Central Oregon Association of Psychologists Regional affiliate of the Oregon Psychological Association

Working with First Responders and Their Families

Workshop by Andy Barram, Psy.D 
Includes Panel Discussion

DATE: Friday, May 19th 2023

9:00 am until 1:00 pm PST

4 hours Continuing Education Credit 

Location: OSU Cascades, Room OBSN 207
1500 SW Chandler Avenue, Bend, OR 97702

Lunch and Snacks will be provided
This workshop will be capped at 80 participants
*Our intention is for this workshop to take place in-person, but it may be changed to an online format if not safe for groups to meet in person due to COVID-19.  If we have to switch to an online version due to a rise in COVID numbers or changes at the venue site, we will do our best to make a determination at least 2 weeks prior to the workshop date.

Workshop Overview: Many clinicians are aware of the high frequency of trauma exposure experienced by first responders. The law enforcement, fire, corrections, and dispatch industries have only recently been shifting their culture to encourage psychological wellness. Across our state and the country these first responders and their families now struggle to locate clinicians who exhibit cultural competency. Where many clinicians possess excellent training and experience in addressing trauma few recognize the unique cultures evident within these agencies. This workshop will explore the challenge of cultural competency and implicit bias. We will engage a dynamic discussion with a panel of local first responders and their spouses. This presentation will focus primarily on the firefighter/paramedic and law enforcement culture as experienced by the service member and their families. We will also explore some of the methods to effectively engage therapy with this population.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will:

• Recognize how the career and family dynamics of first responders can function as a unique culture.
• Gain a more comprehensive understanding of the personal and professional experience of a first responder and how it shapes family life.
• Gain an understanding of why this particular population group has been resistant to mental health services.
• Improve clinical capacity to effectively provide appropriate treatment.
• Learn how our local police and fire agencies have engaged in wellness programming.  Become familiar with resources developed to support First Responders.

About the Presenter:   Andy Barram, Psy.D. is a psychologist working in the Bend community since 1999. His professional practice spans a range of activities. He provides counseling to individuals with a focus on depression, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions. Andy works in the forensic domain conducting evaluations and consultations for criminal and civil cases. Andy has been a Behavioral Health Specialist for the Bend Fire & Rescue and Bend Police agencies, working to improve the resilience and wellness of the staff and their families. This embedded work continues since 2015 with Bend Fire & Rescue. In this position he is present as staff engages in professional work, training, and social activities. Andy provides support services, training and consultation on psychological topics, and referrals for the staff to local professionals for treatment. He is also engaged in co-leading the local Critical Incident Stress Management interventions for staff involved in highly difficult work events. This work led to increasing trainings in these industries and others around topics of wellness and resilience.

Costs:  COAP uses an online registration process that accepts credit and debit cards. The lowest registration rates are associated with early registration, we encourage you to sign up early to make sure you have a spot.  This workshop is limited to the first 80 participants who register.

Registered by 5/8/23
COAP Member:  $85
Non COAP Member:  $90

Registered after 5/8/23
COAP Member: $95
Non COAP Member:  $100

Student Rate $45

*Membership in COAP is limited to Central Oregon based active and retired psychologists, residents, and psychologist associates. You must be current with COAP dues to register at the membership rate.  Please note that you need to be current with your dues for the 2022-23 year by the time of this conference or else you may be billed for the non-member rate. Yearly COAP dues are $25 and are collected in September via Cheddar Up website (a small fee will be charged by cheddar up). Please use this link to pay dues: https://coap-membership-2022-23.cheddarup.com/

We welcome all allied mental health practitioners to our workshops (at non-member registration rates); receiving Continuing Education credits from various Licensing Boards has not been problematic, assuming the topic meets your Board’s criteria.

**For cancellations by 5/8/23, a $15 cancellation fee will be imposed. A $30 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations after 5/8/23. Please only attend this training if you feel well to lessen the risk to others. Registration fee will not be refunded for dissatisfaction with the training or for no-shows. 

Students are invited to attend for $60.  Please be prepared to submit a copy of your student identification card as proof of your student status.

Questions can be directed to [email protected]

Check out the COAP website for additional information  https://www.coapworkshops.org

Registration Details:  Registration will be handled online by the Central Oregon Association of Psychologists through Eventbrite.  Please visit the following website to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/working-with-first-responders-and-their-families-tickets-558371412927