2. Artificial Intelligence 101: An Introduction to Digital Mental Health Interventions

4/25/2025 9:30 AM - 12:45 PM

Presenter: Page Lyn Anderson, PhD, ABPP

CE Hours: 3

Workshop level: Introductory

 

Workshop Description:

Wary of technology, but think you should know more about it? Curious about how technological advances could be used in mental health? This introductory workshop is for you! We will review types of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) and the empirical evidence for their use - including the rapidly growing developments in cultural adaptation. We will discuss the basics of how artificial intelligence works and do hands-on exploration of DMHIs – so be sure to bring your smart phone. Although the presenter has conducted research on digital technologies for anxiety for 20+ years, she is ‘not a technology person.’

 

 

About the Presenter:

Dr. Page Anderson is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Georgia State University (US) and a licensed clinical psychologist with board certification in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology. Dr. Anderson began working with technology-based interventions in 1999 as the only full-time employee of a start-up company whose founders pioneered the use of virtual reality for exposure therapy. Since 2002, her lab has conducted randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy, durability, and mechanisms of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety, experimental studies to identify factors that improve the acceptability and engagement with digital mental health interventions (particularly within minoritized communities), and both qualitative and naturalistic research on mHealth for mental health. She chaired the Technology Workgroup for the 2021 APA Summit for the Future of Education and Practice in Psychology and is on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions, for which she co-founded the Equity & Action Special Interest Group.

Dr. Anderson has appeared in multiple media outlets, including CNN, NPR, Discovery Channel, the New Times, and Men’s Health Magazine.

Dr. Anderson has presented continuing education workshops on digital mental health interventions at national conferences (e.g., American Psychological Association, Association for the Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy), other state Psychological Associations (Rhode Island), health care settings (Kaiser Permanente), and locally (Georgia College Counseling Association).

 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

 

1. Describe a taxonomy for digital mental health interventions
2. Name two types of digital mental health interventions
3. Summarize the empirical support for their use
4. Explain how they mitigate known barriers to service
5. Discuss the empirical support for culturally adapted digital mental health interventions
6. Explain (in very general way) how artificial intelligence works

 

4. (ETHICS) Competence with sexual, gender & relational minorities as an ethical obligation

4/25/2025 2:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Rachel Anne Kieran, PsyD

 CE Hours: 3 ETHICS

Workshop level: Intermediate

 

Workshop Description:

Broad diversity in sexual desire, behaviors, & relationship agreements are common, yet misunderstandings & pathologizing assumptions persist.  This is despite revisions depathologizing consensual power exchange; APA-guidelines calling for reduction of this stigma, & data supporting positive outcomes.  Therapist reactions can negatively impact clients & endanger our goals of nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice & respect. 

This program examines best practices working with diverse sexual & relational lives, through the lens of the APA Ethics code & relevant GA Statutes.  We will examine parallels between therapeutic & relationship consent, the meaning of cultural competence in these areas, & questions of access & equity for sexually marginalized populations.

 

 

About the Presenter:

A licensed psychologist in private practice, Dr. Kieran owns and directs StorieBrook Therapy & Consulting. The mission of this practice is to provide a range of services specializing in sexual, gender & relational diversity, recognizing that this is an expansive category, intersecting with all other identities and requiring bespoke collaboration with clients to meet their unique needs. Practice values include access, anti-racism, body liberation, collaboration, cultural humility, public & professional education, inclusion & affirmation, social justice, and trauma informed care. The practice has been recognized as providers of Neurodiverse Affirming Care and providers of Health At Every Size care. Dr. Kieran is also the co-founder of PATH, the Pagan Affirming Therapist & Healthcare provider list.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Kieran is a past president and committee chair of the Georgia Psychological Association, and a current campaign chair of the APA Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-Monogamy. She has been training healthcare professionals in the area of Sexual, Gender & Relational Diversity for over a decade, focusing on provider competence in meeting the needs of marginalized populations. She has also been featured in podcasts and conventions (Dragon*Con was one memorable experience!), sharing the importance of destigmatizing sexual, gender and relational diversity with professional and public audiences.

 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

 

1. Describe sexual and relational diversity as alternatives to heterocentric, monocentric and gender binary stereotypes promulgated by many social norms.
2. Discuss strategies for investigating the nature of power differentials in relationships - both inherent and negotiated – and how these may be helpful or harmful in therapy.
3. Identify strategies for reducing stigma on demographic forms, and how this is related to ethical responsibilities for autonomy and respect.
4. Describe calls to action from APA guidelines relevant to practice with sexually marginalized populations
5. Identify ethical principles relevant to practice with sexually marginalized populations
6. Identify ethical standards relevant to practice with sexually marginalized populations
7. Discuss techniques for addressing consent concerns with sexually marginalized populations
8. Examine ideas for safety planning (and responding to duty to protect) with sexually marginalized populations
9. Identify techniques for indicating sex positive and affirming spaces for marginalized populations in physical locations and online modalities.

6. Supporting BIPOC Trainees/Learners: Strategies for Success in Graduate School, During Internship, and During Postdoctoral Fellowship

4/26/2025 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Presenter: Leandra Prempeh, PsyD; Justin L. Williams, PhD; Abigail O. Akpobiyeri, MA; Kimberly Resendiz Chavez,

CE Hours: 3

Workshop level: Intermediate

 

Workshop Description:

Despite efforts to develop a diverse psychology workforce through initiatives aimed at recruitment, retention, and training, racial/ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in psychology (APA, 2022, 2023; Cheng et al., 2023). This workshop aims to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for BIPOC-identified graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, ultimately enhancing their success and well-being throughout their academic and professional careers. The presenters will identify anecdotal and systemic inequities faced by trainees at different levels of their academic and professional career journey, then guide participants through culturally responsive reflections and strategies aimed at offering practical support at the individual through institutional level.

 

 

About the Presenters:

 

Abigail O. Akpobiyeri, MA (Graduate Training)

I am a third-year clinical psychology student at Mercer University in the College of Health Professions (Atlanta, GA). My research interests include mental health and wellness in elite athletes and the psychological impacts of living with SCD. I have strong interests in health psychology and psychotherapy, with hopes to blend these interests into my professional practice. I serve as the Chair-Elect for the Georgia Psychological Association for Graduate Students. A key initiative in this role includes forging more accessible mentoring relationships between graduate students in psychology and licensed psychologists across Georgia. I am currently a psychology extern at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, working in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders department. My roles include consultation/liaison services,  outpatient therapy, and outreach programming focused on SCD transition from pediatric to adult care.

 

Kimberly Resendiz Chavez, MAT, BCBA (Graduate Training)

Kimberly (She/Her/Ella) is a third-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program. She graduated with her Master's degree in Special Education (Adapted Curriculum and Autism) in December 2021, earning her certifications as a BCBA and Special Education teacher. She also graduated from Berry College with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology in December 2019. Her broad research interests include disparities in autism diagnoses and service availability, particularly in families with a bilingual and/or Hispanic background. Kimberly has experience working in UGA’s Center for Autism and Behavioral Education Research (CABER) Academy and model classrooms and interning as a registered behavior technician. She is currently in her third year as a graduate fellow for the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education (CLASE), where she leads an outreach taskforce and focuses on disseminating resources for Latine students and families while sharing personal experiences as a Latine student in higher education. At present, Kimberly is completing a practicum placement at the Marcus Autism Center under the supervision of Dr. Meena Khowaja and CCC-SLP Kadie Ulven. In this role, she assists with bilingual (Spanish and English) and monolingual autism evaluations and early intervention services through Project ImPACT. After graduation, Kimberly hopes to work in a hospital or clinical setting, conducting ASD evaluations and providing either ABA or early intervention therapy. She also wishes to incorporate her passion for outreach into her professional work, continuing to spread knowledge about service availability and opportunities to underserved populations.

