101265: Social Work Today Nov/Dec 2007

About the Course:

Invisible Illness—What You Can’t See Does Hurt Her The effects of many illnesses can’t be seen. Read how professionals can help patients cope with conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Drugs for Drugs: Medications to Treat Addictions Despite the critics, medications to treat substance abusers are here to stay. Know what’s out there and how these drugs can help your clients.

Honoring Cultural Diversity at the End of Life Culture always matters, even near death. Honoring culture at the end of life shows respect for your clients and enriches your social work skill set.

Pain Management – Speaking to Social Work Coping with chronic pain is a challenge many clients will face. What can you do to advocate for them?

Social Work With Children of Alcohol- and Drug-dependent Parents Learn how to identify and help children often lost in the chaotic environments of alcohol- and drug-dependent households.

Surviving Professional Stress in a Military Setting You can’t care for others unless you care for yourself. Professionals in military settings are perfecting the process of balancing self-care with care for others.

Journal/Publisher:

Social Work Today

Publication Date:

November/December 2007

Authors

Richard Currey, PA-C; Terry Altilio, LCSW; Catherine L. Herzog, PhD, MSW; Linda Kaplan, MA; Sandra A. Lopez, LCSW, ACSW; Jennifer Sisk, MA; John K. Smith, PhD, LCSW

About the Authors:

is based in the Washington, DC, area where he currently works with several agencies within the National Institutes of Health as a writer and consultant.

is social work coordinator in the department of pain medicine and palliative care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. In addition to clinical work, she lectures and writes about the role of social work in the specialties of pain and palliative care.

worked for many years in the Waterford (MI) School District as a social worker, director of student assistance programs, and director of instructional service and special education. She now works as a consultant.

has worked in the substance abuse field for many years and was the executive director of the National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors for 10 years. She currently works as a consultant for the National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

is a diplomate in clinical social work and a clinical associate professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.

is a suburban Philadelphia-based freelance writer with 15 years of experience as a writer and research analyst in the healthcare field. She has written about depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, mental wellness, and aging.

is a licensed psychotherapist with more than 25 years of experience in the mental health and chemical dependency fields and is program administrator for the Dual Diagnosis Day Treatment Program at Doctor’s Hospital of West Covina, CA. He is also a professor of alcohol and drug counseling at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA, and the author of the recently published book Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders: A Practitioner’s Guide.

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for healthcare professionals, especially psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about chronic pain, treating addiction, end of life care, pain management, and handling stress. It is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. Recognize symptoms of the major conditions referred to as invisible illnesses and how professionals can help patients living with these illnesses.

2. Discuss the risks and benefits of the most commonly used medications to treat addiction.

3. Describe why cultural competency is essential in providing quality end-of-life care.

4. Explain how social workers can assist individuals living with pain.

5. Recognize how children of alcohol- and drug-dependent parents can often be overlooked, and understand the core competencies necessary for working with these children.

6. Discuss the stressors facing professionals working with combat veterans and the techniques they use to prevent compassion fatigue.