All Webinars

Most mental health professionals are uncomfortable dealing with anger, conflicts and violence. However, a good understanding of what can lead to violence can help the clinician work to mitigate and/or minimize the potential for violence with the populations we work with. A good understanding of violence can provide a clinician with valuable information to keep the client and providers as safe as possible. Comprehensive training in violence is not commonly offered in both graduate schools and in mental health establishments.
 

This webinar will provide the participants with researched factors that have been identified as precursors and contributors to acts of violence. The participants will understand that part of information gathering processes we utilize when we begin working with clients can provide us with useful information about gauging a person’s propensity to engage in acts of violence. The participants will gain an awareness of how to practice in a manner to can minimize the risk of the provider becoming a victim of violence in working with clients.

“Excellent presentation. Presenter was very knowledgeable and thorough. No improvements needed.”-Bruce G., Counselor, Illinois

The biology of reward has been well-studied and is linked to numerous mental health diagnoses. Researchers identified an anomaly in this reward cascade called Reward Deficiency Syndrome or RDS. This anomaly and its impact on psychotherapy are less evident in psychological literature, yet it provides useful knowledge in one of the most prevalent and challenging of all mental health disorders…addiction. This seminar will help you understand the cascade theory of reward and provide you with working knowledge of RDS. You will be able to talk about how RDS affects the brain, what research has found regarding the impact of RDS, as well as discuss a model of therapy that considers highly this biological aspect of mental illness. The focus of this seminar is biopsychological and psychopharmaocological in nature.

According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, approxi­mately 10% of US adults fill one or more antidepressant prescriptions each year, with many of these prescriptions coming from non-psychiatrists. They are some of the most widely prescribed medications of our generation. As more and more patients are prescribed antidepressants and other psychotropic medications, an increased need and responsibility is raised for non-prescribing therapists to be knowledgeable enough to work more effectively with patients and their prescribers in this arena. The follow­ing webinar is intended to be an introductory course that offers general, yet comprehensive information about psy­chopharmacology, including understanding neurobiological underpinnings of how medications work, commonly pre­scribed drug categories, how to work more effectively with patients, and how to work more effectively with prescrib­ers. Unique to this webinar will be the inclusion of how to maximize treatment outcomes and effectively use collab­orative care strategies.

According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, approxi­mately 10% of US adults fill one or more antidepressant prescriptions each year, with many of these prescriptions coming from non-psychiatrists. They are some of the most widely prescribed medications of our generation. As more and more patients are prescribed antidepressants and other psychotropic medications, an increased need and responsibility is raised for non-prescribing therapists to be knowledgeable enough to work more effectively with patients and their prescribers in this arena. The follow­ing webinar is intended to be an introductory course that offers general, yet comprehensive information about psy­chopharmacology, including understanding neurobiological underpinnings of how medications work, commonly pre­scribed drug categories, how to work more effectively with patients, and how to work more effectively with prescrib­ers. Unique to this webinar will be the inclusion of how to maximize treatment outcomes and effectively use collab­orative care strategies.

This course will satisfy your ethics requirement.

They say that Artificial Intelligence (AI) won’t replace you in the workplace, but someone who knows how to use AI will. This is particularly true for social workers, counselors, and psychologists because we were not trained in AI, but AI is transforming our work. It is becoming harder to avoid AI, yet it remains critical that we understand how AI works so that we can make informed, ethical decisions that protect both our clients and the public. We are mandated by our professional codes to do this. The widespread use of AI is recent, and it is not easy to learn all about AI and how it is being used in our professions. At the end of this course, you will understand how AI works, the different types of AI, and how it is being used in our work. You will better understand all the ethical considerations and current research findings about AI in the social work/counseling/psychology space, and walk away with frameworks on how to mitigate risk.

This seminar addresses the critical issue of responding to subpoenas, emphasizing the importance of understanding legal obligations, potential pitfalls, and proper procedures to avoid professional and legal repercussions. This seminar aims to equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to confidently and ethically navigate the complexities of subpoenas and court testimony while ensuring the protection of both them and their patients/clients.

