7th Annual Re-Imagining Behavioral Health Conference
Overview:
The 7th annual Re-Imagining Behavioral Health: Race, Equity & Social Justice Conference (the RBH Conference) unites a wide range of individuals from Washington state’s behavioral health communities and beyond. Starting in 2020, each year we come together to exchange information, perspectives, best practices, and policies that advance equitable access to high-quality behavioral health care and strengthen our collective ability to respond to our many rich human differences.
The RBH Conference is designed to empower individuals and teams who want to advance health equity and support inclusion and belonging in behavioral health care. Conference attendees include behavioral healthcare staff, program and clinical leaders, people with lived experience, family members, peer support specialist, policy makers, public and non-profit employees, and general community members. All are welcome!
The goal of the conference is to provide a learning and sharing experience that expands knowledge, promotes…
Event interval: Accessibility Contact: jerchris@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars.
Thursday, September 24, 2026 – Friday, September 25, 2026.
Registration:
https://www.airmeet.com/e/15f3feb0-2e1c-11f1-ab6e-271c9ed13645.
TeleBehavioral Health 2026: Trauma Focused Therapies via Telehealth
Overview:
This talk will describe the existing literature and evidence base supporting the use of telehealth and digital health delivery models in providing trauma-focused behavioral health interventions. I will describe strategies and intervention packages and differing purposes for involving these strategies in care (e.g. stand-alone treatments, tools to increase engagement). Finally, I will outline current research being done at the University of Washington on telehealth and digital health advances for providing care to individuals exposed to traumatic events.
Presenter:
Michele Bedard-Gilligan, PhD
Michele Bedard-Gilligan, Ph.D. Dr. Bedard-Gilligan is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington (UW) and a licensed clinical psychologist. At the UW, Dr. Bedard-Gilligan is co-director of the Trauma Recovery and Resilience Innovations program and is associate director of the UW Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress. Dr. Bedard-Gilligan’s research…
Event interval: Accessibility Contact: jerchris@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars.
Friday, October 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Registration:
https://washington.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d9jHSan8ScKnMUtj3-b2RQ.
TeleBehavioral Health 2026: Assessment of Cognition in Older Adults
Overview:
Drs. Thielke and Trittschuh will describe the diagnostic criteria for both major and mild cognitive impairment which is prevalent in older adults and may indicate the presence of a neurodegenerative condition. In addition, they will outline the steps to effectively use telemedicine to evaluate cognitive impairment while also being able to troubleshoot common challenges with this modality. The ethics and validity of telemedicine assessment for this purpose will be reviewed and limitations discussed.
Presenters:
Stephen Thielke, MD, MS, MAD
Stephen Thielke, MD, MS, MA, is a professor of psychiatry at the UW and a geriatric psychiatrist and health services researcher. His research focuses on ways of improving mental health and well-being among older adults, especially those with dementia and their caregivers. He has expertise in geriatric psychiatry, health services and policy, telepsychiatry, and neuropsychiatry, treating patients with depression, neurocognitive and neurodegenerative disorders…
Event interval: Accessibility Contact: jerchris@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars.
Friday, November 20, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Registration:
https://washington.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BMubRVsWTESKkw_q670Byw.
TeleBehavioral Health 2026: From Text to Touch: Managing Professional Boundaries in Modern Healthcare
Overview:
Dr. Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, will discuss clinical, legal, and ethical issues involved in boundary violations in healthcare settings, including examples of boundary violations in telehealth and digital communications. The presentation will review legal and professional standards, discuss common real-world scenarios, and address risk mitigation.
Presenters:
Jennifer Piel, MD, JD
Jennifer Piel, MD, JD is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. Dr. Piel is also a Staff Psychiatrist and Director of the Disruptive Behavior Evaluation Clinic at the VA Puget Sound, Seattle Division. Dr. Piel regularly consults on clinical and legal cases locally and nationally.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, attendees should be able to:
Understand types of boundary violations and how they can cause harm, Review factors relevant to offenders and victims of…
Event interval: Accessibility Contact: jerchris@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars.
Friday, December 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Registration:
https://washington.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YBxLnWw1Q1SkuYtElZQz6Q.