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!

New CE Course: Emotional Regulation: Teaching Children Calm

Emotional Regulation: Teaching Children Calm is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that provides strategies and techniques for helping children navigate their emotions.

Emotional Regulation: Teaching Children Calm is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that provides strategies and techniques for helping children navigate their emotions.

Emotional regulation is the ability to manage one’s emotions in order to respond appropriately to life’s inevitable ups and downs. It assists with competent decision-making, augments memory for critical events, and enables productive interpersonal relations. Inappropriate emotional responses are implicated in academic struggles, social difficulties, and many forms of psychopathology. Although children with emotional regulation issues may be at a disadvantage, adults can employ a variety of strategies to help them succeed.

This course provides techniques clinicians can use to model effective communication in therapy sessions and strategies to assist children with navigating the often confusing world of emotions, giving them the skills they need to manage their own feelings.

Outline

  • Introduction
  • Section 1: Impacts, Causes, and Effects of Emotional Regulation
  • Section 2: Helping Children Follow Directions
  • Section 3: Teaching Children to Deal with Their Emotions
  • Section 4: Empathy
  • Section 5: Teaching Children Calming Strategies
  • Section 6: Prevention – Helping Parents Maintain Calm at Home
  • Conclusion

Course #31-54 | 2025 | 80 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!

50% Off Closeout CE Ends 12/31/2024

It’s hard enough to believe that there are only 2 weeks left in 2024, but even harder (for us) is that in 15 days we will say farewell to some of our favorite, oldie-but-goodie, online CE courses.

Good news for you – there is still time to enjoy 50% OFF all of our Closeout Courses before they are retired on January 1, 2025. Scoop them up while you can and complete them whenever you need the credit – no expiration date imposed by us.

You can now save 50% on these courses in our Closeout Sale:

Closeout Courses for Psychologists
Closeout Courses for Counselors and MFTs
Closeout Courses for Occupational Therapists (OTs)
Closeout Courses for Social Workers
Closeout Courses for School Psychologists
Closeout Courses for Teachers

Click here to view ALL Closeout courses.


Professional Development Resources is 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).

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

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Indicators of Human Trafficking

Course excerpt from Human Trafficking: Identification and Intervention

Potential Indicators of Human Trafficking

Victims and survivors of human trafficking rarely self-identify in the healthcare setting (Alpert et al. 2014) and may be unaware that they are a victim/survivor of human trafficking (Polaris, 2017). Therefore, it is critical for healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about potential indicators of human trafficking.

Victims/survivors of human trafficking rarely self-identify making it critical for healthcare providers to be alert to potential indicators:

Various indicators of human trafficking have been identified by different sources, including that the individual:

  • Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes.
  • Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts.
  • Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp/manager.
  • Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips.
  • Works excessively long and/or unusual hours.
  • Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work.
  • Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off.
  • Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work.
  • High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.).
  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid.
  • Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement.
  • Avoids eye contact.
  • Appears malnourished.
  • Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture.
  • Has few or no personal possessions.
  • Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account.
  • Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport).
  • Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating).
  • Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address.
  • Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in.
  • Loss of sense of time.
  • Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her “story.”

Additionally, these have been identified as indicators of human trafficking in the clinical setting, specifically:

  • Delayed presentation for medical care.
  • Discrepancy between the stated history and the clinical presentation or observed pattern of injury.
  • Scripted, memorized, or mechanically recited history.
  • Stated age older than visual appearance.
  • Subordinate, hyper-vigilant, or fearful demeanor.
  • Inability to produce identification documents.
  • Documents in the possession of an accompanying party.
  • Reluctance or inability to speak on one’s own behalf.
  • Accompanying individual who answers questions for the patient or otherwise controls the pace and content of the encounter.
  • Companion or accompanying individual who insists on providing translation.
  • Companion who refuses to leave.
  • Evidence of a lack of care for previously identified or obviously existing medical conditions.
  • Tattoos or other marks or insignias that may indicate a claim of “ownership” by another.
  • Evidence of any kind of physical violence including torture.

Red Flag Indicators

Specific red flag indicators of sex trafficking, or of labor trafficking with concomitant sexual exploitation/abuse are listed

Specific red flag indicators of sex trafficking, or of labor trafficking with concomitant sexual exploitation/abuse, include:

  • Recurrent sexually transmitted infections.
  • Multiple or frequent pregnancies.
  • Frequent or forced abortion.
  • Frequent relocation to avoid detection.
  • Labor trafficking should be suspected in patients of any age who present with injuries or ailments that could be due to lack of proper protective gear, excessively long work hours, heavy labor with restricted access to food/drink, or physical abuse, for example:
    • Occupational-type injuries without evidence of legitimate employment (e.g., overuse injuries, chemical exposures, exposure to extreme or adverse climate conditions, head injuries).
    • Physical ailments (e.g., dehydration, malnutrition, chronic fatigue), especially when accompanied by vague references to being related to a work situation.

Given that foreign-born nationals are more likely than U.S. citizens to be trafficked for the purpose of forced or bonded labor, the above indicators are especially relevant to patients for whom English is not the primary language.

Indicators of Exploitation of Children

Commercial sexual exploitation should be suspected if children or adolescents (or, in certain circumstances, young adults) present with any of the following features:

  • Presentation to the health care setting with non-guardian or unrelated adults.
  • Access to material possessions that one would reasonably doubt the patient could afford.
  • Over-familiarity with sexual terms and practices.
  • Seemingly excessive number of sexual “partners.”
  • History of school truancy or recurrent episodes of running away.
  • Reluctance to talk about a particular tattoo.
  • Fearful attachment to a cell phone (often used for monitoring or tracking) (Alpert et al., 2014, p. 18-19).

The following have been identified as potential additional indicators of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, specifically:

  • History of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse.
  • Signs of current physical abuse and/or sexually transmitted diseases.
  • History of running away or current status as a runaway.
  • Inexplicable appearance of expensive gifts, clothing, or other costly items.
  • Presence of an older boyfriend/girlfriend.
  • Drug addiction.
  • Withdrawal or lack of interest in previous activities.
  • Gang involvement (The Polly Klaas Foundation, n.d.).

Further, indicators of familial trafficking are unique. Because the trafficking takes place within family networks, “the trafficker may begin grooming the victim at an early age, using their close proximity to take advantage of the child’s developmental stage and inability to verbally express concerns or safety issues” (U.S. Department of State, 2021, Navigating the Unique Complexities in Familial Trafficking, para. 3). In these cases, the traffickers take advantage of the child’s reliance on the family structure, for both attachment and to meet their basic needs (U. S. Department of State, 2021).

When Human Trafficking is Suspected

Upon recognizing one indicator (or more) of human trafficking during a healthcare encounter or when a client has disclosed being trafficked, a provider’s next responses are critical. “Do not try to rescue your patient if you are not yet linked to the protection system available for trafficked persons in your country or area, and do not have proper information on existing referral networks and available services” (International Organization for Migration, 2009, p. 81).

If a health care provider suspects their client/patient is being trafficked, it is important for them to speak with the client/patient privately, particularly since anyone accompanying them may also be involved in their trafficking. Private conversations also help to foster a safe space for clients/patients to share information about what they may be experiencing (Texas Health & Human Services: Texas Human Trafficking Resource Center, 2024).

Human trafficking, commonly discussed under the two broad categories of sex trafficking and labor trafficking, is a pervasive public health issue, globally and in the United States. Human Trafficking: Identification and Intervention is a 1-hour online continuing education (CE) course that will examine the various forms of human trafficking, including the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of domestic minors and children who are foreign nationals, the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of adults, and the labor trafficking of adults and minors. Estimates of the prevalence and scope of these crimes will be discussed. The course will also explore how providers may recognize indicators of human trafficking in healthcare settings and provide trauma-informed intervention. Resources available to assist providers and those impacted by human trafficking will also be examined.

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!

Therapy Tidbits from The National Psychologist

Therapy Tidbits from The National Psychologist is a series of online continuing education (CE) courses comprised of select articles from each edition of The National Psychologist, a private, independent, online newsletter intended to keep psychologists informed about practice issues.

Therapy Tidbits from The National Psychologist is a series of online continuing education (CE) courses created from each edition.

The latest edition:

Therapy Tidbits – Spring /Summer 2024 is a 1-hour online continuing education (CE) course comprised of the following articles:

  • Artificial Intelligence in Behavioral Health: The Lowest Hanging Fruit – Highlights how AI can offer a solution to current challenges and open new possibilities for improving care delivery and therapist wellbeing. 
  • Jewish College Students Under Siege – Offers a brief overview of strategies for supporting Jewish students, families, and university faculty members. 
  • Fighting Antisemitism in Clinical Practice – Provides an outline of the individual steps practitioners can take to combat antisemitism. 
  • New Psychological Research Highlights Factors Fueling Gun Violence Epidemic – Discusses a recent study that suggests males who did not live up to their standard of being masculine, or whose masculinity was threatened, were more likely to be violent. 
  • Considerations for Telesupervision in Mental Health Clinical Training – Explores the benefits and challenges of using technology as part of clinical supervision of master and doctoral-level mental health trainees. 
  • Ethical Dimensions of Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Psychology – Focuses on the ethical use of AI in psychology, cautioning against the possibility of bias in AI algorithms. 
  • Coping with Moral Injury in Mental Healthcare – Explains the concept of “moral injury” and offers strategies for supporting persons who suffer with it. 
  • Gestalt Therapy: Processes that Impact Client Awareness – Summarizes aspects of Gestalt Therapy and describes each impacts patients.

 Course #11-56 | 2024 | 17 pages | 10 posttest questions

Click here to learn more and enroll.

The National Psychologist is a private, independent online newspaper intended to keep psychologists informed about practice issues. Contributions and letters are invited. The editor reserves the right to edit articles and submissions for clarity and/or to meet specific space limitations. Publication staff is not responsible for opinions or facts in bylined articles. Click here to subscribe to TNP.

2023 Editions:

Click here to view the entire Therapy Tidbits series.

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!

Skepticism and Critical Thinking – New CE Course

The Power of Skepticism and Critical Thinking is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines why positive skepticism and critical thinking skills are necessary in clinical practice.

The Power of Skepticism and Critical Thinking is a new 3-hour online CE course that examines why these skills are necessary in practice.

Human beings are endowed with the ability to reason and the need to find connections between things and events. Unfortunately, the need to find connections can be so strong, practitioners and patients can sometimes convince themselves that there are links between treatment plans and patient outcomes, even if there is a lack of evidence to support them. In health care, arriving at the wrong conclusion can be an error of life and death proportions.

These “deductive malfunctions” and other fallacies, heuristics, and biases, are described, discussed, and illustrated in this course. The author begins by defining the concept of ‘critical thinking,’ and follows with a discussion on why practitioners must take an objective approach when evaluating patients, analyzing treatment plans, assessing the effectiveness of interventions, and challenging their own beliefs.

The factors (such as cognitive error, fallacies, assumptions, blind sports, pseudoscience, and quackery) that challenge one’s ability to think critically are highlighted. The author examines strategies for developing critical thinking skills across all ages and provides a review of assessment tools that can be used to gauge the quality of critical thinking before teaching begins and as a measure of progress throughout the training.

The final section of the course provides methods and techniques for cultivating and applying a critical thinking mindset. ‘How-To’ lists for evaluating new treatments, the scientific quality of conference speakers, published studies, and internet content are included.

Outline

Introduction
Section 1: What Is Critical Thinking?
Section 2: Why Do We Need Critical Thinking?
Section 3: Challenges to Critical Thinking
Section 4: Can Critical Thinking Be Learned?
Section 5: Measuring Critical Thinking
Section 6: Cultivating a Critical Thinking Mindset
Summary and Conclusions
Further Information

Course #31-52 | 2024 | 57 pages | 20 posttest questions

Click here to learn more about Skepticism and Critical Thinking

Course Directions

This online course 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. Click here to learn more.


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, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; 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 an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – 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!

Therapy Tidbits – Summer/Fall 2023 CE Available

Therapy Tidbits – Summer/Fall 2023 is a new 1-hour online continuing education (CE) course comprised of select articles from the current issue of The National Psychologist, a private, independent, online newsletter intended to keep psychologists informed about practice issues.

Therapy Tidbits – Summer/ Fall 2023 is a new 1-hour online CE course comprised of select articles from The National Psychologist

The articles included in this course are:

  • Should AI Be Used in Ethical Healthcare Decision Making? – Encourages the reader to consider when and how AI should be incorporated into clinical decision making.
  • Severe Need for More Psychologists – Provides statistics that highlight the supply and demand problem in health service psychology and makes recommendations for encouraging students to pursue a career in psychology.
  • Psychologists’ Ethical Use of Self-Disclosure about Highly Charged Issues – Considers the possible types of self-disclosure and whether self-disclosure can be used ethically in therapy to support client outcomes.
  • How are Tabletop Role-Playing Games Being Used in Therapy? – Describes tabletop role playing games as a tool to engage and support clients in therapy.
  • HIPAA – Must I Comply? It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect – Outlines recommendations for ensuring HIPAA compliance.
  • Iowa Psychological Association Opposes PsyPact – Reviews the concerns of enacting interstate compacts to provide telehealth.
  • Differing Views on PSYPACT – Offers positive outcomes of enacting interstate compacts to provide telehealth.
  • Should Psychologists Refuse Care for Clients They Find Morally Objectionable? – Highlights sections of the APA code of ethics as they relate to providing quality of care for diverse populations.

Course #11-54 | 2023 | 19 pages | 10 posttest questions

  • CE Credit: 1 Hour
  • Target Audience: Psychologists
  • Learning Level: Introductory
  • Course Type: Online

Click here to learn more about Therapy Tidbits – Summer/Fall 2023


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, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; 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 an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – 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!

Aging Challenges for Clinicians – 3 Hours CE

Aging 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.

Aging Challenges for Clinicians is a new 3-hour online CE course that illustrates potential challenges and effective solutions.

There are proportionately more older adults living now than in previous generations due to the post-World War II baby boom. Americans are also living longer, well into their eighties, nineties, and beyond. In healthcare, the volume of older people may soon outnumber the supply of healthcare professionals trained in geriatrics. Therefore, it is vital that healthcare professionals be familiar with the challenges of aging if they are to effectively treat this population.

In section one, we review the physical changes that occur during the aging process and differentiate between normal changes, and symptoms that may indicate possible health issues. We discuss factors that can positively support a healthy lifestyle and offer a list of recommended health screenings and strategies for supporting patients.

Section two focuses on psychosocial issues faced by older adults and the factors that can affect them, including depression, suicide, sexuality, substance abuse, and physical abuse. The negative effect of stereotyping is also discussed. We consider how spirituality, building resilience, having a healthy social life, and having emotional support play a role in psychosocial health.

The cognitive changes of aging are explored in section three. Normal, age-related cognitive changes are compared to changes that indicate signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. We review physical issues that directly affect an older person’s cognitive state and discuss subjective cognitive decline as one of the earliest warning signs of potential dementia. Strategies for maintaining and improving memory, as well as addressing behavior and cognitive issues, are touched on.

In section four, we look at the importance of communication in the patient/professional relationship and note strategies for supporting positive interactions and dialog. Section five provides an overview of the continuum of care for older adults and the challenges experienced by caregivers. A short list of available resources is provided at the end of the course and case examples are provided throughout. Course #31-51 | 2023 | 55 pages | 20 posttest questions

Click here to learn more about Aging Challenges for Clinicians

About the Author

Laura More, MSW, LCSW, has been a licensed clinical social worker for over 40 years and has worked in a variety of practice settings, including: rehabilitation, oncology, trauma, skilled nursing, education, and management. She founded Care2Learn, an online continuing education resource for post-acute healthcare professionals. She has co-authored psychology and nursing books as well as authoring hundreds of online courses. Laura is currently a healthcare author/editor of online continuing education courses, specializing in evidence-based research review. She is the recipient of the 2010 Education Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators.

