Continuing Education For Social Workers in New Jersey

This intermediate-level course begins by reviewing early research and the identification of attachment styles. The basic components of attachment theory are explained while also noting potential racial and cultural biases in the theory and research literature. The effects of insecure attachments and parenting style across developmental domains are discussed. Case studies provide opportunities for clinical application of attachment theory, including how a parent's own attachment security can influence that of their children and family system. This course provides information on the effects of attachment types on relationships, communication, the development of mental health related concerns, and personality disorders.

Clinical neuropsychology is a field that combines skills and perspectives from neurobiology, clinical psychology, neuropsychiatry, and behavioral neurology. This informative and practical course discusses what happens during a typical neuropsychological evaluation, how and when to make a referral to a neuropsychologist, and how to read a neuropsychological report. The functional organization of the brain is clearly described with accompanying illustrations that are useful for clients and practitioners. Brain circuitry is described, including the language circuit and brain damage. Participants will learn about the components of a neuropsychological evaluation, such as reviewing patient records; conducting a clinical interview; selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting tests; making behavioral observations; writing reports; providing feedback; and educating clients, families, and other team members.

This basic-level course offers an updated evidence base related to key factors in parental separation and divorce that are associated with positive outcomes for children and families. With an emphasis on the child's best interest, the course walks practitioners through parenting children during and after parents separate based on the child's biopsychosocial and developmental needs. Common problems and appropriate resolutions are described, along with special considerations such as family violence, parental alienation, same sex couples, and relocation. The course focuses on the importance of non-adversarial conflict resolution and continued involvement of both parents in children's lives within a cooperative co-parenting relationship. Case examples illustrate the key learning points throughout the course.

Life transitions such as adolescence are key risk periods for substance abuse. Therefore, substance use assessment and intervention are particularly critical for adolescents. Substance abuse counseling of adolescents is different from that of adults given adolescents' different developmental stages and environments. In addition, the trends of adolescent substance abuse change according to the geographic region, cultural influences, and availability of substances. Participants will learn about evidence-based screening tools that are recommended for use with adolescents who may be using substances.

This course focuses on professional values and identity and the responsibilities of social workers and other professionals in providing ethically sound care to clients. The course provides information about a practitioner's identification and resolutions of ethical dilemmas, including ethical decision making models, the influence of competing professional values on the decision making process, and required professional competencies. The codes of ethics and professional standards from the professions of social work (NASW, 2017), psychology (APA, 2017), and counseling (ACA, 2014 and AMHCA, 2015) are presented.

Research has proven the effectiveness of many different types of counseling for adolescents; however, because research on specific interventions is ever changing, many mental health clinicians and related service providers may not possess relevant and recent knowledge regarding therapies proven to be effective with adolescents. After examining the best practices with adolescents, this course offers specific information on solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), reality therapy, and Adlerian counseling. Overviews of each theory and details of accompanying interventions and appropriate applications are provided. Case examples illustrate how each type of therapy can be applied to hypothetical scenarios. This course focuses on school settings, however the information provided can be applied in various settings.

The number of older adults (age 65 and older) living in the United States is growing rapidly. In coming years, healthcare professionals will face this aging of the population, along with the accompanying health and economic challenges. The purpose of this course is to highlight ethical issues that may confront healthcare and behavioral health professionals working with older adults and their families as these individuals near the end of life. This basic-level course is written for healthcare professionals, including social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists who work with older adults.

Child abuse and neglect continue to be significant problems in the United States. This basic-level course details how clinicians can identify and intervene in cases of suspected pediatric abusive head trauma (PAHT), commonly referred to as shaken baby syndrome. The course discusses the common reasons for PAHT, including community and societal factors, and describes triggers that can prompt caregivers to abuse children. Participants will learn about the evaluation of a child suspected of having PAHT, which entails obtaining a history, looking for common identifying injuries, conducting a physical assessment, and ordering diagnostic testing.

This thought-provoking course examines the interplay of social work, values, ethics, and decision-making processes. Through the use of practice scenarios, social workers will learn how to approach risk management and thorny ethical dilemmas that are common to many practice areas. The course discusses the role of laws and regulations in regard to ethics, highlights the importance of the distinction between legal and moral problems, and describes the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Participants will learn about the dynamics of decision making through discussions of judgment research, the use of natural heuristics, and social and organizational sources of decision error. This intermediate-level course is designed for social workers, but it also serves behavioral health professionals in other disciplines who want to improve practice and enhance risk management.

The course provides information on sexual behaviors in children and adolescents and, in a useful chart format, differentiates behaviors that are normative from behaviors that are concerning. Clinical practices are discussed, such as determining conditions for treatment and gathering sexual health information. Sexual health diagnoses such as sexual abuse, gender dysphoria, sexual addiction and compulsions, and paraphilias are described. This course is designed for social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and other health specialists who seek to better assist clients with sexual health issues.

Alcohol and drug abuse is a major public health concern, affecting every segment of society. Despite recent advancements in understanding addictions, substance abuse remains a significant problem for individuals, families, and communities in the United States and worldwide. This intermediate-level course is intended for social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and psychologists and aims to bring clinicians in varied settings up to date with current trends in use and abuse, and current treatment recommendations.

This intermediate-level course discusses the detrimental effects of IPV on child witnesses, the complex issues and negative sequelae that accompany exposure to IPV, and their impact on the mental health needs of children. Participants will learn about identifying exposure to IPV and reporting cases to child protective services. Case scenarios throughout the course illuminate how clients may present and appropriate responses from helping professionals.

Participants will learn about assessment approaches and treatment planning. A decision-making tree and safety planning and documentation protocols are provided. The course reviews the use of psychopharmacology and of psychotherapies such as dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and attachment-based family therapy. Presentations of case vignettes illuminate key concepts for the various interventions. Special mention is given to clinicians who experience the loss of a patient to suicide. This course is designed for behavioral health specialists, including social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.