NBCC, NAADAC, CAADAC, CBBS, Florida approved continuing education series in mental health, substance abuse and dual disorders counseling for nurses, counselors, therapists, social workers and addictions professionals.

1. Part 1 Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes Introduction to Screening

2. Screening Objectives Establish rapport, including management of a crisis situation and determination of need for additional professional assistance. Importance and purpose of rapport building. Rapport-building methods and issues. The range of human emotions and feelings. Demonstrating effective verbal and nonverbal communication in establishing rapport. Accurately identifying the client’s beliefs and frame of reference. Reflecting the client’s feelings and message.

3. Objectives cont… Steps in crisis prevention and management. What constitutes a crisis. Situations and conditions for which additional professional assistance may be necessary. Available sources of assistance. Recognizing and defusing volatile or dangerous situations. Demonstrating empathy, respect, and genuineness.

4. Objectives cont… Gather data systematically from the client and other available collateral sources using multiculturally sensitive, valid, reliable instruments Understand how age, developmental level, culture, and gender affect patterns and history of use and communication. Client presenting features and relationship to substance use disorders and psychiatric conditions. How to apply confidentiality rules and regulations. Facilitating information sharing from a variety of sources. Communicating effectively in emotionally charged situations.

5. Definition Screening is the process by which the counselor, the client, and available significant others review the current situation, symptoms, and other available information determine the most appropriate initial course of action, given the client’s needs and characteristics and the available resources within the community.

6. Building Rapport Purpose of rapport building. Rapport-building methods and issues. Empathy The range of human emotions and feelings. Effective verbal and nonverbal communication Accurately identifying the client’s beliefs and frame of reference. Reflecting the client’s feelings and message. Genuineness Openness Hope

7. Data Collection How to Gather Data Facilitating information sharing and data collection from a variety of sources How to apply confidentiality rules and regulations Communicating effectively in emotionally charged situations.

8. Data Collection cont… What data to gather Demographics Medical History Developmental History Mental Health and Substance Abuse History Presenting features Relationship to substance use disorders and psychiatric conditions Social /Family /Marital History Understand how age, developmental level, culture, and gender affect patterns and history of use and communication.

9. Crisis Management Steps in crisis prevention and management. What constitutes a crisis. Situations and conditions for which additional professional assistance may be necessary. Available sources of assistance. Recognizing and defusing volatile or dangerous situations. Demonstrating empathy, respect, and genuineness.

10. Summary Screening is a preliminary evaluation for mental, medical, social or substance abuse issues Many people who present for screening are in crisis Providing hope, empathy and a temporary action plan with referrals are vital outcomes of screening Problems are multidimensional, so interdisciplinary treatment is vital.