FEATURING
“Stretching our Skill Sets to become Inclusive Practitioners for Neurodiverse Clients & Communities”
presented by
Dr. Danna Bodenheimer, LCSW
EVENT DETAILS:
Please join us for the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work’s Annual Meeting of the Membership on Sunday, September 29th, 2024, from 12 PM to 3 PM at Morris Arboretum in Northwest Philadelphia.
This year’s program features the keynote presentation, “Stretching our Skill Sets to become Inclusive Practitioners for Neurodiverse Clients & Communities,” by Dr. Danna Bodenheimer, LCSW. The presentation will look at social work’s past working with neurodiversity and present a vision for the future that is more empowering, less ableist and better aligned with values of the neurodivergent community.
Dr. Danna Bodenheimer, Founder and Director of the Walnut Psychotherapy Center, has worked in the field of mental health for over 15 years. Her expertise is most centered around working with the LGBTQ+ population and clients on who identify as neurodivergent. Dr. Bodenheimer is unusually adept at having difficult dialogues, identifying language to help communicate intricate psychological processes, helping people to say what feels hardest to say and to create relational environments that allow for lasting connection and safety.
As always, the program will include honoring social work students who have written exceptional clinical papers for their advanced practice courses over the last year and an address on the state of PSCSW from the President. A formal dinner with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a vegetarian entree option will be served by Joshua’s Catering.
After the event, you are welcome to explore the beautiful gardens of Morris Arboretum at your leisure until the grounds close for the day (4:30pm). It’s the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the venue after a day of professional enrichment.
Please confirm your attendance by September 15th, 2024.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Tickets:
Members: $50
Pay it forward: $65
Hardship: $35
Non members: $75
Please select the ticket price option that best reflects your current ability to participate. Members who choose the Pay-It-Forward option will help cover event costs not reflected in the Regular ticket price and help subsidize the cost of attendance for members experiencing financial hardship.
Help us get the word out! Download the flier to print and post!
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Danna Bodenheimer, Founder and Director of the Walnut Psychotherapy Center, has worked in the field of mental health for over 15 years. Her expertise is most centered around working with the LGBTQ+ population and clients on who identify as neurodivergent. She takes different, cutting edge approaches to thinking about and treating individual and organizational trauma. She has also long studied the impacts of dual marginalization on the psyches of individuals in treatment and in the workplace.
Dr. Bodenheimer received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Smith College, her post-baccalaureate degree from Columbia University and her doctorate in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught at Temple University, Rutgers University, Bryn Mawr College and Penn. She is able to easily discuss complex issues of life along the gender spectrum, racial dynamics in the workplace and interpersonally, and the lifelong impact that trauma has on overall human functionality. Her close study of autism has also led to several trainings for therapy groups seeking more affirmative care methods. She has also authored two books on how to practice in the field of psychotherapy and has mentored hundreds of developing clinicians as they have grown their own practices.
Dr. Bodenheimer is unusually adept at having difficult dialogues, identifying language to help communicate intricate psychological processes, helping people to say what feels hardest to say and to create relational environments that allow for lasting connection and safety.
A Few Words from our Keynote Presenter
Dr. Danna Bodenheimer, LCSW
Clinical Title:
“Stretching our Skill Sets to become Inclusive Practitioners for Neurodiverse Clients’ Communities”
Presenter: Dr. Danna Bodenheimer, LCSW
CEs: 1
Date: September 29th, 2024
Time: 12pm -3pm
Location: Morris Arboretum
Description:
The goal of this training is to equip therapists with tools to provide neuro-affirming treatment. Social work, like many other mental health fields, has long played a role in helping neuro-expansive clients conform with “norms”. The neurodivergent community, including myself, teaches us that this has created significant harm. The presentation will look at our past working with neurodiversity and present a vision for the future that is more empowering, less ableist and aligned with values of the neurodivergent community.
Format:
The format will be anecdotal, conversational and inviting of self-reflection. We will collectively examine content that seeks to counter ableism. Materials will include projected slides during the presentation and/or handouts.
Tools you will leave with:
1. Shifting the intake process
2. Creating a sensory friendly environment
3. Constructing attuned and neuro friendly questions
4. Creating support and validation around self diagnosis
5. Seeking clarity regarding different processing speeds; and
6. What not to say to a client with an emerging sense of neurodivergence!
Learning Objectives:
1. Decode neurodiversity acronyms such as: PDA, RSD, ASD, ADHD, AUDHD, ARFID
2. Develop frameworks related to working with neurodiverse clients’ sensory needs, working with PDA, and clients’ severe aversion to rejection
3. Develop and sustain methods of attunement with neurodiverse children and adults
4. Cultivate neuro-affirming practices designed to deepen clinical work with clients “on the spectrum”
5. Describe the pros and cons of providing a neurodivergent diagnosis
6. Demonstrate a vision of the concept of wellness not based on an allistic standards
7. Describe the complexity and controversy of “unmasking”
CE Credits for Pennsylvania:
This program is approved for CE credits for professional workshops sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, a state affiliate of the Clinical Social Work Association listed in Section 47.36 of Title 49, Chapter 47 of the PA Code, State Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is also approved for CE credits for professional workshops for marriage & family therapists (Section 48.36) and professional counselors (Section 49.36).
CE Credits for New Jersey:
This program is approved for credits. Attendance at programs or courses given at state and national social work association conferences, where the criteria for membership is an academic degree in social work, are a valid source of continuing education credit (N.J.A.C. 13:44G- 6.4(c)4).
Join us for an afternoon of learning, networking, and enjoying the peaceful surroundings of Morris Arboretum. We look forward to seeing you there!
Catering provided by Joshua’s Catering
