Agenda

Participants will examine the overlapping features of spiritual experiences and psychological distress while considering the importance of thoughtful, culturally responsive clinical assessment. The session will highlight the role of the nervous system in emotional and behavioral responses, particularly in the context of stress and trauma. Using a trauma-informed, whole-person approach, participants will explore assessment strategies that promote clinical awareness without prematurely pathologizing client experiences. Emphasis will be placed on ethical clinical reasoning and integrating biological, psychological, relational, cultural, and spiritual considerations to support more effective assessment, treatment, and referral decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key differences between psychological symptoms, spiritual experience, and maladaptive or harmful influences in clinical presentations.
• Recognize how certain spiritual practices may unintentionally reinforce trauma patterns, dissociation, or emotional dysregulation.
• Understand ethical considerations when addressing spiritual content in therapy.

This intensive requires seaprate registration and payment through the  National Board of  Forensic Evaluators. https://nbfe.net/event-6729985

In collaboration with the National Board of Forensic Evaluators, Inc. (NBFE), the Licensed Clinical Counselors of North Carolina (LCCNC) is offering a forensic mental health certification training designed for licensed mental health professionals seeking to expand their clinical expertise into forensic practice.

This 8-hour workshop will be held on October 10-11, 2026, and will be available in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend either in person or virtually via Zoom. The in-person training will take place at the Charlotte Marriott City Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, with remote access available for national participants.

The training provides an introduction to the foundational principles of forensic mental health evaluation and outlines the pathway to the Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE) credential. Participants will be introduced to essential concepts that distinguish forensic evaluation from clinical practice, including ethical and legal considerations, professional standards, and the evaluator’s role in legal contexts.

This workshop is intended to serve as an accessible entry point into forensic mental health work, an area not typically emphasized in graduate clinical training. It is well-suited for professionals seeking continuing education, expanded scope of practice, or future certification in forensic evaluation.

Workshop Highlights

Participants will gain an overview of:

• Core principles of forensic mental health evaluation and distinctions from clinical practice
• Ethical, legal, and professional standards in forensic settings
• Key areas of assessment, including competency, custody, violence risk, and related forensic evaluations
• Fundamentals of forensic report writing and expert witness preparation
• Overview of the CFMHE certification process and requirements
• Common assessment tools, interview techniques, and evaluation methods used in forensic practice

Counselors spend their careers helping others navigate mental health challenges, trauma, substance use disorders, and life stressors. However, counselors themselves are not immune to the effects of burnout, compassion fatigue, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or other personal and professional challenges that can affect their well-being and ability to practice safely. The theme of this presentation, “Resilient Together,” recognizes that resilience is strengthened through connection, support, accountability, and a shared commitment to professional wellness.

This presentation will provide an overview of the North Carolina Professionals Health Program (NCPHP) and its role in supporting licensed clinical mental health counselors through a confidential, recovery-oriented alternative to discipline. Participants will learn how NCPHP partners with the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors to address health-related concerns that may affect professional practice while maintaining a primary focus on public protection and client safety.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the role of the North Carolina Professionals Health Program (NCPHP) and its partnership with the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors in addressing counselor impairment through a non-disciplinary, recovery-oriented approach.
• Identify the common circumstances that may lead to a referral to NCPHP, including substance use disorders, mental health concerns, burnout, professional boundary issues, and other conditions that may affect safe professional practice.
• Explain the NCPHP assessment, treatment, and monitoring process, including how early intervention, accountability, and recovery support help protect the public while facilitating a counselor's return to safe and effective practice.