REACH Mental Health Training
REACH uses state-of-the art, interactive methods grounded in the science of behavior change to teach effective methods for helping children and adults who suffer from mental and emotional health challenges.
LIVE TRAINING
Live trainings take place in real time. We are currently offering a mix of both virtual and in-person trainings throughout the year.
- Addressing Trauma in Pediatric Primary Care: for pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
- Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP): for pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
- CBT for Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care for pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
- Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care (ABHPC): for family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants
- Working with Challenging Patients and Families for primary care providers and mental health clinicians
- Child/Adolescent Training in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (CATIE): for mental health clinicians
- Parent Empowerment Program (PEP): for parent advocates working in health care or education settings
- School Mental Health Program: for teachers, school psychologists, counselors, and administrators
ONLINE TRAINING:
Learn at your pace! Online training is pre-recorded so you can learn when and where you choose.
- Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care (Brief Course) for adult primary care providers
- Treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders for social workers, psychologists, and primary care providers
Register for courses
“The REACH Institute Video Testimonials: JoAnn 
”
Addressing Trauma in Pediatric Primary Care
Audience
Pediatric primary care providers: Pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
Description
Participants will learn how to effectively detect and respond to trauma in the pediatric primary care setting. The experienced faculty team will include at least one mental health professional and one pediatric primary care provider.
Like all REACH courses, Addressing Trauma in Pediatric Primary Care follows a format grounded in adult learning research. It has two components:
- A dynamic full-day workshop focused on building knowledge, skills, and confidence in addressing youth trauma.
- Four, follow-up case-based group learning calls to help participants implement the principles learned during the workshop. Each video call lasts one hour.
Participants can earn up to 11.25 CME credits for both components.
Course Goals
In this course, participants will learn to:
- Differentiate between adverse childhood experiences and traumatic stress
- Detect and respond to trauma in older children and adolescents
- Implement the Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress
- Distinguish between evidence-based trauma focused and trauma informed treatments
- Use trauma informed pharmacologic principles
CME Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and The REACH Institute. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation
AMA Credit Designation Statement
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ANCC Credit Designation Statement
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.25 ANCC contact hours. Nursing contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of program components based upon documented attendance and completion of evaluation materials.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 11.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Course Dates
May 12, 2023
To schedule a private course for 20 or more people, please contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, at [email protected]
Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP)
Audience
Pediatric primary care providers: Pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
Description
Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) trains clinicians to diagnose and treat mental health conditions they see every day in practice. This program will teach you to manage the most common issues yourself, saving referrals to mental health specialists for complex cases.
Participants learn not only to diagnose and treat patients but also to refer families to appropriate supports such as cognitive behavioral therapy. You’ll leave the training with tools you can use immediately:
- Validated assessments to get data from patients and families
- Clinical guidelines for differential diagnosis
- Quick-reference medication guides
- Sample forms for referring patients to psychotherapy
After the training, you’ll be more confident in your diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.
Our world-class faculty of pediatricians, developmental-behavioral pediatricians, clinical nurse specialists, and child and adolescent psychiatrists will help you transform your practice, increase your productivity, and improve your work satisfaction.
Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care has two components:
- A dynamic three-day, 16.25-hour interactive course focused on building skills and confidence in diagnosing and treating pediatric behavioral health problems.
- A six-month case-based follow-up program. Participants join 12 bimonthly, one-hour group conference calls with national primary care and child/adolescent psychiatry experts to solidify their learning.
Participants can earn up to 28.25 CME credits for both components.
Course Goals
In this course, you’ll learn to:
- Correctly identify and differentiate among pediatric behavioral health problems such as depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety states (including PTSD), oppositional and conduct disorders, and psychosis.
- Effectively manage psychopharmacology: select medications, initiate and taper dosages, monitor improvements, and identify and minimize medication side effects.
- Create and implement a treatment plan by mobilizing existing resources like family members, school personnel, and other professional caregivers.
CME Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Office of Continuing Education and The REACH Institute. The UAMS Office of Continuing Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation
The UAMS Office of Continuing Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 28.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity: Live three-day training, 16.25 credits; 12 one-hour group conference calls, one credit apiece for a total of 12 credits.
Course Dates
To schedule a private course for 20 or more people, please contact the PPP Program Director at 212-947-7322, or email [email protected]
Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) – Waitlist
CBT for Anxiety in Pediatric Primary Care
Audience
Pediatric primary care providers: Pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
Description
Participants will learn how to effectively use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help children and teens who suffer from anxiety. The experienced faculty team includes at least one mental health professional and one pediatric primary care provider.
