[ Create an account](/create-an-account)[ Log In](/log-in) [ Cart](/cart) [ ![Telehealth Certification Institute LLC Logo]() ![Telehealth Certification Institute LLC Logo]()](/) # Differential Diagnosis in the DSM Framework ## Distinguishing Non-Pathological Mood and Anxiety Presentations, Adjustment Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder ## March 5, 2027, from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST ## Join us for a Live Webinar 1 CE hour available for behavioral health clinicians **When a client presents with anxiety or low mood following a stressful life event, how do you determine whether their symptoms reflect an understandable response, adjustment disorder, or major depressive disorder? The distinctions can be subtle, yet they are essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.** Distinguishing between these presentations requires more than identifying symptoms at a single point in time. This 1 CE-hour live webinar offers mental health professionals a systematic approach to evaluating symptom patterns, examining their relationship to life stressors, and recognizing when a diagnostic formulation may need to change. [Register for the 1 CE Live Webinar for $34](/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=1631) [Register for the no-CE version for $17](/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=1632) Led by Jason Buckles, Ph.D., LPCC, this training draws on more than 25 years of clinical experience and over two decades of teaching DSM-based assessment and treatment planning at the graduate level. As a longtime behavioral health consultant and former statewide clinical director, Dr. Buckles brings extensive experience navigating complex diagnostic presentations and translating diagnostic principles into practical clinical decisions. Through straightforward, literature-informed instruction and practice-based examples, Dr. Buckles breaks down the diagnostic reasoning involved in distinguishing non-pathological mood and anxiety responses from diagnosable conditions. His approach emphasizes a structured, repeatable process that helps clinicians move beyond symptom checklists to consider the broader clinical picture and changes over time. The training begins by examining the boundary between understandable emotional distress and symptoms that may warrant a clinical diagnosis. Participants will explore how to differentiate non-pathological mood and anxiety presentations from adjustment disorder, including presentations with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and major depressive disorder with anxious features. Particular attention is given to symptom duration, diagnostic thresholds, stressor onset, exclusion criteria, and the progression of symptoms beyond the original stressor. Dr. Buckles also addresses the influence of substances, medications, medical conditions, and cultural factors on diagnostic decisions. The course concludes by reinforcing the importance of longitudinal assessment, diagnostic reconsideration, and screening for suicidal ideation and other safety concerns regardless of the working diagnosis. ![Jason Buckles Headshot]() ### Instructor **Jason Buckles, Ph.D., LPCC** Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jason earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology at New York University in 1996. While there, he worked on diagnostic projects at Bellevue Hospital and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He earned his Master’s in Counseling at The University of New Mexico in 2001 and his Ph.D. in Special Education at The University of New Mexico in 2016. His dissertation focused on the experiences of direct support professionals who support people with sexually challenging behavior. Since 2002 Jason has been the owner of Talkabout Inc., a Behavior Consultation agency specializing in support for people with intellectual disability and concurrent mental health diagnoses. From 2012 through 2016, Jason was the Statewide Clinical Director of the New Mexico Department of Health – Bureau of Behavioral Support, overseeing statewide systems of behavioral support consultation. From 2016-2019 Jason was the Executive Director of A Better Way of Living, a CQL-accredited agency that provides life-wide supports for people with intellectual disability. He is currently a contracting consultant with the New Mexico Department of Health, where he supervises the sexual risk screening program, and the ongoing development of behavior support systems, and provides statewide trainings on co-occurring mental health conditions for people with intellectual disability, among other topics. For several years Jason has also served as the Program Manager for the Developmental Disability/Mental Illness project with the University of New Mexico. For most of the past 20 years, he was a part-time instructor at both The University of New Mexico, teaching Introduction to Intellectual Disability, and at New Mexico Highlands University, teaching DSM Assessment for Counselors. **Key Takeaways:** - **Distinguish distress from disorder:** Develop a more systematic approach to determining when anxiety or low mood reflects an expected response to life circumstances and when symptoms may meet criteria for adjustment disorder or major depressive disorder. - **Apply critical diagnostic discriminators:** Learn to evaluate symptom thresholds, duration, stressor relationships, longitudinal course, and exclusion criteria to support well-reasoned diagnostic decisions. - **Recognize when the diagnosis needs reconsideration:** Strengthen your ability to track symptom changes over time, identify alternative explanations, and revisit an initial diagnosis as new clinical information emerges. **Why this course?