Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association upcoming events

On-Demand - Avoiding Medical Errors: DSM-5-TR Resources for Differential Diagnosis - CeBroker Tracking No. 20-1283766 (Saturday, March 08, 2025)

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

On-Demand

3.0 CE hours - Medical Errors

Description: Decades of research suggest that misdiagnosis of mental disorders is a common medical error. For example, individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder are often misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and many children and adolescents are misdiagnosed with ADHD. Although many people who meet the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are undiagnosed, as many as 60% of people who are diagnosed with MDD do not meet criteria for the disorder! Bipolar II Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, specific phobias, PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, eating disorders, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder are often missed by clinicians. Why is that? We’re often trained in graduate school to with cookie-cutter, seamless case examples, but in the real world, clients often don't present with "textbook" presentations of symptoms that neatly fall into a particular disorder. Many symptoms of mental disorders are "overlapping," meaning that the same symptom may be listed under several disorders. With the limited time that clinicians often have, how do we quickly formulate an accurate diagnosis? Find out by attending this 3-hour medical errors update! We'll use real case examples to show you how to use differential diagnosis resources for overlapping symptoms.

Learning Objectives

1. Define "overlapping" symptoms.

2. Describe how to use the "differential diagnosis" section of the DSM-5-TR.

3. Use the DSM-5-TR Differential Diagnosis mobile application to formulate a diagnosis for case scenarios involving overlapping symptoms.

Presenter

Aaron Norton, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, CFMHE, CFBA

Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in addictions, alcohol and drug counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, trauma treatment, forensic mental health evaluation, forensic behavioral analysis, and forensic psychometry. He serves as Executive Director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Dept. of Mental Health Law & Policy, International Counseling Task Force Chair for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He co-authored the Forensic Evaluation section of the “AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling,” authored the proposal for AMHCA’s Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Forensic Evaluation (CMHS-FE) credential, served on the expert panel that created the standards and written exam for the Florida Certification Board’s Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) credential, and has been published in several journals and professional magazines. He has 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor.

CE BROKER TRACKING #: 20-1283766

This event is offered by SMHCA - Approved Continuing Education Provider - CE Broker Provider #: 50-13528. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW and Registered Interns.

Once payment is completed you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom Meeting ID.

TRAINING FEES

(members need to be logged in to be able to register at the member rate)

Completed Registrations including Payment Guarantees Participation:

$25 Member

$45 Nonmember

$0 Student (with membership)

$15 Student Nonmember (no CEUs)

On-Demand: Dual Disorders: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Through the Multiple Barriers of Care - CeBroker Tracking No. 20-1301015 (Saturday, June 07, 2025)

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

On-Demand

Description

In this presentation, there will be a focus on how to properly identify the intersection of mental health and addiction in the process of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, understanding challenges in access and coordination of dual diagnosis care and learning ways to overcome obstacles to effective treatment.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1 - To identify the intersection of mental health and addiction in the process of assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

Objective 2 - To identify strategies to break through barriers to access of care.

Objective 3 - To understand challenges in the coordination of care with substance abuse organizations.

Objective 4 - To identify obstacles to effective treatment and how to overcome them.

Presenter

Dr. Nicole Kratimenos, LMHC, NCC, QS,

C-DBT, BC-TMH

Nicole Kratimenos, in her characteristic pursuit of professional accolades, joined the Counseling program at Barry University in 2023 and now lends her expertise as a Co-Advisor for Barry University's Chi Sigma Iota. Prior to this, she amassed an impressive collection of degrees, including a BA in Psychology and Spanish and an MA in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida—because, evidently, a single discipline was not sufficient. To further solidify her authority, she went on to earn an Ed.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from National Louis University, ensuring no one could possibly question her qualifications.

Of course, Dr. Kratimenos is not just a Licensed Mental Health Counselor but also a Qualified Supervisor for the State of Florida. She has taken it upon herself to acquire certifications in Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Board Certification in TeleMental Health Counseling, and National Certification as a Counselor—because, naturally, anything less would be unacceptable. A trilingual professional, she employs an eclectic approach in therapy and teaching, as a singular method would hardly suffice.

Her commitment to leadership is equally exhaustive. She has dutifully served as the Past Secretary of the Florida Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (FACES), the Past President-Elect and President of the Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association (SMHCA), and currently holds the distinguished title of Past President of SMHCA.

CE BROKER TRACKING #: 20-1301015

This event is offered by SMHCA - Approved Continuing Education Provider - CE Broker Provider #: 50-13528. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW and Registered Interns.

Once payment is completed you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom Meeting ID.

