Past Events At The Reunion Institute
Please select from the following past events 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

2005 Past Events

Family law attorney Angie Bain, JD, explained the new and revolutionary legal process of collaborative family law in this July, 2005 ethics seminar. Over 100 participants learned the legal and philosophical underpinnings of the process and how it incorporates the mental health professional in a new and exciting way.

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2004 Past Events

Ever entertaining and provocative, master workshop presenter Bill O’Hanlon, MS of Santa Fe, NM detailed a new model of therapy designed to be inclusive of incompatible therapy methods and theories as well as seeming contradictions in clients’ experiences. This September 2004 workshop was well-attended and included video, music, clinical storytelling, stimulating group discussions, and pragmatic approaches that put the attendees through the paces. A training day with O’Hanlon is always a day well spent, and this was no exception!

Ethicist Stacey Floyd-Thomas, PhD, an ethicist and black studies professor from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, proposed ways of handling conflicts that might arise from misunderstandings posed by racial, ethnic, religious, and gender diversity. She immersed those attending this October 2004 workshop in reflective discussion, encouraging participation via case study analysis and fascinating video segments. Dr. Floyd-Thomas’ approach to mental health ethics had an immediate impact, as ethics workshops in the mental health field rarely feature a professional so well-versed in both philosophy and ethics research.

In this November 2004 event, Sally St. George, PhD and Dan Wulff, PhD articulated an approach to clinical practice with families that addressed presenting problems and ways of reducing larger social issues that produce presenting problems. Wulff and St. George, co-directors of the Family Therapy Program in the Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville (KY), blended social work and family therapy practices into an interactive learning experience that inspired and motivated attendees toward action with their client families.

Drs. Delane Kinney and Frank Thomas of the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers guided a large group of attendees into the world of mental health ethics, escorting them beyond questions of legalities and violations toward an ethic of “doing what is right and good.” This workshop, punctuated with humor and personal stories, highlighted both historical and theoretical models that informed the case studies that followed. Attendees struggled together with clinical case studies and enjoyed a time of creating personal “aspirations” related to their clinical practices and personal growth.

Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Center’s own Jim Calvert, PhD offered valuable information to an attentive group on Bipolar Disorder in children in this July 2004 workshop. In this spirited presentation, Dr. Calvert talked about the parallels between Childhood ADHD and Bipolar Disorder, helping the attendees make sense of this diagnostic conundrum. Drawing both from current research and clinical experience, he offered guidance on diagnosis as well as practical assessment and treatment options for therapists working with this population and their families.

Continuing from the fall, this group met throughout the Spring of 2004 at All Church Home in Fort Worth for monthly discussions of relevant articles and cutting-edge applications of SFT. Frank Thomas, PhD, Dean of the Reunion Institute and family therapist with SCYFC, convened this group that included students, newly-licensed therapists, seasoned counselors, and research professionals. Attendees said this group was highly practical, motivating, and relevant to their work as therapists, pastors, and researchers. Due to popular demand, this group, which was first organized in 2002, will reconvene in the Fall of 2004.

From January through May 2004, Neil Ravella, PhD led a group of seasoned therapists in discussions of therapeutic story-telling and the effects stories have on our personal and professional lives. Dr. Ravella, a founding member of the Reunion Institute Advisory Council, met monthly to elicit and discuss stories so participants could “learn to hear with a different ear and speak with a different voice.” Evaluation comments were unanimous – this group brought positive change into the practices of those who participated, and they all stated that they would love to continue if Dr. Ravella offered a future group.

Four professionals on the staff of Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers led this two-part (April and May 2004) experiential workshop for an engaged group of professionals. Through the use of foil sculpture figures and self-portrait drawings, the attendees gained hands-on experience from talented staff with expertise in art and in psychotherapy in the first meeting. At the second gathering, the group reflected on their experiences and discussed how this process had evolved in their practices. The group was led by Talitha Kiwiet, BS, art teacher at the Jonsson Community School in Oak Cliff, and SCYFC therapists Maria Powers, MSSW, Stella Rodriquez, MA and Laura Guli, MA.

Shelley Green, PhD and Douglas Flemons, PhD conducted a highly practical workshop that received the highest ratings of any Reunion Institute presentation to date. Through lively discussion and exceptional video examples, Green and Flemons, who are married and teach in the Family Therapy Program at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, helped participants in this May 2004 event learn new ways to respond respectively and therapeutically to their clients’ sexual concerns. Attendees raved about their engaging presentation style and the practical nature of their systemic interventions. Their book Quickies: The Handbook of Brief Sex Therapy, was recently published by Norton.

