South Dakota Psychological Association
2024 Annual Conference
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Holiday Inn Sioux Falls – City Centre
The conference will take place in the Skyline Room on the top floor.
A block of hotel rooms are available for this event at the
Holiday Inn Sioux Falls – City Centre
100 W. 8th St.
Sioux Falls, SD
Room block is available until March 26.
Please call: 605-339-2000 or you can click this link
About the Speakers
Dr. Noah Emery
Noah Emery, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Colorado State University, a licensed psychologist, and a licensed addiction counselor. He completed his undergraduate studies at Arizona State University and received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Dakota.
Prior to joining the Department of Psychology at CSU, he completed his clinical psychology residency at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a National Institute of Drug Abuse postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies.
His research seeks to identify mechanisms of behavior change that underlie substance use vulnerability and that impact treatment success in youth. Clinically, he specializes in treating substance use disorder and co-occurring conditions across the lifespan.
Dr . Kari Leiting
Kari Leiting, Ph.D. is a staff psychologist and PTSD Coordinator at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Leiting received her doctoral degree from the University of New Mexico in 2016 after completing her doctoral internship at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.
Trauma has been an area of interest since early graduate school, and she sought clinical and research opportunities to expand training with populations who have experienced trauma, including sexual assault on college campuses and Veterans who have experienced combat and non-combat related trauma. She joined the Sioux Falls VA in 2016.
She is currently a staff psychologist in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic at the Sioux Falls VA and is a PTSD specialist. She is a VISN 23 Regional CPT trainer and consultant. Dr. Leiting is also the Assistant Training Director for the Sioux Falls VA Psychology Internship Program. Her clinical interests include treatment of PTSD and anxiety, as well as training future psychologists.
Dr. Leiting will be presenting on evidence-based care for PTSD which will include: discussion of clinical practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment of PTSD and trauma-related symptoms, emerging research, and available resources for patients, families, and providers.
Dr . Tanya Ochsner
Tanya Ochsner, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist at Sanford Psychiatry & Psychology Clinic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Ochsner received her doctoral degree from the University of South Dakota in 2020 after completing her doctoral internship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN.
Trauma and Autism Spectrum Disorder have been areas of interest since before graduate school, and she sought clinical and research opportunities to expand evidence-based treatment and early intervention for children and families who are at increased risk. She joined Sanford Health following graduation and internship in 2020.
She is currently a licensed psychologist working with children and their families, with a primary focus on PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) and psychological and neuropsychological assessment. She is a PCIT International Certified Therapist and Within-Agency Trainer. She is also pursuing additional training in The School Neuropsychology Post-Graduate Certification Program through the School Neuropsychology Institute.
Her clinical interests include treatment of PTSD, anxiety, child behavior problems, and psychological and neuropsychological assessment.
Dr . Emily Blegen
Sarah Anderson