Addressing the Intersection: Navigating HIV in Mental Health Practice

Did you know? With an active FMHCA membership, this and other webinars in the LMHC Prep and Connect Summer Workshop Series are free—activate before checkout! 

Note: This offer applies only to Registered Intern and Graduate Student membership categories.

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.

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• Identify the steps in the ethical decision-making process and apply these steps to professional practice.
• Describe how HIV and AIDS are treated and the many drug therapies available.

About the Presenter: 

Dr. Cortina Peters-Louis, affectionately known as The Girlfriend Therapist®, is an EMDR-trained licensed mental health counselor, certified sex therapist, International Life Coach, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. Licensed across multiple states, she brings over 20 years of experience in sexual health education and has provided professional counseling services since 2009. Dr. Louis also serves as the Co-Owner and Chief Clinical Officer of S.M.I.L.E. Facilitation Services, providing clinical leadership and oversight of trauma-informed, culturally responsive psychoeducational and therapeutic programs. She is the founder of The NOIR Center for Intuitive Health & Counseling, where she advances culturally responsive mental health care at the intersection of social justice, racial trauma, intimacy, and sexual wellness. A trailblazer in her field, Dr. Louis is the first Black president of the Central Florida Mental Health Counselors Association and the 2023 Mental Health Counselor of the Year. A two-time lymphoma survivor and Lupus warrior, she is also the author of The W.O.W. Effect and the creator of The W.O.W. Effect® framework, empowering individuals to move from surviving to thriving.

The 2026 LMHC Prep & Connect is proudly presented by CounselingExam.com.

At Licensure Exams, the mission has always been simple: to help you pass your exam. Recognizing that most students have already spent countless hours with textbooks, their materials focus on the essentials and present them in an engaging, approachable way. The content is designed to simplify complex information and is delivered with a touch of humor, often leaving participants motivated to tackle just one more set of practice questions.

Thanks to the support of CounselingExam.com, all live attendees will be entered into a $75 Barnes & Noble gift card raffle!

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