The Power of Behavioral Activation Treatment A Path to Mental Well-being

  New 2025 APT Requirements Make In-Person Training Essential — Core Wellness is Leading the Way If you’re working toward your Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT) credential, take note:  Effective April 1, 2025,  the Association for Play Therapy (APT) now requires that  at least 75 of your 150 required play therapy training hours must be completed through in-person (contact) instruction.  The remaining 75 hours may be completed through either contact or non-contact methods. Importantly,  all webinars, including live webinars, are considered non-contact hours  under the new guidelines. See APT’s official standards here .   So what does this mean for you? If you’re serious about becoming an RPT or maintaining your credential, it’s essential that you  secure legitimate, in-person contact training hours —  and that’s where  Core Wellness comes in.   Core Wellness: The Premier Source for In-Person APT Contact Hours   At Core Welln...

  Confidentiality   is the cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship, fostering trust and creating a safe space for clients to share their innermost vulnerable thoughts and feelings. However, as societal norms, technology, and legal frameworks evolve, so do the ethical challenges surrounding confidentiality in therapy. Staying informed and adaptable is essential for mental health professionals to navigate these changes effectively. Continuing education (CE) emerges as a vital tool for therapists to stay ahead, ensuring their practices align with updated   ethical standards   and confidentiality laws.  Kathryn S. Krase is a mental health ethics expert with PhD, JD, MSW, and LMSW who offers her expertise to teach new practitioners and experienced mental health professionals about the  ethics of confidentiality . Her significant experience as a family lawyer guarantees meaningful development and understanding of new  ethical challenges . Let’s understan...

  In the mental health profession, one of the most challenging ethical responsibilities is the "duty to warn" and "duty to protect." These obligations require clinicians to balance client   confidentiality   with public safety, often placing them in complex ethical considerations and dilemmas. Mental health professionals must navigate these challenges while adhering to ethical codes and legal frameworks. Diane Bigler , LCSW, LSCSW, a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience, has dedicated her career to educating professionals about  ethics  in mental health. Her  live  and  on-demand  courses on this subject provide crucial insights into the real-world applications of these ethical duties along with historical implications.   In her courses, she explores the ethical and legal complexities of  duty to warn and protect , historical precedents, challenges professionals face, and practical guidelines to navigate ...

  according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,  substance abuse in one form or another afflicts nearly    48.5 million Americans aged 12 and older . This helps explain why SUD has attracted growing attention as a public health concern in recent times. SUD is a complex psychological concern that not only risks the individual’s well-being in question but poses wide-ranging implications for families and wider communities.  This reinforces the urgent need for skilled therapists to rescue them from their predicament and foster lasting recovery. Mental health professionals should adopt a nuanced approach to better understand the factors at work and devise a course to recovery that fits individual needs. This article aims to elaborate on the critical knowledge and skills required for mental health professionals with a particular focus on  motivational interviewing  in engaging and supporting individuals with SUD.  Key Skills for Addressi...