Reunion Institute’s own Peter Kahle, PhD and University of Nevada-Las Vegas professor Mark Odell, PhD raised challenging questions for participants in this April 2004 workshop. Kahle and Odell led the group in examining how their beliefs, biases, and opinions affect conservative Christian clients in their practices. In addition, attendees learned practical methods to inquire about, and honor, the faiths of clients whose views they don’t share. This energetic workshop raised issues that resonated among attendees for weeks, a positive “ripple effect” for Reunion Institute. Kahle’s book (with John Robbins) The Power of Spirituality in Therapy “premiered” at this workshop as well.

Sallyann Roth, MSW, a founding member of the Public Conversations Project, both explained and demonstrated ways mental health professionals could prepare themselves and those with whom they work for challenging interpersonal encounters in this March 2004 workshop. Through formal exercises and energetic question-and-answer, Ms. Roth guided the group toward practices that use problematic thoughts and feelings to move professional and personal relationships toward fuller integrity and connection. Ms. Roth consults to the interpersonal skills component of the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard Law School.

On the morning of February 20, 2004, Diane Gehart, PhD of California State University, Fresno led a lively presentation and discussion on the intersection of postmodern and Buddhist philosophies. Her engaging style and humor create a comfortable context for discussing such Buddhist concepts as non-attachment, silence, and compassion as they relate to many of the recent developments in psychotherapy theory.

In her afternoon workshop, Dr. Gehart introduced theory-based treatment planning to an engaging group of practitioners and students. Based on her book Theory-Based Treatment Planning (with Amy Tuttle), Dr. Gehart led us in exploring various scenarios that helped bridge the gap between formal training in theory and actual practice in managed-care dominated workplaces.

More than 100 professionals gathered in January 2004 to hear Daniel Shuman, JD of SMU’s Dedman School of Law discuss the intricacies of mental health law related to confidentiality. Professor Shuman clarified the legal and ethical conflicts that mental health professionals often face when making decisions around divorce, grandparents’ rights, and demands of the courts, focusing on the specific laws and codes that apply to psychotherapy practice. The most recent edition of Shuman’s Law & Mental Health Professionals: Texas (part of the “Law & Mental Health Professionals” Series from APA) was just released this spring.

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2003 Past Events

Using a combination of practical techniques, detailed handouts, hands-on practice sessions and lively demonstrations, Yvonne Dolan, MA, explored her respectful, practical approach for responding to clients devastated by trauma, loss and abuse during her November 2003 presentation at Reunion. A psychotherapist for over 25 years, Ms. Dolan is author of One Small Step: Moving Beyond Trauma and Therapy to a Life of Joy and Resolving Sexual Abuse: Solution-Focused Therapy and Ericksonian Hypnosis for Survivors.

Led by Adam Coffey, PhD, Lauren Jordan, LCSW, and Peter Kahle, PhD, this intimate discussion group provided a respectful context where helping professionals could explore the intersection of their vocation with spiritual beliefs, activities, and expressions. Meeting from September through December 2003, the group allowed conversation and curiosity to give them direction, while they honored the diversity of views offered by multiple faith perspectives.

During his October 2003 presentation at Reunion, Charles F. Vorkoper, MSSW, explored suicide from a unique perspective, focusing on the experience of the suicidal person and viewing the family as the context for the suicide. Key issues were explored, including characteristics of a family with a suicidal member and steps in crisis intervention. A noted suicidology expert, Mr. Vorkoper is past clinical director of the Suicide Prevention Center of Dallas (now the Suicide and Crisis Center) and serves on the steering committee that is creating a suicide prevention plan for the state of Texas.

In our increasingly litigious society, mental health professionals are at greater risk of finding themselves the subject of a malpractice claim. During this October 2003 workshop, Daniel W. Shuman, Professor of Law at the Dedman School of Law at SMU, explored this timely issue by describing the legal rules that provide a backdrop for damage claims against mental heath professionals. In addition, Prof. Shuman examined the behaviors of mental health professionals that result in civil damage claims as well as strategies that can be incorporated into clinical practice to avoid them.

At this October 2003 workshop, Brent Atkinson, PhD, introduced Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy for Couples (PET-C), a step-by-step approach that helps intimate partners learn to identify internal states that perpetuate distress, “re-wire” these states for more flexibility, and activate alternate states that support attitudes and behaviors necessary for relationship success. Dr. Atkinson is author of Developing Habits for Relationship Success and The Brain and Intimate Relationships. His pioneering work has been published in a multitude of professional journals

The Reunion Institute’s Dr. Frank Thomas led a group of seasoned solution-focused therapy (SFT) practitioners in an ongoing dialogue of their clinical practices as they relate to the SFT model. Co-leaders included Judy Swint, PhD; Shari Scott, RN, MS; Tom Lee, MSSW; Leanne Spencer, MA; and Randy Spencer, MA. The group met monthly, February through May 2003, and a number of topics relating to SFT were discussed including ethical dilemmas in clinical practice and SFT approaches to family violence.

