Clinical Intervention Workshops

We offer workshops and follow-up consultation in a number of clinical interventions. Our education services range from brief lectures giving an overview of an intervention to several day workshops followed by ongoing consultation. We are flexible to meet the needs of your organization.

If you are an individual clinician who is interested in attending one of our workshop, please contact us so we can keep you updated on our next available training opportunity.

Behavioral Family Therapy (BFT)

This workshop is designed to introduce mental health and rehabilitation professionals to the procedures and interventions integral to Behavioral Family Therapy, a comprehensive program of care that research has shown to significantly reduce the risk of relapse of individuals diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness and increase the quality of life and social functioning. Behavioral Family Therapy has three main components – family education, training in communication skills, and training in problem-solving skills. This intervention has also been adapted and tested with individuals with a co-occurring substance use disorder. Training is also available for Multi-Family groups, which provides training in Behavioral Family Therapy as applied to a group format.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Dual Disorders (SMI and SUD)

CBT-DD is a manualized, individual and group intervention targeting substance use, psychiatric symptoms, and HIV risk behaviors. Techniques used in the intervention include psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, and cognitive-behavioral approaches for substance abuse, severe mental illness, and HIV-prevention (including relapse prevention, social skills training and coping skills training). The intervention is an amalgamation of several evidence-based interventions for persons with substance use disorders, severe mental illness, and dual disorders.

Crisis Intervention Teams Training

The Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) Training is a promising practice in law enforcement workforce development designed to improve the outcomes of police interactions with people with mental illnesses. At the heart of the initiative is the identification and development of experienced patrol officers who possess advanced expertise in interacting effectively and appropriately with the mentally ill, as well as working with other mental health and community support services to facilitate appropriate interactions and referrals with these populations. Desired outcomes of the training include increased citizen and officer safety and more appropriate involvement in community-based services for individuals who come to the attention of law enforcement, but who do not meet the threshold for arrest. The CIT training model originated in the Memphis Police Department, but it is intended to be modified to meet the unique needs of local law enforcement agencies. Core components of this 40-hour training include the presentation of basic information about mental illnesses and how to recognize them, information about the local mental health system and local laws, learning first-hand from consumers and family members about their experiences, basic and advanced verbal de-escalation training and role play experience, and site visits to community facilities serving individuals with mental illness.

Family Consultation

Family Consultation is a brief intervention designed to integrate the consumer’s family and/or chosen supports into their recovery process. The intervention is typically 1-3 sessions with a maximum of 5 session. This workshop will cover how to engage the consumer, how to engage family members, how to conduct family consultation sessions, and how to follow-up with the family to determine ongoing needs.

Metabolic Monitoring and Management of Antipsychotic Medications

Weight gain, obesity, and resultant medical problems are increasingly recognized as critical side-effects and pervasive problems among individuals on antipsychotic medications. This workshop describes the metabolic problems associated with antipsychotic medications and reviews the current recommendations for metabolic monitoring and management of patients on antipsychotics. Obstacles to implementation of routine monitoring and strategies to overcome these obstacles will be discussed.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, directive, client-centered approach that elicits behavior change by exploring and resolving ambivalence regarding change, a problem all too common among individuals with a substance use disorder. This workshop will teach participants the fundamentals of MI and provide participants with an opportunity to explore creative ways of integrating these methods into various treatment approaches. Participants will practice MI through role playing and discussion.