How Body Function and Health Affects Mental Health and Cognition

Barry F. Thompson, M.D., M.A.

About the workshop

As you all know, there is a significant degree of "overlap" between mental and physical illness; because of this, it is essential for non-medical health professionals to possess at least some degree of basic medical knowledge. I firmly believe that knowing more about a client's medical problems can make us all more effective as therapists. Here are a few questions one might ask oneself:

a. Have I missed an "obvious" medical diagnosis?

b. How are my clients' medical issues really impacting their lives?

c. Do I understand medications well enough to know when my client might be experiencing side effects?

d. What symptoms, if mentioned by my client, must not be ignored?

e. How does physical illness affect mental health (and vice-versa)?

f. What is the medical workup for someone that presents with a mental illness?

g. How can I communicate more effectively with physicians?

In this seminar, I will address the answers to these questions, and more.

Workshop Objectives

Understand the basics of how the body functions. (example: this will enable therapist to know what is going on when a client writes "congestive heart failure: or "COPD" on their history/intake form).
Awareness of a number of illnesses that might present with mental health symptoms.
Knowledge of a number of chronic medical illnesses and be able to fully empathize with their clients that are suffering from such illenss. (example: diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosies, alcoholism, or other life-changing diseases).
Recognize when a client's symptoms warrant immediate attention.
Knowledge of the optimum medical workup a physician might follow in evaluating a mental health patient.
Understanding of how the brain works in health and disease, and the basics of psychopharmacology.
Recognize certain disorders at a glance (some of which might be serious and undiagnosed) such as early Parkinson's disease or lupus.
Recognize the cardinal warning signs of a few serious illnesses such as stroke and heart attack.
Increase confidence in communicating with physicians.
An understanding of the complex relationship between physical and mental illness.

About the presenter

Barry F. Thompson, MD, MA , received his Medical Degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, After completing a general medical internship, neurology residency, and fellowship he practiced Neurology for 14 years in Memphis, TN. After leaving practice in the late 1990's and moving to the Seattle area in the summer of 2000, Dr. Thompson ultimately went back to shool to obtain a Master's degree in mental health counseling from Seattle University; along the way he became a ballet photographer as well. He currently has a private general mental health counseling practice in downtown Redmond, WA, writes a medical blog for the Seattle PI, and publishes a medical newsletter for counselors and psychologist.

About the particulars

Location: Shoreline Center
When: June 18th, 2010
Hours: 9:00am-4:30pm
Fee: $135.00 US
CEU info: 6 CEU's Cascadia Training is approved by the NASW, Washington State Chapter, to provide continuing education units to Licensed Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. Certificates of Completion are awarded to attendees at the end of each workshop. Provider number #1975-118, and is an OSPI approved provider of in-service education. This is a "Washington State Approved Clock Hour Offering Workshop."