Join us in Boise for IPA's 2025 Annual Convention!
Religion & Spirituality as Part of
Comprehensive Assessment & Treatment
APRIL 4 & 5, 2025 - bOISE, iDAHO
10.5 ce hours (3 IN ETHICS)
This year's Convention theme is religion and spirituality as part of assessment and treatment. Sessions will include practical implications of relevant spiritual competencies. A panel of local spiritual leaders, moderated by our own Dr. Elizabeth List, is planned to answer questions regarding consultation and the complexity of spiritual and psychological interventions. Members of the Board of Psychological Examiners and IDOPL will provide updates on Friday afternoon and IPA’s own Ethics Committee will present (in a surprise format!) on ethical and legal considerations of client/therapist spiritual values.
Hurry to book your hotel stay by March 11!
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Courtyard by Marriott - Boise Downtown
222 S Broadway Ave, Boise
Call 208.331.2700 & ask for IPA's group room block
or use this reservation link.
We have reserved a block of Standard guest rooms at the Marriott Courtyard for $209/night plus taxes. This hotel is very conveniently located within walking distance (approx 2 blocks) of our meeting location and has free onsite parking.
The hotel features flexible spaces to relax, including a fire pit to enjoy in the evenings, and free Wi-Fi throughout. In their lobby, you'll find The Bistro, which provides guests with healthy food and beverage offerings in the morning and evening dinner service with cocktails. They are within walking distance of the greenbelt, Boise State, several eating establishments, a pharmacy and grocery store. They offer complimentary Boise Airport shuttle service. Check-in is at 3PM; checkout at noon.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Friday, April 4
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| 8:30AM-MT |
Registration desk & breakfast buffet open
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Lobby |
9:00-10:30AM-MT
3.0 CE Hrs
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Advancing Competency Spiritually Informed Mental Health Care - presented by Suza Scalora, PhD
Spirituality is a core aspect of human diversity and psychological well-being, yet it is often overlooked in clinical training. This workshop explores the role of spirituality in mental health care, offering guidance on effective assessment, research-informed insights, and practical strategies for integration into clinical practice. Participants will enhance their competency in addressing spirituality as a meaningful factor in psychological functioning, fostering more holistic and culturally responsive care for their clients.
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Ada Rooms |
| 10:30AM |
15-minute break
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| 10:45-12:15PM-MT |
Advancing Competency Spiritually Informed Mental Health Care - presented by Suza Scalora, PhD (Continued)
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Ada Rooms |
| 12:15-1:30PM-MT |
Fellow luncheon - by invitation
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| 12:15-1:30PM-MT |
Lunch on own
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1:30-3:00PM-MT
1.5 CE Hrs
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Spiritual leader panel discussion - moderated by Elizabeth List, PsyD |
Ada Rooms |
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3:15-3:45PM-MT
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Sector Meetings
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TBD |
| 3:45PM |
15-minute break
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4:00-5:00PM-MT
1.0 CE Ethics Hr
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Updates - presented by members of Idaho's Board of Psychologist Examiners & IDOPL |
Ada Rooms |
| 5:00-6:30PM-MT |
Welcome reception & student poster session
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Canyon Room |
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6:30PM-MT
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Dinner on your own
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TOTAL CE AVAILABLE FOR DAY ONE: 5.5 CE hours (1.0 in ethics) for all underlined sessions above. See Continuing Education Information below important details.
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Saturday, April 5
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| 8:30AM-MT |
Registration desk & breakfast buffet open
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Lobby |
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9:00-10:30AM-MT
1.5 CE Hrs
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Research Findings on Clients' Experiences of Spiritual Integration in Psychotherapy - presented by Joshua Swift, PhD
In this presentation, results from several studies examining clients' experiences with spiritual integration in psychotherapy will be shared. This will include results from studies examining client preferences for working with religious therapists, first session spiritual integration techniques linked to treatment continuation, client experiences of religious micro-aggressions by therapists, and outcome effects of matching clients' preferred level of spiritual integration. Clinical implications will be discussed.
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Ada Rooms |
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10:45-12:15PM-MT
1.5 CE Hrs
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Nurturing Spirituality in Children and Adolescents: An Evidence-Based Approach to Holistic Wellbeing - presented by Amy Chapman, PhD
Studies in neuroscience have identified spirituality as an innate human capacity. However, further research has shown that in order for our innate capacity for spirituality to fully develop, it must be supported through our environment and interactions with others. Engaging our natural spirituality provides neuroprotective benefits. Students who are spiritual are much less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression and are less likely to engage in dangerous behaviors. This talk will present the neuroscience of spirituality and our lab’s research which applied that science to understand how schools
support students’ innate spirituality. From that research, we identified a framework through which schools can intentionally create a culture which supports students’ innate spirituality.
