New Online CE Course Meets CDR Health Equity Requirement

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) is the credentialing body for registered dietitians (RDs) and dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs). RDs and DTRs are required to complete at least 1 hour of continuing professional education (1 CPEU) related to ethics OR health equity during each five-year recertification cycle. 

Professional Development Resources, a non-profit provider of online continuing education (CE) courses for healthcare professionals, has published a new online course that meets the CDR health equity requirement:

PDR has published a new online course that meets the CDR health equity requirement.

Cultural Awareness in Healthcare is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course designed to examine cultural disparities within the healthcare system. It includes activities aimed at enhancing awareness and fostering greater cultural competence among participants. Course #31-55 | 2025 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Awards 3.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program (Activity #188399 | Performance Indicators: 2.3.1, 3.3.2, 4.3.2, 5.2.2 | End Date: 5/12/2028). This course meets the CDR Health Equity requirement.

Click here to learn more.

The course begins with a definition of cultural awareness, and what it means to be culturally aware. This section will cover various subjects, including cultural competence and intercultural competence, prevalent models of cultural competence, and the influence of factors such as ethnocentrism, individualism versus collectivism, masculinity versus femininity, power distance, tolerance for uncertainty, and short-term versus long-term orientation on cultural awareness. Additionally, the course will address cultural intelligence and the four capabilities associated with cultural quotient.

We will then examine the significance of cultural awareness, addressing various issues such as the misinterpretation of culture within the medical field, which has resulted in healthcare systems that often overlook personal interactions between patients and caregivers. We will also consider the impact of language on cultural comprehension, the disparities in access to life-saving cancer treatments, and the differences in recovery rates among minority groups. Additionally, we will discuss how social isolation and loneliness can elevate the risk of heart attacks and strokes, the implications of individualistic cultures on perceptions of loneliness and the associated stigma, and the contrasting post-career quality of life experienced by Black and White NFL players. Furthermore, we will highlight the disproportionate mental and physical health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities during the pandemic, the cultural variations in the likelihood of receiving bystander CPR, and the heightened risk of misdiagnosis in mental health contexts. We will also explore the connection between cultural awareness and the misinterpretation of emotions, including the ability to distinguish between a genuine Duchenne smile and a feigned one, the influence of racial bias on empathy development, and finally, the detrimental effects of cultural insensitivity on our overall quality of life.

Next, we will examine the ways in which cultural awareness can benefit us. This includes the development of more trustworthy networks, enhancement of affective trust, promotion of open idea sharing and cross-cultural collaboration, and improvement in the effectiveness of educators and managers. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in reducing cultural biases that adversely affect minorities, enabling us to better recognize stressors that are specific to certain cultural groups and comprehend how these stressors may influence health outcomes.

The final section of this course will examine the development of cultural awareness. It will feature a range of activities that can be employed daily to confront implicit biases, enhance understanding of indigenous perspectives, promote conversations with individuals from diverse cultures, and ultimately improve our cultural competence.

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

PDR offers over 150 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals. 

Target AudiencePsychologistsSchool PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapists (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and Teachers

Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.orgClick here for details.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Factors that Lead to Successful Intercultural Interactions

To achieve successful intercultural interactions, it is essential to exercise cultural self-control. Cultural self-control involves self-monitoring to eliminate any behavior or expression that may be deemed unacceptable by another culture (Baehr, 2022).

There are a variety of definitions used to describe cultural awareness. What all these definitions say, in one way or another, is that cultural awareness is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures. Implied in this broad definition is what is known as cultural sensitivity, or the acceptance of people from different backgrounds. Said another way, it is the ability to recognize the differences inherent in diverse cultures without placing any particular value on those differences. That is to say that no specific way of thinking, feeling, or behaving is superior to another. Rather, cultural differences only describe cultures, they do not determine the worth of those cultures.

Cultural competence can be defined as the ability of both parties involved to have a pleasant and successful interaction. Here are 8 factors that lead to successful intercultural interactions.

