South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

“Can I Do That?” Legal, Ethical, and Clinical Considerations for Counselors and Psychological Testing

Start
Saturday, January 22, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Friday, November 30, 2040
12:00 PM
Location
Youtube

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Presented by: Aaron Norton, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA

Event On-Demand

“Can I Do That?” Legal, Ethical, and Clinical Considerations for Counselors and Psychological Testing

CE Hours 3.0 Ethics/Professional Boundaries

Description

Survey data demonstrates that many clinical mental health counselors are confused about counselors and psychological testing. Some think we can only administer and interpret certain types of tests, some think we can administer but not interpret tests, and others think we can do anything a psychologist can do. This training seeks to clarify the issue of CMHCs and psychological testing, as well as introduce CMHCs to a variety of tests that they can use to improve clinical practice. Attendees will be given an in-depth introduction to free online assessment measures created by the American Psychiatric Association that they can start using immediately with clients, whether they are students, interns, or licensed counselors. They will also become familiar with sections of the 2020 AMHCA Code of Ethics that pertain to psychological testing.

Learning Objectives

• Articulate laws, ethics, and board rules that relate to counselors in testing.

• Identify several psychological tests that can be used to improve clinical practice.

• Utilize Level 1, Level 2, severity measures, disability measures, and other free assessment tools published by the American Psychiatric Association.

About the Presenter

Aaron Norton, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy serving as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Adjunct Instructor at the University of South Florida, Southern Regional Director for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and Past-President of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He has nearly 20 years of clinical and forensic experience at Integrity Counseling, Inc., was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association and Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2020, and has been published in several social science journals and professional magazines in clinical mental health counseling.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for 3 (Ethics/Professional Boundaries) hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling

CE Broker Tracking # 20-891548 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

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Emotional Support Puppies, Peacocks, and Tarantulas; Oh, My! The Clinical Mental Health Counselor’s Role in Addressing Client Requests for Emotional Support Animals

Start
Sunday, January 23, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Friday, November 30, 2040
12:00 PM
Location
Box

Register

Presented by: Aaron Norton, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA

Emotional Support Puppies, Peacocks, and Tarantulas; Oh, My! The Clinical Mental Health Counselor’s Role in Addressing Client Requests for Emotional Support Animals

Event On-Demand

CE Hours 2.0 General Hours and 1.0 Hours Ethics/Professional Boundaries (3.0 Hours Total)

Description

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are increasingly popular, and mental health counselors are receiving requests from clients (and non-clients) for documentation that can be used to obtain ESA designation for pets, yet few counselors have been trained to assess the need for ESAs. Assessment of the need for ESAs requires knowledge of disability, the role of ESAs in symptom reduction and quality of life, the difference between ESAs and service animals, ethical considerations for recommendation of ESAs, contraindications for ESAs, and the law and ESAs. This program will aid clinicians in obtaining this knowledge and feeling prepared to address client requests for letters documenting the need for ESAs.

Learning Objectives

This workshop will explore the basics of domestic abuse and what we can do to help in the therapeutic and church settings. We will also learn what we might do that hinders healing. Some of the topics and objectives to be addressed are:

Define emotional support animals (ESAs) and differentiate ESAs from service animals.
Describe the legal and ethical ramifications for recommending ESAs for clients.
List several recommended practices for addressing requests for ESA eligibility letters.

About the Presenter

Aaron Norton, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy serving as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Adjunct Instructor at the University of South Florida, Southern Regional Director for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and Past-President of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He has nearly 20 years of clinical and forensic experience at Integrity Counseling, Inc., was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association and Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2020, and has been published in several social science journals and professional magazines in clinical mental health counseling.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for CE Hours 2.0 General Hours and 1.0 Hours Ethics/Professional Boundaries (3.0 Hours Total) of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling

CE Broker Tracking # 20-890172 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

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Why Women Stay and Go Back, Often Over and Over

Start
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Friday, November 30, 2040
12:00 PM

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Presented by: Kate Johnson, LMHC, DMin

Why Women Stay and Go Back,

Often Over and Over

3 Domestic Hours

Description

So much misunderstanding revolves around the question, “Why does she stay?” But is that the real question? Does it shift blame? Create shame? Do faith beliefs play a role in a person’s decision to stay or leave? Does the person abusing use faith to abuse, coerce, and manipulate? Are there more dynamics in play than just a simple choice to leave, or stay for that matter? There is nothing simple about understanding behaviors associated with domestic abuse and violence. It is complex and pervasive.

