WISR SEMINARS – MARCH, 2006

I. INTERDISCIPLINARY SEMINAR

Intellectual Activism and Workplace Bullying: Developing Multidisciplinary Responses to a Hidden Epidemic              Wednesday, March 15, 6:30-8:30pm

David Yamada, WISR Ph.D. Candidate, Presenter; Dr. Cynthia Lawrence, Facilitator. Workplace bullying has been defined as “the repeated, malicious, health-endangering mistreatment of one employee . . . by one or more employees” (Namie & Namie, The Bully at Work).  This seminar will consider how intellectual activism can respond to the serious problem of abusive treatment of workers by supervisors and co-employees.  We will explore the relationships between “social change” and “personal change” as applied to abusive work environments, as well as the larger role of intellectual activists in creating social change.  David Yamada, a law professor and WISR Ph.D. student, has written extensively about workplace bullying and is the author of a model anti-bullying law that has been the basis of bills introduced in six state legislatures.

Black Scholars Forum: Social Change in the 21^st Century þ Thursday, March 30, 6:30-8:30pm

ü Vera Labat, MPH, WISR Faculty Facilitator. WISR Alumnus William Cavil, MA, Associate Director of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Black Family Life and Culture will speak about the social conditions and societal factors that impact the development of African American families.  Shyaam Shabaka, MPH, WISR PhD Candidate and Founding Director of Eco-Village in Richmond, will address how to develop strong social systems to assist African American families’ needs and aspirations. The Black Scholars forum intends to build on the experiences and knowledge-base of African Americans within the WISR learning community.  The insights and contributions of our African American scholars are an important point of departure to invite WISR learners from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds to share and add their experiences, insights and questions, for a rich dialogue aimed toward social change and justice that is well-informed and inclusive.  Participants are invited to bring finger food snacks to share. ý

                                                *                                                          *

                        II. MARRIAGE  FAMILY THERAPY (MFT) SEMINARS

These seminars, though designed for students pursuing an MFT license, are open to all students.

MFT Faculty request that nonstudents planning to attend MFT seminars let them know in advance.

Psychopathology- Depression and Anxiety, Part 3 of 3 {**Note change for April seminar}

Ronald Mah, MA, MFT, WISR Faculty. Saturday, March 4, 10:00am-1:00pm

Diagnosis of mental disorders or client problems may be viewed as four clinical presentations: crisis, which has its own demands; psychosis and other chemically induced issues like mania, again with its own demands; depression; and anxiety as expressed in a multitude of DSM diagnoses. Anxiety and depression can be conceived as two sides of the same fundamental issue. These seminars will use that framework to go through the DSM diagnoses, and see what that implies for assessment and diagnosis and for treatment.  (Ronald Mah's next seminar will be **April 15 (changed from 4/8), 10am-3pm.

Basic Counseling Skills for MFT's Saturday, March 25, 10:00am-3:00pm

Michael McGlathery, MA, MFT, WISR Faculty. During the next two seminars, we will study and practice the skills necessary for becoming a therapist. Role play as well as watching films depicting therapy skills will be experienced. We will first go over the assigned homework as a beginning of the seminar. (Michael McGlathery’s next seminars will be April 22, 10-1pm; May 20, 10-3pm; June 24; July 22; August 26; and September 30.)

?Prospective students and others wishing to learn more about WISR are invited to attend WISR seminars.

WISR is on Sacramento at Harmon Street, one block north of Alcatraz, Fax: (510) 655-2831, email: mail@wisr.edu