Patricia Fennell, Leading Trauma Expert, to Speak at Three Area Conferences This Week

Topics include youth violence, traumatic loss and grandparents raising grandchildren

Nationally recognized expert on trauma, death and dying, and chronic illness Patricia A. Fennell, MSW, LCSW-R, will speak at three conferences this week, presenting her clinical approach to helping people cope with and recover from life-changing circumstances.

On April 18th, she and fellow Albany clinician Jon S. Rice will speak at the 12th Annual New York State Child Abuse Prevention Conference. Their seminar will teach professionals how to help resolve conflicts, achieve justice and promote healing among victims and perpetrators of youth violence, such as school shootings, community violence among youth, or violence that affects youth today, including child abuse and bullying. The conference will be held April 16-18 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany; more information is available at preventchildabuseny.org.

On April 19th, she will present at the annual Melanie Ilene Rieger Memorial Conference Against Violence with David Kaczynski, brother of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, and Gary Wright, a Unabomber victim, on Living A Meaningful Life Despite The Pain, Despair & Emptiness Caused By Traumatic Loss. The Rieger Conference will be held April 18-19 at the Maloney Center for Training & Staff Development at 245 Jarvis Street in Cheshire, Conn.; see melanieriegerconference.com for additional details.

On April 22, she and Mr. Rice will speak at the Families Together in New York State conference about grandparents raising children with special needs, such as chronic mental and physical conditions, and helping them cope with the stress and life-changing circumstances of this common family situation. The Families Together meeting will be held April 22-23 at the Marriott Hotel at 189 Wolf Road in Albany, N.Y.; see ftnys.org for more information.

Ms. Fennell, President and CEO of Albany Health Management Associates, Inc., is the creator of the Fennell Four-Phase Treatment (FFPT) model, a highly practical, internationally utilized and empirically validated approach to clinical management of trauma, chronic illness and emotional loss. It addresses the complexity of these conditions by matching best clinical practices to four phases crisis, stabilization, resolution and integration -- and identifies the most appropriate and effective interventions for each phase. The FFPT model provides a narrative framework and cognitive map for families, helping them describe, understand and adapt to life following trauma, chronic illness onset or other loss.

For more information about Ms. Fennell or Albany Health Management Associates, please call (518) 782-0551 or visit patriciafennell.com or albanyhealthmanagement.com.