Presenting Sponsor:







Social Media—Too Much of a Good Thing” is the topic of the St. Tammany Chamber’s Live Better Mental Health Luncheon presented by Covington Behavior Health. May is Mental Health Month, and Patricia Plaisance, LCSW and director of clinical services for Covington Behavioral Health, and Maria Medina-Whitfield, LCSW and behavioral health therapist with Ochsner Health’s Psychiatry Department, will explore the impact of social media on mental health. Join us for a discussion about the significant rise in reliance on social media and navigating the pressure of constant connection.

Organizations including Safe Haven, NAMI St. Tammany, Ochsner Health, START, Youth Service Bureau, VIP Health and Covington Behavioral Health will be onsite with resource materials. Lunch will be Ochsner Eat Fit approved.

About Our Speakers:
 
Patricia Plaisance, LCSW
Director of Clinical Services
Covington Behavior Health
 
Patricia Plaisance is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience counseling individuals, groups, and families of diverse populations. She has in-depth experience in employing therapeutic care in a variety of settings, to include schools, homes, community organizations, and residential treatment centers. Patricia obtained a B.A. in psychology from University of Colorado, a teaching credential in special education from Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from George Mason University in Virginia and achieved clinical licensure in the State of Louisiana in 2020. With her diverse education and professional experience, Patricia played a key role in the development and launch of both the adolescent and veteran programs currently offered at Covington Behavior Health where she has been employed for three years.


Maria Medina-Whitfield, LCSW
Behavioral Health Therapist
Ochsner Health Northshore Psychiatry Department
 
Maria Medina-Whitfield is a licensed clinical social worker with experience in both the not-for-profit agency setting as well as hospital setting. Her experience includes psychosocial assessments, group therapy, individual psychotherapy, discharge planning, and gerontology. She is a graduate of Tulane University’s School of Social Work and has worn many hats during her long career as a social worker, including running a not-for-profit agency for over 20 years while engaged in private practice providing individual and couples psychotherapy to a diverse population. Since joining Ochsner five years ago, she has implemented new programs including a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group Skills Training, a variety of individual and group psychotherapies, and designed, implemented and facilitates Ochsner’s COVID-19 Long Haulers Support Group.