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Ada Rooms |
| 12:15-1:30PM-MT |
IPA Membership meeting & luncheon
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Canyon Room
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| 12:15-1:30PM-MT |
Lunch (on own) for non- member attendees
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1:45PM-2:15PM-MT
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Student research presentation
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Ada Rooms |
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2:30PM-4:30PM-MT
2.0 CE Ethics Hrs
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Ethical Decision Making in Psychology & Spirituality - presented by IPA Ethics Committee
The IPA Ethics Committee members discuss ethical considerations related to our 2025 convention topic, psychology and religion/ spirituality. We will use several different interactive methods to promote ethical decision- making, critical thinking, and awareness of ethical aspects of spirituality.
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Ada Rooms |
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TOTAL CE AVAILABLE FOR DAY TWO: 5.0 CE hours (2.0 in ethics) for all underlined sessions above. See Continuing Education Information below important details.
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Learning objectives & level of instruction
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
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Dr. Suza Scalora is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) in New York City and an Assistant Attending Psychologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She also serves as an adjunct assistant professor and core faculty member at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute (SMBI) at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Dr. Scalora completed her PhD in clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also earned her master’s degree in Psychology in Education with a concentration in Spiritual Mind-Body (SMB) psychology. She previously served as the Director of Research at the Integrative Spiritual Wellness Center.
Dr. Scalora’s research centers on developing, implementing, and evaluating Spiritual Mind-Body (SMB) wellness interventions to improve mental health and well-being. She co-developed Awakened Awareness for Adolescents (AA-A), an SMB intervention delivered to Columbia University and Barnard College undergraduate students. She co-led a comprehensive three-year study to assess its impact and published multiple peer-reviewed papers on the study. Additionally, she provided specialized training and supervision to AA-A group facilitators to deliver Awakened Awareness at numerous U.S. universities as part of an AA-A multisite study.
Dr. Scalora is the principal investigator of a randomized control trial of an integrative spiritual-mind-body cognitive-behavioral (SMB-CBT) group-based intervention that she developed and delivered to emerging adult graduate and medical students at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Dr. Scalora is a licensed clinical psychologist; she treats adults through Weill Cornell Medicine’s Physicians Organization and young adult graduate and medical students through the WCM Graduate Student Mental Health Program. Her integrative therapeutic approach incorporates mindfulness, spiritual-mind-body interventions, and evidence-based treatment modalities, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) — to provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to mental health and well-being.
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Amy Chapman (PhD, Michigan State University) is currently on the faculty in the Leadership and Innovation doctoral program Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College of Teaching and Learning Innovation and the Director of Operations for the New Jersey Psychological Association. In this role, as in prior administrative roles in nonprofit organizations, she manages NJPA’s membership, continuing education offerings, and charitable foundation.
Dr. Chapman is also a researcher, using qualitative approaches to understand how people define, develop, and change communities. She has published widely on both how social media can be used within educational contexts and how spirituality impacts school culture, mental health, and holistic wellness. A former public and private school teacher, Dr. Chapman holds three degrees from Boston College and a doctorate in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University.
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Joshua K. Swift, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Idaho State University. At Idaho State University, he is a core faculty member in the Clinical Psychology PhD program, where he teaches courses on ethics, clinical and supervision skills, and self-care and well-being.
Dr. Swift is an active psychotherapy process and outcome researcher, with a focus on client variables in psychotherapy. In addition, he has been conducting research on spiritual integration in psychotherapy for over 10 years. He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has received several awards for this research.
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Panel of local spiritual leaders:
Dan Fink - Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel
Sara LaWall - Reverend at Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Duane Anders - Senior Pastor at Cathedral of the Rockies
Josh Cramer - Lead Pastor at Resurrection Covenant Boise
Dr. Andrew Kukla - Reverend First Presbyterian
Others TBD
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Idaho Board of Psychologist Examiners & IDOPL leader:
TBD
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IPA Ethics Committee members:
TBD
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Speaker disclosures
WITH SPECIAL THANKS
St. Luke's Health System
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CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
This continuing education event is intended for post-doctorate-level psychologists; however, other licensed health and mental health care providers and psychology students are welcome to attend. This event is sponsored by the Idaho Psychological Association. The Idaho Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Idaho Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Psychologists
A total of 10.5 continuing education (CE) credits (3.0 in ethics) are available for full attendance of this two-day event. Full attendance on Friday will earn 5.5 CE credits (1.0 in ethics); full attendance on Saturday will earn 5.0 CE credits (2.0 in ethics). CE credit may also be earned on a session-by-session basis. The credit available for each individual session is listed on the SCHEDULE above.
Other health/mental health professionals
This conference provides a total of 10.5 contact hours for full attendance. Attendance letters will be provided. Contact your board of professional association for your specific CE requirements.
PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: This activity will be held in-person only. Continuing education credit is awarded to participants who attend sessions in their entirety. Comfort/lunch breaks are noted on the SCHEDULE above. A brief grace period of up to 10% of full session time (e.g., 6 minutes for a 1-hour session) with a maximum of 20 minutes for longer sessions (e.g., 20 minutes for a 6-hour session) may be applied. CE credit(s) will be provided only to individuals who sign-in upon arrival, attend entire sessions and sign-out upon departure.