2024 Professional Continuing Education Online Webinar
When Clients Use Cannabis: A Mental Health Clinician’s Guide
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Online Workshop – Three (3) CE Credits
Fee: $39/person
FREE for Active PBC Volunteer Clinicians
Featured Presenter: Ashley Wynn-Grimes, MS, RN-BC
Session Description: Recently, significant changes have occurred in the legal landscape of cannabis, with 38 states implementing some form of medical and recreational cannabis programs. Additionally, hemp/CBD remains federally legal in all 50 states. Current statistics indicate that 33% of adults have reported using cannabis within the past 12 months, reflecting a growing trend year by year.
In light of these developments, there is a recognized need for a shift in perceptions and approaches towards cannabis, particularly in healthcare and social work. As a healthcare provider, it is crucial to differentiate the intent behind cannabis use. This distinction becomes equally important for social workers, allowing for a more ethical and holistic approach to client support. Cannabis consumers can fall into various categories, including recreational users, self-medicating recreational users, medical cannabis patients consuming recreationally, and medical cannabis patients following a deliberate medical regimen.
The legal complexities surrounding cannabis use contribute to a grey area for healthcare providers. The overarching goal is to eliminate this ambiguity by educating professionals who interact with patients and by educating the patients themselves. By fostering understanding and awareness, professionals can navigate the complexities of medical cannabis consumption more effectively, ultimately promoting a more informed and ethical approach to patient care.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Explore varying viewpoints of cannabis outside of the mainstream narrative to enhance understanding of use.
- Describe the current state of legalization of medical and recreational cannabis use in the state/jurisdiction in which they practice.
- Discuss the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptors, cannabinoids, and the interactions between them to confidently discuss cannabis with patients in a professional manner
- Identify the safety considerations for client use of cannabis.
- List various methods of consumption.
Presenter Bio: Ashley Wynn-Grimes, MS, RN-BC
Ashley Wynn-Grimes, MS, RN and Reiki Master, is the founder of Let’s Reignite, a space where transformation, spirituality, and holistic healing come together. She is also the author of the children’s book “Asa’s Medicine” and the book “Stigmatized.”
In 2021, Ashley was honored as one of Baltimore Business Journal’s Leaders in Health Care. A native of Baltimore, MD, she is a Black female entrepreneur and a widely respected medical professional. Ashley is dedicated to empowering patients and nursing professionals to make informed wellness choices through impactful educational medical programs. These programs promote diverse representation and increased resiliency in those she serves.
Ashley believes that we are all necessary to shift healthcare perspectives to be inclusive of holistic and spiritual practices.
Workshop registrants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the workshop start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors and Therapists certify that this program meets the criteria for three (3) credit hours of continuing education for social workers (Category 1), professional counselors, and therapists (Category A) licensed in Maryland.
CE credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at individual workshops. Attendance is monitored. Credit will not be granted to registrants who log on late or depart early from a session. It is the responsibility of registrants to comply with these requirements.
Please note that upon attendance verification, you will receive your CE certificate within four weeks via email. Please add Pro Bono Counseling to your contacts and check your SPAM folder to ensure delivery.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Workshop Views Disclaimer
The views expressed by the workshop presenter(s) and participants are their own opinions and do not represent Pro Bono Counseling, and do not imply an endorsement of them or the organizations they represent.
General Consultation and Peer Support for Pro Bono Counseling Mental Health Clinicians
- Meets twice per month through a virtual platform. First Mondays from 3:oo – 4:00 PM and Third Wednesdays from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
- Open to Pro Bono Counseling volunteers
- Led by Anne Devaughn, LCSW-C, a Pro Bono Counseling volunteer since 2009
- If interested, email Anne to be added to Zoom invitation list
Can’t make it to spin class but still want to support Pro Bono Counseling? CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Trauma Consultation – Peer Group Meeting for Pro Bono Counseling Mental Health Clinicians
- Monthly meetings through a virtual platform. The third Thursday of each month from 7:00 – 8:00 PM.
