Clinical Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Series 2026: Understanding Mental Health Through a Trauma and a Polyvagal Lens

July 31, 2026

This is a series of professional education events related to the practice of systemic psychotherapy around a theme of facilitating change and post-traumatic growth. Join us for workshops on a variety of topics.

This session will explore mental health diagnosis and treatment modalities through a trauma and polyvagal lens. We will discuss easily obtainable information within the body and the nervous system to help guide accurate assessment and trauma focused work. Education will be provided about how trauma affects the nervous system and how certain treatments are more tailored to repair the nervous system. Case studies will be presented to illuminate theory into practice. Providers will be given tools to recognize and intervene in somatic focused work.

This conference is being held virtually.

Target Audience

This course is intended for mental health practitioners, including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, professional counselors, and other healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, learners should be able to:

  1. Describe in detail the four states of the nervous system and ways to identify them.
  2. Apply understanding of the nervous system to modify current and future therapeutic techniques.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 4.00 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 4.00 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits.
  • 4.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 4.00 American Psychological Association (APA)
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Course opens: 
05/04/2026
Course expires: 
12/31/2026
Event starts: 
07/31/2026 - 12:00pm CDT
Event ends: 
07/31/2026 - 4:00pm CDT
Cost:
$100.00
Part of: 
Clinical Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Series 2026
Add to calendar: 
Rating: 
0

Faculty
 

Erich D. Roush, PsyD; Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
Robert Marrs, MS, LMFT; Director, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Milind Mehta, MD; Internal Medicine, Aurora Psychiatric Hospital
Kim Jones, APSW; Clinical Assistant, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Linn Visscher, MA, LPC, LMFT; Family Therapy Institute Manager, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Sharon Hempel, LMFT; Psychotherapist, Aurora Behavioral Health Center
Robert Reff, PhD; Psychologist, Aurora BayCare Medical Centerkarin
Karin Suesser, PhD; Psychologist, Aurora Behavioral Health Center
Meghan Bahr, LCSW-AODA; Manager, Employee Assistance Program
Marcella Blomwillis, MA; Manager, Employee Assistance Program

 

Disclosure

Faculty disclosures are being reviewed and will be presented to the audience in advance of the program.

Accreditation Statement
 

In support of improving patient care, Advocate Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Credit Statements

 

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 4.00 clinical continuing education credits.

American Psychological Association (APA)
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

Family Therapy Training Institute (FTTI)
The Family Therapy Training Institute (FTTI) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) COAMFTE. FTTI is an approved continuing education entity per Wisconsin Statute MPSW 19.03 1(b). 

Available Credit

  • 4.00 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
    Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 4.00 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits.
  • 4.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
  • 4.00 American Psychological Association (APA)
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

Price

Cost:
$100.00
Please login or register to take this course.

How to Register
 

Complete the form above and click "Add to cart."

Click "Checkout" and follow the prompts to complete your order.

A link to the meeting will be provided prior to the event

 FEE
Non-Advocate Health/FTTI clinicians$100.00
FTTI students, FTTI faculty, and FTTI clinical affiliatesFree
Advocate Health teammate or independent clinicianFree

Payable by credit card only

Registration for this activity can only be completed through the CE Learning Platform. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored. 

Cancellation and Refund Policy


Cancelation/Refunds/Substitutions

  • Cancellations must be in writing (email)
  • Registrants cancelling between two weeks and five full business days prior to the first day of the event are "refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee."
  • No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than five full business days prior to the event.
  • No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows.
  • No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund.

For Further Information
 

Programs will be recorded and posted online for ongoing viewing. Please turn your camera/video off if you do not want your image shared within the recorded video.

If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Sharon Hempel at [email protected].

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the IPCE Office at [email protected]

Please take some time to view your profile to make sure all required fields are up to date.