Cultural competence can be defined as the ability of both parties involved to have a pleasant and successful interaction. Here are eight factors that help to ensure successful intercultural interactions:

Open-Mindedness

In an article titled The Structure Of Open-Mindedness, Jason Baehrdefines an open-minded person as one who “characteristically moves beyond or temporarily sets aside his own doxastic commitments in order to give a fair and impartial hearing to the intellectual opposition” (Baehr, 2022, p. 209). Naturally, to set aside one’s doxastic commitments, one must first acknowledge that they are there. These commitments may have arisen for several reasons, however, fundamentally they exist to avoid cognitive inconsistency and the ambiguity it creates. To be sure, studies have revealed closed-minded people tend to have a much lower tolerance for ambiguity.

Non-Judgmentalism

Defined as the willingness to remain in contact with negative emotions or aversive experiences, a position of non-judgement avoids the creation of a secondary position (the judgement about the negative experience or emotion), and the distancing that arises from this secondary position. In short, it allows us to experience the emotion or experience as it is without making anything of it or putting distance between ourselves and our experiences. In a cross-cultural exchange, as with any relational exchange, be it intrapersonal or interpersonal, judgement separates us from experience. We are no longer a participant in the experience. Instead, we are the judge of it. Not surprisingly, judgementalism is correlated with increased negative affect and depressive symptoms (Shallcross et al., 2022).

Mindfulness

The American Psychological Association defines mindfulness as the awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings. This awareness is the observation of thoughts, emotions, and experiences that can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses (APA, 2018). Like cultural self-awareness, mindfulness acts to identify and recognize our own beliefs, assumptions, and biases, but also to recognize how these things are influencing the present moment.

Cognitive Flexibility

In an article titled Demystifying Cognitive Flexibility: Implications for Clinical or Developmental Neuroscience, Dinah Dajani and Lucina Uddin define cognitive flexibility as “the ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts or to think about multiple concepts simultaneously” (Dajani & Uddin, 2022, p. 23). The switching between different tasks means that we must quickly tend to the task at hand, and, in doing so, integrate new information. In this sense, cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to quickly reconfigure our minds (Braem & Egner, 2019). This reconfiguring of the mind can mean countering past premises, creating new categories of information, and, at the core, accepting new ways of understanding.

Tolerance for Ambiguity

First identified by Else Frenkel-Brunswik while researching ethnocentrism in children, a tolerance for ambiguity was originally observed in connection to authoritarian personalities (Adorno et al., 1950). Today, a tolerance for ambiguity acts to define and measure how well an individual responds when presented with an event that results in ambiguous stimuli or situations. People who are ethnically prejudiced tend to reject ambiguity more than their peers. Moreover, there appears to be an association between tolerance of ambiguity and psychological well‐being (Hancock & Mattick, 2022).

Behavioral Flexibility

Behavioral flexibility is the ability to cope with new stimuli or resources. It involves achieving the same task outcome using different solutions. In a cross-cultural context, it means adapting one’s behavior to meet the expectations of different cultures. For example, some cultures use physical touch regularly in interactions, while others do not. Also, preferences for physical distance vary among cultures (Ranganathan et al., 2020).

Cross-Cultural Empathy

Empathy is the ability to sense others’ emotions and imagine their thoughts and feelings. It involves seeing the world from another’s perspective and sharing their feelings. Empathy helps us connect and understand people from different cultures and backgrounds, both cognitively and emotionally.

Ethnorelativism

Ethnorelativism is the opposite of ethnocentrism. While ethnocentrism views one’s own culture as superior, ethnorelativism accepts and understands that each culture has its own values, beliefs, and norms. It recognizes all cultures as equally valid and important, seeing individuals within their cultural context. Ethnorelativism breaks down the division between in-groups and out-groups (Columbia Business School, 2021.

Keeping these factors in mind will lead to successful intercultural interactions.

Course excerpt from Cultural Awareness in Healthcare

Cultural Awareness in Healthcare is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course designed to examine cultural disparities within the healthcare system. It includes activities aimed at enhancing awareness and fostering greater cultural competence among participants. Click here to learn more.

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – all courses are reported within two business days of completion).

