COURSE OBJECTIVES

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
By the end of the seminar, participants will:

  1. Understand the belief systems and thought processes of men and women in battering relationships which enable both partners to rationalize abusive or destructive behavior.
  2. Identify common tactics of men who batter and recognize warning signs or red flags of domestic violence in a treatment setting, even when all family members deny its existence.
  3. Describe the various treatment approaches for men who batter, and understand which forms of treatment are most effective, which are least effective or even dangerous and why, as well as recognize when a referral to batterers intervention would be appropriate.
  4. Recognize and understand the immediate and lasting effects of domestic violence on children, including the neurological changes caused by traumatic exposure.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN DEPTH
By the end of the seminar, participants will:

  1. Understand the belief systems and thought processes of men who batter which enable them to rationalize abusive or destructive behavior.
  2. Identify warning signs or red flags of domestic violence in a family where all members deny its existence.
  3. Identify the characteristics of men who are likely to batter.
  4. Identify common tactics of men who batter.
  5. Describe the various treatment approaches for men who batter, and understand which forms of treatment are most effective, which are least effective, and why.
  6. Recognize the effects of domestic violence on children.
  7. Conduct an interview with a victim of domestic violence that will encourage her to reveal whether or not she is abused, and inform her of the resources available in the community that can help.
  8. Recognize when a referral to batterers intervention would be helpful to the family.
  9. Understand the relationship between substance abuse, mental health issues and domestic violence.

TELETHERAPY AND ITS ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY
By the end of the course, students will:

    1. Understand some of the unique problems presented for psychotherapy by the current pandemic that the therapist is likely to encounter
    2. ​Understand and operate within the Florida laws and rules as they pertain to telehealth in Florida
    3. Understand and Operate within the federal HIPAA guidelines or teletherapy
    4. Be aware of the special notification issued by the federal government concerning the relaxation of certain HIPAA compliance rules in order to facilitate telehealth.
    5. Identify the Advantages and Disadvantages of Teletherapy
    6. Be familiar with boundary issues teletherapy presents
    7. Be familiar with the research as to the effectiveness of teletherapy versus I traditional therapy

MEDICAL ERRORS
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the potential consequences of misdiagnosing a mental illness.
  2. Identify the potential consequences related to failure to report child or elderly abuse.
  3. Identify the potential consequences or inappropriate therapy related to childhood sexual abuse and false memory syndrome.
  4. Identify the potentially deadly consequences related to inappropriate domestic violence counseling.
  5. Identify the potential consequences related to failure to obtain proper informed consent.
  6. Identify errors which can increase the risk of client suicide.
  7. Identify the potential consequences related to breaches in client confidentiality and privileged communication.
  8. Identify the potential consequences of inappropriate counseling related to alcoholism and drug abuse.
  9. Understand how medical errors can produce unintended and iatrogenic effects in mental health clients.
  10. Identity at least 10 ways to improve clients safety and enhance public confidence in the profession.

3 HOUR LAWS AND RULES OF THE BOARD
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Participants will be able to discuss the psychotherapist-patient privilege as per F.S. 90.503 including specific applications to clinical practice.
  2. Participants will be able to discuss F.S. 456 which establishes the regulation of the health professions through the Florida Department of Health, empowered to license and regulate health practitioners.
  3. Participants will be familiar with updates to Ch 456 including the Firearm Owner’s Privacy Act, allowances for military and diverse populations, and exceptions to confidentiality for HIV reporting.
  4. Participants will be able to describe the requirements for reporting child and elder abuse and other related provisions as per F.S. 415 and F.S. 39.
  5. Participants will be able to discuss F.S. 491, governing the practices of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counselors.
  6. Participants will be able to discuss F.A.C. 64B4, which establishes the Florida Board for LCSW, LMFT and LMHC, and defines it’s authority, procedures, and activities, and includes practice definitions, and requirements for licensure, supervision and specific specialties such as sex therapy, hypnotherapy, sex offender risk assessment and treatment.
  7. Participants will be able to access all changes and updates to Rule 64B4 that have occurred in the past three bienniums.
  8. Participants will be knowledgeable of the rules governing the profession and the range of consequences for violating those rules.
  9. Participants will review and be familiar with applicable updates to CEU requirements, public comment, attendance at Board meetings, supervision requirements, sex therapy, hypnotherapy, and sex offender treatment.

