We do not respond to voicemails.  If we do not answer, we are on the line with another client.  Please text or email us.  We respond throughout the day or attempt to call again at another time.

Florida Board of Nursing

It is crucial for mental health and substance abuse professionals to be well-trained in contraband awareness and search procedures to ensure the safety of the patients and staff and the integrity of the program.  This course will enhance professionals in understanding and the management of contraband within their facilities. The program covers a comprehensive range of topics, including identifying various types of contraband, effective and ethical search techniques, and strategies for preventing contraband introduction.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Street drugs are dangerous and plentiful. There is no way to know how strong they are or what else might be in them, but their use remains popular despite the risks.

Given the recent proliferation of new street drugs, it is imperative to remain vigilant and informed about the hazards of substance abuse.

This course will explore Krokodil, Flakka, Bath Salts, Xylazine, Slavia, Spice and others.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Addiction has long been recognized as a chronic disease. However, most addiction treatment has used acute care interventions rather than a disease management approach. For many people seeking recovery, this has created seemingly endless acute treatment episodes. Recognizing this, the substance abuse treatment field is undergoing a shift from an acute care model of treatment to a chronic care approach, known as recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC).

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course explores animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP) theory and practice, focusing primarily on therapy dogs due to their prevalent role in volunteer and professional settings. The historical, theoretical, and practical dimensions of AAP are described so learners gain a foundational understanding of attachment theory, biophilia theory, and human-animal relational theory as they pertain to AAP. The course critically examines the efficacy of AAP through research, outlines challenges, and presents clinical applications across various psychological approaches. It also covers the selection and characteristics of successful therapy dogs, therapy dog registration, and the importance of pursuing advanced training for practitioners interested in integrating AAP into their practice.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Effective hand washing is more than just a routine; it’s a critical skill that can safeguard against spreading infections, prevent cross-contamination, and promote overall health and well-being in professional settings and daily life. In this course, we will delve into the intricacies of hand hygiene, exploring the science behind proper hand-washing techniques, understanding when and why hand washing is necessary, and addressing common misconceptions that may hinder optimal hygiene practices.

This course will give you practical insights and actionable strategies to elevate your hand hygiene practices to the highest standards. From mastering the proper hand-washing technique to implementing hand hygiene protocols in your workplace, our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and skills to protect yourself, your colleagues, and those under your care from spreading infectious diseases.

This course is for staff development and not for continuing education credit.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course examines end-of-life care in a hospital and home setting, how these services are offered, specialized programs, and issues surrounding end-of-life care.

The course also describes the effect a palliative care consultation service has on the terminally ill and their families.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course aims to provide information on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.  This course will overview HIPAA and privacy regulations, define and describe how to handle confidential information, and review the penalties and enforcement specific to the Workers’ Compensation industry.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Healthcare providers use laboratory test results to diagnose disease, determine prognosis, and monitor a patient’s treatment or health status. Current practice shows an increased trend for medical decisions based on simple tests performed at the point of care.

This course will explore the key aspects of CLIA-testing, the oversight, safety, confidentiality, and testing environment.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

When someone is scammed or “catfished,” they are often embarrassed and feel vulnerable and may not reach out to others for support when needed. This course will explore the psychology behind those most vulnerable, those who prey on others, and working with clients who were taken advantage of.

Anyone can be a victim of being scammed regardless of age, education, or socioeconomic position

 

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course identifies strategies for mental health providers to support LGBTQIA+ clients in therapy. It defines the LGBTQIA+ acronym and describes common LGBTQIA+ terminology. Issues impacting the well-being of sexually minoritized clients are detailed, including discrimination and stigma, mental health disparities, and unique stressors such as internalized homophobia. Supportive clinical practices with LGBTQIA+ are illustrated, such as creating an affirming therapeutic environment and building a therapeutic alliance. Strategies for navigating supportive family conversations are detailed.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Vital signs are important indicators of overall health. This course reviews etiologies for abnormal vital signs and discusses an algorithmic approach to assessing abnormal heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Understanding the significance of relapse prevention, identifying common risk factors, and implementing effective strategies are essential steps in helping a client achieve long-term recovery.

