Behavioral Health News | Volume 6, Issue 1
Behavioral Health News
Trauma Team Teaches Resiliency Skills in Wake of Paradise Camp Fire
In November of 2018, Paradise, CA suffered the worst forest fire in California history. Eighty-six individuals lost their lives, over 15,000 structures burned, and a total of nearly 50,000 people were displaced. A few months later, the Paradise Adventist Church requested the support of the Loma Linda University Behavioral Health Trauma Team.

"Here were small children, the elderly, community leaders--reaching out their hands for tools and healing, willing to do the work of their own personal recovery journeys," says Ann White, participant and Clinical Psychology PsyD student.

SBH Goes Global!
Child Life in Mexico:
Serving with Joy
"Evidence-based practice tells us that although it appears as if children are 'just playing', much more is actually happening," says Director of Clinical Training for the Child Life Specialist MS program Alisha Saavedra.

Community Engagement
Department of Social Work and Social Ecology Provides Mental Health Pipeline Information Meetings

The department recently received a grant to provide mental health pipeline information at regional community colleges and universities. The aim of these meetings has been to educate students on the needs of the community as well as the necessity for increasing the number of well-qualified behavioral health providers.

Child Life Facilitates Pediatric Brain and Spine Tumor Support Group
The Pediatric Brain and Spine Tumor Support Group provides emotional support and functions as a bridge between the medical and emotional needs of the patients and their families.

Translational Research
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Behavioral Parent Training in Families with Preschoolers with Developmental Delay
Dr. Cameron Neece and Dr. Laura Lee McIntyre were recently awarded an R01 grant from the National Institute of Health for this project:

Behavioral problems and co-occurring parenting stress are common problems in children with developmental delay and their families, yet parenting stress is almost never directly addressed in behavioral interventions for these families. This research tests the benefit of addressing this issue through mindfulness (the psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment) prior to delivering behavioral parent training in order to more effectively reduce child behavior problems once the intervention is delivered. It also investigates the mechanisms through which intervention outcomes occur.

MEND Implements Programming in Chicago
Last month, Brian Distelberg, PhD, and alumnus Daniel Tapanes, DMFT, began a 3-year-long process of working with the Cook County Health system to implement the MEND program at the largest County-operated hospital in Chicago.

Faculty Field Notes:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Maya Boustani, PhD, clinical child psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, answers some of the most common questions about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

Student Scoop
Spotlight: Ann Nguyen
It takes an incredible amount of courage to leave your homeland. Yet this is exactly what Ann Nguyen's family did when she was only 3½ years of age, leaving Saigon, Vietnam and immigrating to the United States.

Child Life in China
"I can't explain the joy that I observed on these children's faces, and I understood it because I felt the same joy for having the opportunity to show these children and families that being in the hospital does not have to be all scary!" says Child Life Specialist MS student Taylor Phillips.

Dr. Hartman's Lab Attends Society for Neuroscience Conference
Dr. Richard Hartman's lab has attended the Society for Neuroscience conference annually for the past 13 years! Last fall, five students presented posters and student Bianca Tolan (right) was able to meet and take a photo with world's-most-famous neuroscientist Dr. Eric Kandel!

Alumni Alcove
Feature: Danielle Huntsman, MSW
Danielle has now worked at the Public Health department for over 18 years. She initially provided direct services to clients suffering from HIV and STDs. Subsequently, she managed an HIV/STD clinic and then became a Program Chief.

SBH Alumni Enjoy Homecoming Mixer
Hosted in the Department of Psychology, alumni, faculty, and family turned out to enjoy a photo booth, a variety of door prizes, and delicious hors d'oeuvres and hot beverages!

Click here or on the image below to join our
brand new (private) SBH Alumni Facebook group!
Awards and Accomplishments
New Faculty Member: Kelly Baek, PhD
Dr. Kelly Baek was recently appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Ecology. Her research focuses on mental health, quality of life, culturally appropriate interventions, and developing culturally sensitive and relevant social work curriculum

Upcoming SIMS Trips
August 29 - September 9
August 19-30
August 11-25
Find more information about Students for International Mission Service here .
Book and Resource Recommendations
This issue's recommendations come from PhD students in the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences! (Click the cover images to find these books on Amazon!)
Helping Couples and Families Navigate Illness and Disability by John S. Rolland, MD

I think this book is awesome for MFTs working either within integrated care settings or for behavioral health clinicians wanting to learn more about how to work with chronic illnesses while incorporating the relational systems (couples and families) that inform patients of their illness narratives.

Gabriela Gutierrez, Systems, Families, & Couples PhD student
The Family Crucible: The Intense Experience of Family Therapy
by Augustus Y. Napier, PhD

The text provides an in-depth perspective on family therapy from the viewpoints of Augustus Y. Napier, PhD and Carl Whitaker, MD. The clinical scenarios and personal account of the authors' clinical process is a great introductory text for conceptualizing the field.

Brittany Huelett, Systems, Families, & Couples PhD student
The Use of Self in Therapy
by Michèle Baldwin, PhD

This book explores ways in which the therapist can use their whole person as an instrument of change in the therapeutic process. This book altered the way I viewed therapy, as well as my view of my role when I am working with clients. I definitely recommend this book to clinicians looking to deepen their connection to their clients!

Andie Tran, Marital & Family Therapy PhD student
LLU School of Behavioral Health | [email protected] | sbh.llu.edu

Our mission is to provide graduate level education that prepares competent, ethical, and compassionate professionals in behavioral health.