“The instructor was clearly knowledgeable and well-organized. I liked that she disclosed some of her weaker content/expertise (e.g. not good with metaphors). This was good modeling of the concepts she was teaching. I loved the developmental cube. I will look more into this model and will likely implement it.”-Phillip L., Licensed Professional Counselor, Texas

In this seminar, Dr. Saffer examines the purpose of clinical supervision, including the components and processes that are important for effective supervision. Participants are encouraged to consider different models and methods as they develop an approach to clinical supervision.  In addition,strategies are discussed regarding effectively dealing with some of the challenges that are inherent in the supervisory process.  This seminar is designed to provide participants with a thoughtful approach to the supervision process and to encourage the development of competence in this area of training.

Clinical supervision often comes with challenges. These challenges may include supporting supervisees as they build their clinical competencies, providing constructive feedback that helps your supervisee grow and progress in their development as a clinician, navigating potentially challenging relationship dynamics, as well as discussion of ethical issues in the supervision process. This webinar is designed to provide supervisors with the skills to effectively navigate the challenges as they occur. Scenarios will be integrated to encourage the application of the information discussed throughout the webinar.

Clinical supervision often comes with challenges. These challenges may include supporting supervisees as they build their clinical competencies, providing constructive feedback that helps your supervisee grow and progress in their development as a clinician, navigating potentially challenging relationship dynamics, as well as discussion of ethical issues in the supervision process. This webinar is designed to provide supervisors with the skills to effectively navigate the challenges as they occur. Scenarios will be integrated to encourage the application of the information discussed throughout the webinar.

Our world is changing faster than at any moment in history, and technologies advancements are literally changing what it means to be human. “Future Technologies” explores the profound and inevitable impact emerging technologies will have on humanity. We will delve into how Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, Brain-Computer Interface, Robotics, Gene Therapy, and Genetic Engineering, are set to advance in the next several decades – even sooner. Each tech technology’s potential benefits, such as AI’s improved healthcare diagnostics and AR/VR’s enhanced educational tools, are highlighted alongside associated risks, including job displacement and privacy concerns. A key theme is the transformative impact these technologies can, and likely will, have on human identity and social norms. Therapists can and should play a critical role in this technological evolution. They can help individuals adapt to changes, advocate for ethical standards, and support mental health through technological integration. This talk underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that technological advancements benefit the future of humanity while mitigating potential harms. Currently, it is the sex tech industry developing a vision of the future of intimacy. The time is now for mental health professionals to join this critical conversation.

Who we are as sexual beings carries profound personal and interpersonal meaning for each of us. Research consistently demonstrates that for most people, sexual satisfaction is a critical component of relationship and life satisfaction. Yet as important as sex can be, sexual concerns are strikingly common, even among non-clinical populations. Most therapists feel they’ve been inadequately trained to address sexual issues with their clients. This talk offers actionable advice for general therapists treating sexual dysfunction in men and women, with a focus on heterosexual relationship dynamics.

Sex tech is advancing at breakneck speed, and our intimate relationships are entering uncharted territory. From AI-driven chatbots that comfort, and seduce, immersive sex toys that blur the lines between physical and digital pleasure, haptic technologies, VR porn, to sex dolls and robots, tech is becoming an ever-present partner in our intimate lives. Cross-cultural trends reveal that people are having less sex together, spending more time with their screens, and reporting higher levels of stress and loneliness—a perfect storm fueling the rise of intimacy with technology.  These technological advances are already here, and research demonstrates that our clients are already engaging them.  In this webinar we will explore the latest sex tech and the complex questions they herald: Can a chatbot meet our deepest emotional needs? What happens to human connection when digital intimacy is always just a click away? And importantly, are therapists ready to help clients navigate these new frontiers of love and lust?  Join us for this enlightening and critical discussion as we explore the inevitable future of intimacy.