AGGRESSION CONTROL AND VERBAL DE-ESCALATION
By the end of the course, therapists will have the tools and understand the rationale that will:

  1. Ensure the safety of the patient, staff, and others in the area.
  2. Help the patient manage his emotions and distress and maintain or regain control of his behavior.
  3. Avoid the use of restraint when at all possible.
  4. Avoid coercive interventions that escalate agitation.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTIONS
By the end of the  course, therapists will:

  1. Have a basic understanding of the prevalence of substance abuse problems.
  2. Will know how to screen.
  3. Will have the tools to make an accurate diagnosis.
  4. Will know who to recognize denial.
  5. Will know how to make appropriate referrals.

ADVANCED SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTIONS
By the end of the  course, therapists will:

  1.  Have a basic understanding of the statistics and prevalence of substance abuse problems
  2.  Will know how to screen for substance use disorders
  3.  Will have the tools to make an accurate DSM diagnosis, including severity
  4.  Will know who to recognize denial
  5.  Will have tools to speak to family members
  6.  Will have tools to identify risk factors
  7.  Will understand effective therapeutic treatments
  8.  Will know how to make appropriate referrals.

ABUSIVE AND CONTROLLING MEN AS FATHERS
By the end of the course, therapists will be able to:

  1.  Identify Risks to Children who live with abusive fathers
  2.  Identify Specific Action Batterers Take that Harm Children
  3.  Understand the Impact of Domestic Violence on Children
  4.  Understand the Necessary Context for Children’s Recovery from Exposure to Battering Behavior
  5.  Identify the Five Critical Components for a Best Practice Approach for Child Welfare Advocates and Investigators
  6.  Know how to Build a partnership with the non offending parent
  7.  Be able to Document for Legal Sufficiency
  8.  Have a Menu of Expectations for Batterers who say they are willing to change
  9.  Be Familiar with a Curriculum for  Abusive/Controlling Men as Parents*
  10.  Have tools to be able to Assess change in batterers

MEDICAL ERRORS IN DEPTH
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1.  Identify the potential consequences of misdiagnosing a mental illness.
  2.  Identify the potential consequences related to failure to report child or elderly abuse.
  3.  Identify the potential consequences or inappropriate therapy related to childhood sexual abuse and false memory syndrome.
  4.  Identify the potentially deadly consequences related to inappropriate domestic violence counseling.
  5.  Identify the potential consequences related to failure to obtain proper informed consent
  6.  Identify errors which can increase the risk of client suicide
  7.  Identify the potential consequences related to breaches in client confidentiality and privileged communication.
  8.  Identify the potential consequences of inappropriate counseling related to alcoholism and drug abuse.
  9.  Understand how medical errors can produce unintended and iatrogenic effects in mental health clients.
  10.  Identity at least 10 ways to improve clients safety and enhance public confidence in the profession.

ADVANCED HIV/AIDS FOR THE COMPASSIONATE CLINICIAN
By the end of this course, participate will:

  1. Discuss the prevalence and incidence of HIV and AIDS.
  2. Identify the cause of HIV infection and the mechanisms of infection and transmission of HIV.
  3. Spell out HIV prevention strategies, including behavioral change management and needle exchange programs and discuss the psychosocial issues associated with HIV and AIDS infection.

Also participants will understand:

  1. Modes of Transmission
  2. Infection Control Procedures
  3. Clinical Management
  4. Behavior and Attitudes Relevant to the prevention of HIV and AIDs
  5. Current Florida Law re: Testing
  6. Current Florida Law re:  Confidentiality of test results
  7. Current Florida Law re:  Treatment of Patients
  8. Current Florida Law re:  Reporting
  9. Current Florida Law re:  HIV testing to pregnant women
  10. Current Florida Law re: Partner Notification

HIV/AIDs FOR THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND THERAPIST
By the end of this course, participants will:

  1. Be able to discuss the prevalence and incidence of HIV and AIDS.
  2. Identify the cause of HIV infection and the mechanisms of infection and transmission of HIV.
  3. Spell out HIV prevention strategies, including behavioral change management and needle exchange programs and discuss the psychosocial issues associated with HIV and AIDS infection.

Also participants will be able to identify:
1.    Modes of Transmission
2.    Infection Control Procedures
3.    Clinical Management
4.    Behavior and Attitudes Relevant to the prevention of HIV and AIDs
5.    Current Florida Law re: Testing
6.    Current Florida Law re:  Confidentiality of test results
7.    Current Florida Law re:  Treatment of Patients
8.    Current Florida Law re:  Reporting
9.    Current Florida Law re:  HIV testing to pregnant women
10.  Current Florida Law re: Partner Notification