This course will explore what addiction and relapse are, the stages of each, how to develop a relapse prevention plan and how to identify triggers.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The importance of cybersecurity in the modern world cannot be understated. Confidentiality of records has always been critical to the population we serve.

This course will explore the necessity of digital security in mental health and substance abuse services and how you can support safer systems.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Fall prevention remains a considerable challenge across the care continuum.  Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of patients fall in hospitals and patient care settings, with 30-50 percent resulting in injury.   This course will explore those most vulnerable to falls and how we can work to prevent injuries.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Eye safety is a critical aspect of maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. This training will delve into the anatomy of the eye, common workplace eye hazards, types of eye wash stations, OSHA requirements, proper usage techniques, and emergency procedures, all with the goal of equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to protect your eyes and promote a culture of safety in the workplace.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Social media can be a great thing. It helps you keep in contact with friends and family across the globe, you can find out about events going on in your area, and you are frequently “in the know” when things happen in your workplace or with a colleague. Occasionally, this real-time, sometimes unfiltered information has led to social media mistakes that lead to hasty firings and individuals who instantly regret their tweets and posts.

This course will explore the effective use of social media, including the pitfalls of using social media, online image, confidentiality, and workplace expectations.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course embarks on a thorough exploration of informed consent within the realms of mental health and substance abuse treatment. It delves deeply into the intricacies of this procedure, considering the ethical foundations, legal requirements, obstacles, and practical consequences that influence the practice of informed consent. By incorporating historical perspectives, ethical frameworks, and practical case studies, this training aims to shed light on the multifaceted aspect of informed consent in mental health and substance abuse treatment. This approach fosters a nuanced comprehension of its essential role in maintaining ethical standards and enhancing patient care.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Effective collaboration supports teamwork and effective treatment. Part of building rapport with clients is communicating and interacting effectively with people across cultures who have varying beliefs and schedules.

In this course, we discuss what cultural competence is, explain why it matters and provide some helpful tips for improving your cultural competence.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Healthcare professionals appreciate the possibility and diversity of ethical issues, but it’s easy to think they’ll never happen to you.

Despite their potentially serious consequences, ethical issues are common, and without preparation and reflection, many might be violated unwittingly and with good intentions.

In this course, you’ll learn how to identify and approach various frequently encountered counseling ethical issues and how a counseling ethics code can be your moral compass.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) refer to disorders that typically manifest from birth and have a detrimental impact on an individual’s physical, intellectual, and emotional development.

It’s not uncommon for an individual to be misdiagnosed with a mental illness before receiving a diagnosis for a developmental disorder.  This course will explore the various types of developmental disabilities and how to differentiate these from mental illnesses.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease.

This course will explore how the different forms of tuberculosis, the signs and symptoms of the disease, how it is diagnosed, and infection control procedures.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will enhance the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding seizure disorders and promote early diagnoses and effective treatments.  Clients with substance abuse issues are at an increased risk for seizures.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Methadone is used for the treatment of opioid use disorder.  It may be used as maintenance therapy or in shorter periods for detoxification to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. Its use for the treatment of addiction is usually strictly regulated. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Office of Treatment Improvement (OTI) provides guidance on the federal regulations governing the provision of methadone treatment for opioid addiction. According to SAMHSA, all staff who work in an opioid treatment program (OTP) that provides methadone must receive training on methadone.  This course will explore the following:

  • The pharmacology of methadone and other opioid agonist medications.
  • The principles of addiction treatment and the role of methadone in treating opioid addiction.
  • The ethical and legal considerations related to the provision of methadone treatment.
  • The potential side effects of methadone and how to manage them
  • The importance of maintaining the confidentiality and respecting the privacy of patients receiving methadone treatment.
  • The proper handling and storage of methadone and other controlled substances.
This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Alcohol Scale Revised (CIWA-AR) is an instrument medical professionals use to assess and diagnose the severity of alcohol withdrawal.  The CIWA-AR is one of the most common assessment methods for alcohol withdrawal.  This course will briefly overview the scale, questions, and validity.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Universal precautions involve an approach to infection control to protect workers from HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens in human blood and certain other body fluids, regardless of a patient’s infection status.

