2026 EBP Conference Archive

Fostering provider competence and resilience has never been more critical. Clinicians, especially those serving military-connected clients, must continually adapt to shifting policies, professional isolation, limited patient access, and shrinking resources. Under these pressures, confidence can falter, driving burnout and moral injury.

The 2026 EBP Conference will explored resilience from multiple angles, with sessions on:

• Mitigating isolation in practice
• Distinguishing evidence-based practice from pseudoscience
• Incorporating evidence-based resources into clinical practice
• Recognizing and addressing moral injury in clinicians

We hope you will join us in exploring this year's theme: Resilient Practice: Advancing Competence in Challenging Times. by watching the recordings below. The original conference was presented on 7 May 2026. 

Keynote: Moral Distress in Healthcare Work: What We Can do for Ourselves and our Colleagues by Sonya Norman, Ph.D.
Although it is common for healthcare workers to experience difficult situations at work, at times experiences that evoke challenges to one’s morals and values may cause significant distress. Morally distressing experiences contradict personal or shared values or expectations. Feelings resulting from such experiences can include guilt, shame, intrusive thoughts or images, anger, reduced readiness and, if the person experiences a sense of betrayal, reduced confidence in leaders or the organization. At times, such distress can lead to lasting cognitive, behavioral, relational, or spiritual changes termed moral injury. This webinar will share strategies that mental health and other healthcare providers can use to reduce the potential for lasting distress resulting from morally difficult situations for themselves and in their roles as colleagues and leaders.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Explain at least 2 emotional or behavioral reactions often associated with moral distress
2. Use at least 3 strategies for supporting colleagues who experience moral distress
 

Resilient Communities of Practice: How to Optimize Stress in Challenging Times by Gabriel Paoletti, Ph.D.
This session explores the importance of other people in helping to optimize stress. Participants will identify their personal stress team, explore how this team can help them recognize when they’re overly stressed, and how this team can assist them in pumping the brakes on their stress. Participants will also learn how to form strong relationships and elevate others to boost stress optimization in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) conditions.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Apply at least one psychological, social, and spiritual skills to develop strong relationships and better manage stress.
2. Formulate strategies to recognize and address stress within personal stress teams.

When Popularity Isn’t Proof: The Ethical Imperative of Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Practice by Sarah Hope Lincoln, Ph.D.
Increased access to information about mental health has brought significant opportunities for clinicians and clients. However, it can also lead to a higher rate of dissemination of misinformation making which makes it challenging to distinguish evidence-based practice from unvalidated approaches. The concept of evidence-based practice in the field of mental health involves systematic decision-making about treatment choices that includes the integration of the best available research evidence with considerations of specific client characteristics including demographic factors and preferences (American Psychological Association, 2005). As a result, the use of evidence-based practice and determining which treatments fall under that umbrella is an ongoing task for practitioners. Unfortunately, many practitioners are not aware of what makes an intervention evidence-based and when or if it is appropriate to deviate from the science. The overarching goal of this program is to
provide practitioners with the understanding of how evidence-based practices are defined and determined, how to recognize untested treatments even if they are high in popularity, as well as to identify the ethical considerations when making treatment decisions.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Explain what is meant by evidence-based practice and evidence-based treatment
2. Evaluate the evidence basis of practices and treatments.

The Evolution of Evidence-Based Practice from the Core Manual through Enhancement, Expansion, and Personalization of Care by Tara Galovski, Ph.D.
This talk seeks to review the evolution of evidence-based practices (using Cognitive Processing Therapy as an example) to demonstrate support for the ability of flexible approaches to therapy to enhance overall outcomes. The natural tension between fidelity and flexibility will be reviewed using clinical examples supported by research outcomes. The recently completed “Personalized Approach to Therapy (PATh) model will be described and the application to clinical care emphasized. Next steps in building scalable and sustainable models of care will be described.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Distinguish between the potential benefits and drawbacks of flexible approaches to manual-based care for PTSD.
2. Explain the PATh model of care and how it helps clinicians develop parameters around flexible approaches to manual-based PTSD care.

Maintaining our Ethics in a Shifting Landscape by Lindsay Childress-Beatty, Ph.D.
This session expands the ethical knowledge base of practicing psychologists by examining how the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Ethics Code) facilitates ethical decision making in today’s rapidly evolving sociopolitical and technological environment. Participants will explore strategies for upholding core ethical principles and effectively addressing emerging dilemmas arising from policy shifts and rapid technological advancements. The session will offer an in-depth review of the most relevant Ethics Code provisions and demonstrate practical methods for applying these standards to support sound ethical decision-making while reducing exposure to legal and ethical risk. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening ethical reasoning rather than relying solely on risk management approaches, though both domains will be discussed. By the conclusion of the session, attendees will have an enhanced understanding of Ethics Code considerations related to navigating the current political landscape, clinician self-care, and the integration of artificial intelligence in clinical work. Participants will also gain updated information about the draft revision of the APA Ethics Code
currently under development.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Explain at least two principles and/or standards from the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Ethics Code) that facilitate ethical decision making related to recent policy changes and technological advances.
2. Distinguish the most relevant standard(s) from the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Ethics Code) related to self-care.

Connecting California Military Members with Accessible, Affordable, and Skilled Behavioral Health Care by Dustin Harris, MSW, Ph.D. & Nick Boyd, Ph.D., LPCC, NCC
Through funding from PTSDnow, the California Military Department and the University of San Diego have partnered to deliver accessible, affordable, and high-quality behavioral health treatment to all CMD members, regardless of duty status or deployment history. This innovative program embeds licensed civilian therapists across the state to provide both telehealth and in-person services at no cost to service members, with no limits on sessions. A prevention-focused model is reinforced through embedded Behavioral Health Officers who identify concerns early and directly refer service members to clinicians, minimizing barriers to care and reducing delays in treatment. All services are evidence-based, clinically supervised, and culturally informed by the operational realities of military service. By integrating prevention, identification, and treatment, this model reduces stigma, improves continuity of care, and strengthens trust in behavioral health services. This presentation outlines the program’s structure, referral pathways, implementation challenges, and observed impacts on readiness and retention of the fighting force. Attendees will gain insight into a scalable, ethically grounded approach to advancing military mental health that can be replicated across National Guard and military systems.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Evaluate the impact of embedded, evidence-based civilian behavioral health providers on access, engagement, and clinical outcomes for military service members.
2. Formulate practical strategies for integrating prevention, referral, and treatment systems that strengthen readiness and long-term force retention.

Breaking Out of the Silo: Building and Maintaining Communities of Practice
Burgeoning case loads, the proliferation of telework, and administrative demands can all foster isolation in clinical practice. This may be especially true for solo practitioners. Disconnection can contribute to professional stagnation, makes providers more vulnerable to ethical dilemmas, and ultimately lead to burnout. On this panel, three behavioral health providers will each share a model of a Community of Practice designed to reduce isolation and promote skill building and resilience. By sharing their successes and lessons learned, the panelists aim to provide a roadmap for others looking to cultivate their own supportive ecosystems.
Learning Objectives:
Following the training, attendees will be able to:
1. Explain the Community of Practice model
2. Analyze three methods Communities of Practice use to support evidence-based practice implementation.