- Open to Pro Bono Counseling volunteers. Limited spaces available due to demand.
- If interested, email PBC Outreach Coordinator (yswain@probonocounseling.org) to inquire about availability to join.
- Led by Bethan McGarry , LCSW-C, a Pro Bono Counseling volunteer since 2022
- Bio: Bethan McGarry (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, enthusiastic Baltimore City resident, and committed lifelong learner. Bethan has worked in settings from elementary school to in-patient psychiatry unit, and through in-depth experience in crisis care feels strongly that trauma-informed and person-centered connection is a vital path to healing at both an individual and a structural level. Bethan is committed to providing unconditional regard and a growth mindset in their therapeutic partnership, and enjoys supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families in navigating life transitions and periods of adjustment. They strive to provide culturally responsive care to a wide range of individuals seeking counseling support. Bethan is committed to anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and LGBTQ-affirming care and brings both a systems-analysis and spiritual lens to therapeutic work. Bethan enjoys YA fiction, crossword puzzles, and coffee shops within walking distance, and has been gratefully involved with PBC since fall 2022 as a volunteer clinician, trauma consult group participant, and now peer group co-facilitator.
2024 Professional Continuing Education Online Webinar
Intersections of Care: Key Considerations for Providing Affirming Care to LGBTQIA+ Adolescent Populations
Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 1:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Online Workshop – Three (3) CE Credits
Fee: $39/person
FREE for Active PBC Volunteer Clinicians
Featured Presenter: Lee Westgate, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C
Session Description: LGBTQIA+ adolescents uniquely experience discovering their identity against all odds. With the widening of awareness and interest in serving LGBTQIA+ adolescents, there is a need to equip providers with information on how to effectively and ethically engage these populations. In addition, providers must acknowledge the resilience and nuanced barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ youth. Lastly, there is a need to recognize that each developmental stage comes with a new task and a new crucible moment that may simultaneously involve increased self-awareness and the consequences of self-disclosure. The latter presents a particularly unique set of challenges faced by adolescents who must routinely negotiate the spaces between self, family of origin, and the larger social context. This in-depth training will provide insights about the challenges of serving LGBTQIA+ adolescent populations, the importance of utilizing a strengths and resiliency framework, and the pivotal role that providers can play in providing equitable and ultimately life-saving care to LGBTQIA+ adolescents.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Discuss an overview of the unique risks and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ adolescents.
- Apply these challenges within both a trauma-informed care and minority stress frameworks.
- Identify key ethical challenges related to the provision of care.
- Utilize best practices for effective engagement and implementation through affirming care.
Presenter Bio: Lee Westgate, MSW, MBA, LCSW-C
Lee Westgate, MSW, MBA, LCSW-C, LCSW (he/ him/ his) is a transgender advocate with more than 15 years of professional experience in social work policy, practice, research, and education. He is a board approved clinical supervisor in the state of Maryland, has held numerous organizational leadership roles, and has served as an educational consultant to a variety of associations and organizational clientele. He has served as a medical social worker in the fields of oncology, critical care, as well as in integrated behavioral health settings.
Mr. Westgate has participated in a CSWE-sponsored National Trauma Task Force workgroup that focused on the intersection of ethics and trauma-informed practice, and he was awarded an immersion fellowship through Boston University to study addiction and behavioral health. He has participated in the AIDS Education and Training Center on behalf of the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, MD since 2017 and participated in the MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Workgroup on COVID and HIV. Mr. Westgate continues to serve as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and his scholarship includes integrated behavioral health, clinical work with LGBTQIA+ populations, working with individuals with chronic and life-threatening illness, healthcare policy, and health equity. As a faculty member, he has received numerous teaching awards including the Alumni of the Year Award of 2024, the Energizer Faculty Award of 2023, Camara Jones Faculty Award of 2022, Innovation in Social Work Award of 2022, Exemplary Faculty Member of the Year Award along with the Dean’s Teaching Award for several consecutive semesters. He has been published in The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, The New Social Worker, The Journal of Employee Assistance, Infusion Magazine, Provider Magazine, and Social Work Today.
