Investing
for the Future
2009 Conference October 16 - 18, 2009
Sneak Peek
Dr.
Xavier Amador
Dr.
Xavier Amador (see www.XavierAmador.com)
is an Adjunct Professor in Clinical Psychology at
Columbia
University
in
New York City, author and clinical psychologist.
Previously, he
was on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Director of Research at NAMI, Director of Psychology at the New York State
Psychiatric Institute and Co-Chair of the last revision of the Psychotic
Disorders section of the DSM-IV. Dr. Amador has published over 100 scientific
papers and six books. His books have been translated into multiple languages
(e.g., Spanish, German, Portuguese, Polish, French, Chinese, Hungarian, and
Japanese).
An internationally sought-after speaker, he has been an NBC News Consultant
and Today Show Contributor, and has appeared on many other programs as an
expert in psychology: e.g., ABC World News Tonight, Primetime Live, Good Morning
America; CBS This Morning, 60 Minutes. The New York Times, L.A. Times, USA
Today, New Yorker, and many others have interviewed him. He has been called as
an expert in the Unabomber, Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping, Abu Ghraib prisoner
abuse, and Zacarias Moussaoui cases among others.
Dr.
Amador will give a presentation of the empirical research on the prevalence,
etiology and treatment of both poor insight and poor adherence. He will
highlight misconceptions about the causes and treatment of poor insight and poor
adherence. Dr. Amador will review the evidence base, supporting the LEAP
technique. He will discuss how to build a collaborative relationship with a
mentally ill person, and he will discuss a four-step process involving a set of
communication and interviewing skills: Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Partner (L.E.A.P.)
Andrew
Sperling is the Director of Federal Legislative Advocacy for NAMI, the
National Alliance on Mental Illness. In this position, he leads NAMI’s
legislative advocacy initiatives in Congress and before federal agencies. Mr.
Sperling works on issues affecting the mental health community with a focus on
improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses.
Since 1994, Mr. Sperling has also served as
Co-Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Housing Task
Force.
Prior to joining NAMI, Mr. Sperling held the
position of deputy director of government relations
Mr. Sperling earned his bachelor’s of arts
degree from Tulane University. After graduating from Tulane, Sperling
attended George Washington University where he received a masters of arts, and
in 1992, he earned a law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Nanette
Larson, BA, CRSS, is the Director of Recovery Support Services for the
Illinois DHS/Division of Mental Health. She earned her baccalaureates degree in
1993 from Illinois Wesleyan University, majoring in psychology and religion. Ms.
Larson's broad experience working in social service, child welfare and mental
health includes working in a residential treatment center for children with
serious emotional disturbances, and providing case management services in a
homeless shelter. In 1999, Ms. Larson began working with the Illinois
DHS/Division of Mental Health, providing leadership and consultation to further
the development of a recovery-oriented service delivery system within the public
mental health system. During this time, she has led the state's Wellness
Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) initiative and facilitated the state's partnership
to develop the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential. Ms.
Larson is a nationally recognized leader in the mental health consumer recovery
movement and has provided numerous presentations to diverse audiences on
recovery, spirituality, and related topics. Her passion for recovery comes from
her personal experience of recovery from mental illness, and her message is one
of hope for all whose lives are affected by these conditions.
During
the NAMI Illinois Conference, Awakenings will hold a statewide art show
with work by artists from Antioch to Zeigler and all points in
between. Click here to see how you can
participate.
Hotel Information
Hilton
Lisle/Naperville
3003 Corporate West Drive
Lisle, IL 60532
630-245-7622
Please
contact the hotel directly to make your overnight accommodations. Be sure
to mention you are attending the NAMI Illinois conference to ensure a rate of
$104 per night plus tax. Hotel registration deadline is September 24,
2009.
Join NAMI today!
When you become a member of NAMI, you become part
of America's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of
persons living with serious mental illness. And now you can join
online.
Illinois'
Voice on Mental Illness - NAMI Illinois
