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Self-Study

Mental Health Emergencies: Preparing for the Five Types of Mental Health Crises


Credit Available - See CEs/Contact Hours tab below.


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Description

  • More effectively assess and intervene in mental health emergencies
  • Conduct a quick, but thorough and accurate, mental status exam
  • DSM-5® and crisis situations
  • The rising heroin and synthetic drug epidemic
  • Maximize client safety while minimizing your risk

Times are changing. We are flooded by media reports of violence and suicide on a nearly daily basis, with many of the perpetrators being labeled as “mentally ill.” The public wants mental health providers who are equipped and confident to handle crisis situations. Here’s an example:

“Ana” was a new client sitting in the waiting room of my clinic one morning when I arrived for work.

“I came here because I went to the Emergency Room last night after I’d had a panic attack. The doctor said I should come here today,” she explained. Ana said that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the past. Her speech was pressured and her thoughts seemed to wander. She admitted to three previous suicide attempts, two of which required hospitalization.

As the interview progressed, Ana continued to open up, but she required a lot of re-direction from me. Ana admitted to current heroin and bath salts use. A former counselor, whom Ana trusted, had been able to get Ana to talk about the sexual abuse from her step-father when she was a child.

“I also sometimes think I can hear things that no one else can,” she continues. “And I’m afraid,” she shudders as she whispers, “He’s out there and he’s coming for me.”

Ana starts to loudly cry and gets up to leave the room.

Now what? A crisis is never scheduled, neat, or easy. What types of crises are going with Ana? What should you do next?

This seminar will prepare you to respond to the five types of crisis situations regardless of your setting. You will leave the seminar more confident in your abilities to meet the needs of your clients. You will also improve your ability to assess, respond and treat people in crisis.

OUTLINE

Client Assessment

  • Lethality Assessment
  • Mental status exam
    • Mood & affect
    • Thought content & thought process
    • Perceptions & judgment
    • Memory & Somatic complaints
    • Psychosocial stressors & supports
    • Environmental & Spiritual stressors & supports
  • DSM-5® changes regarding major mental illness diagnosis

The Suicidal Client

  • Higher risk populations
  • Suicide assessment
  • Disposition
  • Safety planning

The Violent/Homicidal Client

  • Ethical duty to protect
  • Physical ways to keep yourself safe
  • Approaching a potentially violent client
  • Developing a good safety plan

Medical vs. Mental Problems

  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
  • Serotonin Syndrome
  • Dementia vs. Delirium
  • Urinary Tract Infections—often missed
  • Organic issues—“Stephen and the Zombies”
  • Medication reactions

Trauma

  • Recognizing trauma
  • Trauma and the triune brain
  • Trauma and emotional response
  • The role of memory
  • Trauma and pre-existing mental illness
  • Immediate intervention for trauma: safety
  • Identifying recovery capital

Substance Abuse

  • Intoxication syndromes
  • The Heroin “revival”
  • Synthetic drugs
    • JWH-018: K2/Spice
    • Methylenedioxymethamphetamine: Ecstasy to Molly
    • Methylenedioxypyrovalerone: “Bath Salts”
    • Alcohol Vaporizers
  • Other street drugs
    • Cocaine vs. methamphetamine
    • Khat (Cathinone)
    • Dextromethorphan
    • Ayahousca (Yage)

Taking Care of Ourselves

  • Debriefing and documentation
  • Peer supervision
  • Stopping compassion fatigue
  • Addressing burn-out

OBJECTIVES

  • Complete a client safety assessment, specifically addressing suicidal or homicidal ideations and behaviors.
  • Conduct a brief, but thorough, mental health interview to determine the nature of the crisis.
  • Demonstrate effective diagnostic skills utilizing DSM-5® criteria.
  • Identify medical problems that initially appear as mental health symptoms.
  • Explore how victims of trauma can present in crisis.
  • Develop a deeper knowledge of the variety of inebriants and intoxicants that can propel a person into a crisis.
  • Explain how we as clinicians are a part of the crisis process and how this can continue to impact us beyond the actual event.

