Borderline Personality Disorder

This training overviews current theories into the causes of Borderline Personality Disorder. An overview of symptoms and associated behaviors are discussed and techniques and interventions to effectively respond to individuals are explored through real-life case scenarios and role plays.  

 

Cultural Competency: How Biases Impact Our Work (Half-day), OASAS approved 2.5 hrs

This training uses exercises to illustrate the concept of culturally bound frames of reference and helps to raise awareness about personal and societal biases and assumptions that impact our work. It focuses on skill building based on four of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Standards on Cultural Competency: Ethics and Values, Self Awareness, Service Delivery and Language Diversity. Although the NASW Standards are used, this training is useful for all staff, regardless of role.  

 

Cultural Competency: Culture and Communication in the Work Place (Half-day), OASAS approved 2.5 hrs

This training uses real-life workplace scenarios to raise participants' awareness of assumptions, perspectives and biases in staff-to-staff interaction and to teach specific skills that will allow for more effective communication in the workplace. Guidelines for effective cross cultural communication are addressed and connections are drawn between staff-to-staff communication and quality of service to clients.

 

Effective Group Work (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This training offers information on designing, marketing and running successful groups. Using Irving Yalom's studies, the workshop explores the therapeutic impact and curative factors associated with group work. Participants will learn about leadership styles, and how to recognize the stages of groups and match the leader's role to that stage. Participants will have the opportunity to practice running a group.  

From Incarceration to the Community (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This full-day training explores the impact of incarceration on individuals who are transitioning back into society. Common issues related to adjustment and reintegration into families and the community are discussed. Skills and techniques for engaging and assisting during the transition are presented and practiced by participants.  

 

Fundamental Counseling Skills (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This training is targeted to direct service staff. It provides basic information about counseling and the role of the worker in helping individuals to achieve greater independence. Participants are introduced to a variety of clinical techniques, with a focus on developing professional boundaries, and engagement and active listening skills. Using examples from their own work, participants also have the opportunity to practice those skills.  

 

Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This training introduces the anatomy of conflicts and helps staff identify when to intervene in conflicts while still promoting conflict resolution skills for service recipients. Interventions include teaching communication, anger management, and assertiveness skills to service recipients and a seven step mediation strategy. Participants have the opportunity to practice mediation skills using case studies.

 

Developing Successful SSI/SSDI Applications

This training provides an overview of the common reasons SSI/SSDI applications are rejected and reviews the documentation and supporting evidence necessary to enhance the likelihood of acceptance. Pertinent supporting documents and resources including, the Social Security Administration's SSI/SSDI forms will be reviewed in the training.

 

Introduction to Evidence Based Practices

This half day of training is targeted to all levels of staff.  Evidence Based Practices (EBP) means integrating individual clinical expertise in mental health with the best available clinical evidence from systematic research.  This training introduces Evidence-Based Practices and focuses on Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders (MI/MR), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Wellness Self-Management (WSM) and Supported Employment (SE) as well as Critical Time Intervention (CTI) and Housing First.   Attendees will be introduced to these EBPs and the use of fidelity scales in preparation to learn each of these practices more in-depth.

 

Non-Coercive Prevention of Violence (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

Early intervention is the most effective way to prevent violence. This training reviews the current literature on violence prevention. Using the stages of conflict resolution as a guide, trainees will learn ways to prevent tense situations from getting worse, how to respond when violence does occur, and the ways program staff can work together to increase safety. Participants will have the opportunity to practice skills and discuss case studies.  

 

Overview of Major Psychiatric Disorders and Medication (Full-day)

This training provides an overview of the symptoms and treatments for the most common mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, post traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. Participants learn about psychotropic medication, psychiatric symptoms targeted by medications, common side effects and treatment adherence.

 

Motivational Interviewing Part  I (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

Staff learn the fundamental skills needed to build collaborative and productive relationships with clients. The training uses principles of motivational interviewing to help participants learn to create a safe environment conducive to change and avoid unproductive power struggles. Participants learn how to help clients identify personally meaningful goals and values, explore and resolve ambivalence about change, and develop insight into how their choices impact goal achievement.

 

Motivational Interviewing Part  II Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This 5 hour training is targeted to direct service staff using or wanting to use Motivational Interviewing skills in their daily work.  The workshop builds upon the skills taught in Motivational Interviewing: Part 1, a pre-requisite training, with a focus on balancing the prompting  of “change talk” with strategies to help reduce resistance.  The goal of the training is to help participants further hone skills of Motivational Interviewing and learn to strengthen the client’s “commitment to change”.   Participants are given the opportunity to practice these new skills using case studies and role plays.

 

Providing Effective Staff Supervision (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This training is geared to clinical and non-clinical supervisory staff.  The workshop addresses the skills necessary to effectively manage and support staff.  Topics include the purpose of supervision, qualities of effective supervision, supporting and mentoring staff, identifying one's supervisory style, and delegating and scheduling.   Using case studies, participants practice giving feedback and addressing performance issues.  

 

Psychiatry in a Day: a Crash Course in Psychiatry and Psychiatric Treatment

This one-day training led by CUCS’ Medical Director, Dr. Van Yu, provides an overview of major mental disorders, their treatment and medications.

 

Reducing Job-Related Stress (Half-day), OASAS approved 2.5 hrs

This half-day training is targeted to direct service staff.  The session  explores personal reactions to stress with an emphasis on stressors commonly encountered in human service settings.  Participants are invited to draw upon situations from their own professional experience and practice techniques to avoid burnout.

 

"Stages of Change" - Helping People Change Behavior (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This training offers an overview of the Stages of Change model and a detailed explanation of each stage.  Using the model workers will learn match their interventions to the clients' readiness for change. Participants will learn strategies for working with resistance and denial, resolving ambivalence, building motivation for change, and preventing and managing relapse in the substance abusing population. 

 

Suicide Assessment and Prevention (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This training overviews the most current research on suicide attempts, completions and risk factors.  Interventions, including how to talk to clients about suicide, assessing suicide risk, and promoting client safety are covered.  Participants will learn how to create a safety plan with their clients.   

 

Trauma and Its Aftermath (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

Psychological trauma and its effects can vary widely from person to person and are not always easy to identify.  This full-day training provides an overview of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Dissociative Disorders, as well as other symptoms and behaviors that can result from trauma.  Assessment, safety issues, medication and symptom management are explored as well as discussing simple programmatic changes that can support trauma recovery.   

 

Understanding Compulsive Hoarding (Full-day), OASAS approved 5.0 hrs

This full-day training is targeted to social service staff working with persons who are compulsive hoarders.  The training differentiates hoarding from collecting, identifies the populations at highest risk, and provides guidance on how to assess and manage hoarding behaviors. The training focus is on working collectively with an individual towards the goal of helping the individual maintain their housing.

 

Understanding Mental Health Recovery

Understanding Special Needs Populations for Non-Clinical Staff (Full-day)

This training is targeted to non-clinical staff working in organizations that serve people with special needs, including desk attendants, cooks, maintenance workers, security guards, housekeepers, and administrative personnel. Participants will learn about some of the experiences of people living with special needs such as mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS and about professional boundaries and roles.  The training also provides guidance on managing problematic situations that may arise in a human service setting.

 

This half day training is targeted to direct service staff. The workshop discusses the similarities and differences between long term homeless people and other homeless groups. Effective case management and programmatic interventions to successfully engage and house this population are offered and practiced.