This course is vital for therapists and healthcare providers. As our field advances, we are learning more and more how trauma affects the brain and contributes to poor health, violent relationships, substance abuse, and the self-defeating behaviors many of our clients engage in. As a psychotherapist, assessor, or healthcare provider, you encounter individuals every day who are struggling to overcome trauma of some type or another. For many, alcohol and drugs are the method of coping. And while it is easy to be judgmental, understanding the horrific trauma endured by these individuals and the ultimate effect on their lives can make us much more understanding, much less judgmental, and much more equipped to render the help they need … and deserve.

This interesting yet disturbing course will cover everything therapists and child welfare workers need to know related to domestic violence in the family, from the points of view of the victim, who is trapped, the batterer, who feels justified, and the children, who suffer tremendously.

This course is written by award-winning domestic violence instructors Matt and Susan McMillan. Matt is a former police officer, prosecutor, and judge, and Susan is a licensed mental health counselor and jury trial consultant. They are founders of the first certified batterers intervention program in Florida and are considered pioneers in the field.

Students of this course will come away with a newfound understanding about the myths and realities of domestic violence, the impact on children created by the trauma of exposure, and solutions for healing the wounded family.

Although you may not wish to continue to see clients with these issues, when you finish this course, you will know what to look for, what to do, and what not to do when confronting these issues. You will also know where to refer clients and when to make those referrals as well as understanding the dynamics of these turbulent relationships from multiple angles.

Violence against women has been around as long as…well, as long as women have been around. And the reasons haven’t changed much over the millennia. But the past 30 years of technological advancement has ushered in a sea change of novel tactics and tools used by batterers and stalkers to control, harass, and intimidate another. And for the first time in history, they can do it from a distance. This course, written for therapists, contains useful information for all women and those in same-sex relationships who might have an abuser partner…or ex. This course will cover the technologies used, the tactics employed, and the effects on the victims of batterers and stalkers who use the tools afforded by our internet-connected lifestyles.  Some sage advice for potential victims that can be shared by therapists is included to help avoid one becoming a victim.

Like it or not, Medical Marijuana has come to Florida, and as of this writing, to 29 other states. Soon clients will be coming to your practice possessing a medical marijuana card, if they have not already. It will be essential for you to understand the laws, and to recognize how your clients’ use will impact their health and the therapeutic process. Using cutting edge research, real-life stories, and fascinating videos, this course will give you the tools you will need to be knowledgeable, compassionate and informed on this fast-changing playing field.

This is an eye-opening course that could change your practice. We’ve all heard the news reports about global warming, and seen the extreme weather events around the globe. But what’s that got to do with Psychotherapy?  Get ready to be surprised, saddened, and impacted on a personal and professional level. With just the right mixture of science, emotion, current events and real-life examples, this course will take you through the facts, the myths, the reasons behind the denial about the climate crisis. You will explore the challenges and ethical considerations it brings to our profession. You will see the tremendous, though often hidden, impacts it is having on mental health across the spectrums of age, culture, ability and orientation. Finally, the course will give you the tools to assess your own values in a changing and uncertain world; skills to point your clients (and you) toward a path of resilience and a meaningful future, as we face this most challenging of human endeavors.