Continuing Education

Direct Practice Skills

Mastering Client Engagement and Assessment in Social Work and Mental Healthcare

Mental Health Education

About The Course

Course Title: Direct Practice Skills

Learning Method: Record asynchronous distance (non-interactive). This course includes a recorded video and access to the presented resources.

Amount of CE Credit Offered: 1 credit (general). ASWB ACE and NBCC.

Fees: This course can be purchased individually for $25 or as part of an annual unlimited continuing education subscription available for $99/year.

Posttest: Following the course, the participant will take a 10 question posttest. A score of 70% correct is required to pass and obtain a certificate. If you do not pass the posttest, it can be re-taken after fully reviewing the materials again. 

Certificate of CompletionIn order to receive a certificate of completion, you must indicate that you’ve watched the entire video portion of the course, earn a passing grade on the test, and complete the requested course evaluation.

Description of the Course:

Why is understanding this topic important?

1. Enhancing Client Outcomes:

Direct practice skills are foundational to effective social work and mental healthcare. They enable practitioners to engage effectively with clients, assess their needs accurately, and intervene in empathetic and practical ways. These skills are directly linked to the quality of clients’ outcomes, ranging from improved mental health and well-being to successful navigation of social services and systems.

2. Adaptability to Evolving Social Challenges:

Social work and mental health practice must continually adapt to the changing landscape of social challenges, such as shifts in population demographics, social policies, and health care systems. Direct practice skills must evolve to meet these changes, requiring ongoing education and discussion among practitioners.

3. Professional Development and Supervision:

Direct practice skills involve initial training, continuous improvement, and professional development throughout a social worker’s or mental health professional’s career. Supervisory skills, a focus of Rachel’s expertise, are crucial for ensuring that less experienced social workers and mental health professionals receive the guidance and feedback necessary to hone their practice effectively.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Analyze and Apply Direct Practice Skills
    Participants will identify key direct practice skills discussed and analyze their application in various social work and mental health settings. Students will be able to apply these insights to create a detailed plan outlining how they might incorporate these skills into their own practice, specifically focusing on culturally diverse and interdisciplinary settings.

  2. Strengthen Clinical Assessment Techniques
    Participants will master various assessment techniques essential for accurate client evaluations in clinical settings. They will engage in exercises that simulate client interviews and assessments, critically analyzing case studies to identify needs and risks. The objective is to improve their ability to conduct thorough and effective assessments, which are foundational to successful treatment planning and client care.

  3. Develop Direct Practice Skills in In-Person and Online Settings
    Participants will develop advanced skills for engaging clients and creating comprehensive treatment plans across both in-person and online modalities.

Target Audience: 

Masters and Clinical level licensees pursuing continuing education and mental health professionals.

Content Level:

Both beginning and intermediate-level content are included in this course.

Instructor Bio(s):

Meagan Mitchell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing individualized and group instruction for over 5 years.

Meagan is currently a Child and Adolescent Therapist in Washington, DC. She is working towards her Play Therapy credential. Meagan is also the founder of Agents of Change Social Work Test Prep – a learning platform and community designed for social workers preparing for their licensing exams.

She loves combining her passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with the social work community. Meagan has a strong interest in tech & and innovation, specifically exploring the intersection of technology with social work practices. She is also passionate about multicultural supervision & and ethics; ensuring diverse voices are heard, understood, and supported in supervision and consultation.

Lastly, Meagan is currently a DSW student at SUNY Buffalo.

Dr. Rachel Young, PHD, MSW, LISW-S

Dr. Rachel Young has built a comprehensive social work career, combining extensive academic work with practical experience in clinical settings and leadership roles. She holds a PhD and an MPhil in Health Psychology from Walden University and completed her Master of Social Work at Andrews University. She currently works as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of Social Work at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where she oversees the BSW program and teaches courses. Rachel has also served as the Field Education Director at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Lead Clinician at Lifestance Health.

In addition to her roles in education and clinical practice, Rachel has actively contributed to the field through research and publications, focusing on areas like equine-assisted psychotherapy, social skills development, and the impact of drug policy. Her work has been presented in various professional settings, highlighting her commitment to integrating research with practical applications in social work.

Course Outline:

1) Introduction to Direct Practice Skills

  • Overview of direct practice skills in social work and mental healthcare
  • Importance of these skills in both in-person and virtual settings
  • The role of technology in enhancing direct practice skills

2) Client Engagement Techniques

  • Strategies for effective client engagement
  • Adapting engagement approaches to different settings and demographics
  • Role plays and practical exercises for engaging clients

3) Clinical Assessment Fundamentals

  • Key components of clinical assessments in social work and mental healthcare
  • Techniques for strengthening assessment skills
  • Case studies: Applying assessment skills in various scenarios

4) Developing Treatment Plans

  • Collaborative treatment planning with clients
  • Integrating client feedback into treatment plans
  • Ethical considerations in treatment planning
  • Utilizing technology for treatment planning and tracking progress

5) Professional Development and Continuing Education

  • Importance of lifelong learning in social work and mental health professions

  • Opportunities for professional development in direct practice

  • Ethical practice and supervision in social work and mental health professions

  • Utilizing peer consultation and supervision effectively

Course Creation Date: 4/19/24 

Requesting Accessibility Accommodations:

Please email [email protected] to request accessibility accommodations.

System Requirements:

  • The most recent version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge browser
  • Javascript enabled
  • PDF plugin
  • Graphic and audio output capability
  • Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
  • TLS 1.2 supported by your web browser

Refund PolicyIn general, refunds will not be provided. However, if you do have any concerns or grievances, please contact us at the email address below. Registrants who do not complete their course(s) will not receive a refund. Registrants who purchased the course but did not achieve a passing grade will not receive a refund. The Agents of Change Grievance Policy can be viewed here.

Cancellation Policy: If an Agents of Change Continuing Education course is canceled, a full refund will be provided to all participants.

Please email [email protected] with any questions about the course.

Agents of Change is Approved by ACE

Agents of Change, #1919, 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: 7/26/2023 – 7/26/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.

Agents of Change is Approved by NBCC

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

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Your Continuing Education Includes

Audio + Visual Content

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High Quality Materials

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PEER + Email Support

With your purchase, you'll be invited to the Agents of Change community, a supporting skill building environment. You'll also have access to the Agents of Change team for any questions!

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