Inspired by the famous words of American writer, Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children than to fix broken men”, the Department of Psychology, Education, and Physical Education at NDU hosted its annual psychology conference on March 14., in the presence of NDU President Fr. Bechara Khoury; NDU Shouf Campus Director Rev. Fr. Walid Moussa; Dr. Michel Hayek, Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA); Dr. Antoine Farhat, Vice-President for University Advancement (VPUA); Dr. Charbel Zgheib, Dean of Students; Dr. Ghazi Asmar, Assistant Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies; and Dr. Fawzi Baroud, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology. The event was led by Dr. Maria Bou Zeid, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Fr. Dr. Joseph Tannous, Chairperson of the Department of Psychology, Education, and Physical Education; and Dr. Simon Abou Jaoude, Assistant Vice President for Academic Support. The conference began by paying tribute to Dr. Joseph Yaacoub's contributions at NDU. Following this acknowledgment, Dr. Leyla Dirani started the event as the keynote speaker. The conference was structured into three sessions, each dedicated to exploring various facets and complexities of child and adolescent psychopathology.
As part of his opening statement and remarks, Dr. Simon Abou Jaoude thanked the participants and organizing committee for putting in place this unique event, which he later noted will serve as a reminder of addressing the often-overlooked intricacies and subtleties of child and adolescent psychopathology. Referencing a recent speech delivered at the Oscars by well-acclaimed actor Robert Downey Jr., Dr. Abou Jaoude reiterated the significance of openly discussing mental health issues navigated early on during adolescence. He then yielded the floor to NDU President Fr. Bechara Khoury.
Easing into the conversation on mental health, one that is commonly suppressed and shunned upon, Fr. Khoury recalled the importance of consistently seeking to tackle and comprehend such profound topics, particularly as a University dedicated to place students’ welfare before anything else. Fr. Khoury additionally reflected on the gravity of actively working towards fostering deeper human connection and understanding, an act of kindness he deemed as a calling from God himself. Acknowledging the beacon of hope that this conference serves as, notably in times of anguish and despair, Fr. Khoury restated the University’s prominent educational mission, which, as he mentioned, must include absolutely everyone to be considered efficient.
Following Fr. Khoury’s word, the audience then lauded Dr. Joseph Yaacoub, whose unwavering commitment had a transformative impact and tremendous influence on the Psychology program. As the Co-Founder and former Advisor of the Program between the years 2001 and 2017, Dr. Yaacoub’s expertise indisputably stands as an integral asset for both the Psychology Department and NDU.
Surrounded by a resounding wave of applause, Dr. Yaacoub delivered an address, upon which he reminisced about his cherished time at the University, acknowledging the latter’s infallible faithfulness to him, particularly during times of adversity. Proceeding to share with listeners a tragic car accident that physically struck him, he recalled the University’s constant support, a driving force that pushed him forward. Recognized as an indispensable part of NDU, Dr. Yaacoub’s words were met with immense cheer and jubilant energy.
Following Dr. Yaacoub’s address, Dr. Leyla Dirani, child and adolescent psychologist, discussed recent trends in child and adolescent mental health. She highlighted the noteworthy positive shift in such trends, prominently in past years, maintaining that parents had long been too reluctant to seek professional help for their young children. Fortunately, as Dr. Dirani’s findings indicated, we have now reached a point where mental health disorders are more openly acknowledged and talked about. This is undoubtedly a proud moment for Dirani, who has consistently reiterated the critical need to address the surge in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Lebanese people, as well as anxiety and stress-inducing issues sadly perceived as ordinary in the country. Dr. Dirani also noted the significance of raising awareness, stating that it pushes individuals to seek help when needed. Bearing that in mind, she applauded recent initiatives being made to that aim, notably ones seeking to render the psychopathological conversation an easier one. Those include NDU’s conference, which serves as a vivid reminder of the weight of such conversations.
Succeeding Dr. Dirani’s speech was the start of the first session, which tackled child psychopathology from the standpoints of practitioners. The session was moderated by FH Lecturer Ms. Amalia Ghais. The panel included licensed psychologist, Dr. Pia Tohme; from LAU, Ms. SammyJoe Jabbour from USJ, Ms. Pascale Kolakez from University of Balamand, with each examining case studies related to the field. Dr. Tohme set the stage for the discussion to begin, illustrating her reasoning through compelling findings and a case study on a 7-year-old-girl navigating her parents’ divorce. By using this case, Tohme underscored the importance of using Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) to treat the girl and allow her parents to respond to the matter at hand and manage their emotions successfully.
Similarly, Ms. SammyJoe Jabbour presented her case study, which detailed the treatment process of Allen, an 8-year-old girl with social anxiety disorder. Jabbour provided listeners with an in-depth analysis of the comprehensive approach she used to handle this particular case. Her intervention mainly focused on the practical CBT techniques that were put in place. Those involved psychoeducation, a relaxation training, cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy, which assisted the concerned child in the management of anxiety symptoms. Jabbour also went over the initial interview, diagnostic process, treatment plan formulation, intervention execution, and the obstacles encountered.