 

Dr. Gail Kemp (Graduate Training)

I am a professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Mercer University and a licensed psychologist with extensive experience in clinical training, research, and teaching within the field of psychology. I also am the Director of the RESIST (Resiliency for Intergenerational/Historical Stress and Trauma) Lab. My research focuses on the cultural, contextual, and psychological factors influencing mental health, with a particular emphasis on Black families and communities. Over the years, I have facilitated numerous workshops and trainings on topics such as cultural diversity, anti-racism strategies, and mental health, including the application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to promote persistence in anti-racism efforts. I have also served as a consultant on anti-racism initiatives for various academic institutions. I am particularly well-suited to lead workshops on the experiences of BIPOC clinical psychology trainees, given my background as a clinical supervisor, mentor, and researcher focusing on the intersection of race, mental health, and systemic inequalities. My work has included initiatives to enhance ethnic minority recruitment and retention in psychology programs, supported by grants such as the APA CEMRRAT Grant for Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention, and Training. This funding supported the development of a mentoring program focused on HBCUs in Georgia. I also am a faculty sponsor for the diversity, equity, and inclusion student-interest group in our doctoral program at Mercer. In this workshop, I intend to draw on both my clinical, research, and teaching expertise to offer a comprehensive perspective on the unique challenges and opportunities that BIPOC trainees encounter in clinical psychology doctoral programs.

 

Dr. Meena Khowaja (Internship Training)

Meena Khowaja, PhD (she/her/ella) is a clinical psychologist at the Marcus Autism Center/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. In her current role, Dr. Khowaja’s conducts psychological testing services through the Clinical Assessments and Diagnostics Program and parent-mediated NDBIs through the Early Intervention/ Project ImPACT program. She strives to continuously learn about and provide neurodiversity-affirming care. Her clinical and research experiences have primarily centered around early detection and intervention of ASD, identifying barriers to accessing and utilizing autism-focused services for Latinx parents, developing clinical adaptations to parent training programs based on linguistic and cultural identities, and identification of sociodemographic barriers to the screening and identification of autism. Dr. Khowaja is dedicated to providing culturally responsive supervision with supervisees of diverse cultural, linguistic, and ability status backgrounds. She actively supervises psychology externs, interns, and postdocs and also serves as a mentor to psychology interns. Importantly, she is bilingual in Spanish and English and provides services in both languages; she is passionate about supervising bilingual trainees as the future generation of psychologists serving our ever-diversifying clinic population. Throughout her training and career, she has served in different capacities on diversity committees and various DEI initiatives, including developing and participating in trainee mentorship programs, efforts to recruit and retain trainees and providers of underrepresented backgrounds, improving cultural competence of faculty/supervisors by arranging DEI training initiatives, and creating more inclusive spaces based on individual learning and sensory needs.

 

Millicent Phinizy, MS, EdS (Internship Training)

Millicent Phinizy is a certified school psychologist in Georgia, 5th year doctoral student at Mercer University, and immediate past chair of Georgia Psychological Association of Graduate Students. Through her LLC she serves as an advocate for families and consultant to elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educators regarding school-based mental health services. Her career has included supervision of school psychology trainees and upscaling of district level positive behavior intervention programs. Millicent is presently completing internship at Georgia State University Counseling Center. Present internship responsibilities include provision of health service psychology to GSU’s diverse population of emerging adults and supervising practicum students. Clinical and research interests include culturally relevant assessment, trauma-focused treatment, social justice advocacy, and the psychosocial sequelae of trauma, ACE’s, and chronic stress. She finds peace in her artwork, joy in time spent with her husband and friends, and excitement in the dance and soccer mom life.

