The agenda for the upcoming conference is not yet finalized, but stay tuned as we'll soon update the schedule with a diverse array of topics. Join us for engaging discussions and valuable insights from industry experts and thought leaders.
Behavioral Sleep Medicine: The State of the Field and Applications to Clinical PracticeKimberly O'Leary, PhD, ABPP
Assistant Clinical Professor - Department of Health Psychology Adjunct Professor, Department of Neurology - Sleep Medicine University of Missouri Sleep problems have been marked as a growing global epidemic in reviews as early as 2012 (Stranges et al., 2012); in fact, insomnia diagnoses alone increased 11-fold between 1992 and 2015 (Moloney, Ciciurkaite, & Brown, 2019). Emerging research suggests that the post-pandemic world has seen the surge in sleep disorders continue and intensify. Health service psychologists are often at the forefront of treatment of sleep-related disorders, but may lack expertise in this area. Join Kimberly O’Leary, Ph.D., ABPP (Clinical Health Psychology) for a two-part series on the current state of behavioral sleep medicine and subsequent foray into the ins and outs of treatment.
READ MORE ABOUT DR. Kim O'LEary (Bio)
Dr. Kimberly O’Leary, Ph.D., ABPP (Clinical Health Psychology) is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Health Psychology at the University of Missouri and adjunct professor in the Department of Neurology-Sleep Medicine. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida and completed her postdoctoral residency in clinical health psychology at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. O’Leary serves as co-training director for the Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium, an APA-accredited internship program between the University of Missouri and the Harry S. Truman VAMC. Additionally, she recently joined the team as a hub team expert for ECHO’s (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) first mental health care extension in the Missouri community. Dr. O’Leary’s publications have centered on the impact of sleep, particularly on areas of emotion regulation and depression. She is board certified in clinical health psychology, and her clinic provides psychological services for those with insomnia, chronic pain, and other chronic health conditions. |
FEATURED SPEAKER
THE CURRENT STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY AND AIVaile Wright, PhD.
Senior Director Office of Healthcare Innovation Author, lecturer, practitioner, researcher Interviewed by CNN, NBC News, and the NY Times Learning Objectives:
READ more about Dr. Vaile Wright
Vaile Wright, PhD is the Senior Director for the Office of Health Care Innovation at the American Psychological Association. She is a licensed psychologist, and researcher focusing on developing strategies to leverage technology and data to address issues within health care including increasing access, measuring care, improving efficiencies and optimizing treatment delivery at both the individual and system levels. Dr. Wright has maintained an active line of research with peer-reviewed articles in multiple journals including Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. As a spokesperson for APA, she has been interviewed by television, radio, print and online media including CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR on a range of topics including stress, politics, discrimination and harassment, COVID, serious mental illness, telehealth and technology, and access to mental health care. Dr. Wright received her PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and is licensed in the District of Columbia. |
Pre-Conference Workshop
Helping Families of Treatment Refusers: The Neglected Victims of Untreated Mental Health ProblemsMelanie VanDyke, PhD
Author, practitioner, researcher Past chair, MOPA Evidence-Based Practice Committee MOPA Psychologist of the Year 2023 2023 Award winner - Anxiety and Depression Association of America A substantial portion of individuals with anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems do not seek the help they need. Family and friends struggle to understand why, especially when the disorder negatively impacts their lives. They may wrongfully conclude the treatment refuser is willfully choosing to be impaired, which can lead them to react in ways that are counterproductive, resulting in substantial family conflict. This workshop will explain why some people behavior in ways that are incompatible with recovery. This presentation introduces a concept called recovery avoidance and offer suggestions for how to respond to it constructively.
This interactive workshop will present the 5 steps of the Family Well Being Consultation and provide examples of how to work more effectively with diverse family members of treatment refusers with mental health problems.
READ MORE ABOUT DR. VANDYKE (BIO)
Melanie VanDyke, PhD is a licensed psychologist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. Dr. VanDyke specializes in treating anxiety-related disorders such as social anxiety, panic, hoarding, and OCD. She was awarded Missouri Psychological Association’s Psychologist of the Year in 2023 and serves as the Chair of the Evidence-Based Practice Committee. Dr. VanDyke is the Missouri Representative to the American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives. She was awarded Special Recognition for her contributions to the Public Education Committee for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Dr. VanDyke has authored numerous research articles, book chapters, and educational materials for professionals, patients, and families. She was a co-investigator on the family well-being consultation research project and a co-author of the newly released book, When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment: How to Promote Recovery and Reclaim your Family’s Well-Being. Dr. VanDyke supports interprofessional healthcare professionals through training, consultation, and supervision. |
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
Sport Psychology: Practice Opportunities and TrainingMichael Ross, PhD
Savannah Jefferis-Henriques Emily Chua Learning objectives
READ MORE ABOUT DR. ROSS (BIO)