 

CEs/Contact Hours


**

NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after completing the on-line post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). 

Continuing Education Information:  Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval. For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact cepesi@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before the event.

Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession.  As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.  

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.


Addiction Counselors - NAADAC (SAS/NTA AP 1/2) (Self-Study)

NAADAC

This self-study course has been approved by PESI, Inc., as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 6.0 CE in the Clinical Assessment skill group. NAADAC Provider #77553. PESI, Inc. is responsible for all aspects of their programming. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.


California Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (CCAPP-EI)

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the CCAPP-EI, Provider #: OS-03-036-1021. This activity meets the qualifications for 6.0 CEH's (continuing education hours).


Connecticut Addiction Counselors

Provider #120924. This course has been approved as a CCB approved training and has been awarded 6.25 hours by the Connecticut Certification Board.


Counselors

This intermediate self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.


Texas Counselors

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a continuing education sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Provider #: 2477. This self-study course qualifies for 6.0 continuing education credits.


South Carolina Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists

This program has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Approval #4540.


Marriage & Family Therapists

This self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save this course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements. 


Texas Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a continuing education sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Provider # 503. This self-study package qualifies for 6.0 continuing education credits.


Illinois Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the State of Illinois, Department of Professional Regulation. Provider #:168-000156. Full attendance at this self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 credits.


Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Clinical Nurse Specialists

This intermediate activity is approved for 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please contact your licensing board to determine if they accept programs or providers approved by other national or state licensing boards. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to participants who are in full attendance and who complete the program evaluation.


California Nurses

PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of  Registered Nursing, Provider #: 17118 for 6.0 self-study contact hours. 

** You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.


Florida Nurses

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of  Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

CE Broker


Iowa Nurses

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Provider #: 346. Nurses successfully completing these self-study materials will earn 7.6 self-study contact hours. Please email cepesi@pesi.com with your license number, include the title, speaker name and date. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.


Psychologists & Physicians

Physicians

PESI, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. PESI, Inc. designates this enduring material for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

 

Psychologists

The following state psychologist boards recognize activities sponsored by PESI, Inc. as an approved ACCME provider: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Certificates of attendance will be issued for you to submit to your state licensing board to recognize for continuing education credit.


Canadian Psychologists

PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This program is approved for 6.0 self-study continuing education hours. Full credit statement at: www.pesi.com/cpa-statement


Florida Psychologists

PESI, Inc., is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Psychology.Provider Number #50-399.This product qualifies for 6.3 self-study continuing education credits.


Social Workers

PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 6.25 (Clinical) continuing education credits for completing this intermediate level course. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation. Full attendance is required. No partial credit will be offered for partial attendance. 


Canadian Social Workers

PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 6.25 (Clinical) continuing education credits for completing this intermediate level self-study course. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation. Full attendance is required. No partial credit will be offered for partial attendance. Canadian provinces may accept activities approved by the ASWB for ongoing professional development.


Florida Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Mental Health Counselors

CE Broker

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number #50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 6.25 continuing education credits.


Illinois Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. License #: 159-000154. Successful completion of this self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 contact hours.


Kansas Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Provider #14-006. This self-study course has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours.


Minnesota Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Minnesota, Board of Social Work. Provider #: CEP-140. This self-study package has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours. This certificate has been issued upon successful completion of a post-test.


New York Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0008. This self-study activity will qualify for 7.5 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. 


Ohio Social Workers, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider approval #: RCST071001. Successful completion of this self-study course meets the qualifications for 6.25 clock hours of continuing education credit.


Pennsylvania Social Workers, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists

This intermediate activity is approved for 6.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please contact your licensing board to determine if they accept programs or providers approved by other national or state licensing boards. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to participants who are in full attendance and who complete the program evaluation.


California Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Licensed Educational Psychologists

The State of California, Board of Behavioral Sciences will recognize and accept continuing education programs that are sponsored by providers approved by the APA and the ASWB. Full participation in this self-study course will qualify for 6.0 hours of continuing education credit.


