The Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (VACP) invites submissions for presentations at our Fall 2026 Conference. This year's theme is "Advancements in Therapeutic Interventions for Difficult-to-Treat Disorders: Evidence-Based Pathways to Lasting Change".  

As understanding of complex mental health disorders has grown, so too have the interventions designed to help people recover. This conference highlights advancements in evidence-based therapies for difficult-to-treat conditions—along with emerging strategies that enhance effectiveness, including trauma-focused treatment and adjunctive supports. 

Conference Goals:

  • Explore cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment models for disorders that have historically been challenging to treat.
  • Advance clinicians’ skills in implementing therapies such as DBT, CBT/ERP, EMDR, CPT, and family-based approaches.
  • Discuss when and how adjunctive treatments (e.g., medication augmentation, skills supports) may improve outcomes.
  • Promote best practices for treatment planning, including stability over time and relapse prevention.

 Potential disorder-to-intervention examples:

  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Historically considered difficult to treat, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has emerged as the gold standard, focusing on mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance to significantly reduce self-harm and improve relationships.
  • PTSD: Trauma-focused therapies, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive processing Therapy (CPT), have demonstrated high success rates in treating PTSD by helping patients process traumatic memories.
  • OCD: Exposure and Response prevention (ERP), a specialized form of CBT is highly effective in treating OCD by breaking the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
  • Treatment-Resistant Depression: Advances in combining psychotherapy (such as CBT or interpersonal therapy) with medication, along with newer, rapid-acting treatments, have improved outcomes for severe or chronic depression.
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Phobias: CBT (maladaptive thinking patterns; exposure-based components where relevant)
  • Eating Disorders: Family-based treatment (FBT) and CBT have shown improved effectiveness in treating conditions like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
  • Adjunctive & Integrated Care: When Medication Enhances Outcomes: medication augmentation coordination with psychotherapy.

Submission Guidelines:
We encourage proposals that not only share knowledge but also provide actionable insights for clinicians. Presentations should emphasize the application of research and theory to enhance clinical practice. 

Deadline for Submissions: The deadline to submit proposals is July 15, 2026. Presenters will be notified of acceptance by July 31, 2026. 

Submission Format:
Please include a brief abstract (250 words max) outlining your presentation, along with your qualifications and relevance to the conference theme.

We look forward to your innovative contributions that will enrich our understanding of complex mental health disorders. 

Ridjie Chery, Psy.D.
Continuing Education Committee Chair

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