CPA's Next Coffee/Networking Event!

Friday, December 8th
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Welcome New CPA Members!

The Colorado Psychological Association would like to recognize and welcome the following new members who joined CPA in October!

• Jason Kissell
• Louise Bickman
• Lindsay Triehy
• Shandra Brown Levey
• Rachel Kirkman
• Nora Moore
• Maggie Creegan
• Joshua Bock
• Andrew Sears

Tell Congress to Fully Fund Mental Health Services, Education, and Research in 2024

With the potential federal shutdown temporarily averted through November 17^th, negotiations are resuming in Congress over how much to fund federal programs and agencies in Fiscal Year 2024. This is an important and strategic time for the field of psychology to speak up on behalf of education, research and mental health services programs so that Congress understands it needs to invest in, not cut, their funding. You can learn more and take action in the alert below.

Our voice was heard; the shutdown has been averted for now. Congress passed a 45-day funding stopgap to avoid a government shutdown through November 17, but our work isn’t over yet. We must urge Congress to spend this time completing the fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations process. It is currently reviewing proposals with devastating cuts to key programs. We still need your voice to ask Congress to fund programs vital to public health, education, and research at the highest possible level.

Read more here...

Speaker in the Spotlight at the Nov. 3 Fall Symposium on Suicide Prevention

Date: Friday, Nov. 3, 2023; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: City of Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401

SPEAKER: Geoff Smith, PsyD, Section Chief, Veterans Affairs

SESSION: Suicide Prevention - Integrating Suicide Research, Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions, Neuroscience, and Mindfulness

Supporting people struggling with suicidal thinking and behavior is one of the most daunting aspects of practice facing Psychologists. This (3) hour workshop will provide instruction and practice with useful concepts and tools for Psychologists to help clients understand the nature of their suicidal thinking, how to unhook from the that struggle, and then move toward coping differently while building purpose, connection, and meaning as new sustainable protective factors. An overview of current rates of prevalence, general suicide risk factors, and key research by Thomas Joyner will provide a conceptual foundation and inflection points for suicide prevention interventions. Behavioral Chain Analysis (BCA) and the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) will be thoroughly discussed as vital core methods. These tools are borne of cognitive behavioral science, and yet can be enhanced by specific Evidence Based Psychotherapy (EBP) interventions. EBPs reviewed in this presentation will include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) among others. Workshop Participants will practice in small groups applying how EBPs can supercharge the BCA and SPI processes. Recent findings in cognitive neuroscience, theories of evolutionary psychology, and mindfulness practice will then be discussed to anchor recommended suicide prevention clinical interventions. Specific attention will be paid to neuro-plasticity and predictive cognition, kinship reciprocity, and mindfulness exercises for later clinical implementation. Participants will finally integrate knowledge through practice in dyads using their own clinical examples to build familiarity and confidence.

See sponsor/exhibitor opportunities here.

Happy Hour/PAC Event to Follow at 4:30 p.m. -- First Drink on CPA!!
New Terrain Brewing Company - RSVP/Register

Click here for more information and to register.