Caring for Individuals with Co-Occurring Disorders: Addressing Dual Mental Health and Substance Abuse Concerns

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Virtual

Instructors:

Dr. Ann Marie Roepke, Ph.D., Evoke Training and Consulting, PLLC

Dr. Josie Tracy, PhD, Harness Harm Reduction 

CE credits: 6 (pending)

Course Description:

Mental health and alcohol/substance issues commonly co-occur. Treating co-occurring disorders in an integrated way improves outcomes for Veterans. In this full-day training, we will review evidence-based treatment approaches for addressing a Veteran’s mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, or posttraumatic stress disorder) and alcohol or substance use disorder. These strategies include cognitive behavioral therapies, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction. We will discuss pragmatic ways to integrate these treatments in practice. Participants will have the opportunity to learn via lecture, small and large group discussion, demonstration, and experiential learning activities designed to give them a richer understanding of techniques to address co-occurring disorders.

Learning objectives. 

At the end of this training participants will be able to:

1. Explain how to conduct a Functional Analysis that illuminates the connections between a Veteran’s mental health symptoms and alcohol/substance use
2. Apply a case conceptualization tool to clients with co-occurring conditions
3. Describe three evidence-based treatments relevant to co-occurring disorders
4. Summarize how to use the Motivational Interviewing OARS skills to support recovery from both AUD/SUD and mental health challenges
5. Provide two examples of how exposure therapies can be used to address anxiety disorders and PTSD
6. Differentiate symptoms of substance intoxication and withdrawal from mental health conditions
7. Articulate misconceptions about substance use treatment and identify VA/DOD best-practices for treatment of co-occurring conditions
8. Implement an MI-based Focusing Exercise to help clients prioritize therapy goals

References:

Bahji, A. (2024). Navigating the complex intersection of substance use and psychiatric disorders: A comprehensive review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(4), 999.

Trivedi, R. B., Post, E. P., Sun, H., Pomerantz, A., Saxon, A. J., Piette, J. D., ... & Nelson, K. (2015). Prevalence, comorbidity, and prognosis of mental health among US veterans. American journal of public health, 105(12), 2564-2569.

Somohano, V. C., Cameron, D., Lewis, M. M., O'Neill, A., Phillips, R., Kaplan, J., & O'Neil, M. E. (2024). Predictors of evidence-based psychotherapy initiation among veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1432361

Bahji, A. (2024). Navigating the Complex Intersection of Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(4), 999. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13040999