Empowering Culturally Diverse Therapists During the Pandemic

A one-hour workshop that explores the stigma of mental health by examining the history of the mental health system in America and the social influence it had on the African-American community and church. It will examine the historical legacy of asylums and mental health institutions in shaping perception of mental health treatment in, as well as the role the church played in the care and welfare of the African-American community. Prevalent statistics concerning mental health among church attendees and the African-American community will be presented to validate the ethical importance of culturally competent clinicians and clergy.
Presenters: Robyn C. Hill, Ebony Hull, Phyllis Richards. 
1 Ethics CEU

A two-hour training where participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Leadership and Ethical practice models that will provide a foundation for practice growth and success in the following six topics:

I. Participants will be presented with an overview of the key essential elements to building a thriving strong clinical and ethical mental health practice. The five major overarching ethical principles of mental and behavioral health professionals include autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, fidelity (integrity) and justice (equality).

II. How to market your practice in a way that is culturally competent to reach a diverse population. Help therapists recognize the mental health system’s historic monocultural, ethnocentric bias within the delivery and operation of behavioral health services and how subtle microaggressions become barriers to individuals of color and diverse faith backgrounds from receiving services.

III. Establishing an ethical billing practice utilizing both cash- and insurance-based fiscal models. Eliminating fiscal barriers and incorporating flexible billing practices, including cash-based to increase accessibility for services. Consideration is given to an agency’s collection practice; sliding fee availability for non-insured; and diverse payer engagement, including actively engaging with EAP payers to increase service accessibility for clients.

IV. Building an effective internal operating system and maintaining ethical compliance standards and continuous quality assurance through ongoing strategic planning. The utilization of the Ethical Decision-Making Model in leadership and organizational management as it relates to program development, continuous quality assurance and strategic planning. The Ethical Decision-Making Model 7 Steps that will be trained are: (1) Identify the problem; (2) Apply Professional Associations (NCC, ACA, NASW) Code of Ethics; (3) Determine the nature; (5) Dimensions of the dilemma; (4) Generate potential courses of action; (6) Evaluate the selected course of action; (7) Implement the course of action.

V. The principles associated with the documentation of the provision of mental health services and consideration related to the importance of that documentation being done in a sufficient and timely manner in accordance with ethical standards of professional conduct.

VI. Participants will have an opportunity to learn the unique characteristics of a Marriage and Family Treatment model and the skills sets that differentiate them from other mental health professionals through a deeper dive into the differing leadership and ethical practice principles within a Marriage and Family Treatment practice model. MFTs have extensive training working with, and thinking about problems in the context of our relationships as they work with individuals, couples and families. 
Presenters:: Albert J. McIntosh, Linette Graddic, Dr. Noelle Chappelle
2 Ethics CEUs

A one-hour workshop that addresses the ethical considerations of integrating spirituality into clinical practice. It will define spirituality as a component to a client’s overall well-being and discuss the ethical considerations of integrating spirituality into clinical practice, including the use of the Christian treatment modality, Inner Healing Prayer, along with other spiritual disciplines will be discussed as evidenced-based therapeutic techniques.
Presenters: Linette Graddic, Robyn Hill, Phyllis Richards
1 Ethics CEU

A one-hour workshop that defines the ethical concept of boundaries and the importance of setting mental, emotional and physical boundaries. It will explore the factors that make it difficult to establish and maintain professional boundaries, help therapists understand the warning signs and develop techniques for creating and maintaining healthy professional boundaries.
Presenters: Nyema and Keisha Bedell
1 Ethics CEU