UB Online Trauma-Informed Clinical Foundation Certificate- elective course

7.5  Hours


UB Trauma-Informed Care & Counseling Certificate- elective course

7.5  Hours


Other Professions

This self-study activity qualifies for 6.25 continuing education clock hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.



Handouts

Trainer

Paul Brasler, MA, MSW, LCSW's Profile

Paul Brasler, MA, MSW, LCSW Related seminars and products


Paul Brasler, MA, MSW, LCSW, has been a social worker for 25 years. Paul has extensive experience in working with people with substance use disorders, and clients in crisis. Paul has worked in community mental health settings, private practice, emergency rooms, within the court system, and in residential treatment centers, where he had ample opportunities to work with people experiencing crises.

Paul has been a presenter for PESI since 2016, and he has presented classes on mental health emergencies, high-risk clients, and substance use disorder treatment across the country. His first book, High-Risk Clients: Evidence-Based Assessment & Clinical Tools to Recognize and Effectively Respond to Mental Health Crises was published by PESI Media & Publishing in 2019. His second book, A Practical Guide to Substance Use Disorder was published by PESI Media & Publishing in 2022.

Paul lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his beautiful wife, three sons, a rabbit with a serious attitude problem, and a puppy that has ideas on how to manage said rabbit.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Paul Brasler is the owner of Providence Consulting & Education, LLC and has an employment relationship with the Department of Medical Assistance Services. He receives royalties from PESI Publishing & Media. Paul Brasler receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Paul Brasler has no relevant non-financial relationships.


Target Audience

Addiction Counselors, Case Managers, Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, and other Mental Health Professionals

Objectives

  1. Complete a comprehensive mental health assessment that encompasses a multitude of clinical concerns including mental status, lethality, substance abuse and trauma.
  2. Determine when to hospitalize clients struggling with suicidal ideation, substance abuse, medical concerns or violent urges and develop protocols for doing so.
  3. Provide coping strategies and support to clients presenting with suicidal ideation by helping to create a safety plan in session.
  4. Assess for risk of client violence towards others and develop strategies to safely intervene as well as effectively carry out the clinician’s duty to protect.
  5. Determine signs and symptoms of intoxication, withdrawal, or overdose in clients and develop plans for effective intervention.
  6. Differentiate between medical and psychological presenting concerns as they relate to case conceptualization.

Outline

Client Assessment: Ask the Right Questions
  • Conduct comprehensive assessments
  • Strategies for eliciting the right information
  • What to ask yourself as you watch the client
  • Can the client provide informed content?
  • Limitations of the research & potential risks
The Suicidal Client: Recognize Suicide Risk & Effectively Intervene
  • Who is most at risk?
  • Implicit & explicit expressions of suicidal ideation & intent
  • Lethality assessment to protect client & clinician
  • Self-injurious behavior & suicidal ideation
  • How to conduct a suicide assessment
  • Safety planning for clients with suicidal ideation
  • When to hospitalize
  • Voluntary vs. involuntary hospitalization
  • When clients are not admitted to the hospital
The Violent Client: Confidently Manage Dangerous Situations
  • Dealing with our fears: Clinicians’ safety
  • When the clinician is the target
  • When others are the target
  • De-escalation techniques
  • Preventative planning
  • When to call 911
  • The hospitalization process
  • Duty to Protect (formerly Duty to Warn)
The Addicted Client: What ALL Clinicians Need to Know
  • Signs of intoxication
  • Imminent risk: Signs & symptoms of overdose
  • Identify withdrawal syndromes
  • Treatment planning
  • Drug basics that clinicians should know
  • Need-to-know street names of common drugs
  • When and how to refer to a higher level of care
Medical vs. Psychiatric Problems: Recognize the Difference
  • What could kill the client first?
  • Medical emergencies that present with psychological symptoms
  • Signs & symptoms of a medical emergency
The Traumatized Client: When Trauma Becomes High Risk
  • Recognize trauma in clients
  • Dangers of misdiagnosis & improper treatment
  • Strategies for trauma-informed care
High Risk Clinicians: After the Crisis
  • Protect your license with documentation
  • Debriefing & supervision
  • Address vicarious trauma
  • Mitigate compassion fatigue

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