Course Directions

This online course 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. Click here to learn more.


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, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; 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 an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – 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!

Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia – New Online CE Course

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Practical Guide is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that offers healthcare professionals a basic foundation in Alzheimer’s disease prevention, diagnosis, and risk management.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia is a new 3-hour online CE course that offers practical information for working with clients with AD.

This course offers practical information to aid healthcare professionals as they interact with clients who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dementias other than Alzheimer’s disease will be referenced when information about their specific symptoms or treatment is discussed.

We start by considering the differences between typical or “normal” aging and signs indicative of Alzheimer’s disease. This is followed by a review of the criteria necessary to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and the available evaluations for testing cognition and biomarkers. In section two, we consider the possible risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, such as traumatic brain injury, Down syndrome, cardiovascular risks, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors.

Section three offers insight into new developments in the study and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and provides information regarding reputable sources for further information.

The difficulties caregivers experience are discussed in section four and strategies for supporting those caregivers are provided. Section five presents practical guidance for caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease, including daily care activities, keeping the person safe, and unwanted behaviors.

Section six reviews prevention and compensation strategies to help people protect their cognitive health as they age. This includes modifiable risk factors that have the potential to reduce the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. A special section on protecting our elders from scams is also provided. Course #31-50 | 2023 | 65 pages | 20 posttest questions

Click here to learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia

About the Author

Laura More, MSW, LCSW, has been a licensed clinical social worker for over 40 years and has worked in a variety of practice settings, including: rehabilitation, oncology, trauma, skilled nursing, education, and management. She founded Care2Learn, an online continuing education resource for post-acute healthcare professionals. She has co-authored psychology and nursing books as well as authoring hundreds of online courses. Laura is currently a healthcare author/editor of online continuing education courses, specializing in evidence-based research review. She is the recipient of the 2010 Education Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators.

Course Directions

This online course 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. Click here to learn more.


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, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; 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 an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – 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!

Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes – New Online CE

Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes is a new 1-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines ageist stereotypes and provides strategies to combat them.

Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes is a new 1-hour online CE course that examines ageist stereotypes and provides strategies to combat them.

Ageism is defined as discrimination against older people because of negative and inaccurate stereotypes—and it’s so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t even notice. Ageism includes the tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment or other meaningful activity. If we have the good fortune to live a long life, inaccurate stereotypes about aging will harm all of us.

The first goal of this course is to heighten your awareness of ageism and how it impacts patient care. We will review theoretical constructs of ageism; research evidence of its existence in Western culture and in healthcare in particular; and consider the common negative consequences of this prejudice. The second goal of this course is to consider the ways in which we combat ageism at both the personal and institutional levels. Finally, we will examine both research and case examples of successful or “robust” aging and highlight supercentenarians whose accomplishments provide living proof that disputes ageist beliefs. Course #11-53 | 2023 | 23 pages | 10 posttest questions

About the Author:

Catherine S. Spayd, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in independent, private practice in Duncansville, PA. Dr. Spayd received her Master’s and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology from Penn State University. She completed a pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and a post-doctoral fellowship in geropsychology at Philadelphia Geriatric Center. Dr. Spayd has been a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania since 1991. Before developing a full-time private practice in 2000, she worked for 2 years as a Rehabilitation Psychologist at Mercy Regional Health System, in Altoona, PA. She then created, developed and was Clinical Director for 6 years at PathWays, Bon Secours-Holy Family Hospital’s inpatient and partial hospitalization geropsychiatric programs. Dr. Spayd was appointed as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology in October of 2014.

Click here to learn more about Ageism: Combatting Stereotypes


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, Psychology and Office of School Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners – Occupational Therapy; the Mississippi MSDoH Bureau of Professional Licensure – Occupational Therapy; 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 an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and MFT Board (#RCST100501) and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (#193), Examiners in Psychology, Social Worker Examiners, Occupational Therapy, and Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant  (#50-1635 – 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!