Addressing the Intersection: Navigating HIV in Mental Health Practice

Description: In today’s time, HIV/AIDS is a treatable preventable disease, but still a fatal disease, meaning that there is no known current cure. It is important for mental health professionals to be knowledgeable when it comes to treating clients who may be infected with HIV/AIDS. This interactive course has been specifically designed for mental health professionals to address the basics of STIs HIV/AIDS, Outline strategic objectives and prevention strategies to addressing HIV and STIs, and explore the sociological implications of Societal stigma. Current information about HIV/AIDS, including definitions, transmission, types of virus, how a person becomes infected, progression, evidence that HIV causes AIDS and how, and the origin of HIV/AIDS will be reviewed. This course also focuses on the law versus ethics, reporting ethical violations, and ethical issues specific to mental health professionals. Prevention concerns are addressed by recognizing special populations.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1193774

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. Summarize the current basic information about HIV/AIDS, including definition, transmission, infectious fluids, types of virus, how a person becomes infected, progression, evidence that HIV causes AIDS and how, and the history & origin of HIV/AIDS.
2. Have an understanding of ethical issues and dilemmas that specifically affect the mental health professional, and be knowledgeable of the profession’s stance when addressing issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
3. Identify the steps in the ethical decision-making process and apply these steps to professional practice.
4. Discuss the role of the therapist in counseling those with HIV, including how to implement "client-centered" counseling, identify key issues in counseling, and how to address family issues, mental health disorders, legal issues surrounding discrimination and stigma, and end-of-life issues.

Licensed in Florida, Georgia, Texas, & Wisconsin, Dr. Cortina Louis, aka The Girlfriend Therapist®, is an EMDR-trained licensed mental health counselor. She is an International Life Coach, Best Selling Author, Motivational Strategist and Mentor who motivates people to win in every area of their life. She completed her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and her Bachelor’s in Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. She received her Ph.D. from Modern Sex Therapy Institutes and holds a certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University. Cortina started her career in sexual health education and overall wellness over 20 years ago. She has provided professional counseling services since 2009 and was voted the first black president of Central Florida Mental Health Counselors, which she currently serves as past president. She was honored as the Mental Health Counselor of the Year for 2024 by The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. Empowering individuals to become and be better is her deeply held passion. This passion was the springboard that caused her to launch Boundless Living Coaching, Counseling, & Consulting, a counseling and consulting firm aimed at helping individuals, organizations, and companies thrive and function at optimum potential. Since 2010, she has focused her attention and efforts on the field of inspiring change. As The Girlfriend TherapistTM, she helps to dispel the myths of what it means to see a therapist. In 2020, she began to focus on social injustice and racially related issues that impact mental health and wellness. Because of this, she developed The NOIR Center for Intuitive Health & Counseling. As a result of her love for the field of sex therapy, she created SExD Unveiled, a product created to focus on trust, safety, pleasure, and consent as it relates to sexual partners communicating wants, needs, and sexual interests openly. She also helps individuals with health challenges navigate the intersection between intimacy, health, and sexual satisfaction. She has received numerous awards and has been recognized by professional peers, colleagues, and community organizations for her positive work with her patients, clients, and community. Her experience ranges from providing individual counseling sessions to speaking on conference stages in front of large audiences. Be it big or small, she motivates all. Her therapeutic specialties include sex therapy, race-based trauma/stress, relationships, transitional challenges, and mood disturbances. As the creative developer and visionary of The W.O.W. Effect®, she bridges the gap between people just living life. She helps them become individuals who can experience life on a deeper level. She is two-time cancer (Lymphoma) survivor and Lupus warrior; she has dedicated her life to helping individuals heal, motivating others, and encouraging clients to live their lives as authentically as possible. She is an advocate for change and an activist in her own right. Having to fight for her life in ways many people would not understand, she serves as a light to those who might be in dark, dull, or dim places. Her bubbly, outgoing personality makes it easy for anyone to connect with her and feel her genuineness and commitment to seeing and showing people how to win. Her motto is iWin|iWon|iWOW, which is something she encourages others to do as well.