Second Life Medical Library 2.0: In Counselling - Behavioral Therapy in Virtual Worlds

Yesterday I watched the wednesday live show from Metanomics.net at The Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island.
Here is the announcement:
Can substance abuse be treated online? What do virtual worlds have to offer people diagnosed with autism and schizophrenia? Does anonymity allow people to share their stories in a way free from judgement? Will playing back a virtual conversation over and over help people with schizophrenia become more socially active?

Join host Robert Bloomfield on October 28, 2009 at 12pm PST as he meets with Dick Dillon of Preferred Family Healthcare, Inc. to discuss substance abuse treatment within Second Life. The conversation will continue with faculty from the Center for Vital Brain Aging at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Guest Biographies

Dick Dillon

Dick Dillon has held many positions in his 28 year involvement with the behavioral health field, including Counselor, Clinical Team Leader, Program Director, and Chief Operating officer. He has also been a consumer of services. Soon after graduation from the treatment program Dick began working with other people in early recovery, first as a volunteer alumni coordinator, then as an addictions counselor, clinical team leader, and program director. He was the co-founder of the Substance Abuse Services Department of a large Missouri hospital and developed that project to be one of the premier medically-based programs in a multi-state area.

In 1990 Dick joined a publicly funded non-profit group and served as their Chief Operating Officer for a decade. During his tenure, the organization opened four new facilities and made significant clinical transition to evidence-based practice. In 2000, Dick joined Preferred Family Healthcare, Inc. which was then, as now, one of the most progressive and fast growing mental health service providers in the United States. He has served for the past several years as Senior Vice President of Planning and Development. In his own words “My job is to help determine what we need to do next to be of best services to our clientele, and find the resources to make that happen!”

Dan Krawczyk

Dan Krawczyk is an assistant professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Dr. Krawczyk’s laboratory is at the Center for Brain Health. His primary interest is in the neural circuitry associated wtih reasoning and he has just begun work on aging. He trained with Dr. Mark D’Esposito and brings considerable expertise in the nuances of functional imaging to the Vital Brain Aging Center.