PDR offers over 150 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals. 

Target AudiencePsychologistsSchool PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapists (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and Teachers

Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.orgClick here for details.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

New CE Course: Cultural Awareness in Healthcare

Cultural Awareness in Healthcare is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course designed to examine cultural disparities within the healthcare system. It includes activities aimed at enhancing awareness and fostering greater cultural competence among participants.

Cultural Awareness in Healthcare is a 3-hour online CE course that examines disparities within the healthcare system and provides strategies to combat them.

The course begins with a definition of cultural awareness, and what it means to be culturally aware. This section will cover various subjects, including cultural competence and intercultural competence, prevalent models of cultural competence, and the influence of factors such as ethnocentrism, individualism versus collectivism, masculinity versus femininity, power distance, tolerance for uncertainty, and short-term versus long-term orientation on cultural awareness. Additionally, the course will address cultural intelligence and the four capabilities associated with cultural quotient.

We will then examine the significance of cultural awareness, addressing various issues such as the misinterpretation of culture within the medical field, which has resulted in healthcare systems that often overlook personal interactions between patients and caregivers. We will also consider the impact of language on cultural comprehension, the disparities in access to life-saving cancer treatments, and the differences in recovery rates among minority groups. Additionally, we will discuss how social isolation and loneliness can elevate the risk of heart attacks and strokes, the implications of individualistic cultures on perceptions of loneliness and the associated stigma, and the contrasting post-career quality of life experienced by Black and White NFL players. Furthermore, we will highlight the disproportionate mental and physical health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities during the pandemic, the cultural variations in the likelihood of receiving bystander CPR, and the heightened risk of misdiagnosis in mental health contexts. We will also explore the connection between cultural awareness and the misinterpretation of emotions, including the ability to distinguish between a genuine Duchenne smile and a feigned one, the influence of racial bias on empathy development, and finally, the detrimental effects of cultural insensitivity on our overall quality of life.

Next, we will examine the ways in which cultural awareness can benefit us. This includes the development of more trustworthy networks, enhancement of affective trust, promotion of open idea sharing and cross-cultural collaboration, and improvement in the effectiveness of educators and managers. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in reducing cultural biases that adversely affect minorities, enabling us to better recognize stressors that are specific to certain cultural groups and comprehend how these stressors may influence health outcomes.

The final section of this course will examine the development of cultural awareness. It will feature a range of activities that can be employed daily to confront implicit biases, enhance understanding of indigenous perspectives, promote conversations with individuals from diverse cultures, and ultimately improve our cultural competence.

Outline

  • Introduction
  • Section 1: What Is Cultural Awareness?
  • Section 2: Why Cultural Awareness Matters
  • Section 3: How Cultural Awareness Can Help Us
  • Section 4: How Do We Build Cultural Awareness?
  • Section 5: Awareness Exercises
  • Summary

Course #31-55 | 2025 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Click here to learn more.

Course Directions:

This online course provides instant access to the course materials and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

PDR offers over 150 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals. 

Target AudiencePsychologistsSchool PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapists (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and Teachers

Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.orgClick here for details.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Health Disparities Amid COVID-19 – New Online CE

Cultural & Behavioral Health Disparities Amid COVID-19 is a new 4-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that examines the mental and behavioral health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations during COVID-19.

Cultural & Behavioral Health Disparities Amid COVID-19 is a new 4-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that examines the mental and behavioral health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations during COVID-19.

Health Disparities Amid COVID-19 will address social determinants of health and their influence on mental and behavioral health outcomes for COVID-19. Research findings are presented to assist with the knowledge component of racial and ethnocultural responsiveness. We examine the mental and behavioral health disparities of racial and ethnic minority populations collectively and then separately, highlighting African Americans, Native Americans, and Latino/Hispanic groups.

We will investigate how racism and discrimination, economic inequality, healthcare access and utilization, work and home conditions, and mass incarceration contribute to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates among racial and ethnic minority populations. Poorer mental and behavioral health outcomes for COVID-19 reiterate the importance of addressing health inequalities, responding to systems of oppression, validating intergenerational trauma, removing barriers to healthcare access, and engaging in culturally responsive care.

