The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley presents: Taking in the Good with Rick Hanson, Ph.D.: A Workshop for Building Inner Strength and Strong Relationships

March 14, 2015

UC Berkeley Campus

6 CE hours available

$125-$149

greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/rick_hanson

10% OFF WITH DISCOUNT CODE: PERWRIGHT

In this day-long presentation, renowned teacher and best-selling author Rick Hanson will explore how mindful attention to positive experiences can cultivate happiness, resilience, love, and inner peace.

Dr. Hanson, a Greater Good Science Center Senior Fellow, will explain how the brain has evolved a negativity bias, so it's like Velcro for negative experiences, but Teflon for positives ones - which wears down health, mood, and self-worth. Drawing on the science of "neuroplasticity," Dr. Hanson will teach a simple method to internalize positive experiences in our memory systems, which can improve our mood and copying skills.

Van Tullis, PsyD Student, Co-Authors Article on Montreal Cognitive Assessment

Van Tullis, PsyD student, has co-authored an article published in the Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, entitled "The Montreal Cognitive Assessment: A Pilot Study of a Brief Screening Tool for Mild and Moderate Cognitive Impairment in HIV-Positive Veterans."

The article reports findings of a pilot study performed at the San Francisco VA Medical Center examining the utility of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) which detects cognitive impairment in HIV-positive veterans. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are common, and may impact treatment outcomes and quality of life, but often remain undetected in clinical settings.

Click this link to read the entire article.

MA Student Receives Agent of Change Award

Beth Greivel, Master's student and Graduate Instructor at The Wright Institute, will be presented with the "Agent of Change" award by Gaylesta, the LGBT Psychotherapy Association on January 25, 2015.

Ms. Greivel is being recognized for her work with CAMFT to amend its policy to condemn sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), also known as reparative, reorientation or conversion therapies. Ms. Greivel shares this honor with Jim Walker, who was also instrumental in effecting this change. Ms. Greivel's ongoing work includes a proposal to CAMFT to change its Code of Ethics to make it unethical for CAMFT members to practice SOCE. If this change goes into effect, CAMFT would be the first psychotherapy association to codify SOCE restrictions.

Article in The Professional Counselor by Ulash Thakore-Dunlap and Patricia Van Velsor

Group Counseling with South Asian Immigrant High School Girls: Reflections and Commentary of a Group Facilitator by Ulash Thakore-Dunlap and Patricia Van Velsor

MA Graduates Receive $18,500 MFTi Stipend

The Wright Institute is honored to announce that Eduardo Hernandez and Patrick Castrenze, 2014 Master's Program graduates, have both been awarded an $18,500 MFT Educational Stipend.

Stipend applicants were asked to submit five 150 word essays detailing their education and practicum training in community mental health, professional commitments to public mental health, experience with underserved communities and diverse populations, as well as their interest in serving a "county of need". After winning the stipend, recipients have six months to find a county-funded or county-contracted job in a designated county or counties. Of approximately 70 people in the Bay Area who applied for the stipend, Eduardo and Patrick were two of the 25 who received the award. Eduardo will be completing his internship as a full-time Mental Health Specialist at Instituto Familiar de la Raza. Patrick will be seeking placement in Contra Costa County. Congratulations to MA Program Graduates, Eduardo Hernadnez and Patrick Castrenze!

Dr. Milena Esherick Presents at Sutter Health's Plant-Based Diet Symposium

Master's Program Director Milena Esherick was a featured speaker at Sutter Health's Plant Based Diet Symposium on November 22, 2014.

The goal of the Burlingame, California conference was to educate the medical community about how the conventional North American diet contributes to many chronic health conditions, and how a plant based diet prevents and reverses many of these conditions. Dr. Esherick's talk addressed psychological strategies for motivating patients to make a successful shift to a plant-strong diet. Other Symposium presenters included Dr. Michael Klaper, former nutrition advisor to NASA; Brenda Davis, RD, lead nutritionist for the Diabetes Wellness Research Project; and John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America.

Professor Terry Kupers, M.D. in the NY Times and Beyond

Dr. Kupers recently appeared in:

The NY Times (Seeing Squalor and Unconcern in a Mississippi Jail)

The Daily Beast (How Solitary Confinement Destroys Women)

SolitaryWatch.com (“Disappearing” the Disadvantaged Into Prison, and Into Solitary Confinement)

The Durango Herald (Criminalizing the sick)

Ulash Dunlap Selected to Serve on San Francisco's Mental Health Board

Ulash Dunlap, Core Faculty in the Master's Program in Counseling Psychology, was selected on November 6 by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to serve on the Mental Health Board (MHB) of San Francisco as the professional member. The MHB consists of San Francisco citizens advising their Board of Supervisors and their Mental Health Director about funding, policy, and services regarding community mental health in San Francisco. For more information, go to www.mhbsf.org

Dr. Padilla Presents at the National Latino Psychological Association's Biennial Conference

Dr. Brenda Padilla recently presented at the 2014 National Latino Psychological Association's Biennial Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On Friday, October 24, she organized a roundtable discussion on "Supporting the Development of Latino/a Psychologists: Reflections from Faculty, Training Programs, Supervisors, and Students," which included current Wright Institute student, Herminia Hernandez, MA. On Saturday, October 25, Dr. Padilla participated in a poster session highlighting the supplemental practicum, the Wright Institute Sanctuary Project. A PDF of Dr. Padilla's poster is attached for further information.

NLPA WISP Poster Presentation

NLPA Roundtable Handout

Dr. Anatasia Kim to Present at Diversity Leadership Conference

Dr. Anatasia Kim and her colleague Dr. Rachel Casas (Assistant Professor, California Lutheran University) will provide a paper presentation at the Diversity IN Leadership Conference on Friday, October 25 in Long Beach, CA. Their talk, entitled "Beyond Double Jeopardy: Leadership Pipeline for Women of Color in Academia," will address the neglected experiences of women in academia, and the need for opportunities that promote mentorship and leadership.

This year's conference is geared to make diversity an integral part of the 'big picture' in leadership and the main function of organizational growth by encouraging people to: