Understanding Barriers to Treatment for African Americans

Course Description: This highly interactive CEU presentation will explore barriers to treatment and examine strategies to create “on-ramps” for the underserved African American population in accessing mental health services. According to the ACA Code of Ethics, “The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.” The presenters will help participants gain an understanding of how the counseling profession can make improvements in reaching all members of our society to provide quality mental health care. The history of providing medical and mental health services to the African American community will be outlined. Presenters will facilitate an interactive discussion of how barriers were created and are perpetuated today with the goal of identifying solutions to remove barriers.

Learning Objectives: Participants completing this presentation will be able to:

1. Identify barriers the African American community encounters in accessing mental health services
2. Gain a deeper understanding of the sources of these barriers
3. Explain how these barriers are associated with ethical considerations according to ACA ethical code of conduct
4. Recognize options to overcome barriers that will potentially work to bring more African American clients to access mental health services
5. Build awareness of the participant’s potential contribution to the problem and outline strategies for participant to be part of the solution.
6. Identify actions participant can take to help eliminate barriers in their sphere of influence.

About the Instructors:

Roberta Bogle, MS, LPC-S, LAC, CCMHC, ICCS, BC-TMH has been the Clinical Director at The Center since it opened in 2011. She has over 18 years of experience working in residential and out-patient treatment for mental health and addiction problems. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Roberta welcomes individuals, couples, and families to assist them in dealing with emotional, relational, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual challenges. She takes a holistic approach integrating evidence based spiritual, cognitive, and behavioral techniques to provide wellness, restoration, and healing. Roberta is a certified Prepare/Enrich Marriage and Premarital Counselor and Trainer, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Supervisor, a Gottman Method Level 2 trained relationship counselor, a trained EMDR therapist, and a certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology-Psychology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Wright State University in Ohio. She is a member of the national and South Carolina state chapter of the American Mental Health Counselor Association and is a certified instructor to provide Continued Education Units

SPONSOR

The Center for Counseling & Wellness (The Center) is a non-profit

human services organization dedicated to serving the needs of the

local community. Neither The Center nor any instructor has a

material or other financial relationship with any health care-related

business that may be mentioned in an educational program. If The

Center were ever to use an instructor who had a material or other

financial relationship with an entity mentioned in an educational

program, that relationship would be disclosed at the beginning of

the program. The Center takes all steps to ensure that all relevant

program decisions are made free of the control of a commercial

interest as defined in applicable regulatory policies, standard, and

guidelines.

The Center’s address and other contact information follows:

110 Ye Olde Kings Hwy, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Customer service: 1-843-663-0770 Fax: 843-663-0772

E-Mail: admin@thecenter4counseling.com;

website, www.thecenter4counseling.com

Tax Identification Number 45-3110009.