Psychopharmacology for Mental and Emotional Disorders (6 Hours) -Arizona

Delivering a comprehensive review of common psychotropic medications, this six-credit-hour course equips practitioners with essential knowledge to treat anxiety, depression, and other prevalent conditions. Understanding psychopharmacology is a clinical competency that Hart and Ksir (2022) identify as crucial for evaluating the medical implications of psychological disability and for ensuring clients receive holistic support. Counselors do not prescribe, so the course focuses on recognizing medication effects, coordinating with prescribers, and making appropriate referrals. By exploring how these medications influence the central nervous system and specific neurotransmitter pathways, counselors can better coordinate comprehensive care. Recognizing the profound ways that biological factors impact cognition allows clinical staff, guided by the diagnostic frameworks of the American Psychiatric Association (2013) throughout the evaluation process, to provide accurate assessments and targeted referrals. Upon successful completion of the post-test, hours are reported directly to CE Broker.