Frum Therapist: Mental Health Resources for the Frum Community

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Understanding Long COVID:
A Biopsychosocial Approach for Mental Health Professionals

Mild cases of COVID-19 infection typically last from as little as a few days to perhaps two weeks; those with a more severe presentation may find themselves sick for six weeks or more. As members of the global society at large, when we contemplated contracting COVID-19 we imagined the immediate effects of the illness on ourselves and loved ones. We did not—perhaps even could not—conceive of a reality in which this “severe flu” might cause chronic debilitating illness post-infection. Unfortunately, for an estimated 65 million people around the world, this is exactly what happened. With upwards of 200 documented symptoms, long COVID has proven itself to be a complicated multi-organ system disease characterized by post-exertional malaise, myalgia, and cognitive impairment.

This workshop equips mental health professionals caring for “long haulers” with the necessary biopsychosocial perspective to advocate for and support them as they cope with an invisible illness still too commonly overlooked by primary care physicians. First, participants will develop an in depth understanding of long COVID as a medical condition through an exploration of topics such as its diagnostic criteria, symptoms, potential causal factors, and current model of care. Next, participants will examine the psychosocial factors they must understand to be able to ethically provide behavioral health support to long haulers (e.g., treatment barriers, proposed interventions). Participants will also become conversant in special considerations they should be mindful of when treating long haulers to include matters of disability and cultural factors. Finally, the workshop concludes with a group exercise in which participants will role play addressing treatment resistance given the propensity of many long haulers to resist the suggestion of pursuing mental health treatment. This role play allows participants to synthesize what they have learned throughout the workshop to address such therapy resistance.

https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/UnderstandingLong/view

Understanding Long COVID:
A Biopsychosocial Approach for Mental Health Professionals

Monday, October 23, 2023, 1:45 PM America/New_York - 4:45 PM America/New_York

Presenter: Dr Jennifer Henderson, PhD

Course Length: 3 Hours

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to summarize key clinical aspects of long COVID to include symptoms, hypothesized causal factors, and barriers to timely medical treatment.
Participants will be able to verbalize their increased knowledge of behavioral health (e.g., psychiatric and neuropsychiatric features, interventions) and cultural diversity considerations.
Participants will be able to demonstrate clinical capability to address a client’s resistance to behavioral health treatment for long COVID.

This workshop Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

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Mild cases of COVID-19 infection typically last from as little as a few days to perhaps two weeks; those with a more severe presentation may find themselves sick for six weeks or more. As members of the global society at large, when we contemplated contracting COVID-19 we imagined the immediate effects of the illness on ourselves and loved ones. We did not—perhaps even could not—conceive of a reality in which this “severe flu” might cause chronic debilitating illness post-infection. Unfortunately, for an estimated 65 million people around the world, this is exactly what happened. With upwards of 200 documented symptoms, long COVID has proven itself to be a complicated multi-organ system disease characterized by post-exertional malaise, myalgia, and cognitive impairment.

This workshop equips mental health professionals caring for “long haulers” with the necessary biopsychosocial perspective to advocate for and support them as they cope with an invisible illness still too commonly overlooked by primary care physicians. First, participants will develop an in depth understanding of long COVID as a medical condition through an exploration of topics such as its diagnostic criteria, symptoms, potential causal factors, and current model of care. Next, participants will examine the psychosocial factors they must understand to be able to ethically provide behavioral health support to long haulers (e.g., treatment barriers, proposed interventions). Participants will also become conversant in special considerations they should be mindful of when treating long haulers to include matters of disability and cultural factors. Finally, the workshop concludes with a group exercise in which participants will role play addressing treatment resistance given the propensity of many long haulers to resist the suggestion of pursuing mental health treatment. This role play allows participants to synthesize what they have learned throughout the workshop to address such therapy resistance.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to summarize key clinical aspects of long COVID to include symptoms, hypothesized causal factors, and barriers to timely medical treatment.
Participants will be able to verbalize their increased knowledge of behavioral health (e.g., psychiatric and neuropsychiatric features, interventions) and cultural diversity considerations.
Participants will be able to demonstrate clinical capability to address a client’s resistance to behavioral health treatment for long COVID.

Agenda:

A. Introduction (10min): This introductory portion of the program highlights what factors led the speaker to take a closer look into the biopsychosocial factors of long COVID, a condition that has emerged as a second wave pandemic. It addresses the importance of mental health professionals understanding the condition and its enduring impact on “long haulers.”

B. Brief Overview of Long COVID (10min): This portion of the program addresses the emerging public recognition of long COVID as a serious medical condition with global impact. It reviews current knowledge of its prevalence, projections of impact, and estimated economic burden.

C. Clinical Presentation (40min): This portion of the program surveys the current literature and understanding of long COVID as a medical condition. Specific topics include diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and theorized causal factors. Patient stories of their experience living with this frequently disabling condition are highlighted. Other treatment considerations are explored, including the current model of treatment, barriers to care, and lingering questions long haulers typically worry about.

(break)

D. Mental Health Considerations (~60 – 75min): This portion of the program addresses the psychosocial factors mental health professionals should be knowledgeable about to ethically provide treatment and support to long haulers. Key factors highlighted in this section include: treatment barriers unique to those with long COVID, the nature of living with an invisible illness, and psychiatric/neuropsychiatric presentation. This section also addresses the lack of treatment protocols and the current model of care based on similar conditions (e.g., ME/CFS). Finally, this section also highlights special considerations mental health professionals should be mindful of when treating long haulers (e.g., cultural factors, pediatric presentation, disability).

E. Group Exercise: Role play addressing resistance to therapy (~15min): This brief group exercise enables participants to role play addressing resistance to therapy. Most longer haulers report struggling to get an accurate diagnosis, having long COVID recognized by others (e.g., work, friends and family, primary care physicians), and dealing with debilitating physical and cognitive symptoms. Many resent the implication that their concerns are illegitimate or “all in their head” when encouraged to seek behavioral health therapy. This role play allows participants to synthesize what they have learned throughout the presentation to address such therapy resistance.

F. Review / Questions / Additional Resources (10min): This final section offers a summary of the material covered as well as providing participants with additional resources they may find helpful to continue their professional growth following completion of this webinar.

This presentation is open to:

Social Workers
Professional Counselors
Therapists
Psychologists
Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services

Course Level: advanced

Level of Clinician: advanced

New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

CE You LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0437
CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland. CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.

Refunds
Registrants who are unable to attend a Frum Therapist seminar or live workshop may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform Frum Therapist ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting (607) 249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.