The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated an immediate and large-scale uptake of mental health attentiveness and demands on therapists. The pandemic has heightened anxiety, depression and racial and political unrest which in turn is compounding clients’ stress. Therapists are struggling trying to strike a balance between meeting the increased demand for services and managing their schedules in a conducive way to sustain their own mental health. Therapists are experiencing busier schedules, clients with increased trauma, their own pandemic-related stressors and compassion fatigue – all leading to burnout.
Getting a grasp on self-care is critical for therapists and clients. It is furthermore important to enhance our knowledge about the many interacting forces, social determinants, that between them shape individual and collective levels of mental health and well-being, and set out actions to promote and protect good mental health. While we find ourselves in a place and time of uncertainty and suffering, we need to work towards transformation versus adaptation.
Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate at least three effects of social systems on a client’s mental health
- Describe the impacts of self-reflection as a professional in the mental health field impacting on the therapist’s mental health and client outcomes
- Explore three ways that stigma and trauma and affect the mental health perceptions of various communities and their willingness to seek treatment
Our Presenter
Rwenshaun Miller, MA, LCMHC, NCC
Rwenshaun Miller is an accomplished author, motivational speaker, counselor, consultant and philanthropist who has dedicated his life and career to, not only reshaping the negative connotations often associated with mental health, but also directly impacting the lives of those living with mental health challenges. Of all his accolades and roles, Mr. Miller proudly first serves as a Mental Health Change Agent. As a result, Mr. Miller has globally impacted the lives of many through his awareness efforts.
Mr. Miller’s relentless passion and commitment derived from his personal experience living with Bipolar Disorder. Through his journey, Mr. Miller initially encountered similar challenges many face, including that of acceptance of a mental health diagnosis. Eventually, Mr. Miller decided to not allow this diagnosis to define and debilitate him realizing that Bipolar Disorder is not what defines who he is. Thus, he embarked on a path to help uplift, empower, encourage and teach others who live with mental health challenges how to “thrive” in life.
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Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit.
