November Program Agenda

The Council meets on the second Thursday of each month at 8:00am at the
Alpert Jewish Community Center unless otherwise noted

Date:

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Time:

8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Networking
8:15 - 8:30 a.m. Business Meeting
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Program

Place:

Alpert Jewish Community Center, Senior Room
3801 E. Willow St
Long Beach, CA 90815
Click to see a map

EALB will provide 1 CEU to MFTs/LCSWs in attendance (free to EALB members, $10 to non-members).
Approval No. PCE 4131

Program:

"Self-Injury in Adolescents"

Speaker:

Dr. Allison Kress, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist, Orange County

Dr. Allison Kress, of Laguna Niguel, works with clinical settings with children Dr. Allison Kress is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and works in a private practice in Laguna Niguel, Orange County. For the past seven years, she has worked in the Orange County public schools and clinical settings in Laguna Niguel with children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Kress has worked with individuals who present with a variety of emotional and psychological difficulties. Specifically, she has an expertise in treating self-injurious behaviors, such as cutting, and is one of the few therapists in California that has a specialization in this area. She has thoroughly researched the topic of self-injurious behaviors and wrote her doctoral dissertation on adolescent females who engage in cutting. Dr. Kress has given numerous presentations to students, agencies and the media about the treatment of self-injurious behaviors. Dr. Kress’ experience also includes volunteering as a grief counselor for families in the U.S. Marine Corps based at Camp Pendleton, working at the National Women’s Health Network in Washington, D.C., and assisting people on various suicide and crisis hotlines. Email: DrAllison@SouthCountyPsychotherapy.com - Office in Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA

Keynote

Statistics are alarming. Approximately 1% of the population, 10% of teenagers, and 12% in college populations engage in self-injurious behaviors, and this is a conservative estimate. Dr. Kress’ presentation will discuss the dynamics of self-injurious behaviors, as well as the risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prognosis of this often misunderstood behavior. From her work as a Clinical Psychologist, in her Laguna Niguel, Orange County, office, Dr. Allison Kress brings her experience to our audience.

Opinions expressed are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of the Council and its membership.
For information about End Abuse Long Beach, please visit www.EndAbuseLB.org or contact the Program Chair:
Paul Sharpe (562) 434-1345 or email Paul@EndAbuseLB.org

Course Overview

What is Cutting/Self Injury?

As a Clinical Psychologist, Cutting is defined as the intentional cutting of one’s skin as a way to cope with what feels like unbearable emotional pain.
It is also called self-injury, self-abuse, self-mutilation, self-harm, and self-destructive behavior.
Cutting is the most common form of self-injury. Other forms of self-injury can include but are not limited to: burning, carving, extracting hair to excess, scratching to excess, biting, interfering with the healing of wounds, chewing the lips, tongue, or fingers, and head banging.
Often secretive and ashamed of the behavior, so they cut their skin in places that can be hidden from others
90% of people who self-injure began cutting as teenagers (University of Missouri-Columbia Study (Internet, 2000)
Without proper treatment, often continues with increased severity into the late 20’s.

We welcome the expertise of Dr. Allison Kress as a Clinical Psychologist, from Laguna Niguel, Orange County, CA..