OVC-ARC Riverside Online Professional Training Conference 9/9-9/29 2004


WORKSHOP INFORMATION FOR CEU CREDIT


Providing Therapy for Survivors with Developmental Disabilities
Sheila Mansell, Ph.D.


Description

In this presentation emphasis will be placed on the specific considerations
and treatment modifications and components that are used by therapists
providing services to both child and adult survivors with developmental
disabilities. The research and case study literature in this area
describing specific therapy accommodations used by therapists engaged in
this work and the difficulties they encounter will be presented. Therapists
will need to spend time evaluating a client's developmental level,
comprehension and communication abilities, psychological and adaptive
functioning, ability to form relationships, social skills, and the combined
impact of sexual abuse and developmental disability on coping abilities and
abuse vulnerability. Learning about the client's specific patterns of
delays and strengths in cognitive processing, emotional state and
behavioral issues, previous psychiatric diagnoses or dual diagnosis (i.e.,
mental retardation and mental disorder), medical conditions, medications,
and receptive and expressive communicative abilities is also essential.
Clients' varied communicative, cognitive, and developmental levels affect
the therapist's use of specific therapy accommodations and therapy
modalities. A series of case illustrations from the psychologist's practice
will be presented to outline the use of therapy modifications. Emphasis
will be placed on audience participation and interaction with the material.


Outline:
(To Come)

Training Objectives
    . Outline evaluation process  involved  in  determining  diagnostic  and
      treatment  issues  and  identify  relevant  clinical  information  and
      professional liaison.
    . Define developmental or age effects and give examples of how this  can
      operate in trauma
    . Integrate information about how the documented effects of sexual abuse
      and the influence  of  developmental  disability  related  issues  may
      influence the clinical manifestation and identification of issues  for
      treatment.
    . Describe the various client and social factors a therapist  must  take
      into consideration when adapting therapy.
    . Describe how a range of therapeutic  approaches  can  be  successfully
      modified to meet the cognitive and communicative and  emotional  needs
      of a survivor with developmental disabilities.
    . Outline resources  and  techniques  a  therapist  can  use  to  assess
      efficacy of treatment modifications.