This course will explore the four primary universal precautions, proper handwashing, personal protective equipment and proper cough etiquette.

 

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of substance use disorder records were written out of great concern about the potential use of substance use disorder information against individuals, causing individuals with substance use disorders not to seek treatment.

A risk-managed approach to documentation is a best practice to protect both the client and the professional.

This course will explore 42 CFR part 2, HIPAA, and documentation of substance abuse therapy.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Every year, lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals and outpatient healthcare facilities. Healthcare workers can take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These steps are part of infection control. Proper handwashing, universal precautions, and knowledge can all help to lead the way to prevent the spread of infections.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

A conflict of interest is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that a secondary interest will unduly influence professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest. Common areas where conflicts of interest can occur in mental health and substance abuse treatment include pharmaceuticals, accepting gifts of various kinds, including meals and drug samples that alter treatment behavior, having a financial interest in a medical product company whose products they prescribe, use, or recommend, and self-referrals.

This course will explore these areas and discuss avoiding conflicts of interest.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Severe anxiety can arise after trauma or injury or under persistent stress or extreme change. This course will explore how to distinguish between everyday worry and an anxiety disorder, signs, symptoms, and risk factors.  We will also discuss treatment approaches and how you can help.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Mental health providers engage with highly confidential health information.  Litigation causes threats to confidentiality that can hinder the therapeutic process, cause potential damage to your client, depending on what you write in the record, and can threaten your practice. This course will provide mental health professionals with a better understanding of legal terms, suggestions for handling requests for confidential information, and guidance with documentation.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will explore the Baker Act for involuntary mental illness assessment and treatment.

The term ‘Baker Act’ is formally known as the Mental Health Act of 1971 and is a Florida Statute, but it became the default name for any involuntary hold laws in the United States.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

More than two-thirds of U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical treatments, and more are considering bills to do the same. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production and governmental restrictions, resulting in limited clinical research on the safety and efficacy of using cannabis to treat diseases. Medical marijuana doesn’t always “feel” like a medical treatment or medicine.

This course will explore medical marijuana. We will look at the various ways this treatment is treated differently than other prescribed medications and why. We will also explore how the mental health and addiction fields have changed over the years with issues such as this.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Children are suffering from an epidemic of child abuse and neglect. The issue is larger than ever in the wake of the quarantines from the COVID-19 pandemic. This course will explore statistics of child abuse in Florida. We will explore the types of abuse and the signs and symptoms associated with each. The course will review the requirements, timeline, and procedures for reporting child abuse. Prevention strategies will be presented.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been the industry standard for diagnosing mental health disorders since 1952.  The fifth revision of the Manual was published in May 2013.  The text revision was published in March 2022.  This course will provide an overview of the organization, changes, and transitions from the previous edition and controversies regarding the changes.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Psychedelic drugs are not new. Scientists at pharmaceutical companies have been studying them since the early 1900s.  Indigenous communities around the world have used psilocybin and other consciousness-changing compounds for healing for thousands of years.  In the last five years, a handful of high-quality, albeit small, studies have suggested tremendous benefits from the psychedelic psilocybin for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This course will explore their history, use, risks, and potential.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to the present moment without evaluating whether one’s thoughts and feelings are good or bad. It is a skill developed through meditation or other training.

This course will explore the history and origins of mindfulness, the difference between mindfulness, meditation, and flow, the benefits for the client and therapist, and how it can be used in therapy.

