Funded by the National Court Reporters Foundation, these six sessions are being offered free for NCRA members. No CEUs will be awarded to attendees. All webinars will be recorded for later viewing.
An Honest Discussion on Mental Health Issues in the Legal Field from All Stakeholders
Oct. 5 | 8 p.m.
Back to Basics: Mental Health Essentials during the Pandemic
Oct. 6 | 3 p.m.
Balance and Self-care in a World of COVID-19, Deadlines, and Virtuality
Oct. 7 | 3 p.m.
Self-care: Managing Life with School, Family, Work — and a Pandemic
*Special for Students*
Oct. 7 | 7 p.m.
Practicing Mindfulness
Oct. 8 | 1 p.m.
Self-care 101
Oct. 9 | 12 noon
Oct. 5 - 8 p.m.
An Honest Discussion on Mental Health Issues in the Legal Field from All Stakeholders
An open town hall discussion conducted by Dori Foster-Morales, Esq.; Christine Phipps, RPR; and the Hon. Beatrice Butchko of how our jobs in the legal field affect our mental health and how we can protect ourselves. As judges, lawyers, and court reporters, we work with people in extreme circumstances and with unpredictable emotions. While we do our best to remain above the fray, the highly emotional settings can impact our ability to function well. The discussion will confront some of the myths and fears we have about mental health and help us move forward with a better understanding on how we can help each other and ourselves. This will be an interactive session.
Panelist: Hon. Beatrice Butchko
The Hon. Beatrice Butchko is a judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, where she serves as Associate Administrative Judge of the Civil Division. Currently in her ninth year in the Civil Division of the Eleventh Circuit, Butchko previously worked as an assistant state attorney and has practiced as an associate with Kaye, Rose & Maltzman; then with Ferrell Shultz; and later with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham. In addition to her duties on the bench, Judge Butchko teaches trial advocacy at the University of Miami School of Law, Litigation Skills department, and at Emory University School of Law. Judge Butchko was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court and is an active member of the Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions-Civil.
Panelist: Dori Foster-Morales
Dori Foster-Morales is a lawyer practicing in the area of marital and family law in Florida, and she is the 2020-2021 president for the Florida Bar. Foster-Morales is a well-known and highly regarded speaker on a variety of family law issues, both substantive and procedural in nature. Foster-Morales has also been speaking regularly on issues related to the mental health and wellness of Florida lawyers, and she has been instrumental in the development of a mental health program for the Florida bar, an area in which she is passionate.
Panelist: Christine Phipps, RPR
Christine Phipps, RPR, is the 2020-2021 President of the National Court Reporters Association and a court reporter with 27 years of experience. She owns Phipps Reporting, Inc., headquartered in West Palm Beach. She holds the national professional certification of Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) and the Realtime Systems Administrator certificate. She is the recipient of a number of business awards, including Woman of Outstanding Leadership by the International Women’s Leadership Association and Most Enterprising Women of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine.
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Oct. 6 - 3 p.m.
Back to Basics: Mental Health Essentials during the Pandemic
This session will focus on the psychological impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on all of us, from social isolation to increased sleep disturbances and chronic worry and anxiety. Kotwicki will help differentiate when feelings are “normal” during such unprecedented times and when they suggest more serious problems. Finally, the basics of lifestyle choices that preserve and bolster mental health will be detailed.
Presenter: Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH, DFAPA
Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH, DFAPA, is the Charles B. West chief medical officer at Skyland Trail, a nationally acclaimed treatment organization for adults with mental illnesses based in Atlanta, Ga. In addition to his clinical, educational, and research activities at Skyland Trail, Dr. Kotwicki is a nationally recognized speaker on issues in psychiatry, mental health, professionalism, and wellness.
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Oct 7 - 3 p.m.
Balance and Self-care in a World of COVID-19, Deadlines, and Virtuality
Join us for this session by a former court reporter and a past NCRA President as she talks about approaches to dealing with the stress coming from working in the courtroom and how stress affects reporters. In addition, Ruiz will share tips for dealing with loss and how to strengthen your overall mental health.
Presenter: Vicki Akenhead Ruiz, FAPR, RPR, CMRS
Vicki Akenhead Ruiz, FAPR, RPR, CMRS, and past NCRA President (1999-2000), devoted 34 years to the court reporting profession. For her work for the court reporting profession, she was recognized with NCRA's Distinguished Service Award in 2008. She then went on to obtain a master’s degree to become a licensed mental health counselor. Her specialties include depression, anxiety, addiction, grief, and loss among other mental health issues. Her reporter experience and mental health expertise uniquely position her to share with reporters how to move toward emotional and physical balance and self-care in an ever-changing world.
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Oct. 7 - 7 p.m. *Special for Students*
Self-care: Managing Life with School, Family, Work — and a Pandemic
Being a student is a big responsibility. It is unlikely that adult students can just be students. They often have other responsibilities. Those responsibilities can become priorities. How often do you make yourself and your needs the priority? During this webinar, Dr. Cooper will introduce the topic of self-care, its importance to your overall well-being, ways to engage in self-care, and the repercussions of neglecting self-care.
Presenter: Dr. Sherry Cooper
Dr. Sherry Cooper is a licensed marriage and family therapist and postdoctoral clinical psychology fellow based in Clearwater, Fla. Dr. Cooper has more than 15 years in the mental health field and seven years in the education field. She has worked in diverse settings with a wide range of clients, including some in family court and drug court. She is a culturally competent and trauma informed therapist who incorporates holistic health components into her interventions. She has extensive experience working with clients who have experienced trauma during childhood, which has led her to research the impact of childhood trauma in intimate relationships in adulthood.
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Oct 8 - 1 p.m.
Practicing Mindfulness
Mindfulness can play a meaningful role in the lives of legal professionals. This one-hour session introduces mindfulness and how mindfulness can change the structure and function of the brain in the areas of attention, emotional regulation, and memory. Both court reporters, who work with lawyers and other legal professionals, and closed captioners work under extreme stress and are often overloaded with more than they can cope with. It will also teach participants exercises that can help them reduce stress and work effectively in emotionally charged and challenging situations. For instance, we will explore productive ways to deal with the stresses that come with our day-to-day jobs and exploring contentious interactions; how we react to other’s drama, taking negative words or actions personally; and how we can stop the downward spiral and change how we respond.
Presenter: Debi Galler
Debi Galler is the general counsel of Green Street Power Partners, a developer, owner, and operator of solar projects throughout the United States based in Connecticut. In addition to her legal background, Galler has written several articles on the topic of mindfulness for lawyers and has become a well-known speaker on the topic. She is a mindfulness practitioner and trainer.
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Oct 9 - 12 noon
Self-care 101
In 2019, burnout syndrome was first recognized as an official medical diagnosis. Self-care sets the stage to counter burnout, which, in turn, releases physical and emotional toxins. The antidote to burnout? Compassionate, life-affirming self-care on your terms. How we treat and care for ourselves either creates more positive healing energy for the universe and those in our lives or acts to further deplete our emotional and energetic resources. Throughout this webinar, you will not only learn about the effects of burnout syndrome but also be equipped with tools and strategies for implementing self-care as part of your daily routine.
Presenter: Aigner Fells, MS, NCC
Aigner Fells is a psychotherapist providing therapy for individuals, couples, groups, and families in Northern Virginia. She takes a holistic approach to bring awareness to her clients and help them work to develop strategies and reach desired goals. Fells has 13 years of experience in the fields of mental health, case management, and human services, and she has worked with many people to address issues of depression, anxiety, life transitions, and stress management.
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