Licensed professional counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists in southwest Oklahoma who are seeking continuing education opportunities will be able to earn up to six hours of continuing education credits during “Domestic Violence: Creating An Ethical Therapeutic Environment.” The one-day training session will be presented by the Cameron University Department of Psychology in partnership with Marie Detty Youth & Family Services on Friday, October 29, in the Johnson Auditorium, located in Ross Hall on the south side of the Cameron University campus in Lawton. As seating is limited, registration is required. Virtual attendance is also available.
The cost to attend and earn CEUs is $100. There is no charge for those wishing to attend without earning continuing education credits. Go to https://www.cameron.edu/psychology/events to register.
Numerous professionals have expressed concerns about working with clients who are either actively in a domestic violence relationship or who have a history of domestic violence relationships. Many times, those clients can have many layers of trauma from the relationship, family history, and/or judicial system. This population often lacks a support system due to isolation resulting from the abuse and are unsure about their rights and next steps. Best practice and quality of care are touchstones that professionals can utilize to contribute to a coordinated community response to end violence and abuse.
The agenda for the event is as follows:
8:30 a.m. Check-in
9 a.m. Session I: Shanti Hubbard and Paul James, presenters
Definitions and statistics; impacts of domestic violence related trauma on adults, adolescents, and children; lethality risk associated with court-involved families; considerations for supervision with respect to informed consent, consultation/collaboration with other providers, and resourcing families in crisis.
12:15 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
1 p.m. Sessions II: Michelle Amerson and Kyle Cabelka, presenters
Power and control in the therapeutic relationship; lethality risk associated with court-involved families; ethical considerations related to client access to records; and addressing barriers clinicians encounter such as providing fact witness testimony in civil and/or criminal court.
4:30 p.m. Training concludes
About the presenters:
Michelle Amerson, MS, LMFT-S, is the Assistant Clinical Director for Marie Detty Youth and Family Services Center. A former member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Amerson resigned her commission as a military intelligence officer to pursue her clinical career. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Behavioral Science from Cameron University in 2014. In addition to providing therapy, Amerson conducts trainings for youth, law enforcement and other professionals over a broad range of topics such as domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and trauma-informed care. She has provided expert witness testimony and/or consultation in cases ranging from domestic abuse to lewd molestation, sex trafficking, and other cases involving physical or sexual abuse against adults and children.
Kyle Cabelka serves as District Attorney, 5th Prosecutorial District, for Comanche and Cotton Counties. He was appointed to the post in August 2021 by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Cabelka has worked in this District Attorney’s office since he was in law school at Oklahoma City University. After receiving his Juris Doctorate in 2013, he continued his career there as an assistant district attorney through 2016 when he was promoted to first assistant. In that capacity, Cabelka prosecuted felony and misdemeanor crimes and advised elected officials of Comanche and Cotton counties on legal matters related to their offices. He led Comanche County’s Multi-Disciplinary Team, formed under state statute, to protect children from abuse, and organized and participated in diversion programs covering mental health and drug court, among other areas.
Shanti Hubbard, MS, LPC Candidate, is the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselor at Marie Detty New Directions. A graduate of Cameron University, Hubbard assists with victim impact statements, court preparation, developing the confidence needed for self-advocacy through individual, group, and family counseling as part of a certified program under the Office of Attorney General. She has extensive experience and training specific to providing victims’ services for families experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in both residential and non-residential settings.
Paul James, MS, LPC, is an approved supervisor in the state of Oklahoma. A faculty member in the Cameron University Department of Psychology, he leads the counseling program and teaches numerous graduate courses. James also serves as co-director of the Cameron Psychology Clinic. He earned a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Southern Nazarene University and is currently a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Oregon State University. James has experience in private practice, community clinics, crisis shelters and inpatient treatment facilities across Oklahoma. His experience as a counselor at Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services in Stillwater, Okla., instilled in him an awareness of the critical nature of domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy. This manifests in his passion for educating counseling students about the critical importance of trauma-informed and client-centered care.
For more information about this continuing education workshop, contact Marie Detty Youth & Family Services at 580-248-6450.
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PR#21-133
