Counseling Older Adults: Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Address Depression and Anxiety
Join us for a Live Webinar
1.5 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians
April 25, 2025, from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
As the number of older Americans seeking mental health care continues to rise, clinicians are encountering new and complex challenges in effectively treating conditions like depression and anxiety. This course provides focused insights and strategies to help providers feel more confident in supporting older adult clients.
These insights can be transformative to your practice, offering valuable ways to enhance your current therapeutic methods. You are warmly invited to explore this dynamic learning opportunity.
This course is led by Dr. Matthew Fullen, an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech and a leading scholar on aging and mental health. Dr. Fullen’s extensive research on resilience, wellness, and Medicare mental health policy has positioned him at the forefront of addressing older adults’ unique mental health challenges. His expertise ensures that participants will gain evidence-based techniques aligned with the course’s learning objectives.
Drawing on Dr. Fullen’s research and practical experience, this course combines foundational concepts in gerontological counseling with the core tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Attendees will learn to adapt ACT principles to meet older adults’ specific needs, paving the way for improved clinical outcomes and enhanced therapeutic confidence.
Instructor
Dr. Matthew Fullen is an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech where he teaches in the counselor education program. Dr. Fullen's research, teaching, and advocacy focus on the mental health needs of older adults, with an emphasis on developing programs to enhance resilience & wellness among older adults, preventing suicide in later life, and addressing gaps in Medicare mental health policy. Dr. Fullen is the counseling profession’s most active scholar on aging and mental health.
He has received research grant funding by both public and private entities, including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, as well as The Mather Institute. He recently received the American Counseling Association’s Top Research Award for his study on Medicare reimbursement challenges faced by counseling professionals.
Key Takeaways:
- Identify Transtheoretical Principles: Learn to recognize how broader counseling concepts influence your work with older adults.
- Understand ACT Essentials: Gain clarity on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy fundamentals and how they apply to gerontological care.
- Implement ACT for Depression and Anxiety: Discover effective strategies for helping older adult clients manage depressive and anxious symptoms.
Why this course?
- Focused Expertise: Benefit from Dr. Fullen’s specialized knowledge in gerontological mental health, backed by significant research and grant funding.
- Evidence-Based Application: Engage with a course developed by the Telehealth Certification Institute, which values innovation, excellence, and practical solutions.
- Meaningful Impact: Equip yourself with strategies that directly address the growing mental health needs of older adults in a compassionate, person-centered way.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize transtheoretical treatment principles that impact working with older adults.
- Describe the core tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
- Appraise the benefits of using ACT to address depression and anxiety in older adults.
- Apply ACT to older adults through the use of a case study.
By taking part in this live webinar, you will explore new ways to enhance the therapeutic experience for older clients and ultimately help them achieve greater well-being. Join us for this immersive educational session and discover how your practice can evolve and thrive with effective, evidence-based interventions tailored to older adults.
Credit Hours: CEs provided with this live webinar include 1.5 continuing education hours of credit.
Counselors: Telehealth Certification Institute LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6693. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.
Marriage and Family Therapists: Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations. You can check with your board to determine if this course would be accepted by your licensing board.
Social Workers: Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 continuing education credits.
Telehealth Certification Institute 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-0435.
Addiction Professionals: This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
Psychologists: Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.
Other Professionals: This activity qualifies for 90 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.
This is a live, interactive online webinar.
Register for the webinar by midnight before the event. So that we can provide you these CEs, you are required to:
- login and access the direct link to the webinar through your account
- participate fully during the event
- complete a post-test and course evaluation at the conclusion of the event
- collect your certificate of completion on your account after steps 1-3 are completed
Enroll in a course by adding it to the cart and proceeding through the check out process. Create an account (or login to yours) during the checkout process.
Prepare: Download Zoom software. Participants must use a device that is connected to adequate internet speed with a camera, microphone and speakers (or headset).
Attend: At least 15 minutes before the start time the day of the event, login to your account on the website. Go to "My Courses", click on the title/date of the webinar. The link to join the meeting/webinar will be listed in the course content.
Attendance is automatically recorded when you use the link to join.
Any recording made of a live event is NOT included with live webinar registration.
When possible, webinars are recorded and converted into online self-study courses, available for separate purchase/enrollment for those who did not attend the live event.