Book Club: The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity

PSCSW Clinical Book Discussion Program presents:

Clinical Title: Facilitating Healing from Childhood Trauma and Adverse Child Experiences (ACE).

Book: The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

Presented by: Julie Agresta, M.Ed., MLSP, LCSW & Kathleen Kaib, MSS, MLSP, LCSW

Date:   Saturday, October 19th, 2019

Time: 11am-2pm | 3 CEUs

(Please arrive by 10:30 for refreshments and conversation)

Place: Philadelphia (specific address and directions will be provided after registration)

Book Description: The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity begins at a terrifying moment in the life of Evan, a healthy 43-year-old father and brother of the author, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. One morning, Evan wakes up and realizes his arm has gone numb— then his leg, and then his face. Why is Evan, a man with no apparent risk factors, having a stroke? Harris’s brother, like the author, spent their childhood living with their mother’s mental illness.

As a pioneering pediatrician and public health advocate Dr. Nadine Burke Harris reveals that millions of adults like Evan are at risk from a silent, invisible threat as a result of the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Harris notes, “My experience dealing with both sides of the ACE coin is in part what drives my work.” In her practice at Bayview Child Health Center in a low-income area of San Francisco, Harris’ exploration of childhood adversity began when she met Diego, a seven-year-old boy who was the size of a four-year-old. Diego had experienced sexual abuse at age 4, leading the author to begin questioning the connections between childhood trauma and illness later in life. Harris, a compelling storyteller, recounts her search for strategies to help patients like Diego. The Deepest Well is not only a medical narrative but is also a personal one.

Clinical Goal: To evaluate the psychosocial implications of Adverse Childhood Experiences and identify successful clinical interventions for those who are living with ACEs or living with someone else who has experienced them.

Learning Objectives:  By reading this book and participating in the discussion, attendees will:

1. Examine the effects of childhood trauma and ACE on physical and emotional health throughout the life cycle.
2. Discuss methods to foster resilience and healing from ACE.
3. Analyze the neurobiology of toxic stress and ACE on children’s developing brains
4. Examine the toxic results caused by racial and social injustice

About the Presenters:

Julie Agresta, M.Ed., MLSP, LCSW, earned her MSS and MLSP from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.  As a member of PSCSW since 2012, Julie has served the organization in many capacities. She worked as a member of the Book Club Committee where she was also a presenter for several book discussions.  Julie also served as the Chairperson of the Special Interest Committee, as well as, Chairperson of the Private Practice Subcommittee, and is currently Vice President of PSCSW. Professionally, Julie provided mental health services for over 20 years to various clinical populations in a variety of settings including community organizations, non-profit agencies, and schools. She has a Private Practice in Blue Bell where she specializes in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for children, adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, stress management and chronic illness, and she provides clinical supervision to individuals and groups.

Kathleen Kaib, MSS, MLSP, LCSW, earned her MSS and MLSP from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Kathleen has been a member of PSCSW since 2012 where she is an active participant and presenter in the Clinical Book Discussion Program. Her first professional social work position was with the Women’s Law Project in Philadelphia where she dealt with a variety of issues including domestic violence, sexual assault, child custody and child support issues as well as substance abuse issues. For the past 15 years she has been working with the death row population as a mitigation specialist. She counsels individuals on death row and helps create a narrative of their life to present to the courts for sentencing phase relief. This entails investigating and uncovering their childhood trauma as well as the struggles they had as they grew into adulthood. The issues that many death row inmates face are sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, discrimination, learning problems, cognitive problems, intellectual disability, domestic violence, poverty, substance abuse as well as mental health problems. Kathleen’s special talent is in evidence as she relates with trauma-challenged clients and their families to find their strengths despite their adversities.

This is a PSCSW Members-Only Event.

Participants who attend this program must be present for its entirety in order to get the continuing education credits.

Cost: No charge for PSCSW Members to attend. There is a $10 fee for anyone wishing a CE certificate.

Cancellation Policy:
There is a $5 non-refundable administrative fee for any cancellation up to 48 hours prior to this program. No refund will be issued if less than 48 hours’ notice is given for this program.

Continuing Education Credits:
FOR PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: This program is approved for 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 credits for professional workshops for marriage & family therapists (Section 48.36) and professional counselors (Section 49.36).

FOR NEW JERSEY SOCIAL WORKERS: This program is approved for clinical 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).

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