TRAINING FEES

(members need to be logged in to be able to register at the member rate)

Completed Registrations including Payment Guarantees Participation:

$25 Member

$45 Nonmember

$15 Student

On-Demand: Entering the Arena: The Basics of Working in Family Court - CeBroker Tracking No. 20-1301248 (Saturday, June 07, 2025)

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

On-Demand

Description: If you find yourself confused or frustrated by stories your clients tell you about their family court experiences, let me explain the who, what, when, and whys of divorcing, coparenting, and timesharing issues.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Define the roles mental health professionals may play in Florida's family courts.

Objective 2: Identify the training needed and recommended to work in family court.

Objective 3: Identify the best interests of the child criteria - FS 61.13(3).

Objective 4: Describe the key components of a Parenting Plan.

Presenter

Wendy E Coughlin, PhD LMHC

Independent Psychotherapy Associates

Dr. Coughlin embarked on training to work in family court after years of frustration over how court delays and decisions impacted the children who were her clients. 15 years later, the majority of her clinical focus involves working with parents and children involved in family court litigation.

CE BROKER TRACKING #: 20-1301248

This event is offered by SMHCA - Approved Continuing Education Provider - CE Broker Provider #: 50-13528. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW and Registered Interns.

Once payment is completed you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom Meeting ID.

TRAINING FEES

(members need to be logged in to be able to register at the member rate)

Completed Registrations including Payment Guarantees Participation:

$25 Member

$45 Nonmember

$15 Student

On-Demand: Supporting Neurodiverse Clients Across the Lifespan: An Adlerian Perspective - CeBroker Tracking No. 20-1382590 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On-Demand

Description: Neurodiverse clients thrive when counseling interventions are tailored to both their unique strengths and developmental needs. This webinar explores practical Adlerian strategies to support neurodiverse individuals from childhood through adulthood. Participants will gain tools for case conceptualization, encouragement-based interventions, and developmentally appropriate adaptations that promote belonging, resilience, and growth. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and foster deeper connection with clients across the lifespan.

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Differentiate the therapeutic needs of neurodiverse clients across major developmental phases (childhood, adolescence, adulthood).

Objective 2: Describe Adlerian principles and play-based strategies that foster belonging, encouragement, and resilience in neurodiverse clients.

Objective 3: Demonstrate ways to adapt counseling interventions to align with developmental stage and individual learning style.

Objective 4: Evaluate case examples to create developmentally appropriate treatment plans for neurodiverse clients across the lifespan.

Presenter

Andrea Mann, MS, NCC, LMHC-S,

RPT-S, CAdPT-A, RST

Pathways Counseling LLC

Andrea Mann is the owner and clinical director of Pathways Counseling LLC in North Port, Florida. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Advanced Adlerian Play Therapist, and a Registered Sand Therapist. Andrea specializes in Adlerian Play Therapy, trauma-focused interventions, and identity exploration across the lifespan. In addition to her clinical work, she provides professional supervision, consultation, and continuing education for counselors and organizations. Known for her engaging teaching style and deep commitment to encouragement and belonging, Andrea brings both expertise and warmth to her presentations, helping professionals feel equipped and inspired in their practice.

Co-Presenter

Danielle Bishop, LMHC, QST,

and Registered Play Therapist

Danielle Bishop is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Qualified Supervisor of Florida and a Registered Play Therapist. She holds approximately 10 years of experience working in the mental health field. Before moving to Florida in 2013, Danielle worked in partial care settings and as a crisis counselor in response to Hurricane Sandy. She has furthered her experience with work in a hospital setting with adults, private practice with all ages and the school system with elementary aged children. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults who present with trauma, anxiety, depression, and life changes and participating in play therapy. She completed her education through Walden University where she studied Clinical Mental Health Counseling as well as Applied Psychology. She also holds bachelor’s degrees in pre-movement therapy and forensic psychology from Stockton University.

Danielle utilizes an integrative approach that is tailored to each individual's needs including play therapy, expressive arts, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, Adlerian, Rogerian, and solution-focused therapy.

Danielle strives to empower all those she gets the privilege to work with by creating a safe and nurturing atmosphere in which individuals can be supported in their efforts to change and grow.

CE Broker Tracking No. 20-1382590

This event is offered by SMHCA - Approved Continuing Education Provider - CE Broker Provider #: 50-13528. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW and Registered Interns.

Once payment is completed you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom Meeting ID.

TRAINING FEES

(members need to be logged in to be able to register at the member rate)

Completed Registrations including Payment Guarantees Participation:

$25 Member

$45 Nonmember

$15 Student