Like all REACH courses, CBT for Anxiety follows a format based on research on adult learning. It has two components:
- A dynamic full-day workshop focused on building knowledge, skills, and confidence in using CBT for youth anxiety.
- Four follow-up conference calls in which participants present cases from their practice to solidify their learning and put it into practice. Each call lasts one hour.
Participants can earn up to 11.25 CME credits for both components.
Course Goals
In this course, participants will learn to:
- Identify and understand the core components of youth anxiety.
- Screen and assess for anxiety in primary care settings.
- Summarize the key components of CBT for youth anxiety.
- Treat anxious child and adolescent patients using evidence-based CBT techniques.
- Identify patients who need specialty care.
CME Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and The Reach Institute. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Course Dates
June 23, 2023
To schedule a private course for 20 or more people, please contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, at [email protected]
Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care
Audience
Adult primary care providers: Family physicians and other physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
Description
This innovative program increases clinicians’ comfort with assessing, diagnosing, and treating adult mental health concerns. Participants can earn up to 28.75 CME credits by completing the course components:
- A dynamic three-day, 17-hour interactive course focused on building skills and confidence in diagnosing and treating adult behavioral health problems.
- A six-month, case-based distance-learning program. Learners join 12 bimonthly, one-hour group conference calls led by a REACH family physician-psychiatrist faculty team to learn how to manage adult mental health issues based on participants’ actual cases.
All participants will receive custom-designed toolkits with:
- Assessment instruments
- Dosing and side effect charts
- Medication comparison tables
- Patient handouts
Course Goals
In Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care, participants learn to:
- Correctly identify and differentiate among behavioral health problems such as anxiety and somatic symptoms, depression, chronic pain, substance abuse, adult ADHD, psychosis, and bipolar disorder.
- Effectively manage psychopharmacology: select medications, initiate and taper dosages, monitor improvements, and identify and minimize medication side effects.
- Create and implement a treatment plan by mobilizing existing resources.
CME Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and The REACH Institute. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 28.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity: Live on-site three-day training, 16.25 credits; 12 one-hour group conference calls, one credit apiece for a total of 12 credits.
Course Dates
October 13 – 15, 2023
To schedule a private course for 20 or more people, please contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, at [email protected]
Working with Challenging Patients and Families
Audience
- Primary care providers: Both pediatric and family practitioners are encouraged to register for this course. As front-line responders to the mental health crisis, primary care providers are oftentimes left to assess and treat behavioral health concerns with little to no support. This course will arm providers with the skills to help patients and their families, and foster a team approach to treatment.
- Psychiatrists: While psychiatrists handle behavioral health concerns every day, patients and their families may still lack trust or be skeptical of treatment. From parents’ reluctance to disclose that their child is struggling, to a patient’s inability to follow through with treatment recommendations and referrals, psychiatrists will learn how to troubleshoot common communication issues.
- Mental health clinicians: Mental health clinicians are trained to communicate effectively (in other words, work with challenging patients and families). This course will give clinicians further practice and training through a hands-on, interactive approach, facilitated by mental health experts.
Description
The ability to communicate effectively with both patients and their families is key to addressing mental health concerns. Working with Challenging Patients and Families gives primary care providers, psychiatrists, and mental health clinicians alike the opportunity to learn and practice these critical skills in a small, interactive environment.
Over the course of this 2 day training, participants will not only learn how to build deep trust and engagement, but also how to enlist patients and their families as partners in their own care. Participants can earn up to 11.75 CME credits.
Course Goals
After participating in Working with Challenging Patients and Families, participants will be able to:
- Overcome common barriers to successful communication with patients and their families.
- Communicate effectively in order to engage patients and their families in treatment.
- Facilitate shared decision-making with patients.
CME Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and The REACH Institute. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 11.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Course Dates
To schedule a private course for 20 or more people, please contact [email protected]
Child/Adolescent Training in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (CATIE)
Audience
Mental health clinicians treating children and adolescents: psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, counselors, therapists
Description
There are more than 500 named therapies used to treat children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. Many lack supporting research. REACH uses and teaches only evidence-based psychotherapies – treatments proven to work in rigorous scientific evaluations of efficacy and outcomes.
Child/Adolescent Training in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (CATIE) focuses on the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CATIE is an excellent opportunity for child and adolescent mental health clinicians to upgrade their skills or learn new interventions.