 

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

According to the CDC, half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14 and three-quarters begin by age 24. Many factors may contribute to mental illness, including a history of trauma.

This course will explore emotional and psychological trauma and how these affect individuals over time.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

To develop cultural competence, healthcare professionals need to identify their beliefs and build an awareness of their culture. Cultural awareness makes healthcare providers more open to unfamiliar attitudes, practices, and behaviors. This course will explore how culture and stereotypes play a role in our we see ourselves and our clients.  We will explore how we can shift from cultural competence being about racism, genderism, and ageism, to recognizing and working through our biases and blind spots.   We will examine the implications for counseling theory, research, practice, and training.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Compassion fatigue is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the negative cost of caring. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress or burnout.  It is especially relevant to mental health and substance abuse professionals.   Compassion fatigue describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others.

This course will explore where this can occur, signs of compassion fatigue, and how to help yourself and others.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

What we put into our bodies has the greatest opportunity to affect our health, well-being, and psychotropic drug disposition. This course will explore how to understand better how what we put in our bodies affects our mental health and the medications taken. This will enable us to help our clients get the most out of their bodies, minds, and medications.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Uncertainty is very much a part of our lives. This course will explore how to address fear and anxiety in the midst of the pandemic, protests, and economic concerns.  This course will explore the difference between productive and non-productive worry, fear, and anxiety.  We will look at self-soothing exercises and therapeutic techniques.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Nurses play a primary role in the administration of medications across settings. They can also be involved in dispensing and preparing medications, such as crushing pills and drawing up a measured amount for injections.  This course explores factors that contribute to safe medication administration.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Medical errors comprise the largest issue facing this country with regard to health care. This course was designed to educate those in the health care industry and specifically the mental health field on the magnitude of medical errors, their adverse effects, and methods to analyze errors in an effort to avoid future mishaps.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of substance use disorder records were written out of great concern about the potential use of substance use disorder information against individuals, causing individuals with substance use disorders not to seek treatment.

A risk-managed approach to documentation is a best practice to protect the client and the professional.

This course will explore 42 CFR part 2, HIPAA, and documentation of substance abuse therapy.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will review the statistics and prevalence of domestic violence in our society. We will define domestic violence and its various types of abuse.

The course will review the dynamics of violent relationships. Violent relationships follow a predictable cycle of violence. This course will discuss this cycle and review its patterns and screening methods through multiple case studies. The course will delve into special populations and associated risk factors. Upon completing the course, the professional will understand the specific resources available for those in need.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will explore how culture and stereotypes play a role in our we see ourselves and our clients.  We will explore cultural competency through cultural awareness, beliefs, knowledge, and skills.  We will examine the implications for counseling theory, research, practice, and training.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

An assessment is a basis for understanding the client’s presentation and is the beginning of conceptualizing their functioning into a diagnosis. This continuing education course will explore mental status exams, mental health assessments, alcohol and drug assessments, and the DSM V. We will also introduce the learner to a few popular assessment tools.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded in 1935 to help alcoholics abstain from the consumption of alcohol and to “stay sober” through the sharing of their experiences with others who have had similar experiences in a protected environment.

The 12 Step, the cornerstone of the program, was developed later to help govern the fellowship and to establish a consistent approach to spiritual and character-building endeavors. 

This course will explore the history and efficacy of the 12-step approach.

This course will award 1 continuing education hour.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This workplace violence course provides information on the extent of violence in the workplace, assesses the hazards in different settings, and develops workplace violence prevention plans for individual worksites.

We will explore who is at risk and how violence can be reduced and avoided.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Every day counselors, nurses, psychiatric technicians, and others are called upon to intervene in crisis situations that may become dangerous if not handled properly.

This course will explore the prevention of aggressive behavior and crisis intervention techniques, which can include verbal de-escalation and physical interventions. We will identify the definition of aggression, warning signs of aggressive behavior, strategies to diffuse aggressive situations, crisis intervention techniques, and staff responsibilities after an event.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Patient safety is the absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of health care and reduction of risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum.  An acceptable minimum refers to the collective notions of given current knowledge, resources available, and the context in which care was delivered weighted against the risk of non-treatment or other treatment.

