ArtReach Core Faculty, are licensed/certified in their respective disciplines and are trained to work with soldiers and veterans. Additional group leaders include veterans, both combat and non-combat, and licensed mental health professionals who have undertaken training in the ArtReach Method and in group psychotherapeutic process. Inclusion of veteran Peer-Trainers is an important element in our treatment model. This workshop will include 2 ArtReach faculty and ArtReach Trainers who will act as participant-observers as they complete their training.

Workshop Details: Fri. and Sat. January 22-23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily. The cost for veterans is free, and lunch will be provided. The location will be at St. Bede’s Church, Henderson Mill Road, Tucker, GA, 30084. Public transportation and free parking are available. Transportation to the workshop is not included. Workshop limited to 15. We will maintain a wait list should we receive late cancellations. Note: in light of the small number of veterans who will be able to participate in these workshops please confirm your commitment to attendance of complete 2 day workshop.

For more information: If you are interested in enrolling, call The ArtReach Foundation at (404) 264-9349. Leave your name, number, and time convenient to call back and one of our therapist/screeners will return your call to discuss your enrollment and answer questions about the workshop. For more information on our program please visit our website at www.artreachprojectamerica.com. We look forward to working with you and thank you for your service to our country.

NOTE: DEADLINE FOR WORKSHOP REGISTRATION IS MONDAY JANUARY 18, 2010

info@artreachfoundation.org