Workshop registrants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the workshop start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors and Therapists certify that this program meets the criteria for three (3) credit hours of continuing education for social workers (Category 1), professional counselors, and therapists (Category A) licensed in Maryland.
CE credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at individual workshops. Attendance is monitored. Credit will not be granted to registrants who log on late or depart early from a session. It is the responsibility of registrants to comply with these requirements.
Please note that upon attendance verification, you will receive your CE certificate within four weeks via email. Please add Pro Bono Counseling to your contacts and check your SPAM folder to ensure delivery.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Workshop Views Disclaimer
The views expressed by the workshop presenter(s) and participants are their own opinions and do not represent Pro Bono Counseling, and do not imply an endorsement of them or the organizations they represent.
Harambee Support Group
- Meets monthly through a virtual platform. Last Friday of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 PM PM
- Open to Pro Bono Counseling volunteers who identify as Black or African American
- Led by Pro Bono Counseling Volunteers Tanya Bryant-Nickens, LCSW-C, LCSW, and NaTasha Benjamin, LCPC, PMH-C
- If interested, email Yolonda Nelson Swain to be added to Zoom invitation list
2024 Professional Continuing Education Online Webinar
Considering the Full Continuum: Integrating Both Positive and Adverse Experiences into Therapeutic Practice
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Online Workshop – Two (2) CE Credits
Fee: $29/person
FREE for Active PBC Volunteer Clinicians
Featured Presenter: Amie Myrick, LCPC
Session Description: In this workshop, participants will explore the integration of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PCEs and ACEs) within therapeutic practice, emphasizing a balanced, full-continuum approach. Participants will learn strategies to apply these concepts to enhance treatment effectiveness and improve outcomes for both clients and therapists. The session includes interactive components to foster skill development in recognizing and utilizing both types of experiences to support healing and resilience.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Describe how positive and adverse childhood experiences affect client symptoms and behaviors.
- Discuss ways to integrate both types of experiences into therapeutic policies, practices, and interventions.
- Identify strategies to balance trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches in therapy.
- List at least one policy or practice to better integrate a full spectrum of childhood experiences into your therapeutic approach.
Presenter Bio: Amie Myrick, LCPC
Amie Myrick, LCPC, specializes in working for and with populations impacted by trauma. She currently oversees multiple national projects funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at increasing community capacity to reduce and prevent substance use, overdose, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Amie is an ACE Master Presenter in the state of Maryland and a national HOPE facilitator and technical assistance provider. She has provided direct care since 2011, including over 10 years in the non-profit sector where she served as Director of Education and Training and partnered closely across multiple sectors as a therapist, supervisor, clinical coordinator, and trainer. Amie has presented at local, national, and international conferences for nearly 20 years on topics related to trauma and advocacy and has also written extensively on related topics. She provides training and technical assistance for groups interested in infusing trauma-informed and -responsive approaches into their work. Her “why” is to create a compassionate world so that all can feel seen.
Workshop registrants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the workshop start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors and Therapists certify that this program meets the criteria for two (2) credit hours of continuing education for social workers (Category 1), professional counselors, and therapists (Category A) licensed in Maryland.
CE credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at individual workshops. Attendance is monitored. Credit will not be granted to registrants who log on late or depart early from a session. It is the responsibility of registrants to comply with these requirements.
Please note that upon attendance verification, you will receive your CE certificate within four weeks via email. Please add Pro Bono Counseling to your contacts and check your SPAM folder to ensure delivery.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.
