South Dakota Psychological Association

2024 Annual Conference

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April 19 & 20

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

Friday, April 19 Agenda

8:00am

Check-in for conference
Breakfast Buffet provided!

8:30 – 10:00am

Recovery Roadmap: Evidence-Based
Approaches to Addiction Treatment
Presented by: Dr. Noah Emery

10:00 – 10:15am

Networking Break

10:15 – 12:15pm

Dr. Emery Continued

12:15 – 1:30pm

Lunch Break on your own

1:30 – 3:00pm

Evidence Based Treatment of PTSD
Presented by: Dr. Kari Leiting

3:00 – 3:15pm

Networking Break

3:15 – 4:30pm

Dr. Leiting Continued

4:30pm

Student Happy Hour/Presentations
Division 1 Dinner to Follow

Saturday, April 20 Agenda

7:45 -9:00am

Annual Meeting Breakfast

9:15 – 10:15am

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Presented by: Dr. Tanya Ochsner

10:15 – 10:30am

Networking Break

10:30- 12:00pm

Private Practice Panel
Presented by: Sarah Anderson and Dr. Emily Blegen

9 hours of CE credits are available

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

Emily Blegen, PsyD, ABN is a board-certified neuropsychologist with a decade of expertise in private practice based in Sioux Falls, SD.

As the founder of Epiphany Modern Whole Health, slated to launch on May 1, 2024, Dr. Blegen leads an innovative brain health and treatment program in Sioux Falls. Epiphany is dedicated to enhancing brain health, addressing cognitive challenges stemming from various conditions, preventing dementia, and averting unnecessary progression of cognitive decline.

Dr. Blegen owns a secondary private practice specializing in forensic consultation and conducting neuropsychological assessments for disability evaluations, personal injury cases, and testamentary capacity determinations.

Dr. Blegen completed her graduate school training at Pepperdine University, Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, and the Sioux Falls VA Healthcare System.

 

Sarah Anderson

Sarah Anderson is Southeast Tech’s medical coding and billing Director and instructor and has been in the Health Information Management industry since graduating from Dakota State University in 1995. She began her career as an Inpatient Coder at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, Minn.

Before instructing at Southeast Tech, Sarah worked remotely in Sioux Falls for a range of companies, including Park Nicolette, TRIA Orthopedic, NSN Revenue Resource, MMODAL, Surgical Management Professionals and Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital.

She is a member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). She holds an A.S. from Dakota State University, as well as credentials from AHIMA and AAPC of RHIT (Registered Health Information Technology), CPC (Certified Professional Coder), and CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder).