Preferred registration deadline: April 10th

3 CEs

Social workers and healthcare professionals often encounter clients with one or more mental or physical health diagnoses. Yet, clinical pressures can make it difficult to pause and consider the deeper meaning or adaptive function of symptoms. This interactive workshop invites practitioners to slow their practice, reflect on the “function behind the dysfunction,” and explore how symptoms may represent coping strategies developed in response to life experiences.

Participants will examine how diagnostic labels can obscure clients’ strengths and cultural contexts, and how symptom reduction efforts may sometimes feel threatening to clients. Using case examples, small group discussions, and role-play exercises, attendees will strengthen their ability to build rapport, promote insight, and develop holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally respectful case conceptualizations and treatment plans.

This is an in-person workshop that will be held on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The exact location and directions will be emailed to registered participants before the course date. 

General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 30.

Return to our list of Workshops

Course Outline

Content Level: Intermediate

Target Audiences: Therapists, Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Family and Marriage Therapists, School Social Workers, Hospital Social Workers, Inpatient Social Workers

Agenda:

• Introduction to case formulation considerations (How to assess, what to look for, when to review, common diagnoses, etc.) - 60 mins
• First wave of Case Scenarios to apply concepts (e.g., forming and writing a detailed case conceptualization, applying the knowledge throughout treatment) - 60 mins
• Integrating the concepts into practice (Second wave of case scenario, skill rehearsal practice, applications to participants' agencies/practices) - 60 mins

Learner Outcomes

• Apply bio-psychosocial and cultural perspectives to understand the function of symptoms.
• Describe and integrate multiple data sources into trauma-informed, strengths-based case formulations.
• Identify and challenge implicit biases in assessment and treatment planning.
• Demonstrate empathetic communication strategies that enhance client collaboration.
• Apply core social work values—cultural humility, self-determination, and respect for lived experience—into case formulation and treatment planning.

Course Completion Requirements:

• The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Professional Development, provider #2130, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/24/2025 – 9/24/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.
• The Brown School is also an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois.
• To earn ACE credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. ACE credit is not provided for partial attendance.  However, you may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs provided by the Brown School.
• Brown School CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available. ACE CE Certificates, if requested in your evaluation survey, will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
• For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancelation policy, our grievance policy, or other inquiries please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.

Recommendations