This course will encourage you to self-reflect on the role of your own racial and ethnic identity. To aid in this process, self-reflection prompts are included periodically to promote the development of cultural humility. These prompts will help with the awareness component of cultural competency. An awareness of our own cultural values, biases, and assumptions is necessary to acknowledge racial bias, stereotyping, and where we are on the scale of privileged to marginalized, thus assisting in developing the skills necessary for the promotion of physical, mental, and behavioral health equity. Course #40-53 | 2021 | 80 pages | 25 posttest questions

Click here to learn more.

Health Disparities Amid COVID-19 provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.


Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Provider #PR001); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy (#BAP346), Psychology & School Psychology (#50-1635), Dietetics & Nutrition (#50-1635), and Occupational Therapy Practice (#34); the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board (#RCST100501); the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs (#193); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.orgClick here for details.

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Cultural Awareness – New ASHA CEU

New Online ASHA CEU Course @pdresources.org

Cultural Awareness in Clinical Practice

Cultural Awareness in Clinical PracticeCultural Awareness in Clinical Practice is a new 3-hour ASHA-approved online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides the foundation for achieving cultural competence and diversity in healthcare settings.

Cultural competence, responding to diversity and inclusion, are important practices for healthcare professionals. This course will help you to gain an awareness of bias and provide strategies to adjust your clinical mindset and therapeutic approach to adapt to “the other” – people who differ in color, creed, sexual identification, socio-economic status, or other differences that make inclusion difficult.

Inclusion is defined as “the state of being included” or “the act of including,” which is something all clinicians should strive for. This course is designed to provoke thought about culture, diversity, and inclusion. Even though research for evidence-based practice is somewhat limited in this area, the concept of cultural competency (however it is defined and measured) is a key skill for healthcare professionals to create an inclusive therapeutic environment. Course #31-07 | 2018 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

This course is offered for .3 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level, Professional area).

ASHA credit expires 11/8/2023. ASHA CEUs are awarded by the ASHA CE Registry upon receipt of the quarterly completion report from the ASHA Approved CE Provider (#AAUM). Please note that the date that appears on ASHA transcripts is the last day of the quarter in which the course was completed. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635). AAUM #5148

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. After enrolling, click on My Account and scroll down to My Active Courses. From here you’ll see links to download/print the course materials and take the CE test (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. Click here to learn more. Have a question? Contact us. We’re here to help!

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Cultural Humility: A Mindset

Cultural Humility

Healthcare professionals have, over the years, wrestled with determining the best way to become culturally competent. Knowledge is important, but Tervalon and Murray-Garcia (1998) suggest that achieving cultural humility is equally important.

The authors note that the standard of competence in clinical training as detached mastery of a finite body of knowledge may not be the best concept in the area of culture. Cultural humility is proposed as the best stance for learning about other cultures. Cultural humility includes lifelong learning, including evaluating and critiquing your own behavior. Power imbalances in the therapeutic relationship must be assessed and addressed to develop a non-paternalistic, mutually beneficial relationship that includes advocacy for both individuals and groups.

The National Association of Social Workers (2015) includes humility in its cultural standards. Social workers are expected to “demonstrate cultural humility and sensitivity to the dynamics of power and privilege in all areas of social work” (pg 4).

Cultural humility is defined as learning about a person’s culture and then communicating, offering help and sharing decision making, when working with people at the micro, mezzo and macro level. It is an “other-oriented” mindset that focuses on how the person’s social experiences affect their behavior.

The healthcare professional listens and learns, rather than taking an authoritarian stance. The person being served is, after all, the expert in the way their culture affects their lives. Empowerment flows from the validation of the person in their culture.

This is a lifelong process. Researchers have described the process as a constant state of “being-in-becoming.” A lifelong commitment to learning and becoming more and more competent in multicultural and social justice is required, as well as the willingness to apply cultural humility to your practice.

Course excerpt from:

Cultural Awareness in Clinical PracticeCultural Awareness in Clinical Practice is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides the foundation for achieving cultural competence and diversity in healthcare settings.

