Coping With Stress
Related to Recent National Events
PRODUCED BY: Aging Issues Committee/Disaster Psychology Committee
DATE/TIME: Saturday, May 31, 2025 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
LOCATION: Zoom (Link to Be Sent to Registrants Before Event)
FEE: Free
PARTICIPANTS: SDPA Members Only
PROGRAM:
Recent national events have caused many Americans to feel a great deal of stress that includes fear, uncertainty and feelings of isolation. There is fear that fundamental freedoms are being assaulted and longstanding values abandoned. Those in power are taking actions that appear irrational, chaotic and self-serving causing concern about loss of benefits and critically-needed services. Market declines are impacting businesses and retirement accounts. Leaders seem unwilling to follow the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution threatening our entire two hundred fifty-year-old system of democracy. Americans are experiencing unprecedented divisiveness and polarization. People are at odds with family, friends, neighbors and colleagues over political matters and cannot agree as to the most basic facts. As a result, many feel alienated and isolated. These types of stress pose risks for further mental health declines including depression, anxiety, perceptual distortions, etc. Psychologists are challenged in working with clients with viewpoints greatly differing from their own.
The Aging Issues and Disaster Psychology Committees of the San Diego Psychological Association have collaborated to address the problems described above. Members of the two committees will present information from the psychological literature relevant to the types of stress reported and the solutions offered by our field. Participants are provided with an opportunity to discuss this very current and compelling topic. Please join us!!
COMMITTEE MEMBER PRESENTERS:
Cynthia A. Cotter, Ph.D. (Aging Issues)
Wendy Tayer, Ph.D. (Aging Issues/Disaster Psychology)
Marjorie Coburn, Ph.D. (Aging Issues)
Kenneth S. Dellefield, Ph.D. (Aging Issues)
Ashlee Fisher, Ph.D. (Disaster Psychology)
PROGRAM:
Stress Related to National Events (Cotter) (15 Min.)
Mental/Physical Effects of These Types of Stress (Tayer) (30 Min.)
Coping with These Types of Stress (Theoretical Approaches)(Coburn) (45 Min.)
Coping with These Types of Stress (Spiritual/Meditative Approach)(Dellefield) (15 Min.)
Helping Psychologists Help Clients to Cope (Fisher) (15 Min.)
Discussion (60 Min.)
CAVEAT:
The Committees producing this event are aware that there is much division currently related to national events and that there are those who are not suffering stress as they fully support what is occurring. The Committees want to emphasize that the purpose of this informational event is not to provide a forum for debate on whether actions being taken by the current administration are or will be good or bad for America. We feel this is an issue for political scientists, economists, legal experts and historians. Our purpose is to bring to our members an awareness of the stress being experienced by many and to describe the support our profession might offer these individuals. We ask that participants be sensitive to differences in political viewpoint in the discussion and restrict comments and questions to issues related to our expressed professional purpose. We ask you to report your own perceptions and emotional experiences and not to judge or contradict those reported by others. Our goal is for our participants to leave feeling heard, supported and part of a community. We thank you in advance for your courtesies and cooperation in this regard.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
Committee producers believe that this event qualifies for CPD hours to meet California licensure requirements. However, please note that it is the responsibility of the participant to represent to the California Board of Psychology that the event qualifies as CPD and it is the responsibility of the participant to maintain a record of the activity that includes the date, medium, topic or title and the total number of hours. It is not the responsibility of SDPA to maintain a record of participation nor to obtain certification that the event qualifies as CPD.
RECORDING
Note that the first two hours of the current event will be recorded so that others unable to attend might be able to view later. The discussion portion of the event will not be recorded to protect the privacy of the participants.
AGING ISSUES COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS:
Kenneth S. Dellefield, Ph.D. kendellefield@gmail.com
Cynthia A. Cotter, Ph.D. cacphd@me.com
DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Glenn Lipson, Ph.D. ABPP drglipson@gmail.com