 

Dr. Leandra Prempeh (Fellowship Training)

Dr. Leandra Prempeh is a postdoctoral resident in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University’s School of Medicine. She is completing her residency in pediatric psychology at the Aflac Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). She received a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Mercer University and a master's in Clinical Counseling Psychology at Brenau University. She received her BS in Psychology from Georgia State University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Center for Advanced Pediatrics (CHOA) and the Marcus Autism Center.

 

Dr. Prempeh’s clinical experience ranges from working with individuals and families ages 0 - 65+.  She has worked in inpatient, outpatient, community-based, and college settings. When working with pediatric populations, Dr. Prempeh emphasizes family-centered care to help foster well-being on a multisystem level. She has experience conducting neuropsychological, neurodevelopmental, psychoeducational, and cognitive assessments. She also has experience in individual psychotherapy, parent management training skills, psychosocial rehabilitation group therapy, and applied behavioral analysis-based intervention. Through mentorship and community outreach, Dr. Prempeh has a special interest in supporting Black and African adolescents and young adults to obtain personalized guidance and resources to help overcome barriers, build confidence, and achieve academic success in the transition to and navigation of higher education. Dr. Prempeh’s research interests focus on postpartum mothers' mental health, emphasizing how maternal well-being affects early childhood development. There is also a focus on developmental concerns in the pediatric population, including cognitive, emotional, and social growth, to identify interventions that support both maternal recovery and optimal child development outcomes. Dr. Prempeh is a member of American Psychological Association and the Black/African American Affinity Group in the Society of Pediatric Psychology.

 

Dr. Justin L. Williams (Fellowship Training)

Justin L. Williams, PhD, joined Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as a pediatric psychologist in spring 2020. Dr. Williams received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Florida A&M University. She earned her master’s degree in clinical and community psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Williams earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Georgia State University and completed her predoctoral internship through the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Given her interest in hematology and oncology, Dr. Williams completed her postdoctoral fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she worked with youth with sickle cell disease, cancer, and other hematological disorders; young adults with HIV; and completed psychological evaluations. Dr. Williams’s primary research and clinical interests in the field of pediatric psychology include healthcare transition for youth with sickle cell disease; advocacy and community collaborations; pediatric hematology and oncology; teaching; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In the areas of supervision and mentorship, Dr. Williams clinical supervision to psychology practicum/externship students and postdoctoral psychology fellows. Additionally, Dr. Williams is working with pediatric psychology colleagues across the United States to help diversify the field of psychology.

 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

 

1. Participants will identify two specific challenges faced by BIPOC-identified graduate students and postdoctoral fellows within psychology.
2. Participants will be able to list one practical strategy at the individual level to enhance culturally responsive, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive mentorship, sponsorship, and/or professional development with BIPOC-identified graduate students and postdoctoral fellows within psychology.
3. Participants will generate two institution-level action steps that could advance inclusive practices in their institutions, training programs, or professional practices.

 

8. Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Care for Underserved Youth

4/26/2025 2:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Presenter: Allison LoPilato, PhD; Nori Lim, PhD; Joya Hampton-Anderson, PhD

CE Hours: 3

Workshop level: Introductory

 

Workshop Description:

This workshop will explore essential considerations and effective strategies for delivering culturally responsive care to youth with diverse backgrounds pertaining to race, geography, and sexual orientation. Drawing upon the latest research and direct clinical experience, we will delve into the nuances of providing responsive care to these often marginalized populations. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by underserved youth, the limitations of current evidence-based approaches, and strategies to adapt these approaches for greater effectiveness. Through engaging case examples and role plays, participants will review real-world scenarios and gain practical tools for providing culturally-responsive care.