Cultural competence, responding to diversity and inclusion, are important practices for healthcare professionals. This course will help you to gain an awareness of bias and provide strategies to adjust your clinical mindset and therapeutic approach to adapt to “the other” – people who differ in color, creed, sexual identification, socio-economic status, or other differences that make inclusion difficult.

Inclusion is defined as “the state of being included” or “the act of including,” which is something all clinicians should strive for. This course is designed to provoke thought about culture, diversity, and inclusion. Even though research for evidence-based practice is somewhat limited in this area, the concept of cultural competency (however it is defined and measured) is a key skill for healthcare professionals to create an inclusive therapeutic environment. Course #31-07 | 2018 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Course Directions

Our online courses provide instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. Click here to learn more. Have a question? Contact us. We’re here to help!

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Are You Culturally Competent?

Are you culturally competent?

Multicultural awareness – which refers to an awareness of, comfort with, and sensitivity toward issues of cultural diversity – has been emphasized through decades of policy reforms, is often taught in health care professions, and from all perspectives, is becoming more important every day.

What we believe about other cultures has a tremendous impact on how effective we are when working with them. One study found that multicultural beliefs are tied to student teachers’ ability to create strong and nurturing classroom environments, measured during student teaching observations by master teachers (Cherng & Davis, 2017).

Interestingly, this same study also found that Black and Latino preservice teachers report greater multicultural awareness than their White counterparts, and that prior experience working with minority cultures is linked to greater multicultural awareness (Cherng & Davis, 2017).

Being aware of cultural differences also becomes crucial when working with families after a suicide. According to Karen Rizzo MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED), suicide “is an alarming public health problem that needs to be addressed in a clinically compassionate way being culturally sensitive to the needs of those seeking to find answers to their personal loss” (Rizzo, 2012).

As Rizzo notes, the warning signs of suicide typically involve factors like previous suicide attempts, feeling alone, drug use, a family history of suicide, a history of depression, stressful life events and access to lethal methods, but can very according to an individual’s culture (Rizzo, 2012).

How much a person identifies with their culture can also influence their sense of belonging, well-being, and according to work done by Led by Kamaldeep Bhui, Professor of Cultural Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Barts, predicts their mental health later in life (Bhui et al., 2016).

Working effectively with people from different cultures means not just understanding the cultural norms, expectations, and pressures of an individual’s culture, but also how the individual experiences them. They may be highly identified with their culture and finding a sense of belonging in it, they may be resisting their culture in favor of integrating more fully into the majority culture, and they may not know how they feel about their culture, or the majority culture in which they live. All of these factors demand a culturally competent and sensitive approach – one that overcomes biases, stigmas, and includes the client in the process of improving mental health.

By Claire Dorotik-Nana, LMFT

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Courses:

Cultural Awareness in Clinical PracticeCultural Awareness in Clinical Practice is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides the foundation for achieving cultural competence and diversity in healthcare settings. Cultural competence, responding to diversity and inclusion, are important practices for healthcare professionals. This course will help you to gain an awareness of bias and provide strategies to adjust your clinical mindset and therapeutic approach to adapt to “the other” – people who differ in color, creed, sexual identification, socio-economic status, or other differences that make inclusion difficult. Inclusion is defined as “the state of being included” or “the act of including,” which is something all clinicians should strive for. This course is designed to provoke thought about culture, diversity, and inclusion. Even though research for evidence-based practice is somewhat limited in this area, the concept of cultural competency (however it is defined and measured) is a key skill for healthcare professionals to create an inclusive therapeutic environment. Course #31-07 | 2018 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention: Evidence-Based Strategies is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that reviews evidence-based research and offers strategies for screening, assessment, treatment, and prevention of suicide in both adolescents and adults. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In 2015, 44,193 people killed themselves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, “Suicide is a serious but preventable public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities.” People who attempt suicide but do not die face potentially serious injury or disability, depending on the method used in the attempt. Depression and other mental health issues follow the suicide attempt. Family, friends, and coworkers are negatively affected by suicide. Shock, anger, guilt, and depression arise in the wake of this violent event. Even the community as a whole is affected by the loss of a productive member of society, lost wages not spent at local businesses, and medical costs. The CDC estimates that suicides result in over 44 billion dollars in work loss and medical costs. Prevention is key: reducing risk factors and promoting resilience. This course will provide a review of evidence-based studies so that healthcare professionals are informed on this complex subject. Information from the suicide prevention technical package from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be provided. Included also are strategies for screening and assessment, prevention considerations, methods of treatment, and resources for choosing evidence-based suicide prevention programs. Course #30-97 | 2017 | 60 pages | 20 posttest questions

