Mindfulness or Relaxation? Selecting and Applying Specific Change Strategies with Your Older Patients

ZOOM LINK SENT at 11:59 EST 12/11/23 to last-minute registrants!

CBT clinicians benefit from having a range of first, second and third wave change strategies available as they personalize treatment to their patients.  3^rd wave CBTs utilize mindfulness-based strategies to improve psychological acceptance and reduce emotion-driven behaviors. At the same time, relaxation training continues to be an important change strategy to lower physiological and affective arousal. Relaxation training may be especially important for specific concerns of older adults (e.g., pain management, sleep complaints), yet can be challenging and even misapplied in psychotherapy with older adults. This training helps participants distinguish between relaxation to reduce physical/emotional arousal and mindfulness strategies to promote psychological acceptance. In addition, different types of relaxation strategies (e.g., cued controlled breathing, visual imagery, progressive muscle relaxation) are described and discussed through the lens of work with older adults who have medical comorbidities. Opportunities will be provided to discuss and problem solve common challenges that clinicians may experience in applying relaxation in CBT with older adults. This webinar also unpacks recommendations for using the clinical tools for relaxation training provided in the second half of Workbook Module 2: Skills for Feeling (pp. 53-60) from Treating Later-Life Depression: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach.  Suggested therapist skills for promoting the development and flexible use of relaxation strategies are discussed in detail in the LLD Clinician Guide (pp. 116-126).

CE Learning Objectives:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to

(a) Explain at least two differences between mindfulness and relaxation as change strategies used for a variety of presenting concerns

(b) describe 2 considerations for selecting relaxation training as a change strategy for older patients

(c ) choose from different relaxation strategies for addressing specific presenting concerns.

ABOUT PRESENTERS

Suzann Ogland-Hand, Ph.D.  completed her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of Northern Iowa; her doctorate in clinical psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, CA; & a fellowship in Geropsychology at the Palo Alto VA. She has been practicing geropsychology for over 25 years. After working at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for 18 years, she started a private practice in 2015 in Grand Rapids, MI. She focuses on family caregiving, mental health issues, and treatment-resistant depression across the adult lifespan. Throughout her career, she has also provided training, supervision, and consultation to mental health professionals.

Target Audience

This presentation is intended for licensed mental health professionals and advanced graduate student trainees seeking licensure and with some clinical experience. The instructional level of this presentation is INTERMEDIATE.

Continuing Education

• Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists*. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• This program provides one (1) hour of CE credits.
  
• PBTA is also an authorized provider of CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
• ZOOM VIDEO LINK WILL BE SENT TO  REGISTRANTS 2 DAYS BEFORE & MORNING OF EVENT
• Full attendance with video display is required to obtain CE credit for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed. Registrants can log in to cancel up to 4 days before the event.
  
• Contact PBTAcontinuingeducation@philabta.org if you need any learning accommodations no later than one week before event.
• * PBTA offers CE to ALL licensed psychologists in the U.S.A., including those licensed in the state of New York. If you are not licensed as a psychologist & do not practice in PA -- essentially if you are not certain about whether or not CE credits from an APA-sponsored CE provider meets criteria for ongoing education for your specific board,  please inquire with your respective licensing board to confirm.  
• All events are Eastern Time Zone