 

 

About the Presenters:

Allison LoPilato, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Emory Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences where she serves as the Associate Division Director of Child, Adolescent, and Young Adults Services and Co-Director of the Child & Adolescent Mood Program. She is a child and adolescent clinical psychologist who specializes in preventing and treating youth mood disorders and reducing suicide-risk. Dr. LoPilato translates research findings into practical solutions to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility of care for youth. Her recent work focuses on innovative integration of mental health support into schools in rural Georgia. Dr. LoPilato also leads a clinical research program investigating the factors contributing to youth mood disorders and developing targeted interventions. Her Research on Experiences, Affect, & Cognition in Teens (REACT) Laboratory has received funding from the National Institute of Health and foundations. As a clinical scientist committed to real world impact, she has authored numerous scientific papers on youth mental health disorders in peer-reviewed journals, practitioner-oriented guides, policy recommendations, and treatment manuals. She holds leadership positions in national mental health organizations and shares her expertise with several Georgia-based organizations including Children's Behavioral and Mental Health Program, Skyland Trail's Adolescent Residential Treatment Program, and Mercer's Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center.

 

Noriel Lim, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. He serves as the director of the Emory Child and Adolescent Mood Program (CAMP) doctoral psychology internship program. He specializes in evidence-based treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in children, teens, and young adults. Dr. Noriel (Nori) Lim was born in the Philippines and raised in Los Angeles, California. He received his BA in Psychology and Anthropology from UC Berkeley, and his MA and PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Lim completed a year-long internship training in the Clinical Child Psychology Track at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, before moving to Atlanta for a two-year fellowship at Emory’s Child and Adolescent Mood Program (CAMP). He joined the faculty at Emory University School of Medicine in 2013. Dr. Lim has been involved in several DEI efforts both within the psychiatry department (in teaching and training interns, residents, and fellows) and nationally. He has served on Emory’s Diversity Inclusion and Social Justice Committee (DISC) and has been a core training faculty for the APPIC-funded project that teaches faculty and trainees necessary skills to co-facilitate diversity dialogues and difficult conversations. Nationally, Dr. Lim has been actively engaged in the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)—chairing the annual conventions in Toronto (2015) and Denver (2016) and subsequently serving on AAPA's board of directors (2017-2019). Most recently, he served as co-chair for AAPA Education and Training Council (ETC, a group responsible for developing and disseminating educational materials on Asian American/Pacific Islander mental health). Dr. Lim has also served as convention co-chair for the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race (APA Division 45) in 2019 and is currently serving on the editorial board of the Asian American Journal of Psychology (AAJP). Finally, Dr. Lim has served on the APA Board of Convention Affairs (BCA, 2017-2021, 2022-2023), helping ensure that the speakers and programs at APA’s annual conventions represent all aspects of diversity.

 

Joya Hampton-Anderson, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory School of Medicine. Dr. Hampton-Anderson received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt University and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Emory University. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University School of Medicine. She specializes in treating youth of color experiencing chronic stress, adversity, and internalizing mood concerns. Clinically, Dr. Hampton-Anderson takes an integrative, empirically informed, culturally responsive approach to treatment in her work with youth and families. Dr. Hampton-Anderson also directs her clinical research program ENRICH (Enhancing Resilience Cultivating Health) which aims to understand the sociocultural determinants of health disparities and integrated health outcomes in youth and families, with a particular interest in childhood adversity and chronic stress. This community-based participatory, mixed methods lab focuses on risk and protective factors that influence mental and physical health diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment with a specific interest in culturally competent clinical practice and research. Dr. Hampton-Anderson has published several research papers and given numerous presentations on culturally responsive care and racial/ethnic minority mental health concerns. She enjoys connecting with communities about her work via writing and talks, with features in national and local media outlets. Her research lab has maintained foundation support as well as community connections to expand reach.

 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the unique mental health needs of underserved youth.
2. Describe the limitations of current evidence-based approaches in meeting needs of diverse youth
3. Implement adaptations to current evidence-based strategies to enhance cultural responsiveness of care

 

Lunch & Learn Student Poster Sessions/Flash Talks

4/26/2025 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Presenter: Students