Spirituality & Mental Health: What Clinicians Need to Know

Even in this secular age, more than eight in ten people worldwide identify with a religious group (Pew Research Center, 2010), and more than nine in ten Americans profess belief in God or a higher power (Gallup Poll, 2011). Furthermore, consistent research highlights that spirituality/religion can have both positive and negative effects on mental health, and that it is very common for individuals to turn to this domain in coping with distress (Pargament, Koenig & Perez, 2000). For these and other reasons, the statistical majority of psychotherapy patients profess a desire to discuss spirituality with their clinicians (Rose, Westefeld, & Ansley, 2001). However, due to a lack of training most clinicians lack core competencies in how to address spiritual issues in treatment. As a result, this important aspect of patient diversity is often ignored in clinical practice, creating unnecessary barriers to accessing evidence-based treatment.

This webinar will discuss the basics what clinicians need to know about spirituality as it pertains to mental health treatment. Attendees will learn how to conceptualize the clinical relevance of spiritual life based on current research. Attendees will also emerge with concrete skills in how to conduct a brief evidence-based assessment of this domain in the context of treatment for anxiety, depression, and other presenting problem.

Learning Objectives 

At the end of this session, participants will be able to…

1. Describe positive and negative effects of spirituality on mental health
2. How to formulate spiritual aspects of patients lives in clinically meaningful terms
3. How to conduct a brief evidence-based assessment of patient spirituality in the context of treatment

CE Credit Information:

Satisfactory Completion  
Learners must complete an evaluation form to receive a certificate of completion. You must participate in the entire activity as partial credit is not available.  If you are seeking continuing education credit for a specialty not listed below, it is your responsibility to contact your licensing/certification board to determine course eligibility for your licensing/certification requirement.   

Satisfactory Completion  
Learners complete an evaluation form to receive a certificate of completion. You must participate in the entire activity as partial credit is not available.  If you are seeking continuing education credit for a specialty not listed below, it is your responsibility to contact your licensing/certification board to determine course eligibility for your licensing/certification requirement.   

Physicians 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Amedco LLC designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  

Psychologists
This course is co-sponsored by Amedco and ADAA.  Amedco is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  Amedco maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  1 hours.
The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Counselors: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NC, ND, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY
AL / Counselors: Activities not providing NBCC approval may be approved by the Board for individual licensees upon receipt of acceptable documentation prior to the activity.  Please send course details to your licensing board for approval BEFORE the event.  No approvals afterward by the board.
MI: No CE requirements

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Addictions Professionals: AK, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY (outstate held), OK, OR, SC, UT, WA, WI, WY 
MA / MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review. 

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Social Workers: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, ME, MN, MO, NE, NH, NM, OR, PA, VT, WI, WY

Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Amedco 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 under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Amedco maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credits.

The following state boards accept courses from ASWB providers for Social Workers: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NC, ND, NE,  NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY 

The following state boards accept courses from ASWB providers for Counselors: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MO, ND, NE, NM, NH, NV, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY
AL / Counselors: Activities not providing NBCC approval may be approved by the Board for individual licensees upon receipt of acceptable documentation prior to the activity.  Please send course details to your licensing board for approval BEFORE the event.  No approvals afterward by the board.

The following state boards accept courses from ASWB providers for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NC, NE, NH, NM, NV, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY
MA / MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review. 

The following state boards accept courses from ASWB providers for Addictions Professionals: AK, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MO, MT, ND, NM, NV, OK, OR, SC, WA, WI, WV, WY

New York Board for Social Workers
Amedco SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0115. 1 hours.

NBCC
The Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6872. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ADAA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

CAMFT
The CAMFT board accepts credits from providers approved by the American Psychological Association (APA).