Workshop Views Disclaimer
The views expressed by the workshop presenter(s) and participants are their own opinions and do not represent Pro Bono Counseling, and do not imply an endorsement of them or the organizations they represent.
Supervisor Support Consultation Group
Topic – for Pro Bono Counseling Supervisor Volunteers to engage in consultation regarding questions or difficulties they have with supervisees or with providing supervision in general
Led by Harriet Mauer, LCSW
Will be held virtually once a month on the first Monday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Harriet Mauer, LCSW bio:
Harriet Mauer, LCSW in New York, is a retired social worker with significant clinical and supervisory experience. She has over 50 years of rich experience supervising clinicians and providing therapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and families through Good Shepherd Services in New York City (NYC), which is a youth development agency serving over 30,000 youth and families in NYC annually. Later, as the Director of Social Services Residential Services, she participated in various advisory groups pertaining to workforce and life-skill development, youth aging-out of foster care challenges, and trauma-related issues. In this role, she was a certified instructor for masters-level social work student interns. She has provided clinical supervision to approximately 1000 clinicians and clinician supervisors throughout her career. Most recently, over the past 12 years since retiring, she continues to do some clinical supervision and mentoring of social work interns, clinical providers and clinical supervisors/administrative staff. Harriet shared, “I am interested in volunteering with PBC [through leading a consultation group] because I value its mission and target populations. Additionally, while I have had many varied tasks and roles over my career, clinical supervision is one of the primary areas that I most enjoy and feel a meaningful level of competence to support and enable competency and empowerment in other social workers.”
For more information, email PBC Outreach Coordinator at YSwain@ProBonoCounseling.org
General Consultation and Peer Support for Pro Bono Counseling Mental Health Clinicians
- Meets twice per month through a virtual platform. First Mondays from 3:oo – 4:00 PM and Third Wednesdays from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
- Open to Pro Bono Counseling volunteers
- Led by Anne Devaughn, LCSW-C, a Pro Bono Counseling volunteer since 2009
- If interested, email Anne to be added to Zoom invitation list
Register today to virtually attend Providing Counseling Pro Bono: Clinical Applications for Volunteers
Learn about volunteering with Pro Bono Counseling, including the organization’s background and philosophy, its clients and intake process, and the responsibilities of volunteers during this online webinar.
FREE Online Workshop – 1 CE Credit*
Tuesday, October 15
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Featured Presenters: Interim Executive Director Roxanne Melgar, LCSW-C; Clinical Director Sherri Bloom, LCSW-C; Outreach Coordinator Yolonda Nelson-Swain, MAHS, VASIII
Objectives
By the end of this online workshop, clinicians will be able to:
• Analyze ethical implications of providing pro bono services
• Assess impact of providing pro bono services on current clinical practice
• Make a plan to address socio-economic, cultural, and racial issues in therapy
• Explain professional benefits of providing pro bono mental health care
-Please note that this workshop is intended for clinicians newly enrolled as PBC volunteers. You many only earn CEUs by attending this workshop once.
Participants will receive a code prior to the webinar to log on to Zoom and participate in the online session.
Please review your information and email address carefully before completing your registration. Your complete name and license type will be entered on your CE certificate, and the email address you enter is where all meeting information and your certificate will be sent.
*IMPORTANT: Attendance will be monitored. Participants must be logged on to the meeting by the start time and participate in the entire event in order to earn CE credit.
Pro Bono Counseling is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Pro Bono Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Maryland Boards of Social Work Examiners (Category 1) and Professional Counselors and Therapists (Category A) certify that this program meets the criteria for one credit hour of continuing education for social workers, professional counselors, and therapists licensed in Maryland.
By registering for this event, all participants agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
Workshop Code of Conduct
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is dedicated to providing a positive continuing education experience for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate disrespectful behavior or harassment of workshop participants, facilitators, or PBC staff in any form. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of characteristics that include but are not limited to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, veteran status, pregnancy status, race, ethnicity, or religion. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PBC may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund.