spotlight stage

To Release or Not to Release: A Review of Common Scenarios and Risk Considerations When Releasing Patient Records 

Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Patients are entitled to access their health records in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It is essential to facilitate easy access to this information for patients or their authorized representatives while ensuring compliance with privacy and security standards outlined in the HIPAA Privacy Rule. This session, paid for by American Professional Agency, will examine the rights of patients under HIPAA regarding access to their health records and will cover various types of requests, including the release of records for minors, requests for letters or forms, and third-party requests from attorneys, law enforcement, or family members. Additionally, we will address best practices for managing subpoenas and court orders, as well as the importance of obtaining consent for the release of information. The presentation aims to educate participants on these matters to mitigate potential harmful consequences for both the patient and the psychologist. Familiarity with state and federal laws and regulations governing patient confidentiality and data privacy and security is crucial to minimize the risk of board complaints, grievances to the Office of Civil Rights, and litigation when disclosing an individual's records.

Presenters: 

• Cara H. Staus, CPHRM, FASHRM, AVP Risk Management, AWAC Services Company 
• Allison M. Funicelli, MPA, CCLA, ARM, CPHRM, DFASHRM, AVP, Risk Management, Allied World Assurance Company 

A Conversation about Autism Spectrum and Related Constructs: Implications for Psychologists 

Friday, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. 

The construct of autism has undergone changes since the original description of “infantile autism” by Leo Kanner in 1943. Over time, the construct of autism broadened to include other presentations, such as Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder. In 2013 responding to poor diagnostic validity DSM-5 introduced autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which collapsed 5 diagnoses into a spectrum. Alongside this conceptual change additional constructs, such as profound autism, syndromic autism, autistic social identity, and pervasive demand avoidance have emerged. Despite predictions ASD diagnostic criteria would result in a decrease in autism prevalence, autism rates continue to raise while rates of intellectual disability (ID) diagnoses, have decreased. There are benefits and drawbacks associated with a spectrum and associated constructs. For example, autism social identity maybe associated with improved mental health. In this session, paid for by Catalight, three presenters with expertise in autism, a psychologist who is a parent of a child with ID, an autistic researcher and a researcher who is also a diagnostician, will engage in a conversation that explores autism constructs, implications of the spectrum and potential avenues for more cohesion in our conceptualization of autism. 

Presenters: 

• Doreen A. Samelson, EdD, MSCP, EdD, Chief Clinical Officer, Catalight Foundation 
• Cynthia M. Anderson, PhD, BCPA-D, Avela Health 
• Ben Pfingston, MS, Catalight 

Healing the Healers: AI’s Role in Addressing Burnout and Moral Injury 

Friday, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. 

Mental health professionals face mounting administrative demands that detract from direct client care, contributing to burnout and moral injury. Systemic barriers—such as excessive documentation requirements, insurance-driven constraints, and inefficient workflows—often force clinicians to work against their professional values, leading to emotional exhaustion and ethical distress. 

This session, paid for by Upheal, explores how AI-assisted documentation can help streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and realign clinical practice with ethical care. It will include emerging research from Upheal on AI’s potential to automate repetitive tasks, enhance documentation accuracy, and minimize insurance-related hurdles, allowing clinicians to prioritize therapeutic presence over paperwork. 

Attendees will gain practical insights on integrating AI responsibly, addressing concerns around bias, autonomy, and data security, and ensuring that AI supports rather than replaces clinical decision-making. 

Presenter: 

Ted Faneuff, MSW, LISW-S, LMSW, LCSW, MBA, Upheal 

A Disease of Loneliness: Addiction Through an Attachment Theory Lens 

Saturday, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. 

The question of why some individuals that drink alcohol and use substances, and not others, develop a severe substance use disorder (SUD) is difficult to answer. While there is no consensus in the field, most agree it includes varying degrees of biological, psychological, and sociological factors. One area that touches upon all three is found in attachment theory, where there is a growing body of research linking SUDs to being insecurely attached. In this session paid for by Newport Healthcare, we will look at basic theories of how SUDs emerge and are maintained, including evidence that difficulty coping with negative experiences, regulating affect, and expressing attachment needs in close relationships is a risk factor. We will then review why connecting to others is a primary human motivation, the impact deprivation of relationships has on physical and emotional health, and the neurobiological evidence explaining the similarities between the strong responses individuals with an SUD have to substances and people, in general, have to intimate relationships. In addition, we will explore the interplay between different styles of insecure attachment, co-morbidities, and SUDs. We will conclude with a discussion on clinical implications, including how attachment theory may contribute to SUD prevention and improve treatment outcomes, the utility of assessment, and the current the state of attachment-based therapies, particularly those incorporating multicultural and diversity-informed frameworks. 

Presenter: 

Michael Roeske, PsyD, Newport Healthcare 

Advocacy In Uncertain Times: ACC’s role in APA’s/APASI’s current and future directions 

Saturday, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. 

Join this Critical Conversation session to learn how the Advocacy Coordinating Committee (ACC) and the membership influence the APA/APASI's advocacy priorities. We will discuss the ACC's role in assessing member priorities and engagement and explore opportunities for psychologists at all career stages to engage in advocacy. 
 

Presenters: 

• Alfonso Mercado, PhD, Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 
• Evelyn Burrell, PsyD, Arise Consultation and Training Services, LLC 
• Charmeka Newton, PhD, University of North Dakota 
• Karen Studwell, APA 
• Alfonso Mercado, PhD, Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley