NDNG Media Advisory: Advanced PTSD Training to Help Civilian Clinicians (UNCLASSIFIED)
Wieser-Willson, Amy M SSG MIL NG NDARNG
Caveats: NONE
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release July 13, 2011
Contacts:
Dan Murphy at 701-333-2007 (office) or 701-426-0190 (cell)
Amy Wieser Willson at 701-451-2273 (office) or 701-412-6895 (cell)
Billie Jo Lorius at 701-333-2288 (office) or 701-426-5205 (cell)
Advanced PTSD Training to Help Civilian Clinicians
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard is sponsoring advanced training in treating post-traumatic stress disorder today and tomorrow at Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck, N.D. More than 40 civilian clinicians — including social workers, addiction counselors and psychologists — have registered for the two-day training provided by the Center for Deployment Psychology. The center’s executive director, Dr. David Riggs, will focus the training on Prolonged Exposure Therapy and will cover theory and research as well as clinical techniques. A second advanced PTSD training focusing on Cognitive Processing Therapy will take place in Fargo next month.
Dr. Alan Fehr, director of psychological health for the North Dakota National Guard, helped arrange for the training, which he believes will provide better resources and understanding for those providing treatment in the civilian sector to members of the military.
WHAT: Advanced PTSD Training – “Prolonged Exposure Therapy”
WHEN: 8 a.m. Wednesday through Thursday afternoon
WHERE: Raymond J. Bohn Armory, 4200 E. Divide Ave., Bismarck, N.D.
MEDIA: Media are welcome to cover any portion of the training. To coordinate specific times for coverage that may allow for breaks for interviews, please contact Dr. Alan Fehr at 701-590-0136.
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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,500 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, about a dozen North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.
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Presenter Bios
David Riggs, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Center for Deployment Psychology, is a clinical psychologist and Research Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Riggs has served as the Executive Director of the CDP since its founding in 2006. He received his B.A. (Psychology) from the University of Kansas and earned his Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Stony Brook (1990). He completed a clinical psychology internship at the Medical University of South Carolina (1989). Prior to taking the Director position at the CDP, Dr. Riggs held clinical research positions at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety and the National Center for PTSD at the Boston VA Medical Center. He has previously held academic appointments at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Tufts University, Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania.
As a clinical and research psychologist, much of Dr. Riggs’ work has focused on trauma, violence and anxiety with a particular interest in the impact of PTSD and other anxiety disorders on the families of those directly affected. He has trained numerous student and mental health professionals from the United States and other countries in techniques for treating PTSD, OCD and other anxiety disorders. This included training professionals in ways to address the needs of survivors of international terror, natural disasters, military trauma, and sexual and physical assault. Dr. Riggs has published over 60 articles and book chapters and presented over 200 papers and workshops on topics including posttraumatic disorder, domestic violence, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and behavioral therapy.
Laura Copland, MA, LCMHC is a PTSD Treatment Trainer at the Center for Deployment Psychology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. She received her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch University New England in 1989.
Prior to joining the CDP staff, Ms. Copland directed, designed, and implemented state programs to assist active duty service members, veterans and their families during and post-deployments, including Maryland National Guard Outreach and Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans and has trained both military and civilian professionals on working effectively with military behavioral health issues. She has more than 20 years of direct service experience working with military veterans and other survivors of trauma and acute and post-traumatic stress issues. Additionally, Ms. Copland was a Senior Adjunct Professor for 5 years in the Antioch University graduate psychology department.
Ms. Copland was awarded the State of Maryland Meritorious Civilian Service Medal by the Maryland Army National Guard for her work in the design and implementation of the Reintegration/Yellow Ribbon Program for all returning Maryland veterans and their families.
Amy Wieser Willson
Deputy Public Information Officer
Eastern North Dakota
Joint Force Headquarters
North Dakota National Guard
Office: 701-451-2273
Cell: 701-412-6895
E-mail: amy.wies...@us.army.mil
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