REACH offers four CATIE courses, each focusing on the use of CBT to treat one common pediatric mental health condition:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Disruptive behavior
- Trauma
Each of the four treatments consists of an 8- to 12-session intervention that is easily adaptable to various clinical situations. The interventions emphasize coping strategies, problem solving, parenting, family communication, cognitive restructuring, and more.
Each of these four courses consists of two components:
- A two-day interactive workshop
- 12 group phone consultations with a faculty of nationally known child psychology experts, usually held twice a month for six months
Training certificates are awarded to clinicians who complete both components in full. Participants go home with a manual detailing the intervention they’ve learned, complete with reproducible client handouts.
Course Goals
In CATIE, participants learn to:
- Use standardized assessment measures to inform treatment of children and adolescents presenting with anxiety, depression, disruptive behavior, or trauma symptoms.
- Conceptualize child mental health cases using a cognitive-behavioral perspective.
- Use specific CBT skills and techniques in their treatment of child mental health disorders.
Schedule A Training
REACH offers customized CATIE training in CBT for anxiety, depression, disruptive behavior, or trauma to groups of 10 or more. Contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, Ph.D., at [email protected] to schedule training for your staff.
Parent Empowerment Program (PEP)
Audience
Family peer advocates: parents or caregivers of children with mental health challenges who work with other parents experiencing similar challenges. The Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) is typically scheduled and promoted by healthcare or school systems whose professionals want to improve caregivers’ ability to advocate for their children.
Description
The Parent Empowerment Program enables family peer advocates to help themselves and other families get adequate care for their child.
Caregivers learn about the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment, and services for children with mental health conditions. They discover how to advocate for their children and to support other families who are grappling with the complexities of the mental health system and with related systems, such as schools.
The Parent Empowerment Program consists of two components:
- A five-day interactive seminar
- 12 follow-up consultation calls held twice a week for six months
Participants come away with a high-quality family empowerment manual and materials.
Specialized programs in the areas of child welfare and juvenile justice are available to help parents and staff to work together to address the mental health needs of children in these systems.
The Parent Empowerment Program covers the following critical topic areas:
- Problem identification and priority-setting skills
- Engagement, listening, and boundary-setting skills
- Group management skills
- Mental health evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment
- The mental healthcare system
- School systems and special education options
Schedule A Training
REACH offers customized Parent Empowerment Program training to groups of 10 or more. Contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, at [email protected] to schedule training in your area.
School Mental Health Program
Audience
Teachers, school psychologists, counselors, and administrators
Description
School Mental Health training gives school staff the tools they need to effectively educate children with mental health challenges and manage behavioral problems. The course teaches scientifically established and effective techniques for dealing with troubled children:
- Classroom management strategies to reduce behavioral problems and improve learning environments.
- Proven strategies for identifying children at risk for behavioral and emotional problems.
- Effective therapy programs for use by school psychologists and counselors for children presenting with anxiety, depression, disruptive behaviors, and trauma.
Participants come away with mental health screening tools designed for use in school settings. Our unique Action Signs Toolkit enables teachers and other school staff to identify students who are at risk so they can be helped before they experience irreversible damage or delay.
Download the Action Signs Toolkit for free, with a license to use it in your school.
Schedule A Training
REACH offers customized school mental health training to groups of 10 or more educators and school staff. Contact Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD, at [email protected] to schedule training in your school or district.
Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care (Brief Course)
Audience
Adult primary care providers: Family physicians and other physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
Description
This online-only course offers the opportunity to learn on your own time, at your own pace. The seven-hour training is divided into easily digestible modules of 40-60 minutes each.
Participants learn to diagnose and treat common adult mental health concerns including anxiety, ADHD, depression, and substance use. Topics include assessment, somatic presentations, chronic pain and opioid use, and much more.
CME: 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Audience
Social workers, psychologists, and primary care providers
Description
This online-only class provides an overview of disruptive behavior disorders and The REACH Institute’s Disruptive Behavior Symptoms Intervention, a cognitive-behavioral, manualized intervention.
Disruptive behavior problems are among the most common reasons children are referred for mental health treatment. This one-hour class covers risk and protective factors associated with disruptive behavior disorders, assessing for disruptive behavior disorders, and intervention strategies, both parent and child-focused.
Register for courses
“This course has given me valuable information all evidence-based, to help me feel more confident in managing depression, ADHD and anxiety in the office”