Michael J. Ross, Ph.D., ABPP is a Professor of Psychology at Saint Louis University (SLU) and serves as Director of the SLU Sport Psychological Sciences and Consultation Lab which provides doctoral students in clinical psychology with specialty education and training in the science and practice of sport and human performance psychology. SLU Sport Psychology Services provide evidence-based sport psychological services to individual athletes and teams to address mental health challenges and to achieve optimal mental, emotional, and psychological performance in sport. The primary focus of sport psychological services is to understand and improve the mental aspects of an athlete performance by optimizing arousal and emotional regulation, improving concentration and attention, sustaining motivation, assisting with injury recovery, and managing sports-related stressors. Sport psychology services for performance optimization include flow state and HRV training via biofeedback, Mindfulness-Acceptance- Commitment-based interventions, and psychological skills training for human performance. He is a board-certified clinical psychologist, Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology, Fellow of the Missouri Psychological Association, and member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. He serves as the university’s NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative with oversight of academic integrity, NCAA rules compliance, and student-athlete welfare for SLU Billiken Athletics. Dr. Ross’ areas of research and scholarship include flow state, biofeedback and heart rate variability, adjustment to athletic injury, coping, athletic values, motivation, and mental health. His scholarly works include over 60 peer reviewed publications and over 140 professional conference presentations. READ MORE ABOUT MS. JEFFERIS-HENRIQUES
Savvy is a second-year student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at SLU. She is from Kansas City, Missouri, and received her M.S. from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and her B.A. from Drury University, where she played on the women’s soccer team. Her research interests include the sex-assigned at-birth differences in experienced sports-related concussions, sport injury/rehabilitation, and the effects of hormonal contraception and menstrual cycles on athletic performance and motivation. In her free time, Savvy enjoys playing and watching sports, going to concerts with her friends, reading, and trying new restaurants in the area. READ MORE ABOUT MS. CHUA
Emily Chua, B.A., is a student in the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program at SLU. She is originally from Tucson, Arizona and received her B.A. in psychology from the University of San Diego. Her research interests include the psychological implications of injury and rehabilitation, anxiety and related concerns present in athletes, and ecological momentary assessment. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite sports teams, biking, cooking, and live music. |
Multidisciplinary Care In Eating DisordersStephanie Robbins, LPC
Taylor Jolliff Learning Objectives:
READ MORE ABOUT MRS. ROBBINS
Stephanie is a licensed professional counselor at the RecoverED Eating Disorder Program at Burrell Behavioral Health. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Evangel University in Springfield, and I is an Associate with the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. She has provided mental health services in both private practice and community mental health settings. Stephanie has always had an interest in working with eating disorders, and recognized quickly that SW MO is underserved when it comes to resources for eating disorders. She has worked over the past several years to create and launch Burrell Behavioral Health’s RecoverED eating disorder program offering the only Intensive Outpatient Program in the state that accepts Medicaid. READ MORE ABOUT MS. JOLIFF
Taylor has been a Dietitian with Burrell for 6 years, committed to creating a supportive and safe environment to help clients make peace with food and their bodies. She attended Missouri State University, majoring in Nutrition and Dietetics with a minor in Biomedical Sciences. She went on to achieve a Master of Science degree while completing her supervised practice to become a Registered Dietitian. Providing an individualized, evidenced-based approach to help clients navigate the ever-changing world of nutrition, has become a passion of hers. She strives to help each one of her clients build a healthy relationship with food, while living a life free of food rules and restriction. |
The EPPP: One Exam, Two PartsMelissa Webb, PhD
READ MORE ABOUT DR. WEBB
Dr. Melissa Webb is a licensed psychologist and clinical supervisor who earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves as the Psychology Training Director for Compass Health, overseeing the training of practicum students, predoctoral interns, and post-doctoral residents. Before taking on a full-time administrative role, Dr. Webb was a direct care provider to clients in a community mental health setting, and taught undergraduate and graduate level psychology courses. Dr. Webb is the sitting Secretary and former Early Career Psychologist Representative for the Missouri Psychological Association’s Board of Directors. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Psychology Training Consortium, a pre-doctoral internship consortium focused on training interns in working with rural and underserved populations. |
Beyond the "Like" Button: Ethical Dilemmas in a Hyperconnected WorldJameca Woody-Cooper, Ph.D
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
READ MORE ABOUT DR. WOODY-COOPER
For almost twenty years, Dr. Woody-Cooper has been a beacon of hope through her practice, Emergence Psychological Services, guiding St. Louis residents on their journeys to mental wellness. Recognized as a trailblazer, Dr. Woody-Cooper received the Phenomenal Woman award from First Bank and 95.5 The Lou in 2018, celebrating her exceptional contributions to society. Nominated for the 2023 RISE Health Care Hero Award, she continues to champion initiatives aimed at addressing social determinants of health and empowering marginalized communities. Dr. Jameca Woody Cooper is a Board board-certified Counseling Psychologist, Fulbright Scholar, and a TEDx speaker, her expertise extends far beyond the therapy room. Dr. Woody-Cooper is a fierce advocate for African American mental health, earning a well-deserved "Salute to Excellence in Healthcare" award. She's a regular on national media like ABC News and CNBC, offering insightful commentary on race, urban mental health, and the power of community intervention. Dr. Woody-Cooper is a criminal psychology consultant, and an expert witness, and is regularly featured on the Discovery Channel's "Caught!" |
Autism spectrum disorder and mental health interventionsJennifer Sykes, Ph.D
READ MORE ABOUT DR. JENNIFER SYKES
Jennifer Sykes, Ph.D. is the Director of Therapeutic and Intervention Services and a licensed psychologist providing psychological services at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (TC). Her primary responsibilities include autism diagnostic evaluation across the pediatric age range. Additionally, Dr. Sykes assists with student supervision and training. She is passionate about training others about autism, neurodiversity, acceptance, and inclusion and frequently leads trainings for community members and other professionals on these and related topics. She is currently the recruitment coordinator for several open psychology positions at the Thompson Center with the goal of reducing the wait time for families seeking diagnostic services. |