Domestic Abuse/Violence is a complicated issue that involves psychological, behavioral, spiritual and physical components. We must change our thinking and reacting to be more holistic in our approach to addressing these components. As Christians, professionals, and ministers, we must be fully informed otherwise we can unwittingly do more damage than help.

Learning Objectives

This workshop will explore the basics of domestic abuse and what we can do to help in the therapeutic and church settings. We will also learn what we might do that hinders healing. Some of the topics and objectives to be addressed are:

How to reframe our terminology to be more inclusive and behaviorally focused
Learn the Five basic forms of abuse, including spiritual abuse
Learn the research behind why people are abusive
Be able to describe what keeps a person in an abusive situation
List ways the church and others can perpetuate the abuse
Learn basic assessment techniques that help with disclosure
Learn how to become a S.A.F.E. place for those victimized

About the Presenter

Kate Johnson, LMHC, DMin

As an author, speaker, counselor, college professor, and as a survivor of domestic abuse, Kate brings a unique perspective to the issues of domestic violence. She experienced abuse in marriage for almost 25 years, for many reasons we all too often hear – the children, no resources, no place to go, no support, and fear. In an attempt to leave her abuser, she turned to her Christian community for help. Her experience and testimony will enlighten you to the issues that many face when suffering abuse is seen as less important than keeping the marriage together. Five weeks after leaving her abusive husband, Hurricane Andrew hit. She and her three children lost everything except each other and God. Feeling totally alone and in despair, she reached out again to her faith community. Again, she was not given support. It also was a reason she married her second husband, a minister whom she thought was different. The only thing different was the acts of abuse he perpetrated.

Kate began to use her experiences to propel her to make changes in her life. Feeling a calling from the Lord and with His help and healing, as a single mother she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in counseling psychology, and later, when married to a godly man, a doctorate of ministry degree. She became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, has a private practice, and has been an Adjunct Professor at Trinity International University for over 20 years. She and her husband have founded the Christian Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, a nonprofit ministry, and she serves as its president. Living in Freedom and Empowerment (LiFE), a ministry of CCADA helps people to learn to live in healthy relationships. This ministry addresses issues of child, teen, adult, and elder abuse.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for 3 (Domestic) hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling

CE Broker Tracking # 20-889486 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

Click here to join/learn more about our association today!

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Parenting in an Age of Digital Adversity: How to Help the Families We Work With as Well as Our Own (On-Demand)

Start
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Monday, June 09, 2042
12:00 PM
Location
Youtube

Register

Presented by: Denise Rye, LMHC

Certified Professional Instructor with KidSafe Foundation

Parenting in an Age of Digital Adversity: How to Help the Families We Work With as Well as Our Own

Description

Families are facing a much more difficult task raising their kids in today’s cultural and digital climate. Issues ranging from increased rates of digital addiction, depression and anxiety, pornography use, social media conflicts, etc. This age of digital adversity has created a range of challenges that are permeating our culture and our families in new and profound ways.

Learning Objectives

1. Understanding and discussing the benefits and challenges that have accompanied the rise and accessibility of technology and “connectedness”.

2. Understanding and discussing proper child identity formation and self-worth as well as values clarification and assessment.

3. How to conduct and steer open dialogues about digital media realities with our children and families.

4. Understanding and discussing the dangers surrounding digital use in the areas of unhealthy relationships, sexual abuse, and exploitation.

5. How to discuss and implement new rules around digital use and digital safety.

About the Presenter

Denise Rye, LMHC

Certified Professional Instructor with KidSafe Foundation

Denise Rye is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Professional Instructor with KidSafe Foundation. She received her M.S. degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a dual degree in Mental Health and Marriage and Family Therapy. She has been serving children, teens, and their families in our community for the past 10 years. After first learning about issues of Human Trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, she dedicated much of her time learning more about prevention and education in matters of sexual abuse and sexual education. She has spent much of her professional career working with teens in youth development and enrichment programs. She has been teaching and writing curriculum for KidSafe Foundation on the topics of digital safety and healthy relationships. Denise delivers practical and engaging multimedia presentations to audiences of all ages.

Affiliate membership is free for Pastors, Church Ministry Leaders, Lay Counselors, Marriage Mentors, Counseling students, non‑licensed counselors, and retired counselors.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for 2 (general) hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling. CE Broker Tracking # 20-860494 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

"On-Demand" Cancellation Policy Click here.

Click here to join/learn more about our association today!

