An IRELA CLE Webinar

 Civility: Difficult People and Conversations in the Workplace

 Diana, Uchiyama

MCLE approved for 1-hour General CLE credit

Registration is Free for IRELA Members

Non-Members ~ $50*

 Difficult people are everywhere. However, when they exist in the workspace, in the courts, and the clients with whom we work, it can create major issues which influence personal health and wellness. The legal field can be a very stressful work setting and adding hostile persons to the work environment can make it feel impossible to cope. This program will support attorneys, judges and law students in understanding the psychological, physical, and emotional impact of dealing with difficult people at work. Additionally, providing helpful skill sets to manage and minimize the negative impact these people and conversations have on us will also be provided. This presentation will provide skills and behaviors which will help you feel more empowered and in control while working with difficult people or engaging in difficult conversations. 

 Participants in this program will learn the following: 

• Understand the impact working with difficult people and engaging in difficult conversations can have on those in the legal profession; 
• Understand that dealing with difficult people and situations can increase mental health problems and negative coping mechanisms; 
• Learn how to minimize behaviors which create more problems in dealing with difficult people and conversations; 
• Learn how to increase behaviors which place boundaries and limits on difficult people and difficult conversations and; 
• Learn skills to help manage difficult people and engage in difficult conversations more effectively. 

Dr. Diana Uchiyama is the Executive Director of the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP).  Prior to joining LAP, she was the Administrator of Psychological Services for DuPage County and ran a licensed outpatient substance use treatment program, including a Mentally Ill Substance Abuse (MISA) program and Seeking Safety program for individuals with substance use problems, who were also trauma survivors.  While at DuPage County she also ran a 26-week Domestic Batterer Intervention Program for a court mandated population of clients. 

Dr. Uchiyama has also worked for the Kane County Diagnostic Center, as both a Staff Psychologist and Juvenile Drug Court Coordinator and has an extensive background doing court ordered evaluations including psychological, sanity, fitness, fitness to parent, and sex offender evaluations.  She is a licensed sex offender evaluator in the State of Illinois.   She has implemented numerous changes to court ordered programs both in Kane and DuPage County and is a SAMSHA certified trauma informed care trainer.  Dr. Uchiyama also conducts therapy with adults and adolescents, is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and has an Advanced Mindfulness Training Certificate, teaching mindfulness skills to others in order to increase their wellbeing.

Prior to obtaining her master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Uchiyama was an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County working in various felony courtrooms at 26th and California in Chicago for over a decade. She obtained her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.

*Join IRELA