William M. Rooney, Ph.D, MHA

Practical Assessment Tools to Assist in Diagnosing, Treatment Planning and Outcome Evaluation

4 CEU

Overview

This workshop will provide participants with practical questionnaires and rating scales that can be used to assist in diagnosing, treatment planning and evaluating response to treatment. Participants will be provided with 40 instruments that measure a wide range of affective, behavioral and thought disorders in symptoms/disorders in children and adults. Each instrument will be reviewed in relation to the current DSM-IV criteria and differential diagnoses. Instruments include those that can be completed by the client, family and clinicians. The instruments selected require minimal time for administration and are free to reproduce.

Reflecting on the Role and Function of the Clinical Supervisor

4 CEU (may be used for supervision requirement)

Overview

This workshop will provide both the beginning and experienced supervisor an opportunity to explore current theory and practice in the specialization of clinical supervision and to further clarify their personal model and practice of supervision.

Objectives

1. Identify the goals of supervision for all stakeholders

2. Identify competencies in supervision
3. Understand the role of learning style in supervision

Legal and Ethical Issues in Supervision

4 CEU (may be used for supervision OR ethics)

Overview

This workshop will review the ethical and legal requirements pertaining to the supervision of counselors and social workers. Ethical requirements of the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board of Ohio and related professional associations will be discussed. In addition, requirements for mandatory reporting, “duty to protect” and other risk situations will be reviewed. Finally, recommendations for documentation of supervisory activities will be reviewed.

Objectives

1. Understand the supervision recommendations and guidelines of the Ohio CSWMFT and relevant professional associations.

2. Understand the supervisor’s role and responsibilities with regard to “duty to protect” requirements, mandatory reporting and other risk situations.

3. Understand the documentation requirements and guidelines for supervision

Providing Reports and Testimony in Judicial and Administrative Proceedings - Ethical, Legal and Practical Guidelines

4 CEU (may be used for ethics requirement)

Overview

Frequently, mental health clients are involved in judicial or administrative proceedings including custody determination, personal injury actions, worker’s compensation claims, disability claims and criminal prosecutions. Clinicians who are treating these clients are usually called upon to submit evidence, including written reports as well as oral testimony, and are frequently pressured to provide opinions that may be inappropriate for their role or expertise. Unfortunately, there has been a significant increase in the number of ethical complaints filed against professionals for their participation in these proceedings.

This workshop will enable participants to avoid ethical violations by understanding the respective roles and responsibilities of a fact witness and an expert witness and by identifying the types of evidence and opinions that are appropriate for the treating professional to provide. Participants will also be provided with guidelines for preparing reports and providing testimony.

Objectives

Clinician Guide for Serving Veterans of the Iraq War

4 CEU

Overview

Significant gains have been made in understanding and treating the psychological effects of deployment into a combat zone since the end of the Vietnam War. Iraq war veterans are experiencing these same stressors as well as additional stressors such as those related to multiple deployments and the high rate of injuries resulting from improvised explosive devices. While clinicians may possess skills in cognitive-behavioral treatment of PTSD it is important that they also possess an understanding of experiences of the combat veteran both before, during and after deployment. This workshop will provide participants with insight into the experiences of veterans and their families as well as an understanding of the clinical guidelines of the National Center for PTSD of the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Objectives

1. Understand the potential sources of stressors related to pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment

2. Understand the role of the mental health clinician in assisting military personnel and their family in managing these stressors

3. Understand the recommendations of the Department of Veterans Affairs contained in the Iraq War Clinician Guide

The Assessment and Management of Suicidal Risk in Adults and Children

4 CEU

Overview
The prediction and management of suicidal behavior is complex and, despite the best efforts of clinicians, some individuals will go on to commit suicide. Unfortunately, there is no current instrument or method that allows the clinician to accurately predict and prevent suicide. In spite of these limitations, the clinician is ethically and legally obligated to conduct a thorough assessment of the factors known to relate to the risk of suicide and to formulate a management plan that can be reasonably expected address the established risk.

In this workshop participants will learn how to conduct a thorough assessment, arrive at an informed judgment of the level of risk and formulate an appropriate risk management plan.

Objectives
1. Identify the factors relevant to the risk of suicide
2. Perform a thorough assessment of these known risk factors
3. Evaluate the data and formulate an estimate of the immediate risk of suicide
4. Develop an appropriate management plan given the assessed level of risk

Ethics - Competency, Record Keeping & Boundary Violations

Overview
This workshop will provide an understanding of medical ethical principles and provide participants with an accepted model for the resolution of ethical dilemmas. Particular attention will be given to the following sections of the Code of Ethical Practice and Professional Conduct of the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board:

   Competency [4757-5-02(A)]

   Professional Disclosure (4757-5-12)

   Record Keeping (4757-5-09)

   Multiple Relationships (4757-5-03)

Objectives
1. Understand current medical ethical principles

2. Identify the steps to use in analyzing and resolving an ethical dilemma

3. Understand the requirements for competency and professional disclosure

4. Understand the requirements for record keeping
5. Understand the requirements for multiple relationships

Ethics - Informed Consent, Termination & Assessment

4 CEU (may be used for ethics requirement)

Overview
This workshop will provide an understanding of medical ethical principles and provide participants with an accepted model for the resolution of ethical dilemmas. Particular attention will be given to the following sections of the Code of Ethical Practice and Professional Conduct of the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board:

   Informed consent [4757-5-01(B)(2)]

   Termination [4757-5-01(B)(5)]

   Assessment (4757-5-06)

Objectives
1. Understand current medical ethical principles

2. Identify the steps to use in analyzing and resolving an ethical dilemma

3. Understand the requirements for provision of assessment

4. Identify the required elements of informed consent
5. Understand the concept of patient abandonment and the requirements for involuntarily terminating services

Depressive Disorders - Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

This workshop will provide an understanding of the etiology, assessment and treatment of depressive disorders. Topics will include: Current theories with regard to neurological dysregulation in depression; the mechanism of action and the comparative effectiveness of  medications prescribed to treat depression depressive disorders; proper assessment and differential diagnosis and an overview of non-pharmacological interventions

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

4 CEU

Overview

This workshop will provide an understanding of the etiology, assessment and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity. Topics will include: Current theories with regard to neurobiological bases of ADHD, the mechanism of action and the comparative effectiveness of  medications prescribed to treat ADHD; proper assessment and differential diagnosis; and non-pharmacological interventions

Bipolar Disorder - Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

4 CEU

Overview

The physical, emotional and social consequences of BPD can be both severe and pervasive. Untreated, the severity of the illness increases and treatment becomes less effective. The accurate diagnosis of BPD is the critical first step in treatment, however, diagnosis can be difficult because of the wide range of symptom manifestation. Effective treatment includes treatment with multiple medications as well as counseling and educational interventions

This workshop will enable participants to accurately diagnosis BPD and understand the effectiveness of current psychopharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Objectives

1. Understand the subtypes of Bipolar Disorder

2. Differentiate between Bipolar Disorder and other disorders including ADHD, substance abuse and personality disorders in adults and children

3. Understand the mechanisms, risks and benefits of current medications used to treat Bipolar Disorder

4. Identify current non-pharmacological treatments

Brain, Behavior and Pharmacology - Understanding How Medications Work

4 CEU

Overview

This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the functions of the major brain systems and the abnormalities underlying mental illness. In addition, participants will learn the actions of medications that correct these abnormalities as well as understanding of the actions which result in side-effects. Areas covered will include: brain structures involved in psychiatric disorders; neuronal functioning and communication; pharmacodynamics underlying both treatment and side-effects; and pharmacokinetics including drug-drug interactions; and the mechanism of action of the major categories of psychotropic medication. The use and effectiveness of specific medications will not be reviewed (uses and comparative effectiveness of medications will not be addressed (see Psychopharmacology Update).

Psychopharmacology Update

4 CEU

Overview

While counselors and social workers cannot prescribe psychotropic medication, they can play a critical role in enhancing medication compliance and ensuring that their clients are able to effectively communicate with their prescribing physician. With an understanding of the currently available medications and their mechanism of actions, the non-physician mental health professional can effectively educate and advocate for their clients.

This workshop will provide participants with an overview of current medications prescribed to adults and children.

Objectives

1. Understand the way in which medications influence the actions of neurons
2. Understand the intended treatment effects and the unintended side-effects of commonly prescribed medications

3. Identify the categories or types of medications that are considered effective for each of the major mental illnesses

"Duty to Protect" - Clinical, Legal and Ethical Guidelines for Clinicians and Supervisors

4 CEU (Ethics)

The Tarasoff decision in 1976 established the duty of behavioral healthcare professionals to protect others from injury by their clients. More recently, the Ohio Revised Code was modified to include specific requirements for mental health professionals when dealing with potential violence. Failure to meet these requirements places the professional at significant risk of civil and criminal consequences.

In this workshop participants will learn when and how to conduct a threat assessment utilizing a model developed by the United States Secret Service. Participants will also learn to develop appropriate interventions and to adequately document the process.
 

Objectives

1. Understand the professional’s legal and ethical obligations under the “Duty to Protect”
2. Evaluate and document the risk of harm
3. Formulate and document an appropriate plan for reducing the risk of harm

Navigating the Maze of Confidentiality Regulations - Federal Drug & Alcohol, HIPAA, Ohio Regulations and OCSWFT Board Requirements

4 CEU (may be used for ethics requirement)

Overview

A variety of federal and state regulations dictate what health care information is protected against disclosure and under what conditions information may be disclosed. Clinicians are at risk of ethical and legal action both when they disclose information inappropriately as well as when they refuse to disclose information inappropriately, for example, by refusing access to a child's record by the non-residential parent.

Clinicians must be aware of regulations governing patient access as well as authorized and mandatory disclosures in order to provide adequate informed consent to clients prior to treatment and to properly manage protected information during and after treatment.

This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of all federal and state regulations pertaining to the control of protected health care information.

Objectives 

1. Understand how to respond when there are conflicting laws

2. Identify areas where federal AOD regulations supercede HIPAA

3. Understand the client's right to access and amend health records

4. Identify the required elements of an Authorization to Disclose PHI

5. Understand the requirements related to a court order or subpoena

Introduction to Neuropsychology - Differentiating Neurological Symptoms from Mental Illness