Mental Health Assessment & Diagnosis: Considerations for Older Adults
Information
Date & Time
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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Recognize myths and facts related to depression, anxiety, and other common mental health conditions in later life.
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Identify at least 2 common screeners and assessments used in mental health assessment and diagnostic procedures with older adults.
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Summarize characteristics and considerations of effective assessment with older adult clients.
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Identify and describe strategies for differential diagnosis, especially related to accurate assessment for mental health conditions and/or cognitive impairment.
Educational Goal
The educational goal of this presentation is to equip gerontological counselors with knowledge and skills to provide effective and accurate mental health assessment to older adult clients.
Description
Accurate mental health assessment is a critical aspect of competent gerontological counseling. In this workshop, participants will discuss considerations and strategies for developing and implementing assessment and differential diagnosis procedures that are sensitive to the needs of older adults. Participants will also learn about gerontological-specific screeners and assessments such as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Depression in Old Age Scale (DIA-S), and various screeners for dementia and cognitive decline, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Target Audience
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Social Worker
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Dr. Mary Chase Mize (she/her/hers) is an assistant professor of clinical mental health counseling at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and is Certified in Thanatology – Death, Dying, and Bereavement (CT). Her research is focused on community-based suicide intervention and prevention efforts with older adults, equipping faith-based communities respond to suicide, and preparing counselors to work with older adult clients. In addition to her work in academia, Dr. Mize manages Seek and Find Counseling and Consulting, a small private practice where she provides counseling services to older adults and individuals experiencing grief, bereavement, death anxiety, major life transitions, and suicide ideation and loss. Dr. Mize also serves as a professional consultant and co-author to The Keep/Watch Project, an effort from the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta to equip religious and spiritual communities with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention response skills.
Financially Sponsored By
- Association for Adult Development & Aging (AADA)