Empathic Therapy Conference

Peter R. Breggin, MD is no longer affiliated with the Center for the Study of Psychiatry, informally known as International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, which he founded and led from 1972-2002, and Dr. Breggin is no longer involved in its conferences.

Judge Lynn Tepper: Judge Lynn Tepper is a pioneer in practicing “One Judge, One Family” for a decade before the formal program of Unified Family Courts (UFC) was established by the Florida Supreme court in circuits around the state. She brings rational, dignified and empathic judicial oversight to one of the most challenging and personal aspects of law—that of family court. has been a Circuit Judge in Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit since 1989. Judge Tepper sits in Dade City, Pasco County where she hears all the Dependencies, Children and Families in Needs of Services cross-over cases for the families before her. She also hears all the Foreclosure cases in East Pasco County, Florida.

Howard Glasser: Howard Glasser is the founder of Children's Success Foundation and creator of The Nurtured Heart Approach™, which is being used in hundreds of thousands of homes and classrooms around the world. He is author of Transforming the Difficult Child, currently the top-selling book on the topic of ADHD; The Inner Wealth Initiative, one of the leading books on school interventions and his most recent book, YOU Are Oprah - Igniting the Fires of Greatness. He is presenting on two days, Friday, about his Nurtured Heart Approach, and Saturday evening after dinner, with his recently produced documentary about his work.

Mary Maddock: International psychiatric survivor and advocate Mary Maddock, who survived decades of psychiatric abuse and reclaimed her life to go on and help others is traveling from Ireland to meet with us all and present her story. Mary Maddock will be sharing both her personal uplifting experiences as well as news from Europe and beyond about the continuing expansion of the reform movement around the world.

Stephen Sheller, Attorney: “Stephen A. Sheller is the founding partner of Sheller, P.C., one of the leading whistleblower, plaintiff's product liability, personal injury, class action and whistleblower/qui tam law firms in the United States. His long and storied career can be summed up in a few words: a principled, fervent champion for those harmed by the negligence or intentional acts of corporations or others, in need of a strong legal voice,” reports Mr. Sheller’s website Mr. Sheller has been a leader in some of the most famous national lawsuits representing whistleblowers against pharmaceutical giants, recouping billions for the U.S. government. He is also representing children damaged by antipsychotic drugs like risperidone and olanazpine, including boys with enlarged breasts that cannot be surgically corrected and children with premature sexual development.

Lisbeth Riis Cooper: Mother Bear Community Action Network Founder, is another of our keynote speakers. She is creating a vibrant family community organization that provides genuine support and help to families who are working to support a family member in emotional crisis or psychiatrically labeled. Lisbeth Cooper has news and an inspiring message about how empathic approaches for both the individual and the family can offer a better more positive outcome.

Sandy Sheller, MA, ATR-BC, LPC: Family therapist Sandy Sheller will be presenting “Family Care”: A Train-the-Trainer Model That is Creating a Revolutionary Paradigm Shift in Parenting. Learn about a promising new train-the-trainer parenting model that is demonstrating preliminary success in outcomes with families experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Family Care (FCC) is designed to train laypersons--paraprofessionals-- in how to help parents become more receptive, sensitive, and responsive to their children’s developmental, emotional, and cultural needs; even in the midst of their own trauma and stress. Past research has shown that for children to escape the cycle of poverty and become productive and healthy members of society, it is essential that they experience a primary nurturing relationship in which they are valued. This innovative, inspiring and empathic approach breathes new life into and provides new resources and hope for one of the most vulnerable populations of families--those suffering from homelessness and all the crisis that implies.

Gerald Porter, PhD: Dr. Gerald Porter is currently Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Forest Institute in Springfield, Missouri. Forest Institute is a private non-profit graduate institution with doctoral and master’s programs in clinical psychology and other mental health disciplines. He has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Statistics and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. He is permanently certified as a School Psychologist in New York. Prior to his work in academia, Dr. Porter served in a variety of clinical and policy level positions in New York State government including the State Education Department, the Department of Correctional Services, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Division for Youth, and the Department of Economic Development. His area of policy specialization was meeting the needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations. For the past 20 years, Dr. Porter was worked as a faculty member and administrator in higher education, training mental health counselors, school psychologists, and educators. He was Chair of the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at SUNY Oswego. He was Professor and Dean of the School of Education at SUNY Cortland, one of the ten largest teacher education institutions in the United States. Dr. Porter was founding Dean of the School of Natural Health Arts and Sciences at Bastyr University just outside Seattle, Washington.

Karl Protil, Attorney: Attorney Karl Protil from Baltimore, Maryland will discuss malpractice cases of child suicide on psychiatric drugs. He will be doing a small seminar and a large talk to the whole group on Friday afternoon, April 26. He's a very caring man and will emphasize the impact of these deaths on the families as well as discussing the challenges and successes of these cases.