A second Solution-Focused group, also led by Dr. Thomas, met September through December 2003 at the All Church Home for Children in Fort Worth.

At this interactive workshop held in June 2003, renowned Australian social worker Andrew Turnell presented a revolutionary approach to child protection casework based on a framework of brief therapy. Participants learned to use a comprehensive risk assessment that considers both safety and danger while incorporating professional and family knowledge. Turnell has published many articles on brief therapy, humor, and child protection, as well as the book Signs of Safety: A Solution and Safety-Oriented Approach to Child Protection Casework (co-authored with Steve Edwards, W.W. Norton, 1999)

Most accomplished people can identify individuals in their lives who acted as mentors. In this spirit, Ann Reese, LCSW, and Delane Kinney, PhD, provided a supportive milieu for the early-career mental health professional. The Mentoring Group, which began in September 2002 and ran through May 2003, provided a conversational forum where early-career professionals generated new ideas, while benefiting from the extensive experience of both Dr. Kinney and Ms. Reese. As therapists for over 20 years and as longtime collaborators, the two have a wealth of knowledge to share with those getting their foothold in the field.

All too often mental health professionals think of ethics and professional practice as related solely to a published code of “rules” and generally accepted procedures. At this May 2003 workshop, Anna Beth Benningfield, PhD, moved beyond these limiting ideas to explore the relationship between self-care and caring for others. Winner of the 2002 AAMFT Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy Award, Dr. Benningfield is currently Director of Clinical Training in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA.

At this enlivening March 2003 family therapy conference, the staff of Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers shared practices developed through years of shared experience – practices which nurture the best in children, adolescents, families and communities. During the conference, participants had the opportunity to consider a number of diverse tools for engaging children and families in the therapeutic process, including the use of children’s storybooks, traditional cultural practices, and sports-oriented programs.

At this fun and informative March 2003 workshop, Bob Rosner provided an audience of non-profit managers and supervisors with new tools and ideas for improving employee retention and performance. The presentation included enlightening illustrations from the workplace and lively interactive exercises. A recognized observer of workplace trends, Mr. Rosner writes a weekly syndicated column, “Working Wounded,” and is author of the Wall Street Journal business best seller, The Boss's Survival Guide (McGraw Hill, 2001).

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2002 Past Events

The construction of hope – hope against all odds – is the most powerful and often the only force in the therapeutic process. At this December 2002 workshop, Angelica Tratter, PhD, and Neil Ravella, PhD, celebrated the rich traditions of wisdom in the provision and sustenance of hope, and explored the ancient art of reframing and re-storying of human lives and relationships. Dr. Tratter maintains a private practice in the Dallas area and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Dallas; Dr. Ravella is an experienced clinician, trainer and supervisor with over 24 years in clinical practice.

Award-winning author Jamie Raser based this November 2002 workshop on the model developed in his book Raising Children You Can Live With (Bayou Publishing, 1999). Drawing from his clinical work to illustrate key points and using role-plays to demonstrate techniques, Mr. Raser guided workshop participants toward a practical understanding of problem behavior in children and teens. Mr. Raser, a social worker and marriage and family therapist, has been in practice since 1976, specializing in children, teens, and families.

In November 2002, this final installment in the WalkAbout/TalkAbout Human Diversity Series followed through with the series’ goal of developing and enhancing cultural competency. Mixing discussion, experiential aspects, and lecture, Mahnaz Sadre led participants in an exploration of Arab American cultures drawing in part on her unique perspective as an immigrant from Iran. In both her private practice and in her work as a senior clinician at Dallas Metrocare Services, Ms. Sadre has worked extensively with individuals of multiple cultures and languages.

This October 2002 WalkAbout/TalkAbout Human Diversity series luncheon brought together two community leaders to guide a discussion on the experiences and needs of the African American community. Local media personality Bob Ray Sanders was joined by poet b.f. maiz in facilitating an enriching time of dialogue and interaction. Attendees benefited from Mr. Sanders’ and Mr. maiz’s wisdom and unique insights, as well as from the exposure to a host of dynamic and relevant ideas generated by participants.