For her part, Ms. Pascale Kolakez reviewed the case study of a 9-year-old diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, which caused his behavior to be labeled as “disruptive” for his school peers. In her intervention, Kolakez covered the benefits of implementing what is referred to as “play therapy”, notably in a case similar to this one. As she mentioned, this technique helps parents overcome the communication barrier separating them from their child, mainly by aligning the therapist with the child’s level of understanding and communication means. Considering children’s limited vocabulary and their inability to fully express themselves at such a young age, Kolakez carefully explored the impact that the play therapy sessions had on the child.
As for the second session, moderated by FH Lecturer Dr. Maral Boyadjian, it saw the interventions of Ms. Nathalie Syriani, Clinical Psychologist at KMC Hospital; Dr. Lina Riachi Haddad, from the Lebanese University; Dr. Elie Atallah, from USEK; and Ms. Rashell Alam, Head of IDEAL Program, a collaboration between NDU and SKILD Center (Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences). Initiated by Syriani, the panel initially delved into the topic of prodromal periods characterized by heightened psychotic symptoms and intensified episodes. As Syriani’s intervention highlighted, this prodromal period is often considered of utter importance to psychologists and mental health professionals the like, as it opens up the possibility of pre-psychotic interventions that may delay or even prevent the onset of psychosis.
For her turn, Dr, Lina Riachi Haddad went over the case of a teenager suffering from Conduct Disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by persistent behavioral patterns that violate societal norms and the rights of others. Being a music therapist herself, Haddad detailed her journey on employing music therapy to treat the patient. She recalled her usage of a holistic approach that proved successful and encompassed a wide array of unconventional treatment methods. Some of these methods included lyrics analysis, personalized songwriting, and instrumental improvisation. Though unconventional and seemingly ineffective, Haddad maintained that engaging in innovative thinking can sometimes yield unprecedented results.
In his turn, Dr. Elie Atallah researched the intricacies of a multifaceted case study involving a 15-year-old teenager grappling with auditory hallucinations and self-harm behavior. Dr. Atallah elucidated the process of assessing the patient's clinical presentation and explained the rationale behind various potential diagnoses. Furthermore, he reflected on the pivotal moment when the diagnosis was revised in light of newly available information. Dr. Atallah also shed light on the immense challenges encountered during the management of the case and elaborated on the collaborative efforts undertaken with the psychosocial support team to address these hurdles effectively.
Transitioning to the next segment, Ms. Rashell Alam delved into her research on the challenges encountered by students with special needs in accessing education, citing inaccessible environments and lack of community acceptance as major hindrances. She shared the poignant journey of Jad, an illustrative example of a student grappling with academic hurdles. Recognizing the critical need for enhanced support in higher education, SKILD took proactive steps by launching the IDEAL Program in collaboration with NDU. Dr. Alam underscored the mutual benefits of peer mentorship, emphasizing its role in fostering inclusivity within educational settings. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of initiatives aimed at raising awareness and providing training to cultivate a more inclusive societal landscape. Dr. Alam highlighted the transformative impact of higher education certification, not only enhancing independence but also bolstering employment prospects, thereby fulfilling the aspirations of parents and paving the way for a brighter future.
The final session, moderated by mental health professional Ms. Farah Nazzal, saw the participation of Dr. Fadi Maalouf, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry at the American University of Beirut (AUB); Dr. Marc Barakat, Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist; and Dr. Chirine Fares, Assistant Professor of Psychology at NDU.
For his part, Dr. Fadi Maalouf in his presentation on ‘The Process of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis’ elaborated on various aspects crucial to the comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis of mental health disorders in young individuals. He discussed various methodologies employed in conducting psychiatric assessments tailored to children and adolescents, including the utilization of standardized diagnostic criteria and the importance of age-appropriate evaluation techniques. Furthermore, Maalouf addressed topics such as the significance of developmental considerations, the role of family history and environmental factors, and the incorporation of multidisciplinary perspectives in the diagnostic process.
Moreover, Dr. Marc Barakat’s intervention focused on the complexities and difficulties inherent in conducting neuropsychological assessments in this population. He covered developmental variability, difficulties in test administration and interpretation, conditions impacting cognitive functioning, and the need for specialized training and expertise in pediatric neuropsychology, as well as highlighted the importance of utilizing age-appropriate assessment tools, considering cultural and linguistic factors, and adapting assessment methods to accommodate diverse populations of children and adolescents.
Lastly, Dr. Chirine Fares discussed the perception of time amongst children and adolescents and its implications for clinical practice. She highlighted the multiple temporal rhythms within the process of development including biological and environmental aspects.
As the event drew to an end, Dr. Maria Bou Zeid thanked the speakers for their insightful input and contributions, and the organizing committee, particularly Dr. Christine Sabieh and Dr. Chirine Fares and the moderators. Although the first of many more similar initiatives to come, this conference underscored NDU's unwavering dedication to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health issues and serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing need to foster a culture of empathy, understanding, and acceptance. Dr. Abou Jaoude reminded the attendees to keep the learning and the connections going and to stay inspired to explore and understand children and adolescents' mental health challenges.