Family Survivor Panel: The Empathic Therapy Conference will have a special panel on Sunday April 28 in the morning called Drug Tragedies and Inspired Reformers. Psychiatrist Peter Breggin and Drug Safety Advocate Mathy Downing will talk with the wife and the mother of Tony Orban, US veteran, who committed suicide after being driven by antidepressants to commit a violent assault. The panel will also address issues for families whose young children have committed suicide under the influence of psychiatric drugs.

Bertram Karon, PhD: Psychoanalyst and professor of psychology Dr. Bert Karon will present a master class with Dr. Breggin about working with those who are experiencing an extreme emotional state or who are deeply disturbed. Dr. Karon is the first recipient of our Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy Award, and a psychologist and professor with many decades of experience working with individuals and families. These master therapists leave no doubt about the better, empathic and caring ways in which even the most troubled individuals can be reached and helped.

Finally, the conference offers eight breakout sessions Friday afternoon to choose from, providing a variety of topics.

Stephen A. Sheller, Attorney: Precocious Puberty, Gynoecomastia, Psychiatric Drugs & Children--Lawsuits and national Class Action Suits

Lisbeth Riis Cooper: Mother Bear CAN--Family in Action!

Howard Glasser: The Nurtured Heart Approach

Gerry Porter: Global Issues in Mental Health

Mary Maddock: Survival and Transformation after Psychiatry

Peter Breggin MD: Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal & Recovery

Bertram Karon, PhD: Empathic Psychotherapy and

Profound Emotional Disturbances

Empathic Therapy Master Class Presentation:

3 hour workshop with Bertram Karon, PhD & Peter Breggin, MD

Empathic Psychotherapy for Problems in Living

and Profound Emotional Disturbances

Special Topics Include:

•Psychiatric drug caused precocious puberty and gynocomastia in children;

legal actions on behalf of drug-damaged patients

•Protecting Children from the Dangers of Biological Psychiatry

•The Human Factor in Recovery and Well-Being

•Life-shortening and Brain Damaging Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs

•Tardive Dyskinesia: An Epidemic Caused by Psychiatric Drugs

•Inspiring and Supporting Families Through a Crisis of Emotional Overwhelm

•Why ECT Needs to be Banned

•Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: Partnering with Patients

Highlights of Special Presenters

•Peter R. Breggin, MD, Ithaca, New York, Empathic Therapy Center founder, psychiatrist and author of “Talking Back to Prozac,” “Medication Madness” and "Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families" addressing Empathic Therapy approaches to Well-Being and Partnering with Patients including during psychiatric drug withdrawal.

•Ginger R. Breggin, Executive Director, Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy: Achieving Emotional Well-Being Instead of Madness

•Dorothy Cassidy, MEd, Special Education: Emotional Freedom Techniques for Adults and Children

•Lisbeth Riis Cooper: Founder of Mother Bear Community Action Network for Family Support and Recovery and the Cooper Riis Healing Community

•Nadine DeSanto, EdS: School psychologist: Emotional Freedom Techniques for Adults and Children

•Michael Gilbert, PsyD, Syracuse, therapist and school psychologist, Advocating For The Social-Emotional Well-Being of Our Children

•Howard Glasser, The Nurtured Heart Approach--Encouraging Well-Being in Children, Families and Adults

•Bertram Karon, PhD, Michigan: Psychologist, professor, psychotherapist and author of Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia: The Treatment of Choice.Bertram Karon, PhD, Michigan: Psychologist, professor, psychotherapist and author of Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia: The Treatment of Choice.

•Brenda LeFrancois, PhD: Associate Professor of Social Work at Memorial University, Canada: Children and Trauma

•Mary Maddock: Citizen of Ireland, international leader in the movement of psychiatric survivors to transform mental health care, vocal ECT critic, and author of Soul Survivor: A Personal Encounter with Psychiatry

•Gerald Porter, PhD., Vice President for Academic Affairs, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, Springfield, Missouri: Frontiers of Psychotherapy and Empathic Therapy

•Gayle Rozantine, PhD, The Center for Health & Well-Being, Atlanta, Georgia: A Clinic with Innovative Approaches to Stress and Trauma

•Stephen A. Sheller, Pennsylvania: Founding partner of lawfirm Sheller, P.C., one of the leading whistleblower, plaintiff's product liability, personal injury, class action and whistleblower/qui tam law firms in the United States

•And more to be announced

Special Saturday Evening Desserts

Premiere of Howard Glasser's new documentary

Our "Meet the Authors" Friday Night Social

Friday Evening with the Famous Chocolate Fountain

AND MUCH MORE--Best Selling Authors, International Experts, Professors and Educators, Attorneys, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Physicians, Innovative Practitioners, and Advocates

More than 20 possible Continuing Education Credits!