This course will review the need for timely and accurate incident reports, the root cause analysis process, patient rights, terms regarding patient safety, driver safety, and The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care National Patient Safety Goals.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Every year, lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals and outpatient health care facilities. Health care workers can take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These steps are part of infection control. Proper handwashing, universal precautions, and knowledge can all help to lead the way to prevent the spread of infections.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

It is estimated that 60 to 75 percent of adolescents with mental health and/or substance abuse issues have co-occurring disorders.  Commonly documented co-occurring disorders include conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance dependence.

This course will explore the prevalence, warning signs, specific disorders, and treatment options.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

A drug test analyzes a biological sample used to determine the presence of specific substances.  Drug testing is done pre-employment, randomly by employers, after an accident on the job, during probation, by the police, in the prison system, in recovery programs, in hospitals, and by parents.

This course will explore the types of drug tests, what each screen is for, the collection procedure, and the need for consent.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Formerly known as dual diagnosis or dual disorder, co-occurring disorders describe the presence of both mental health and substance use disorders.  This course will explore the definition of terms used, most common substances, mental disorders that co-exist, symptoms, causes, and treatments for co-occurring disorders.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Anger is a powerful, natural feeling. Everyone feels it at some time, and we have the right to feel that way. It’s what someone does with anger that makes the difference.

As clinicians, we aim to help clients learn effective ways to manage their anger. In this course, we will explore anger and its causes, common approaches to anger, the problems with anger, the positive aspects of anger, and anger management.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Affirmative action is a controversial and often poorly understood policy.  In these courses, we will explore what Affirmative is and outline how it operates in employment settings.  We will consider the major points of controversy. In addition, we detail the contributions of psychologists and other social scientists in helping to demonstrate why affirmative action is needed; how it can have unintended negative consequences; and how affirmative action programs can be most successful.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person suffering from either a minor or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life or prevent the condition from worsening. In some cases, it may be the only care someone needs, while in others, it may help them until paramedics arrive or they are taken to the hospital. The best way to prepare for these events is to get official first aid certification, but in addition, or until you are able to do so, this course will offer some basic aid and life-saving steps.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will explore the requirements for reporting child and elder abuse in Florida. The course will list who mandated reporters are, when a report is warranted, and how to make the report when necessary. We will explore the timeline for reporting and the procedures that must occur.

It will award 1 continuing education hour.  Please see the board approval box or course approvals.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The 42 CFR Part 2 regulations serve to protect patient records created by federally assisted programs for the treatment of substance use disorders. Part 2 has been revised to further facilitate better coordination of care in response to the opioid epidemic while maintaining its confidentiality protections against unauthorized disclosure and use. This course will explore these regulations.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

The ASAM Criteria, developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is a widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for placement, continued stay, and transfer or discharge of addiction patients and those with co-occurring conditions.

This course will give an overview of the criteria, levels of care, and best practices crafted through the use of these guidelines.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will explore the types and use of cocaine. We will look at cocaine-related disorders, DSM IV criteria, the cycle of use, addiction process, and treatment for this drug.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

This course will prepare you with the knowledge to respond in an emergency situation. This course follows the guidelines of the American Heart Association, however, it is not meant to replace training with an instructor and will not result in a certification card. This course is intended as continuing education, not certification.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.

Gambling addiction is the uncontrollable continuation of gambling despite the consequences on one’s life. Gambling is addictive because it stimulates the brain’s reward system much like drugs or alcohol can. In fact, gambling addiction is the most common impulse control disorder worldwide.

This course provides a brief introduction to pathological gambling, gambling disorder, and problem gambling as wells as explores signs, symptoms, and treatment modalities.

This course is offered online. Internet connection required.