These online CE courses are sponsored by:

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Addiction and Cultural Competence

Addiction and Cultural Competence –  A Looming Concern

Addiction, it has been said, is a condition that crosses all socioeconomic, gender, age, and cultural lines. The more we learn about addiction, the more it seems that anyone, from anywhere, regardless of their background, can fall prey – especially when we consider the wide range of substances that people can become addicted to.

And no longer are addictions exclusive to illegal drugs or alcohol. In fact, prescription medication addiction – one of the fastest growing categories of addiction – is becoming increasingly common. As addictive pain medications like oxycodone are prescribed with greater frequency and wider range, the reality is that more people from are being exposed to potentially very addictive medications.

With greater exposure to addictive pain medication a broader range of people are being exposed – and that means people from a variety of cultures.

The implication, as one study led by researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry evidences, is that people of Chinese and South Asian cultures may experience more severe mental illness at the time of hospital admission that other patients (Chiu et al., 2016).

Another implication is that Asian tobacco companies are now poised to enter the global market, which is likely to mean more people smoking – and addicted to tobacco – nationwide (Lee et al., 2017).

With a wider range of cultures exposed to addictive substances – and having them directly marketed to them – the concept of cultural competence becomes increasingly important for those clinicians who treat addiction.

Knowing what is expected and considered appropriate for each culture is a critical competent of establishing rapport with patients from different cultures. For example, one study found that handshaking – a Western staple greeting – is viewed more positively by Westerners than East Asians (Katsumi et al., 2017).

It is these social norms, argue sociologists, that govern our lives by giving us implicit and explicit guidance on what to think and believe, how to behave, and how to interact with others. When following the social folkways, mores, taboos, and laws of those from another culture, we gain a feeling of trust from them – which in the clinical setting, is indispensable.

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Courses:

Improving Cultural Competence in Substance Abuse TreatmentImproving Cultural Competence in Substance Abuse Treatment is a 4-hour online continuing education (CE) course that proposes strategies to engage clients of diverse racial and ethnic groups in treatment. Culture is a primary force in the creation of a person’s identity. Counselors who are culturally competent are better able to understand and respect their clients’ identities and related cultural ways of life. This course proposes strategies to engage clients of diverse racial and ethnic groups (who can have very different life experiences, values, and traditions) in treatment. The major racial and ethnic groups in the United States covered in this course are African Americans, Asian Americans (including Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders), Latinos, Native Americans (i.e., Alaska Natives and American Indians), and White Americans. In addition to providing epidemiological data on each group, the course discusses salient aspects of treatment for these racial/ethnic groups, drawing on clinical and research literature. While the primary focus of this course is on substance abuse treatment, the information and strategies given are equally relevant to all types of health and mental health treatment. Course #40-39 | 2015 | 75 pages (54 w/o references) | 30 posttest questions

