From December 9-13th, eight thousand five hundred mental health practitioners, from countries around the globe, gathered in Anaheim, California to attend the “Evolution of Psychotherapy” conference. Held every five years since 1985, the conference started big and has grown only larger. “Only a few places in the US can accommodate such a large gathering,” says Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D., who has organized the conference since the first.
The event, held every five years, brings together 40 of the field’s leading researchers, practitioners, trend setters, and educators to deliver keynote addresses and workshops, host discussion panels, and offer clinical demonstrations on every conceivable subject related to clinical practice. Naturally, I spoke about my current work on “Achieving Clinical Excellence” as well as served on several topical panels, including “evidence based practice” (with Don Meichenbaum), “Research on Psychotherapy” (with Steven Hayes and David Barlow), and “Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (with Marsha Linnehan and Jeff Zeig).
Most exciting of all, the Evolution of Psychotherapy conference also served as the official launching point for the International Center for Clinical Excellence. Here I am pictured with long-time colleague and friend, Jeff Zeig, and psychologist and ICCE CEO, Brendan Madden, in front of the ICCE display in the convention center hall.
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Over the five days, literally hundreds of visitors stopped by booth #128 chat with me, Brendan, and Senior ICCE Associates and Trainers, Rob Axsen, Jim Walt, Cynthia Maeschalck, Jason Seidel, Bill Andrews, Gunnar Lindfeldt, and Wendy Amey. Among other things, a cool M and M dispenser passed out goodies to folks (if they pressed the right combination of buttons), we also talked about and handed out leaflets advertising the upcoming “Achieving Clinical Excellence” conference, and finally people watched a brief video introducing the ICCE community. Take a look yourself:.
More to come from the week in Anaheim….
2 responses to “Five Incredible Days in Anaheim”
Scott,
I believe it was the first day of the conference you gave a workshop on “Achieving Clinical Excellence” – (very) unfortunately for me, I missed this workshop but my graduate school classmates I attended the conference with who were at this workshop raved and raved and raved about it. Even by the end of the week they were all saying this was by far the BEST and most memorable and influential workshop of the conference.
After (sadly) missing this workshop I was eager to attend other conference events you were involved in – I have to tell you I was not disappointed in the least. I REALLY appreciated what you had to say. Your words stuck with me all week and just when I felt myself panic and think “Oh gosh, I must buy this person’s book on this topic because they say theirs is the BEST way to treat this presenting issue, and if I ever hope to be even a half-decent therapist…”
Needless to say, I will continue to learn and grow as an (almost) therapist and attempt to be a responsible consumer of information not based on panic or fear, but on working toward clinical excellence.
Thank you. Your words and influence have been pivotal for me.
Scott:
As you were when talking with Kernberg.. you were amazing. again.
The interplay between you and Mecheinbaum was not only delightful, but
respectful and fun. The psychiatrist next to me just kept saying “wow…
this guy is really good. He knows his stuff” etc.
I felt you represented your theory so amazingly well… (esp your opening
comments! ) Scott, I literally never buy the “tapes” but am going to
purchase the tape from Friday night.. to share with interns etc..
thanks so much!
Bonnie