** - **Address a common diagnostic challenge:** Anxiety and depressive symptoms frequently overlap with ordinary responses to stress. This focused training examines the clinical distinctions that can influence case formulation, diagnostic accuracy, and treatment planning. - **Learn from extensive clinical and teaching experience:** Dr. Buckles combines decades of behavioral health practice with graduate-level DSM instruction, offering practical guidance on applying diagnostic criteria to complex presentations. - **Invest in clinically relevant continuing education:** Telehealth Certification Institute provides accessible, high-quality professional development designed to strengthen clinical judgment and support ethical, informed care. This focused 1 CE-hour webinar offers an opportunity to revisit foundational diagnostic principles and sharpen skills applicable across therapeutic approaches. **Learning Objectives:** - **Differentiate** non-pathological presentation of anxiety and/or mood disruption from adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder using DSM-5-TR logic. - **Use** duration, symptom threshold, longitudinal course, temporal relationship to substances/medications, and exclusion criteria as the principal discriminators. - **Construct** a differential that actively considers onset of stressor(s), possible development of clinically significant symptoms that exceed expected response, and a longitudinal tracking of course that allows for diagnostic re-consideration. Accurate differential diagnosis depends on recognizing not only which symptoms are present, but also how they develop, interact with life circumstances, and evolve over time. Whether you are revisiting foundational DSM principles or refining an established assessment process, this webinar offers practical guidance for making more defensible diagnostic decisions and establishing a sound foundation for treatment. **Credit Hours:** CEs provided with this live webinar include 1 continuing education hour 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. 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 marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135 **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 clinical continuing education credit. 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 60 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. [CE Hour Information](#sppb-modal-1595362420788) **Register for the webinar by midnight before the event.** So that we can provide you these CEs, you are required to: 1. login and access the direct link to the webinar through your account 2. participate fully during the event 3. complete a post-test and course evaluation at the conclusion of the event 4. 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. [How to Attend the Webinar](#sppb-modal-1595362420793) 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. [Recording not Provided](#sppb-modal-1629763879622) ## Testimonials I completed the Telehealth Training. This training was very effective for me because it was self-paced. I was able to work at my own pace to fully grasp the information. In addition, the various graphics and explanations made retaining the information better for my learning style. I also enjoyed the small quizzes at the end that helped increase my understanding and application of the information. I will definitely recommend this course to other clinicians! Iveyana Kiara Smith This bundle of Clinical Supervision courses helped me to feel more confident as a clinical supervisor. It provided well rounded content and helped me feel more prepared for stepping into a supervisory role. I highly recommend these courses and appreciate that they are self-paced. Jessy Hainbach The Foundations for Working With Families Engaged in High Conflict Divorce, Training Video was very helpful in developing skills to navigate work with families experiencing this. Bryant Wilson The TeleMental Health Training Certificate Program was incredibly easy to navigate, with a smooth and intuitive layout that made learning stress-free. The content flowed logically, building on each section in a way that felt natural and engaging. I appreciated how clear the instructions were—everything I needed was right where I expected it to be. Ben Keyser Professional development available anytime without time restrictions! Mei Chan Enhancing Clinical Supervision: Supporting Autistic and other Neurodivergent Therapists in Clinical Settings training was absolutely wonderful! Thorough, detailed, and kept my attention. Meghan Co, LCSW-C, LICSW [View All 700+ Testimonials](/about-us/testimonials) ©2025 Telehealth Certification Institute LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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