Chronic Illness and Integrated Care: What Mental Health Counselors Need to Know.

Description: The impact of chronic illness on mental health has been well documented. Decades of research support the importance of managing stress during chronic illness in order to improve immune system functioning as well as improve quality of life (CDC, 2021; Cleveland Clinic, 2021). Recent developments in Integrated Care approaches to managing chronic illness have been documented as effective (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Mental Health Counselors are uniquely positioned to address the stress of chronic illness and improve the whole health of patients by using effective integrated care models. This presentation will offer participants the opportunity to describe the elements of stress related to chronic illness, and to compare several evidenced based approaches of integrated care models in helping clients manage the stress of chronic illness.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-973248

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. Discuss and explain elements of stress related to chronic illness.
2. Compare elements of Integrated Care Models.
3. Evaluate and Recommend evidence-based treatments for counseling clients in managing chronic illness utilizing integrated care.

Christine Karper, Ph.D., LMHC, QCS (FL), obtained her master’s degree in mental health counseling and her Doctoral Degree in counselor education and supervision from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Karper has been serving the Central Florida Community as a Clinician and a Counselor Educator for over 20 years. She recently retired as the assistant program manager of the Integrative Medicine department at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. In this role, Karper worked as an LMHC and helped screen patients’ psychosocial distress as they move through their treatments for cancer. She also led Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction classes and provided mental health counseling services at the cancer center while managing the integrative medicine department.

Dr. Stern works with Private Patients and specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Cancer/Chronic Illness, Dementia, and Stress-Related Disorders. She also teaches the Internship Programs and classes as a Certified Faculty Instructor for the Mental Health Counseling Graduate Program at the University of Phoenix (15+ years). She has worked in the Integrative Medicine Department at Orlando Regional Medical Center and with the Cancer Support Community for 6 years as a Clinical Oncology Psychotherapist. Dr. Stern specializes in helping patients to manage stress/distress associated with cancer diagnoses. Prior to that, she worked at Sarasota Memorial Hospital specializing in Dementia assessment and treatment.