Counseling During and After the Pandemic: 7 Tips for Fostering Post-Traumatic Growth

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 ushered in an unprecedented demand for mental health counseling and related services. Depression and anxiety rates tripled, and suicide, substance use, overdose, and domestic violence rates soared. According to one national survey, 1 out of every 3 Americans saw a therapist at least once in 2020. Data collected by the presenter from 650 counselors nationwide revealed that 1 out of 3 counselors was working overtime to try to meet demand, and many had stopped accepting new referrals or started limiting intakes. The echoes and repercussions of the pandemic will likely last for years to come, but throughout history every major national or international crisis has sparked a period of increased growth and awareness the field of clinical mental health counseling. During a time of tremendous upheaval and adjustment, how can counselors play a role in post-traumatic growth both in the U.S. and around the world? Find out with this workshop.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-867187

This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

1. Define post-traumatic growth and describe how it applies in the aftermath of a pandemic.
2. Describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellness of the U.S. population.
3. Create a plan to implement seven tips for fostering post-traumatic growth in your counseling practice.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Adjunct Instructor at the University of South Florida, Southern Regional Director for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and Past-President of the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He has nearly 20 years of clinical and forensic experience at Integrity Counseling, Inc., was awarded Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association and Counselor Educator of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2016, Researcher of the Year by Florida Mental Health Counselors Association in 2020, and he has been published in several social science journals and professional magazines in clinical mental health counseling.