PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Self injury and cutting behaviors are both terms to describe behaviors that are drastically on the rise.  These purposeful behaviors are designed to inflict damage to one’s own body tissue.  This program will discuss the many reasons for these behaviors which are commonly done in private to parts of the body which are often easy to conceal.  These self-injuring behaviors are usually not associated with suicidality; rather, they are often viewed as a way to avoid suicide.  Self-harm behaviors are often a way of stress relief, attention-seeking, self-care and self-punishment, and are often associated with different psychiatric conditions (on both Axis 1 and 2), such as depression, borderline personality, PTSD, anxiety, eating and dissociative disorders.  Even the experienced clinician can be baffled by the etiologies, and even more baffled when trying to find effective forms of treatment.  The purpose of this program is to provide a practical and evidence-based understanding to both the behaviors and the treatments that are effective.  Participants will learn to identify those at risk of self injury and current treatment options.  This program is aimed at the intermediate skill level. 

FACULTY: Michael Barr, MA, LISAC, is a behavioral health professional from Tucson, Arizona.  He is currently the Training Manager for Southern Arizona Mental Health Corporation (SAMHC) and a member of the Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT) for Carondelet Healthcare.  In addition to his responsibilities at SAMHC, he provides community educational forums on topics related to Crisis services (i.e., Risk Assessment, Crisis Identification, De-escalation and Suicide Prevention).  Mr. Barr is also trained in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), having conducted multiple workshops on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:  At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to: 

• define different types of self injury,

• discuss treatments commonly used for self injury,

• distinguish between self injury and suicide,

• identify the demographics associated with self injury,

• identify with multiple etiologies of self injury,

• identify the psychiatric diagnoses associated with self injury,

• discuss the functionality of self injury. 

INTENDED AUDIENCE:  Psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, addiction therapists, psychiatric nurses, chaplains, and other mental health professionals. 

AGENDA: 

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM          Registration and Introductions 

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM      Introduction to Self Injury (What it is . . . What it isn’t)
                                          Historical Background
                                          Classification of Self Injurious Behavior 

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM    Morning Break 

10:45 AM – 12:00 AM    Why Do People Self Injure?
                                          Is it Genetics, the Environment . . . or Both? 

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM      Lunch 

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM        Why is Cutting Addictive?
                                          The Dilemma of Assessment
                                          Survey of Self Injurious Behavior
                                          “EMO” 

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM        Afternoon Break 

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM        What’s to be Done?
                                          Treatment Options 

4:30 PM                          Close of Program  

CONTINUING EDUCATION: The Southwest Health Professions Education Center, Inc. (SEC) certifies this program for 6 contact hours.  A certificate of attendance will be awarded. 

[ APA ] The Southwest Health Professions Education Center, Inc. (SEC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SEC maintains responsibility for the program and its content.  This program provides 6 CE credits.

[ ASWB ] VA Employee Education System, Provider Number 1040, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), (1-800-225-6880) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program.  VA Employee Education System maintains responsibility for the program.  Social workers will receive 6 continuing education clock hours in participating in this course.

[ CNE ] The Southwest Health Professions Education Center, Inc. (SEC) is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider # CEP 11270.  This program is approved for 6 contact hours. 

Registration fee is $109.00.  Fee for full-time VA employees is $18.00.  Includes continental breakfast, break refreshments, and course material. Credit card registrations may be faxed to (928) 776-6137.  Registration is not complete until payment received. Space is limited so please register early. Refunds, minus a $10 processing fee, will be made until thee days prior to the program.  No refunds will be made after this date.  There will a $15.00 processing fee for any returned checks.
Confirmation letters will not be sent.