Study of aging

Psychotherapy with Older Adults & Clinical Applications is a two (2) year-certification program. The training offers a series of six (6) weekend conferences, three (3) each year, to help professionals stay current in their work with aging adults and their families. These conferences will provide important knowledge and skills to better serve a multi-cultural aging adult population in a wide range of settings.

The Washington School of Psychiatry’s certificate training program, Psychotherapy for Older Adults & Clinical Applications, offers a series of 6 weekend conferences to help professionals stay current in their work with aging adults and their families. These conferences will provide important knowledge and skills to better serve the aging adult population in a wide range of settings. This longest life stage and its phases requires specialized training.

Six weekend conferences offer interactive, didactic and experiential learning based on theory and research. Strategies for communicating effectively in difficult situations are woven throughout the conferences. Participation in the conferences is open to professionals who are interested in increasing their knowledge and skills in working with aging adults.

Students will learn about current assessment and treatment methods with special attention to treatment and health care from an intrapsychic, interpersonal and systems framework. Previous work serving aging adults is not a pre-requisite.

There are two options for participation:

The Certificate Program wherein participants attend the entire cycle of six conferences over 2 years and belong to the same small group throughout all six conferences.
Single conferences wherein participants attend on a per conference basis and are assigned to a small group formed only for that specific conference.

It is possible to register for multiple conferences. All participants receive continuing education credits for each conference. Participants who attend all six conferences and supervision receive a Program Certificate at the end of six conferences. Conference content includes didactic, experiential and case discussion.

All conferences take place at the Washington School of Psychiatry, 5028 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Ste. 400, Washington, DC 200016; Tel: 202. 237. 2700. The conferences are held on Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, unless stated otherwise on the brochure for each conference.

Conference Schedule

*Schedule subject to change. Conference dates to be determined.

The Study of Aging Program will not be holding conferences for the 2021-2022 academic. Take a look at some of our previous conferences:

Medical and Psychiatric Challenges to Successful Aging

Chair: George Max Saiger, MD, CGP, FAGPA

The eminent physician, Sir William Osler, observed at the close of the 19th century that the later decades present numerous medical challenges, some of them unique this phase of life. This conference will describe a variety of these conditions, examine their impact on the lives of seniors, and consider intervention strategies. Participants are encouraged to bring case materials to the meeting. The conference will conclude with an experiential learning component.

Factors Influencing the Aging Process

Chair: Anya Parpura, MD, Ph.D

A variety of factors that can affect how we age, including acculturation issues among older immigrants, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, sexuality, and loneliness are explored.

This conference is designed to help you:

Recognize the influence of immigration on the social status and the role of older immigrants within the family.
Summarize barriers that have an impact on the effective use of mental health services by older immigrants.
Identify the effects race and ethnicity can have on older adults, especially African Americans and Latinos.
Explain the challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender older adults.
Describe issues of sexuality as they relate to aging.
Enhance your comfort level about sexual issues of the aging population.
Discuss the impact of loneliness on one’s mental health, and become familiar with techniques and supports to address loneliness.
Analyze your own experience of loneliness

Overview of Ethics, End of Life, Legal Issues & Spirituality

Chair: Tybe Diamond, M.S.W

As people approach the end of their lives, they and their families commonly face tasks and decisions that include a broad array of choices ranging from simple to extremely complex. The focus regarding these tasks will be on individuals who are 55 plus. The tasks can be practical, psychosocial, ethical, spiritual, legal, existential, or medical in nature. For example, dying persons and their families are faced with choices about what kind of caregiver help they want or need and whether to receive care at home or in an institutional treatment setting. Dying persons may have to make choices about the desired degree of family involvement in caregiving and decision-making. They frequently make legal decisions about wills, advanced directives, and durable powers of attorney. They may make choices about how to expend their limited time and energy. Some may want to reflect on the meaning of life, and some may decide to do a final life review or to deal with psychologically unfinished business. Some may want to participate in planning rituals before or after death. In some religious traditions, confession of sins, preparation to "meet one's maker," or asking forgiveness from those who may have been wronged can be part of end-of-life concerns. All end-of-life choices and medical decisions have complex psychosocial components, ramifications, and consequences that have a significant impact on suffering and the quality of living and dying.

