Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School

09/09/2026

Wednesday, September 16 from The Chicago School "Developmental Foundations of Clinical Supervision" presented by Cody Dickson, PhD, LPC-S (TX), NCC, ACS, BC-TMH
https://tcsppofficeofce.com/sept_16_2026/
This 2-hour continuing education program explores the developmental theories that drive clinical supervision. Participants will explore the mechanics of key developmental models, including Stoltenberg’s Integrative Developmental Model (IDM) and Rønnestad and Skovholt’s phases of counselor development, alongside the principles of adult learning theory.

Supervisors will learn how to objectively assess a clinician’s current developmental stage and systematically adjust their own supervisory stance. By learning to dial structural support up or down, lean into consultative feedback, and foster appropriate autonomy, supervisors will leave equipped to guide their supervisees seamlessly from high-anxiety novices to self-reliant, refective practitioners.

Developmental Foundations of Clinical Supervision Click Here to Register Learn more about the Clinical Supervision Series II: Theoretical Foundations of Supervision Presented by Cody Dickson, PhD, LPC-S (TX), NCC, ACS, […]

09/04/2026

Friday, September 11 from The Chicago School in partnership with Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis presented by Dr. Brice Lemaire

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/sept_11_2026/

Hypno-anesthesia is one of the most fascinating application of hypnosis, showing the control of the mind over the body. Based on 25 years of experience of dental surgery with hypnosis, we’ll explain and demonstrate with clinical videos many hypnotic strategies to manage procedural pain. We’ll cover a lot of hypnotic techniques: establishing rapport and mindset, testing hypnotizability, instant inductions procedures, self deepening technique, deep trance management, hypnotic phenomena to manage pain control and include a discussion on the limitations, contraindications and risks. This presentation is designed for practitioners working in medical hypnosis and especially procedural pain management.

Hypno-Anesthesia: Myth and Reality Click Here to Register Presented by Dr. Brice LeMaire Friday, September 11, 2026 9am-10:30am PT/ 11am-12:30pm CT/ 12pm-1:30pm ET Event held online via Zoom, link to […]

09/03/2026

Friday, September 11 from The Chicago School "From Psychosis to Spiritual Emergence: Bridging Mental Health and Spirit World Through Decolonizing, Culturally Informed Therapy" presented by Mija Bradford, LCPC, MBA, Yun-Chu (Melody) Chen, EdS, LCPC, and Gillian Taylor, LCPC, ATR, PMH-C, CCTP

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/sept_11_2026-2/

This 2.5 hour professional presentation examines how spiritual emergence and culturally embedded meaning‑making are frequently misdiagnosed as psychotic disorders within Western psychiatric frameworks. Grounded in lived experience, trauma‑informed clinical practice, and multicultural theory, the session demonstrates how culturally responsive assessment—particularly the DSM‑5‑TR Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI)—can reduce diagnostic bias and improve ethical care for African diaspora, Indigenous, and immigrant clients.

This presentation invites audiences into a timely conversation about healing, well-being, and cultural connection—where spirit meets science within mental health care. Presenters illustrate how trauma, culture, and spirituality intersect in today’s world and how clinicians can hold space for both the sacred and the psychological. With increased stress or trauma, and as symptoms demand treatment, people of every background are seeking healing beyond conventional therapy. Many are turning to ancestral, interfaith, and nature-centered practices that honor identity and connection—from Afro-Diasporic and Indigenous healing circles to Catholic, Buddhist, and interfaith gatherings, and from Latino Día de los Mu***os remembrances to mindfulness traditions rooted in East and South Asian communities.

From Psychosis to Spiritual Emergence: Bridging Mental Health and Spirit World Through Decolonizing, Culturally Informed Therapy Click Here to Register Presented by Mija Bradford, LCPC, MBA, Yun-Chu (Melody) Chen, EdS, […]

09/02/2026

Wednesday, September 9 from The Chicago School "S*x Positive Therapy with Q***r, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color" in partnership with the Illinois Association for Counseling S*xology and S*xual Wellness presented by Lauren Wiklund, PhD.

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/sept_9_2026/

S*xual wellness, a critical part of human life, is deeply connected to physical and mental health. Despite global initiatives calling for the inclusion of multidimensional approaches to s*xual health research and practice, the dominant discourse continues to be disease and deficit focused. While multiply marginalized populations are hyper visible in the s*xual health research on risk and disease, they are rarely considered in the arena of s*xual wellness. In resistance to narratives that pathologize marginalized s*xualities, this program focuses on how to incorporate s*x positive practices into therapy with q***r and/or trans Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (QTBIPOC). When marginalized identities are associated with risk and negative outcomes, how can we practice strengths based, s*x positive therapy? Theoretical frameworks exist to help us shift our language and actions toward more socially just and destigmatizing care. By utilizing intersectionality theory (Crenshaw, 1991) and embodiment (Krieger, 2001), this program illustrates the reciprocal relationship between the body and its social context within compounding systems of oppression. Our own bodies as therapists matter too. Investigating our own socialization, internalized beliefs, and biases are imperative to providing affirming and s*x positive care.

Participants will learn how to accurately identify and apply the tenets of intersectionality theory into a s*x-positive clinical practice with multiply marginalized clients (Buchanan & Wiklund, 2021). To bridge the knowing to doing gap, this program includes clinical vignettes, guided self reflection, and engaging chat based discussions and Q&A.

*xTherapy *xCounseling Association for Counseling S*xology and S*xual Wellness

S*x Positive Therapy with Q***r, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) Click Here to Register Presented by Lauren Wiklund, PhD Wednesday, September 9, 2026 8am-10am PT / 10am-12pm […]

09/01/2026

September from The Chicago School

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/live-events/

Sessions Include:

*xPositiveTherapy with Q***r, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color ( )- September 9 in partnership with Illinois Association for Counseling S*xology and S*xual Wellness presented by Lauren Wiklund, PhD

From to ; Bridging and Spirit World Through Decolonizing, Culturally Informed - September 11 presented by Mija Bradford, LCPC, MBA; un-Chu (Melody) Chen, EdS, LCPC, and LCPC, ATR, PMH-C, CCTP

Hypno-Anesthesia: Myth and Reality- September 11 in partnership with Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis presented by Dr. Brice LeMaire

Foundations of - September 16 presented by Cody W Dickson, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH

*xualHealth Conversations in : Exploring Comfort, Knowledge, and Practice September 18 in partnership with Association for Counseling S*xology and S*xual Wellness presented by Jerry L. Mize

Foundations of Clinical Supervision presented by Michelle Malters, Psy.D.

OCE 2026: Tech, Therapeutics, and Trust: Balancing with Practice- September 25

Sacred, Shadow, and Science: Embodiment, Trauma, and Grounded Practices in Work- September 30 presented by Yulinda Renee Rahman PhD

Functional for : presented by Sandra Niesvizky

in Simple Clinical Spanish - September 3

Brief Interventions and Action Planning ( – Stage III) - September 10

Therapeutic Alliance, Ruptures, and Repair - September 17

Session Closure, Follow-Up, and Continuity of Care - September 24

Thank you for your interest in The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School’s upcoming Continuing Education events. Please click on the name of the event to view more […]

08/28/2026

Join The Chicago SchoolFriday, September 25 for the OCE Symposium 2026: TECH, THERAPEUTICS, AND TRUST: Balancing Technological Innovation with Ethical Clinical Practice

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/oce-symposium-2026/

Three live sessions with a combined 4.5 hours/CEs/CEUs offered. All sessions will be recorded for future homestudy. Attend them all for only $100 or choose a single program for $40.

Law & Order: Ethics Unit : Navigating Dilemmas in the Age of AI and Innovation
7:00am – 8:30am PT | 9:00am – 10:30am CT | 10:00am – 11:30am ET
Presented by Witni Jackson, DSW, LCSW, MAC

Virtual Reality-Assisted Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD: Evidence, Clinical Applications, and Ethical Implementation
8:45am – 10:15am PT | 10:45am – 12:15pm CT | 11:45am – 1:15pm ET
Presented by Maria Rheba Estante, LMFT, LPCC

The Synthetic Therapist: AI, VR, and Digital Therapeutics — Where Do We Draw the Ethical Line?
10:30am – 12:00pm PT | 12:30pm – 2:00pm CT | 1:30pm – 3:00pm ET
Presented by Kimberly C. Ward, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, RPT

Friday, September 25, 2026 9:00am – 2:00pm CT The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School is pleased to announce our first symposium: TECH, THERAPEUTICS, AND TRUST: Balancing Technological […]

08/21/2026

Friday, August 28 from The Chicago School "The Psychology of Financial Wellness: Helping Clients Make Money & Mind Work Together" presented by Darla Bishop, DrPH

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/aug_28_2026/

Financial stress is a significant contributor to psychological distress and can influence decision-making, emotional regulation, and treatment engagement. Research in behavioral economics and financial therapy demonstrates that financial decision-making is shaped not only by knowledge but also by cognitive load, emotional regulation, and stress physiology (Mullainathan & Shafir, 2013; Klontz et al., 20159). When financial stress is present, clients may experience shame, avoidance behaviors, and reduced capacity for long-term planning, which can affect progress in therapy and broader life outcomes.

This program introduces clinicians to the psychological and behavioral mechanisms that influence financial decision-making and financial wellness. Participants will explore how cognitive bandwidth, stress responses, and behavioral patterns influence money-related decisions and how these dynamics appear in clinical settings. Drawing on research from behavioral economics and financial therapy, the session provides practical strategies clinicians can use to support clients in recognizing financial stress patterns, improving decision-making capacity, and integrating financial wellness considerations into treatment planning while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries

The Psychology of Financial Wellness: Helping Clients Make Money & Mind Work Together Click Here to Register Click here to learn more about the “Financial Wellness-Informed Clinician” Microcredential Presented by […]

08/19/2026

Friday, August 28 from The Chicago School "Addressing health disparities and systemic barriers in women’s health care" presented by Chinwe Ewenighi, Ph.D.

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/aug_28_2026-2/

Menopause is a hormonal transition that marks the end of the female reproductive cycle, characterized by significant hormonal changes. Menopause involves a continuum of symptoms across Cardiovascular, Bone, and Mental Health (Zahn et al., 2024). menopausal symptoms include vasomotor symptoms, sleep disturbances, problems with s*xual function, and cognitive symptoms (Thurston et al., 2025). Menopausal symptoms are experienced differently based on cultural beliefs and psychosocial factors (Zahn et al., 2024). Although physical symptoms of menopause are well-known and documented, the psychological effects, particularly suicidality, are underexplored (Hendriks et al., 2025). Estrogen fluctuations during the menopausal transition are a risk factor for depression (Turek & Gąsior, 2023). Minority populations are less likely to seek mental health care compared with the white population (Zhang et al., 2022). African American women are twice as likely to experience depression symptoms during the transition to menopause compared with non-Hispanic white women. Despite higher rates of mood symptoms during the menopause transition, African American and Hispanic women are less likely to use hormone replacement therapy compared with non-Hispanic white women and are more often interested in complementary and alternative options (Ballone & Richards, 2023).

To avoid unconscious biases, a clinician can integrate biological, psychological, & sociocultural experiences with their own clinical expertise and medical knowledge to offer effective and accessible menopause care. This topic is crucial because it addresses (1) mental health professionals who will learn to enhance their ability to provide culturally sensitive care, (2) our medical students who will become physicians (DO) who will treat diverse patient populations, and (3) faculty and staff who will ensure our students provide excellent care to all patients regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and cultural context. Participants will identify health disparities and systemic barriers in women’s health specific to the menopausal stage of life. They’ll learn how menopause affects mental health specifically for the BIPOC populations. Lastly, we’ll discuss care approaches for working with menopausal patients in order to reduce disparities.

Addressing health disparities and systemic barriers in women’s health care Click Here to Register Presented by Chinwe Ewenighi, PhD Friday, August 28, 2026 9-10:30am PT / 11am-12:30pm CT / 12-1:30pm […]

08/18/2026

Starting September 16 from The Chicago School "Clinical Supervision Series II: Theoretical Foundations of Supervision"

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/clinical-supervision-series-ii-theoretical-foundations-of-supervision/

This 5-part (10 hour) intermediate level series equips clinical supervisors with the theoretical grounding needed to guide effective practice, covering psychotherapy orientations, developmental and learning theories, the supervisory alliance and relational dynamics, and multicultural, systemic, and organizational influences. Through case vignettes, role-play, and applied exercises, participants will learn to assess supervisee developmental level and learning needs, select theory-informed interventions matched to clinical orientation, and skillfully navigate power, culture, and relational processes within the supervisory relationship.

Click here to register for the Microcredential Clinical Supervision Series II: Theoretical Foundations of Supervision A 5-Session Microcredential Course This 5-part (10 hour) intermediate level series equips clinical supervisors with […]

08/14/2026

Friday, August 21 from The Chicago School "The Addicted Family (Updated for 2026)" presented by Melody Bacon, PhD

https://tcsppofficeofce.com/aug_21_2026/

The devastation of addiction cuts a wide swath through the lives of those struggling with substance use disorders and those who love them. The dreaded midnight phone call bearing bad news is the ultimate source of countless sleepless nights. And yet, for the most part, families struggling with addiction have been either criticized as the cause, ignored as inconsequential or told that their actions or inactions are making matters worse. While most treatment programs include the family, this is viewed as ancillary and, at times, non-essential to the treatment of the addict.

As the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has advocated in the publication “Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy” (NIH, 2020), “To ensure use of family counseling and family services to their greatest potential within SUD treatment, it is essential to broaden the focus of SUD treatment from an individual to a family perspective” (p. 1). This workshop will present an integrative approach to treatment. Based on the ideas of Bowen Family Systems therapy and the principles of the 12-step movement, the Family Matters program offers a model that addresses the needs of families struggling with addiction while at the same time creating a relational environment that supports recovery.

This presentation will:

1. Review the treatment of substance use disorders both historical and current.

2. Present research that supports the use of family therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders.

3. Provide an overview of the Family Matters Program as a model for the use of family therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders.

Handouts will be provided.

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