About the Mental Health Professionals Clinical Discussions
Join the National MS Society and mental health practitioners for a bi-monthly educational discussion series designed to enhance the knowledge base of mental health professionals. This is an interactive video discussion and participation by all is encouraged.
Target audience: Those from mental health fields, including professionals who are new to MS or those with advanced MS knowledge. All interested disciplines are welcome to attend.
Format: Each 60-minute web meeting will focus on content related to mental health counseling. The discussion will be centered on individuals living with MS and their families.
Schedule and registration
2024 Schedule
Date: Thursday, December 14, 2023, 2 p.m. ET
Topic: Shared Decision Making in Treatment
Description: Shared decision making (SDM) will be defined and key questions discussed regarding the importance of SDM in working with underserved patients living with MS focusing on Black, Hispanic and Asian populations. The discussion will look at the key ingredients needed in allowing shared decision making to become an actuality in our work and identify and address barriers to SDM.
Presenter: Aliza Ben Zacharia, MSc, DNP, ANP-BC, Assistant Professor, Hunter College and Co-Director of the Research/EBP Fellowship at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024, 2 p.m. ET
Topic: Living Loss - Identifying Grief and Building Resilience in Care Partners
Description: It is widely documented that grief can be a precursor to clinical depression. In the care partner community, there is a particular kind of grief that can best be described as a real time, “living loss” due to the complex and rapid changes that people living with MS and their care partners experience. Complicating things further, caring for those living with MS presents a unique set of challenges. This presentation will focus on how clinicians and helpers in the MS community can identify grief, why it matters and how to build resiliency as a factor in assisting care partners.
Presenter: Audra Sbarra, MSW, LCSW, MSci, Manager, Case Management at the National MS Society
Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024, 2 p.m. ET
Topic: Research Topic from Kessler
Presenter: Lauren Strober, Kessler Foundation
Register to attend
Please email Sallie Stephens to be added to the distribution list.
(Note: You will not receive immediate confirmation of your registration, but will receive an email with additional information prior to the calls.)
For more information, to suggest a topic or to lead a discussion call, contact
Deszarae Busi.