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Gerontology

A Training Resource

By Jim Messina, Ph.D., CCMHC, NCC, DCMHS-T
Table of Contents

2. Mental Health Disorders Common in Older Adult Population

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ITTI Webinars for Geriatric Therapists

GOOD NEWS and BAD NEWS and now GOOD NEWS

Good News is that on December 23, 2022, Congress passed the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S.828/H.R.432), a bill which expanded Medicare coverage to include two new groups of mental health providers: Licensed Mental Health/Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.  This legislation signed by President Biden goes into effect January 2024 and adds marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors to the list of health care practitioners who can accept payment from Medicare Part B health insurance. Part B is the component of Medicare that covers outpatient services, such as doctor visits.


Bad News is that most of these therapists and counselors have had no formal training in serving clients who are 65 years or older. 


But the Good News is that efforts are being made such as on this website to expand the training for therapists and counselors in the field of gerontology to catch them up to speed on the needs of this senior population and the evidenced based treatment approaches which assist them in dealing with their mental health concerns. 

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Where Can You Get More Information on 

Working with Older Adults?


Go to ITTI’s Website and Enroll in its 20 module CEU course:

Counseling Older Adults

At:

https://traumaonline.net/counseling-aging-seniors-cas/

 

Counseling Older Adults (COA), 20 CE Hours


ITTI is an approved NBCC continuing education provider. ACEP # 6674

  • DATE: Register at any time
  • DELIVERY METHOD: 20 Modules, Self-Paced Online
  • PREREQUISITES: None
  • CE HOURS: 20
  • COURSE FEE: $219. All course material is provided.
  • INSTRUCTOR: James J Messina, Ph.D., NCC, CCMHC, DMHS-T


COMPLETION DOCUMENT: After successfully finishing the course, you will receive a completion document indicating 20 CE hours earned.


COURSE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • This course is built around 20 modules. Each module is presented as a narrated PowerPoint.
  • At the end of each module participants are expected to pass a quiz with a minimum grade of 80% in order to advance to the next module.
  • Participants must complete the modules in the order they are presented. Completion documentation will be provided after the 20th module.


COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this comprehensive course is to teach participants how to work effectively with Older Adults, to learn about Medicare, and to become advocates for this expanding population as mental health providers in most mental health situations.

This eighteen-module online training will cover the following topics:

  • Module 1. Counseling Older Adults Introduction
  • Module 2. Typical Mental Health Conditions of Older Adults
  • Module 3. Older Adults and SUDS
  • Module 4. Evidence Based Treatments for Older Adults
  • Module 5. Use of MBSR with Older Adults
  • Module 6. ESBT-Motivational Interviewing with Older Adults
  • Module 7. Dealing with Alzheimer’s when Working with Older Adults
  • Module 8. Helping Older Adults Deal with Grief
  • Module 9. Reminiscence Therapy with Older Adults
  • Module 10. Retirement for Older Adults
  • Module 11. Wellness Program for Older Adults
  • Module 12. Dealing with COVID-19 with Older Adults
  • Module 13. Medicare Coverage for Mental Health Services Provided to Older Adults
  • Module 14. Logistics of Paperwork when Dealing with Medicare
  • Module 15. Assessments required by Medicare in getting an Older Adults approved for Mental Health Services
  • Module 16. Three Obstacles to Overcome for Older Adults in Counseling Older Adults
  • Module 17. A 12 Step Approach to Counseling Older Adults
  • Module 18. Advocating for Older Adults a Priority for Mental Health Providers
  • Module 19. Ageism
  • Module 20. Promoting Healthy Longevity