First Annual Western Massachusetts Early Psychosis Symposium

Online and in person events

Continuing Education Credits Available

SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

REGISTER NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.  

Dr. Barbara Walsh from the Prime Clinic at Yale will provide a complete training and certification for providers who want to learn and administer this in-depth assessment tool. All providers welcome! Limited spots available for certification. Tuesday January 21st all day training and Friday January 24rth certification testing.

Learn more here: https://www.responsetorisk.org/film-breaking-the-silence

Dr. Melissa Weise will provide a back-to-basics overview of the spectrum of psychosis including assessment, diagnosis, social stigma, research, outcomes and treatment.  Melissa Weise, has two decades years experience as a clinical social worker and earned a PhD in Clinical Social Work at Smith College focusing on researching attachment, trauma and resilience. She specializes in working with adults and adolescents with major mental illness neurodivergence and LGBTQIA populations. She developed and oversaw the First Episode Psychosis Program, PREP in Holyoke, MA for seven years and now runs a small group private practice as well as a contract with the Department of Mental Health to provide training and consultation for early psychosis. Additionally, Melissa teaches various social science graduate and undergraduate courses at Boston College, Columbia University, Smith College, Elms College and Holyoke Community College.   

Elise Manning, MSW LICSW currently works as a Psychiatric Social Worker at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she serves as a clinical supervisor within the social work trainee program and provides training and consultation on the conceptualization and treatment of psychosis. Previous work includes having taught as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Smith College’s School for Social Work and having served as regional coordinator for sexual assault services at the New Mexico Behavioral Health; Mental Health Counselor and Wellness Coordinator at United World College USA (Montezuma, NM); Behavioral Health Clinician at BHN Child Guidance Clinic (Springfield, MA); Education Director and Program Coordinator at Forty Magnolias Productions (Arlington, MA); and Congressional Liaison at United for a Fair Economy (Boston, MA). Clinical interests include working with complex trauma, attending to the nervous system, psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum symptomatology, working with previously incarcerated individuals, mind/body psychotherapeutic approaches, examining shifting discourses in the philosophy of psychiatry, crisis intervention and evaluation, and working from a social justice framework with an awareness of intersectional identity and subjective positionality. Outside of clinical work, Elise enjoys creating art, performing theater/comedy, writing, and spending time in wide open spaces.

Crystal Richey received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental  Health Counseling from Bay Path College. Her varied experiences in community mental health encompassed providing clinical treatment and other therapeutic support to youth and their families. Crystal believes that connecting with a person in a genuine way, that creates a place of safety and a feeling of being seen and heard is the foundation of therapy. She integrates this philosophy into her trauma-informed, strengths-based, and solution-focused approaches to treatment and care. Crystal endeavors to provide this care and more in educating the Black community about the importance of seeking mental health support. 

Dr. Lisa Youngling Howard the former director at Smith College Clinic and current medical director at Wesley will cover medication for early psychosis as well as ways in which to support and advocate for folks with their prescribers.

Dr. Cailin Qualliotine the former director of PREP and current early psychosis specialist at Amherst College will present on a topic of her personal research, clinical supervision seen through the lens of supporting folks who work with those experiencing early psychosis.  

John Knutsen who currently does research for Servicenet and teaches in the psychology department in Harvard will synthesize his research and experience with early psychosis with his other research focus, autism and neurodivergence. This is a much needed workshop as there is a high correlation between these two experiences but not much research or resources for providers.