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The Confident Therapist: Courage to be You in a Clinical World of Systems and Modalities

Start
Monday, April 04, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Monday, December 07, 2043
9:00 PM
Location
On Demand (Youtube)

Register

Presented by: Jonathan Rios, LMHC

Description

What is confidence? How do we get it? As clinicians we earn our degrees and launch into our specializations, but we often lack an internal “sense” of competence & confidence. Our clients deserve to walk away from our services thinking “This person gets me & they know what they are doing. I feel safe with them.” Your confidence matters. If you are confident others will see that and they’ll want to put their confidence in you.

Our industry does not need more “clones.” It needs more clinicians who are alive, on fire, and utilizing our gifts at a maximum capacity. The confident therapist isn’t the one who has it all figured out: he/she is the one who is willing to trust themselves and operate under their God-given assignment with humility and courage.

There will be time for audience questions and for sharing. This workshop will also be beneficial for coaches & leaders who are seeking to grow in confidence.

Learning Objectives

Standing out in a clinical world of clones & systems.
Handling your own insecurities as a professional.
Performance tips you can apply to yourself that I use with professional athletes, performers, and executives.
FLOW- What the research is saying. Establishing an internal and external atmosphere of transformation.
Keys for growing in confidence as a clinician.
Personal identity formation exercises.

Cost

$10 for PBA Students.
$15 for SFACC Clinical & Affiliate Members.
$20 for non‑SFACC members.
Free for affiliate members/pastors.

Please email valentino@sfacc.net for your registration code.

About the Presenter

Jonathan Rios, LMHC

Jonathan is an athlete-turned mental coach & licensed psychotherapist who is deeply committed to remaining undomesticated. He is a former Division 1 athlete and military academy graduate.

For the past 17 years Jonathan has worked in the mental health industry. He works extensively with addicts, performers, veterans, stay at home mothers, business professionals & spiritual seekers. Specialties include treatment of anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, addiction, & performance barriers. His practical & straightforward approach provides tangible results and skills that help individuals push through the inevitable challenges of life.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for 2 (general) hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling and the Florida Board of Psychology, CE Broker Tracking # 20-716215 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

Click here to join/learn more about our association today!

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Effective Practices When Counseling in a Virtual Format

Start
Monday, June 06, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Monday, September 05, 2044
9:00 PM
Location
On Demand (Youtube)

Register

Presented by: Sarah Serrano, MSW, LCSW

Description

Most of us have been trained how to provide counseling in a face-to-face setting. Yet COVID has required us to provide counseling virtually, and it may feel unnatural and less personal when providing counseling in such a format. Our presenter has been providing counseling in this format (by choice) for several years. She shares the things she has found to be most effective when counseling virtually.

There will be time for audience questions and for sharing the things you have learned over the last few months about providing counseling virtually. This workshop will also be beneficial for pastors who are also engaging in pastoral counseling through virtual means.

Learning Objectives

1. Explore the basics of setting up a tele heath component to your private practice.
2. Discover some special considerations you need to have just for your telehealth clients.
3. The differences that occur when counseling in a virtual setting.
4. How to use “web side manner" to increase client satisfaction.

Cost

$10 for PBA Students.
$29 for SFACC Clinical & Affiliate Members.
$39 for non‑SFACC members.

About the Presenter

Sarah Serrano, MSW, LCSW

Sarah is a licensed clinical social worker providing professional counseling services to the community through her online mental health Christian counseling practice, Bienestar Counseling & Education. For the past 13 years she has been serving the South Florida community, eleven of those as a licensed clinician. Her areas of expertise lie in the behavioral health field working with the dually diagnosed population. Her online counseling practice has allowed her the flexibility to homeschool her young children while still maintaining a private counseling practice.

This workshop has been approved for 3 (general) hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling and the Florida Board of Psychology, CE Broker Tracking # 20-716049 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

Affiliate membership is free for Pastors, Church Ministry Leaders, Lay Counselors, Marriage Mentors, Counseling students, non‑licensed counselors, and retired counselors.

Click here to join/learn more about our association today!

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Risk Assessment, Suicide Prevention, and Telehealth: Considerations and Practices (3 Telehealth CEs)

Start
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
9:00 AM
End
Monday, May 06, 2041
12:00 PM
Location
Youtube

Register

Presented by:

Aaron Norton, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA, CFP

Risk Assessment, Suicide Prevention, and Telehealth: Considerations and Practices

Description

The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) recently polled 650 counselors, finding that in 2019 35% of counselors who provide direct client care offered telehealth, whereas 95% now provide telehealth. This massive transition to telehealth was undoubtedly ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for clinicians to provide therapy while social distancing. Given recent revisions to Florida law related to mandatory reporting of imminent risk of harm to self or others, clinicians who are relatively new to telehealth have been pondering important questions, such as:

• What if an emergency happens, and I’m not sure where my client is?

