Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Tues, July 15, 2025
Virtual
9:00 am – 12 pm
3 CECs
Registration Fee: $75
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount
Link to webinar will be included in your email confirmation
Author: Beth Sharkey, MSW
Surviving and Thriving in your Private Practice
Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Virtual
9:00 am – 12 pm (ET)
3 CECs
Registration Fee: $75
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount
Link to webinar will be included in your email confirmation
Ready to take your private practice to the next level? This interactive workshop is designed exclusively for clinicians who have completed “Building Your Private Practice” and are eager to confidently apply what they’ve learned. Join Dr. Jenn and fellow professionals to tackle real-world challenges, troubleshoot obstacles, and refine your systems—so your practice not only survives, but truly thrives. Bring your questions, roadblocks, and ideas for a supportive, hands-on experience that turns insight into action.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and analyze common challenges faced in private practice, including workflow, client management, and business growth
- Develop personalized strategies for overcoming obstacles and optimizing key practice systems
- Apply workshop insights to troubleshoot specific issues in your own practice, with feedback from peers and Dr. Jenn
- 4. Strengthen confidence in maintaining, developing, and evolving a sustainable, client-centered private practice.
Ethical Technology
Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Tues, July 8, 2025
Virtual
9:00 am – 12 pm
3 CECs
Registration Fee: $75
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount
Link to webinar will be included in your email confirmation
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, mental health clinicians face new ethical challenges around confidentiality, data security, and informed consent. This engaging training is designed to equip clinicians with practical knowledge and real-world strategies for using technology ethically and responsibly in their practice. We will explore best practices for telehealth, digital record-keeping, and client communication, while strengthening our understanding of privacy laws and ethical codes. Join us to gain confidence in making informed decisions that protect your clients—and your professional integrity—in the digital age.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the options for the use of technology in practice
- Learn the ethical pitfalls for using technology
- Explore how to use technology safely and effectively
- Anticipate potential future risk with technology
Thich Nhat Hanh Meets Francine Shapiro: One Stone Meditation and EMDR
Donald deGraffenried, LCSW
In-person at the UConn Hartford Campus
Friday, July 18, 2025
9 am – 12 pm
3 CECs*
* Also approved for 3 EMDRIA credits (Approval #08012-21). Prior EMDR training is not required to attend this training, however EMDRIA credits will only be available to individuals who have completed Part I and Part II EMDR Basic Training
Registration Fee: $75
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount
Classroom location, directions and parking details will be included in your email confirmation
This three-hour in person training will explore the teachings of Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Participants will learn about his history with mindfulness, his advocacy for peace and social justice, and his connection to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Trainer Donald deGraffenried, LCSW will explain the origin of the “One Stone Meditation” and demonstrate how to use this powerful, yet simple experience of mindfulness with clients or for yourself.
This is a gentle introduction to the process of mindfulness and enhancing the greater ability to be fully in the moment. It has wide application for use with clients, especially in the management of stress and anxiety. Participants will also have the option via a practicum to enhance/strengthen their experience by using bilateral tapping which comes out of the work of Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Please bring a small stone with you to the training. The stone should fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.
In this interactive and experiential seminar, participants will:
• practice the “One Stone Meditation”
• develop the meditative experience
• have the opportunity to practice and strengthen their experience by using bilateral tapping
New Perspectives on Sustaining Helping Professionals
Patricia Wilcox, LCSW
Live Webinar
Wed, June 18, 2025
10 am – 12 pm
2 CECs
Recently social service agencies have been acknowledging the effects of working with, feeling empathy for, and having responsibility for trauma survivors. Whether this effect is referred to as vicarious trauma (VT) or secondary traumatic stress, there is no doubt that the work can influence the treater’s world view, their sense of safety, their own relationships, their sense of hope and their energy and enthusiasm for their work. However, agencies often take the approach that this is mainly an individual problem, to be solved by the treater on their own time and at their own expense with self-care and good boundaries.
This presentation will challenge some of the myths of vicarious trauma, such as that work is entirely depleting and that home life is entirely fulfilling; and that there is such a thing as work-life balance. The book Reducing Secondary Traumatic Stress: Skills for Sustaining a Career in the Helping Professions by Brian C. Miller (2022 Routledge) will provide the scaffolding for specific techniques that can help our workers retain and grow their hope and energy in the work, and thus reduce turnover. We will cover areas such as: debunking the myths of VT; developing skills to enhance our work lives; understanding that appreciating intensity rather than avoiding it helps us thrive; bringing joy into our work lives; developing radical compassion; and recovering from crisis. . We will also explore the assumption that trauma encounters are inherently fatiguing. We will investigate the premise that the cure for exhaustion is not rest- it is wholeheartedness. Participants will leave the workshop with action steps to bring to their agencies.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify three myths about vicarious trauma and their alternative truths
- List eight skills to sustain treaters in their jobs, and create agency plans to teach and support these skills
- Develop three strategies to increase the joy in their workplaces
- Identify three actions to create agency structures to support treaters in recovering from crisis.
Coming Home: Readjustment Reactions following Military Service and Deployment
Provides 2 hours of content on veterans mental health issues.
Christopher Morse, LICSW, MVF-ASW
Saturday, June 14, 2025
10 am – 12 pm
2 CEC
Registration fee: $50
10% Discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current UConn SSW Field Instructors
Webinar link will be emailed when your registration is complete.