Renowned poet b.f. maiz captivated and inspired the audience at this October 2002 workshop as he explored the use of poetry and prayer in the healing process. As part of the events’ experiential activities, Mr. maiz guided participants’ in composing their own poetry, and many of these original works were subsequently shared with the group. Winner of the prestigious Wesleyan Peace and Justice Award, Mr. maiz has served as resident artist at more than a dozen universities.

At this September 2002 workshop, Gary Mauldin, PhD, a professor at Tarleton State University, and John Taylor, an Internet security consultant, presented on emerging issues relating to the mental health practitioner’s use of electronic communications and the Internet. Practice guidelines were considered, and the ethical dilemmas generated by these technologies were explored.

In this first workshop in Reunion Institute’s WalkAbout/TalkAbout Human Diversity Series, Stella Rodriquez led a discussion exploring cultural contexts in therapy as she shared her own experiences in the Calle Diez community of Oak Cliff. A highlight of this September 2002 workshop included the tour of an area botanica, where participants explored spiritual practices common to many in the local Hispanic community. In practice with bicultural and bilingual families since 1984, Ms. Rodriquez is a family therapist at Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers.

Reunion Institute’s own Dr. Frank Thomas led a group of mental health professionals and educators down the fascinating road researchers call “resiliency” at this July 2002 workshop. Through interaction, Dr. Thomas helped participants experience strength focused living as he explored methods for encouraging comebacks and building on people’s strengths. Described as “one who seeks clarity, not certainty” and as “a frustrated stand-up comic,” Dr. Thomas has presented workshops in eight different countries over the past four years and has authored numerous books, articles and book chapters

At this June 2002 workshop, Dr. Linda Duncan presented an approach to counseling that focused on emotional exploration, with the goal of integrating the inner and outer dimensions of clients’ lives. Drawing from literature, science, psychology, systems, and spirituality, she presented a theoretical framework using experiential and practice components and demonstrated several counseling interventions. Dr. Duncan is a professor at Tarleton State University and is coordinator of the university’s graduate counseling program.

Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers Psychologists Jim Calvert, PhD; Myrna Dartson, PhD; and Bret Baldwin, PhD, guided attendees through the intricacies of psychological and educational testing during this May 2002 workshop. Drawing on strong backgrounds in testing, Drs. Calvert, Dartson, and Baldwin discussed how tests are designed, what they purport to measure, and how they should be interpreted.

At this April 2002 workshop, John Gladfelter, PhD, invited audience members to work with him on a one-on-one basis to illustrate concepts in redecision therapy. Following this exchange, workshop attendees explored with Dr. Gladfelter the approaches and concepts illustrated. A well-known leader in Dallas psychotherapy circles, Dr. Gladfelter has a passion for Redecision Therapy as well as group psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. He was honored at the Second International Redecision Conference for his work on this model.

Patrick O’Malley, PhD, presenter of this April 2002 workshop exploring the AAMFT Code of Ethics, employed a unique interactive format to instruct attendees on increasing their ability to identify ethical dilemmas in their everyday practice. Drawing on his extensive experience as the former chair of the AAMFT Ethics Committee and as a member of the AAMFT Ethics Code Revision Task Force, Dr. O’Malley identified the changes made in the most recent revision of the Code while reviewing the fundamental principles of ethical practice.

In March 2002, Ethan Casey, editor of two collections of essays on the September 11 tragedy, led a gathering of mental health professionals and clergy in an afternoon of reflection and dialogue on the impact of September 11. With his intimate knowledge of people’s response to this event, Mr. Casey was able to bring thoughtful perspectives, both profound and pragmatic, to participants seeking to make sense of such horror.

Recognizing that spirituality has claimed a place in the practice of therapy and social work, Duane Bidwell, MDiv, PhD (Cand), introduced the concept of spiritual direction as a discipline in this March 2002 workshop. In addition to being a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a certified spiritual director, Rev. Bidwell is also a long-time student of Buddhism and insight meditation. He serves as adjunct professor of pastoral theology and pastoral counseling at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University.

At this February 2002 workshop, Jim Calvert, PhD, Chief Psychologist at Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers and a diplomate in psychopharmacology, provided participants with an overview of psychopharmacology, including an understanding of basic neurobiology and the components of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. During the workshop, Dr. Calvert identified important co

In January 2002, Bradford Keeney, PhD, author of numerous books in the areas of human behavior and indigenous healing practices, led 300 professionals through his experiences with diverse cultural healing traditions. In particular, Dr. Keeney focused on what people-helping professionals can learn from global healing traditions – opening the door for a multicultural contextualization of therapeutic practice.

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