Prescription Drug Abuse CE CoursePrescription Drug Abuse is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines the misuse of prescription drugs (including opioids) in the United States. Misuse of prescription drugs means “taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed; taking someone else’s prescription, even if for a legitimate medical complaint such as pain; or taking a medication to feel euphoria” and is a serious public health problem in the United States. When taken as prescribed, medication can be of great benefit to a patient, helping reduce pain, save lives, and improve one’s overall quality of life. However, when individuals misuse their prescribed medications or take medications not prescribed to them, the consequences can be disastrous. Illicit drug use, including the misuse of prescription medications, affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Among other deleterious effects, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, and lung disease can all be affected by drug use. The important thing to remember is that the medications are not inherently bad in and of themselves – it is how people use (and abuse) them that creates a problem. This course will discuss what drives people to abuse prescription drugs and how they obtain them; diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder; history and progression of prescription drug abuse, including types and classes of drugs used; and the cost of prescription drug abuse on addicts and non-addicts alike. The course will then review the sequence of treating individuals who have a prescription drug use disorder, including screening, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance. Screening tools, assessment instruments, treatment programs, and evidence-based recommendations are included. Comorbidity between substance use disorder and mental disorders is also discussed. Course 31-00 | 2018 | 50 pages | 20 posttest questions

Cultural Awareness in Clinical PracticeCultural Awareness in Clinical Practice is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides the foundation for achieving cultural competence and diversity in healthcare settings. Cultural competence, responding to diversity and inclusion, are important practices for healthcare professionals. This course will help you to gain an awareness of bias and provide strategies to adjust your clinical mindset and therapeutic approach to adapt to “the other” – people who differ in color, creed, sexual identification, socio-economic status, or other differences that make inclusion difficult. Inclusion is defined as “the state of being included” or “the act of including,” which is something all clinicians should strive for. This course is designed to provoke thought about culture, diversity, and inclusion. Even though research for evidence-based practice is somewhat limited in this area, the concept of cultural competency (however it is defined and measured) is a key skill for healthcare professionals to create an inclusive therapeutic environment. Course #31-07 | 2018 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Cultural Awareness in Clinical Practice

New Online CE Course @pdresources.org

Cultural Awareness in Clinical PracticeCultural Awareness in Clinical Practice is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides the foundation for achieving cultural competency and diversity in healthcare settings.

Cultural competence, responding to diversity and inclusion, are important practices for healthcare professionals. This course will help you to gain an awareness of bias and provide strategies to adjust your clinical mindset and therapeutic approach to adapt to “the other” – people who differ in color, creed, sexual identification, socio-economic status, or other differences that make inclusion difficult.

Inclusion is defined as “the state of being included” or “the act of including,” which is something all clinicians should strive for. This course is designed to provoke thought about culture, diversity, and inclusion. Even though research for evidence-based practice is somewhat limited in this area, the concept of cultural competency (however it is defined and measured) is a key skill for healthcare professionals to create an inclusive therapeutic environment. Course #31-07 | 2018 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Click here to learn more.

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. After enrolling, click on My Account and scroll down to My Active Courses. From here you’ll see links to download/print the course materials and take the CE test (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. Click here to learn more. Have a question? Contact us. We’re here to help!

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

Aging: Challenges for Clinicians

New Online CE Course @pdresources.org

Aging: Challenges for CliniciansAging: Challenges for Clinicians is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that provides a review of the aging process, illustrating potential challenges and effective solutions.

Americans are living longer and there are proportionately more older adults than in previous generations due to the post-World War II baby boom. Many Americans are now living into their eighties and beyond. In healthcare, the volume of older people may soon outnumber the supply of healthcare professionals trained in geriatrics.

Aging presents many challenges for people as they encounter new physical and psychosocial issues. It is vital for healthcare professionals to be familiar with the challenges of aging in order to effectively treat the aging population. This course will provide information on the normal process of aging, and point out problems commonly thought to be normal that require medical or psychological evaluation and treatment. Case examples will illustrate scenarios of aging persons who may be at risk but are not aware there is a problem. Use this information for referral as appropriate to ensure the highest level of functioning for your patients.

Course #31-01 | 2017 | 54 pages | 20 posttest questions


Click here to learn more.

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. After enrolling, click on My Account and scroll down to My Active Courses. From here you’ll see links to download/print the course materials and take the CE test (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document). Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion.

Professional Development Resources is approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Provider #PR001); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy (#BAP346), Psychology & School Psychology (#50-1635), Dietetics & Nutrition (#50-1635), and Occupational Therapy Practice (#34); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board (#RCST100501); the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs (#193); and the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).