While not all service members experience mental health issues, many will experience difficulties returning to the civilian world. Participants will learn about common readjustment issues faced by military and veteran populations. We will also examine the effects of trauma on readapting to life after deployment. In response to the many requests of participants who attended his trainings on Understanding Military Culture, Christopher Morse, LICSW developed this program to shed light on another important aspect of working with veterans and active military personnel.
This webinar will:
- examine common readjustment reactions following military service and deployment to combat theaters
- explore the effects of trauma on readjustment following combat service
- introduce the use of common military cultural artifacts and concepts in translating therapeutic concepts into principles common to military service
Pharmacotherapy for Depression/Anxiety Disorders and Alcohol Use/Opioid Use Disorders
Kristin Waters, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Live Webinar
10 am – 12 pm
2 CECs
Registration Fee: $50
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors
Dr. Kristin Waters, a clinical pharmacist in psychiatry and assistant clinical professor at the UConn School of Pharmacy will join us to examine current pharmacotherapy for Depression and Anxiety Disorders and Alcohol Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder. In the first half of the webinar, Dr. Waters will examine treatment for major depression and anxiety disorders which are among the most common psychiatric conditions affecting adults in the US. She will discuss the medications most commonly used in the management of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder. While pharmacologic management may not be appropriate for all patients, it is important for social workers to have a basic understanding of these common medications.
The second hour of the webinar will focus on Alcohol Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder. Substance use disorders (SUDs) can have a major impact on the individual, their family, and the community. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most common SUD in the United States, affecting approximately 30 million people. While opioid use disorder (OUD) is less common, the mortality rate is significant due to the risk of overdose and/or unsafe behaviors associated with use that can lead to further medical complications. Most people with SUDs do not seek treatment. However, medications used in the management of AUD and OUD can improve outcomes. These medications will be discussed during this webinar.
Learning Objectives:
• Identify medications that are considered first-line therapy for the management of major depressive disorder and the anxiety disorders discussed
• Describe the basic mechanism of action of antidepressant medications and other medications commonly used to manage anxiety
• Describe the most common side effects associated medications discussed including the black box warning for increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors for patients less than 25 years old
• Identify medications that are considered first-line therapy for the management of alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorders
• Describe logistical considerations surrounding how patients obtain medications used for OUD
• Discuss risks and benefits of pharmacologic strategies and role of medications in harm reduction
Making Sense of the DSM 5 TR
Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
In-person on the UConn Hartford Campus
9:30 am – 4 pm
5.5 CECs
Participants are requested to bring a copy of the DSM 5 to practice diagnosis using clinical vignettes during the workshop.
Registration Fee: $125
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount
Classroom location, driving directions and parking details will be included in your email confirmation
The 5th edition of the DSM is a manual rich with information and guidance into the diagnostic process, yet most clinicians only utilize a portion of the manual. Are you prepared to incorporate the manual into your practice to accurately diagnose your clients? The workshop provides practical insights into navigating the DSM’s complex structure, ensuring accurate and consistent application in clinical practice. We will examine the full manual and practice accurate diagnosis together.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the major philosophical and categorical changes in the DSM 5
- Learn the essential features of each disorder group in the DSM 5
- Examine the assessment tools published with the DSM 5
- Practice diagnosis using the DSM 5 through clinical vignettes
Art of Diagnosis
Jennifer Berton, PhD, LICSW, CADC-II
Wednesday, May, 28, 2025
In-person at the UConn Hartford Campus
9:30 am – 4 pm
5.5 CECs
Registration Fee: $125
UConn SSW Alumni and Current Field Instructors receive a 10% discount
Classroom location, directions and parking details will be included in your email confirmation
The diagnosis is at the root of all clinical work, yet there is little education on how to write diagnoses well. This training explores common diagnostic errors and how to avoid them using several significant assessment tools that allow us to get to the best diagnosis for each client.
Delve into the intricacies of diagnostic processes, learning how to differentiate between various mental health disorders with precision and confidence. This training emphasizes critical thinking and the application of diagnostic criteria in real-world scenarios.
Learning Objectives
- Explore common diagnostic mistakes clinicians make
- Learn the major influences that affect our diagnostic process
- Evaluate critical assessment tools to aid in diagnosis
- Practice assessment utilizing clinical assessment tools
The Power of Group Work in the High School Setting
Antoinette Brown, LMSW
Saturday, May 17, 2025
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
In-person Seminar
5.5 CECs
Registration Fee: $125
10% discount for UConn SSW Alumni and Current SSW Field Instructors
This seminar is designed for School Social Workers and other education professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of group work as a powerful tool for supporting students’ social and emotional well-being. Participants will explore how group work fosters a sense of belonging, strengthens peer connections, and addresses academic, relational, and behavioral challenges. By creating a supportive group environment, School Social Workers and Group Work Facilitators play a crucial role in fostering a more conducive learning atmosphere for all students.
Key Takeaways:
• Practical strategies for planning and facilitating effective school-based groups.
• A deeper understanding of how group work meets students’ social-emotional needs.
• Tools for creating inclusive, trauma-informed group environments.
• Techniques to navigate common challenges in group dynamics.
• Increased confidence in using group work to support student success.
This interactive seminar will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement meaningful group interventions that foster student well-being and success in the school setting.
By the end of this seminar, participants will:
• Understand the role of group work in promoting students’ social-emotional growth and academic success.
• Learn strategies for intentional planning and preparation of group sessions.
• Identify different types of school-based groups and their specific purposes.
• Explore trauma-informed practices within the group setting.
• Develop skills to promote cultural competency and inclusiveness in group work.
• Engage in interactive learning activities that reflect real-world group dynamics.
• Discuss the organic nuances and challenges of facilitating school-based groups.