More Information

Learning Outcomes

Coming Soon

Training Component Option

N/A

CE/CME Award

1 credit will be awarded for each conference hour. There may be some schedule variation in the weekends. Generally, there are 12 credit hours in each two-day conferences.

Admissions Requirements

Program Contact(s)

Tybe Diamond, MSW

tybe@tybediamond.com

202.966.1381

Program Email

aging@wspdc.org

Application Deadlines

Note: Psychotherapy with Older Adults & Clinical Applications is not currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. But applications for the 2022-2024 cycle are now open!

Applications for training courses are due by August 15 to the WSP administrative office each year. After this date, admissions will be considered on a space-available basis and is up to the faculty of each program. Reach out to the program contact (above) for more information.

Please submit the following to the Washington School of Psychiatry:

Completed WSP Application (by August 15)
Current Curriculum Vitae
Statement of Experience
$50 Nonrefundable Application Fee

All applicants will be interviewed by faculty.

Admissions Requirements

The training program is open to gerontologists, psychiatrists, medical residents, psychologists, geriatric care managers, social workers, nurses, counselors, geriatric administrators, chaplains and other health care professionals interested in working with older adults. Previous work serving aging adults is not a pre-requisite.

Tuition

Participants in the two-year certificate program: $2000 total, $1000 due each year. Fees for individual conferences will be $360 per weekend.

Payment installments may be arranged through the administrative office.

The $50 application fee is nonrefundable.

Limited scholarship money may be available, based on need and merit. A scholarship application is on the wspdc.org website. Contact the Chair for more information and scholarship information.

Supervision Fees

Monthly individual or small group supervision from September - March is required for Certificate Program students during each year. Supervision fees are additional to tuition and are $75.00 for an individual session of 45 min. and $50.00 for a 3-person, small group session of 90 min. Individuals choosing the Certificate Program option will be given a list of faculty members who provide supervision. A participant can choose whomever they wish.

Faculty

Tybe Diamond, M.S.W (Chair)

Steering Committee:

Rob Bamberger, M.S.W

Estelle Berley, M.S.W

Irene Jackson Brown, Ph.D., CSA, CMC, CDP

Kathryn Chefetz, M.S.W

Glory Dierker, Ph.D.

Joe Izzo, M.S.W

Joan Medway, M.S.W

Judy Peres, M.S.W

Annemarie Russell, M.S.W, MPH, ABD

George Saiger, M.D.

Margo Silberstein, Ed.D.

Faculty

Kathryn Chefetz, M.S.W

Joe Izzo, M.S.W

Joan Medway, M.S.W

Annemarie Russell, M.S.W, MPH, ABD

George Saiger, M.D.

Margo Silberstein, Ed.D.

Guest Faculty

Rob Bamberger, M.S.W

Irene Jackson Brown, Ph.D., CSA, CMC, CDP

Glory Dierker, Ph.D.

Judy Peres, M.S.W

The Washington School of Psychiatry

5028 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20016-4118

Call us at 202-237-2700 or 202-537-6050

Celebrating its 85th year, the School is an accredited provider of post-graduate continuing education.

The Meyer Treatment Center provides low cost access to mental health services. It is an out-of-network facility for insurance purposes.

The Washington School of Psychiatry is an independent non-profit organization. It is not affiliated with the government of the District of Columbia or the government of the United States.

The Washington School of Psychiatry

Training - Research - Treatment

Study of aging

Conference Schedule

More Information

Learning Outcomes

Training Component Option

CE/CME Award

Admissions Requirements

Tuition

Supervision Fees

Faculty

Aging Class Site

The Washington School of Psychiatry

Training - Research - Treatment

Study of aging

Conference Schedule

More Information

Learning Outcomes

Training Component Option

CE/CME Award

Admissions Requirements

Tuition

Supervision Fees

Faculty

Aging Class Site

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