• How do I conduct risk assessments when I’m not even in the same building as the client?

• How can I give my high-risk clients a more “personal touch” that fosters therapeutic alliance when we’re sitting behind screens?

In this 3-hour on-demand webinar, we’ll explore these questions and collaborate on strategies, practices, and resources aimed at equipping attendees to provide care with high-risk clients via telehealth.

Learning Objectives

1. Articulate an understanding of Florida law and mandated reporting.

2. Identify risk assessment tools that can be used in telehealth.

3. Expand your clinical toolkit for fostering a therapeutic relationship with high-risk clients in a telehealth environment.

About the Presenter

Dr. Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy serving as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Adunct Instructor at the University of South Florida, Southern Regional Director for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, Chair of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association's Government Relations Committee, and the liaison between the American Mental Health Counselors Association's Ethics Committee and Board of Directors.

He has nearly 20 years of clinical and forensic experience in assessment and psychotherapy, was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association and Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2020, and has been published in several social science journals and professional magazines in clinical mental health counseling.

Affiliate membership is free for Pastors, Church Ministry Leaders, Lay Counselors, Marriage Mentors, Counseling students, non‑licensed counselors, and retired counselors.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for 3 (TeleHealth) hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling. CE Broker Tracking # 20-860420 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

"On-Demand" Cancellation Policy Click here.

Click here to join/learn more about our association today!

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On-Demand The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Counseling and Psychotherapy

Start
Monday, October 21, 2024
9:00 AM
End
Thursday, March 24, 2050
12:00 PM
Location
Youtube

Register

ON-DEMAND

Description

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, counselors scrambled to embrace a technology that only 5 to 10% of them had previously dabbled in—telehealth. Just as many of us felt like we’d achieved at least a moderate level of competency in telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as yet another mysterious, exciting, and—perhaps—terrifying technology to have to contend with, creating a slew of relevant questions: Can AI help me write my progress notes and treatment plans? How do I handle the fact that my counseling students are using AI to write their papers for them? What’s up with the creation of AI bots that offer mental health advice to our clients? Does AI perpetuate ethnoracial stereotypes? Is it true that some clients are recording their therapy sessions (without the therapist’s consent) and then selling those recordings to tech developers who are working on developing AI-powered therapy bots? Will AI make therapists obsolete? Is Cyberdyne finally coming to destroy us all? (Okay, that last one’s a little over the top…or is it?). This presentation was designed to offer an overview of how AI can (and already has) impacted the counseling field, as well as strategies for ethical and impactful use of AI in counseling.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1 • Define and describe artificial intelligence (AI) and some of the ways AI has been used as an adjunct to counseling and psychotherapy.

Objective 2 • Identify and describe emerging issues (including benefits and drawbacks) related to the use of AI in counseling.

Objective 3 • Implement a list of guidelines and strategies for ethical and effective use of AI in mental health counseling.

Presenter

Aaron Norton, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in addictions, alcohol and drug counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, trauma treatment, forensic mental health evaluation, forensic behavioral analysis, and forensic psychometry.

He serves as executive director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, assistant professor of instruction at the University of South Dept. of Mental Health Law & Policy, southern regional director, Ethics Committee liaison, and International Counseling Task Force chair for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association, and consulting editor for AMHCA’s The Advocate Magazine.

He co-authored the Forensic Evaluation section of the "AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling,” authored the proposal for AMHCA’s Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Forensic Evaluation (CMHS-FE) credential, authored the DSM-5 to DSM-5-TR update article published in the American Counseling Association's Counseling Today magazine, and served on the expert panel that created the standards and written exam for the Florida Certification Board’s Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) credential.

He has 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2019, and he was awarded AMHCA’s Public and Community Service Award in 2020.

Affiliate membership is free for Pastors, Church Ministry Leaders, Lay Counselors, Marriage Mentors, Counseling students, non‑licensed counselors, and retired counselors.

Sponsored by the Graduate Counseling Program of Palm Beach Atlantic University and South Florida Association of Christian Counselors

This workshop has been approved for 3 (General hours of continuing education with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling. CE Broker Tracking # 20-1261375 (CE Broker Provider BAP #820).

"On-Demand" Cancellation Policy Click here.

Click here to join/learn more about our association today!

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