Mental Health Care (MHT)

This comprehensive course offers students a holistic approach to supporting individuals with mental health and substance use disorders on their path to recovery. Key topics include establishing effective helping strategies such as building therapeutic relationships, empowering individuals, and respecting consumer choice. Students will explore concepts of community inclusion, natural supports, and human development theory, gaining insights into social and psychosocial development across the lifespan. Practical skills like active listening, basic interviewing, and maintaining respect for consumers will be honed. Emphasis will be placed on collaborative, person-centered approaches, integrating natural supports into individualized treatment plans, and understanding the complexities of co-occurring disorders. Students will also learn about strengths-based assessments, crisis intervention strategies, and utilizing community resources to facilitate recovery. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with a comprehensive toolkit to effectively support consumers at various stages of their recovery journey.

This comprehensive course on Case Management and Ethical Practice in Community Mental Health provides students with a deep understanding of the role of case managers within community settings, focusing on the support mechanisms available in the Maine community mental health system to promote community inclusion. Students explore the process of community inclusion as vital to enhancing personal well-being and learn to identify and utilize resources in mental health, substance abuse, behavioral health, employment, crisis intervention, and more, while ensuring effective linkages to these services. Additionally, students gain insight into ethical principles and professional conduct, including navigating dual relationships and securing informed consent. The course emphasizes empowerment strategies for consumers, self-care practices for professionals, and effective use of supervision to address ethical challenges. Students also learn the importance of sound documentation, collaboration with community members and professionals, and understanding the intersection of ethics with state and federal laws. Through interactive discussions and case studies, students emerge equipped to navigate the complexities of case management and ethical practice in community mental health settings.

This course on Trauma-Informed Care and Advocacy in Behavioral Health Services provides students with a comprehensive understanding of trauma's prevalence, impact, and treatment approaches, including evidence-based modalities. Students will gain sensitivity to behavioral health issues affecting trauma survivors and learn to work from a trauma-informed perspective while addressing the effects of vicarious traumatization. Additionally, students will explore the intersection of trauma with civil and disability rights laws, mandated reporting requirements, and consumer advocacy. Through interactive discussions and case studies, students will develop skills in identifying resources, advocating for consumers, and ensuring policy adherence, ultimately empowering them to provide effective support and advocacy for trauma survivors within behavioral health services.

This course provides an overview of various therapeutic approaches and interventions used to promote mental health and well-being. The course will cover a range of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. The theoretical foundations of these approaches and their practical application in clinical settings will be explored. Students will also discover the symbiotic relationship between mental health recovery and employment, emphasizing the significance of work in self-identity and treatment processes. Students explore the varied and nonlinear paths to employment success for individuals with psychiatric disabilities, dispelling common myths and misconceptions. Through discussions and examples, participants understand the Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community’s (MHRT/C) pivotal role in supporting consumers' vocational goals and maintaining employment success within individualized care plans. They learn to engage consumers in meaningful conversations about employment, employ engagement techniques, and access advocacy resources, including natural supports. Additionally, students gain insights into career development resources, evidence-based practices, and the importance of reasonable accommodations and benefit consultation. The course also highlights collaboration with the Department of Labor and Vocational Rehabilitation, equipping students with practical strategies to foster employment opportunities and promote mental health recovery effectively. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the principles and practices of therapeutic interventions and be equipped to apply this knowledge to a range of clinical settings and populations.

This course provides an overview of various therapeutic approaches and interventions used to promote mental health and well-being. The course will cover a range of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. The theoretical foundations of these approaches and their practical application in clinical settings will be explored. Students will also discover the symbiotic relationship between mental health recovery and employment, emphasizing the significance of work in self-identity and treatment processes. Students explore the varied and nonlinear paths to employment success for individuals with psychiatric disabilities, dispelling common myths and misconceptions. Through discussions and examples, students understand the Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community’s (MHRT/C) pivotal role in supporting consumers' vocational goals and maintaining employment success within individualized care plans. They learn to engage consumers in meaningful conversations about employment, employ engagement techniques, and access advocacy resources, including natural supports. Additionally, students gain insights into career development resources, evidence-based practices, and the importance of reasonable accommodations and benefit consultation. The course also highlights collaboration with the Department of Labor and Vocational Rehabilitation, equipping students with practical strategies to foster employment opportunities and promote mental health recovery effectively. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the principles and practices of therapeutic interventions and be equipped to apply this knowledge to a range of clinical settings and populations.