"One of the best CE values available"

Continuing Education for Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Chemical Dependency Counselors, and Nurses

Register today to attend this exciting, forward thinking conference ~ Join Peter and Ginger Breggin and the other conference speakers in Syracuse, New York State, April 26-28, 2013!

Sightseeing in the Finger Lakes region of New York State--Adventures Await!

What People are saying about our 2012 & 2011 Empathic Therapy Conferences

"Having just returned from the 2012 Empathic Therapy Conference I wanted to express my appreciation for all the presenters. In over 25 years of practice I can truly say this was the most beneficial and inspiring medical meeting I have attended. My caseload includes the mentally distressed and I know this conference would be invaluable to any discipline involved in healthcare. Thank you so much to Dr. Breggin and Ginger," John Artman OTR/L CHT

"The Empathic Therapy Conference surpassed my expectations. You expect a professional conference to be informative but this was much more. I left with new ideas but more importantly I was inspired and reinvigorated in my work. The healing power of empathy was enlaborated on and explored from every angle. This was a rich sharing of ideas and affect, humane clinical practices, and a thoroughgoing critique of the status quo in mental health. Dr. Peter Breggin in producing this conference has shown himself not only a passionate and informed critic of psychiatric drug therapies but has given voice and thereby empowered those who have been abused by those very therapies. Beyond the critique the conference offered many constructive and viable alternatives that are cost effective and affirming of the humanity of patients." Gerald Porter, PhD, Dean of the School of Natural Arts and Sciences at Bastyr University.

"I just returned from Dr. Peter Breggin's Empathic Therapy conference in Syracuse, New York. It was a great conference, and wonderful to be surrounded by hundreds of people--psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors, psychologists, social workers, recovered consumers, family advocates--from all over the country who see the falseness and harm of the biopsychiatric model. For once, I felt like I wasn't stranded on an island by myself." Mark Foster, D.O. from his blog on "Mad in America."

"I am eagerly anticipating attending the next Empathic Therapy Conference in April 2012, after such a wonderful and uplifting experience at the conference this April 2011 in Syracuse, NY. This year’s conference was a coming together of caring individuals with much to offer in terms of talents, understandings, perceptions, real life affirming choices, and vital information, all without the usual recommendation of toxic drugs. I am grateful to Peter and Ginger Breggin for bringing this event and future conferences about. Dorothy Cassidy, Academic Coach and Special Education Teacher

"Wow! What a nice experience at the Empathy Therapy Conference. Much, much more than I expected (with years of conferences). Ginger, the planning, execution, and oversight was flawless! I've never experienced anything like this working so smoothly. More specifically, the choice of presenters was great -- each one well prepared and having something unusual and stimulating to say. And there was a ryhthm about the whole thing,-- a lack of sameness, some more emotional, some more intellectual. The panel of "victims" of antidepressant malice had me, along with this huge professional hockey player beside me, in tears. Thanks! This conference brought the whole thing together about antidepressants in a more profound way. I liked the interaction with presenters and participants alike. Bottom line: I wasn't bored once -- and that's, I think, a first! It was so good to be with people -- really smart people, that I felt so much respect for, who approach troubled people (aren't we all, at times) and their issues with a similar philosophy and understanding. The most important benefit most likely in the long run: I don't feel so all alone!" John Snyder, EdD, psychotherapist and author of Flying Lessons.

"This is life-changing for our culture! What an excellent speaker!"

"Love this guy--wish I could go to his conference."

"Very convincing, knowledgeable, caring, thoughtful, great!"

Read more here ~

Download 2013 Empathic Therapy Conference Program

See Our 2012 Empathic Therapy Conference Brochure Here~

Dr. Peter Breggin's

Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy, Education and Living

Presents

The 2013

Empathic Therapy Conference

Warning! Most psychiatric drugs can cause withdrawal reactions, sometimes including life-threatening emotional and physical withdrawal problems. In short, it is not only dangerous to start taking psychiatric drugs, it can also be dangerous to stop them. Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs should be done carefully under experienced clinical supervision. Methods for safely withdrawing from psychiatric drugs are discussed in Dr. Breggin's new book, Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients, and Their Families.

Co-Sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care,

Mother Bear CAN “Families for Mental Health” &

and "It's About Childhood and Family"

April 26-28, 2013 in Syracuse, New York State, USA

the Embassy Suites Syracuse Hotel

Click here to register now!

For Independent Counselors, Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists,

Therapists, Lawyers and Educators -- Public Welcome!

The Empathic Therapy Conference for 2013 will be held in the beautiful and light-filled Embassy Suites in Syracuse, New York. This conference is bringing together a fascinating mix of professionals and reformers.

These dynamic individuals include: