Experiential Therapy Workshop - Caron Philadelphia Outpatient

Many may want to examine ways in which they can begin to include experiential interventions and determine interest in further education. This will also serve to strengthen understanding of the utilization of this modality to increase confidence in making referrals to Caron’s programs. Experiential processes can help enliven group sessions, deepen facilitation skills, and actively engage clients.

This workshop will showcase different types and levels of experiential work currently used at Caron Philadelphia Outpatient Treatment Center and Breakthrough Residential Workshops. Participants in this workshop will be able to understand, utilize, and discuss a sense of what experiential therapy currently offers and entails and how it has grown to be fully trauma informed. Participants will be shown how these tools can promote client growth and will be able to relate their experiences to the substance use, mental health, and relational therapy continuum.

Who Should Attend this Workshop?

This workshop is beneficial for staff in the human service fields (ie clinical, non-clinical, supportive staff, case workers/managers, etc) wanting to explore experiential therapy.

12:00PM-1:00PM - Lunch and networking

1:00PM - 3:00 PM - Workshop\

*Earn 2 CE credit hours*

CE Approval: American Psychological Association

CE Learning Systems, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE Learning Systems maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Presenters:

Dr. Ramona Palmerio-Roberts, Psy. D, CCTP-II, CET1, Sr. Executive Director, Regional Outpatient Services
Dr. Roberts’ collaborative and empathetic leadership style is a natural outgrowth of her rich clinical experience which includes a particular commitment to trauma-focused treatment. Dr. Roberts has attained cognitive processing therapy (CPT) provider status and received training in EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy, internal family systems (IFS), trauma-focused expressive arts, and race-based trauma and how it is carried cognitively and in the body. She is currently a level II certified clinical trauma professional and is trained in trauma-informed experiential therapies (including sociometry, psychodrama, and adventure-based counseling).

Dr. Roberts is the author of Making Sense of What Hasn’t Made Sense, which is geared towards trauma survivors, family members, friends, and clinicians, and has garnered both the Counselor’s Choice award in 2022 and the Independent Press’ Distinguished Favorite award in 2023.

Dr. Roberts has presented research at regional, national, and international conferences and has several publications in professional peer-reviewed journals. She has conducted trainings, lectures, and semester-long courses on diversity in order to foster multicultural competence and sensitivity in both clinicians and students. She has conducted several motivational interviewing training for clinicians and medical professionals in a variety of clinical settings and at universities. She is recognized as a certified trainer of adolescent co-occurring disorders by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Department of Public Welfare.

She has won several awards in her career, including Humanitarian of the Year, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and the Inaugural Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Employee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. She earned her Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Dr. Camille St. James, Psychologist, CCTP

A certified clinical trauma professional, Dr. St. James utilizes evidence-based and trauma-focused approaches including EMDR, internal family systems, sensorimotor, cognitive behavioral therapy, and expressive arts to support holistic recovery and wellness for individuals and families. Her clinical work is concentrated in addiction and trauma and supported by a theoretical orientation grounded in psychodynamic and family systems theories. She approaches her work with a keen awareness of diversity, equity, and justice.

Dr. St. James earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was the first recipient of the Thomas E. Klee, Ph.D., Award for her demonstrated commitment to modern psychodynamic theory as applied to psychotherapy. While pursuing her doctorate, she was also honored as an Emerging Leader by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association and continues as an active member of that organization.

Dr. St. James is a contributing author of Treating Contemporary Families: Toward a More Inclusive Clinical Practice (Browning & van Eeden-Moorefield, 2022), offering her experience working with addiction, ambiguous loss, and violence. Dr. St. James’ research is oriented around the broad themes of diversity, justice, spirituality, and well-being, as well as professional competence. Dr. St. James has taught a range of psychology courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels as an adjunct faculty member at Chestnut Hill College.

Joe Emick, MA, LPC, CAADC, CMAT, CSAT, Breakthrough Therapist

Joe has designed and implemented weekly trauma art therapy groups and three-day intensive sessions focused on addiction interaction for patients struggling with substance use, trauma, and other behavioral compulsivity issues.

Joe has worked at Caron since 2011 focusing on addiction and relapse issues; sexual, physical, and developmental traumas; LGTBQIA+ issues; and internal family system dynamics. Prior to coming to Caron, he worked with various populations at the National Institutes of Health Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, and the George Washington Art Therapy Trauma Clinic in Alexandria, Virginia. Joe practiced architecture for 25 years before moving into the counseling profession.

In recovery for almost two decades, Joe has had experience as an addict, a patient, and as a counselor, giving him a deep understanding of the specific issues that come with struggle and change. He is passionate about creating a safe container to explore difficult topics with creative methods and approaches. He is passionate about creating a safe container to explore difficult topics with novel methods and approaches.

Joe is a licensed professional counselor, a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor, and a certified sex and multiple addictions therapist. He has a Master of Arts in art therapy and counseling from George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Jennifer Ewald, MA, LPC, CAADC, NCC, CCTP, EMDR-IA, Breakthrough Therapist

Jen has been at Caron since 2011, working as a behavioral health therapist in the Healthcare Professionals Program, Young Adults Program with young women, and Men’s Program. She also worked with other patients as needed, giving her well-rounded experience with people of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences.

That varied experience prepared her for this role, which she took on in 2023. With more than a decade of therapeutic experience and training, Jen is able to support and guide Breakthrough clients in exploring their relationships and families of origin in order to move forward to realize their personal goals. Using tools like art therapy, she helps clients gain self-understanding and awareness.

In addition to being trained in various trauma therapies, like EMDR and cognitive processing therapy, she also has training in art therapy and internal family systems.

Jen is a licensed professional counselor, a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor, a national certified counselor, and a certified clinical trauma professional. She is trained in cognitive processing therapy, internal family systems, EMDR, trauma art, and grief counseling. Jen has a Master of Arts in community counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral health, both from Alvernia University, Reading, Pennsylvania.

Emily Rojo, MS, CTP, CES, Outpatient Therapist

Emilyis an outpatient therapist and clinical trauma professional at Caron Philadelphia Outpatient Treatment Center. In this role, she facilitates the Intensive Outpatient Program and provides individual therapy. Her goal is to build a strong therapeutic alliance to provide patients with the tools and techniques to promote consistency, confidence, and commitment to support their early recovery journey.

Emily is trained in trauma-informed experiential therapy that includes sociometry, psychodrama, and adventure-based counseling. She is also trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), an evidence-based treatment that effectively reduces or eliminates post-traumatic symptoms in children and adolescents.

Prior to joining Caron in 2022, she worked with a variety of populations including six years in private practice and as a court-mandated therapist working with adolescents and families with a focus on trauma and drug and alcohol treatment.

Emily has a Master of Science in clinical psychology from Holy Family University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Felician University, Rutherford, New Jersey.

Sponsored by the generosity of Lauren and Jay Springer.

For questions or more information, please contact Adam Lush at alush@caron.org or Louis DeSanto at ldesanto@caron.org.