Dr. Keller participated in the World Congress of the International Association for Child Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) in Prague, Czech Republic July 23-27, 2018.
He presented a poster titled “Peer Support for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinicians.”
About IACAPAP
IACAPAP is an organization that promotes the study of child psychology. The organization has many psychologists all over the world. It distributes a bi-annual bulletin full of information for psychologists.
Their Mission
IACAPAP’s mission is to support research into child and adolescent mental health and development. They support various clinics and individuals who work in the field. They emphasize sharing of information between professionals.
To do this, they publish principles and guidelines in the ethics of child and adolescent mental health. They produce papers with various topics to help professionals in their careers.
Their Goals
IACAPAP updates their goals every few years. For the following years, they would like to:
- Support organizations that promote mental health for children and adolescents
- Distribute information and train others through study groups, congresses, and educational materials
- Strengthen the bonds between international communities to promote mental health in child and adolescents
Membership in the association can be attained by individuals or practices involved in child or adolescent mental health.
World Congress
Every two years, IACAPAP holds a World Congress. Since 1937, the Congress invites child psychologists from around the world for seminars and speakers. Each Congress covers a different topic within child psychology.
This year, the Congress celebrated IACAPAP’s 80th Anniversary. The theme for the Congress was “Understanding Diversity and Uniqueness.” It hosted 31 Keynote Speakers and several cliniques and lectures.
Dr. Keller’s Presentation
Dr. Keller presented a poster on the topic of peer support and countertransference. Countertransference refers to the way some psychologists react to the emotions of their clients.
Certain situations remind psychologists of their own past. Oftentimes they remember negative aspects of their lives. This is especially reflected in children and adolescents.
Peer Support Groups
The topic relates to physician burnout that Dr. Keller discussed in a previous blog post. In his poster, Dr. Keller discussed using peer support to counter this issue.
He suggested that these groups give psychologists a safe place for discussing sensitive topics. With peer support groups, someone can get advice for handling a high-risk clinical dilemma.
In a sense, these peer support groups provide therapy for the therapist. They can address personal issues and work through their emotions.
Dr. Keller offered suggestions for the structure of these peer support groups. Some of his suggestions included:
- Confidentiality
- Weekly
- 90 mins
- Leaderless
- Individual issues
- Case presentation
- Risk management of high-risk patients
Ultimately, the goal of peer support groups are to improve therapy sessions. Peer support groups can reduce burnout, compassion fatigue, and increase insight into patients’ dynamics.
About Dr. Keller
Dr. Keller works in Scottsdale, Arizona as a child psychologist. He also practices marriage counseling and divorce counseling. He specializes with children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Dr Keller has practiced child psychotherapy for over 30 years. Many other clinicians recommend Dr. Keller for child psychology needs.
He received his Doctorate from Rutgers University. He has affiliates with Scottsdale HealthCare Hospital, John C Lincoln Hospital, and Paradise Valley Hospital.
If you want to learn more about peer consultation, check out his article on his personal experience: If It’s Wednesday It Must Be Group Night
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