Overview:
Using terms like the “inner saboteur” or self-defeating defenses is an important part of helping our clients recognize and manage their denial. One important goal of this workshop is to educate, normalize, and de-pathologize denial so we can help our clients recognize that it is a normal part of being human. Participants will learn how to identify and manage their personal denial patterns in order to be more effective in helping their clients see theirs. They will be encouraged to explore their own personal defenses and how they developed in order to be more effective with the clients they serve. Special emphasis will be placed on building a collaborative relationship with clients.
By attending and participating in this workshop participants will be able to deal more effectively with clients exhibiting denial and treatment resistance. Upon completing this workshop participants will be able to understand the philosophy of resistance and denial as well as learning how to effectively intervene and disrupt clients’ self-defeating patterns of behavior.
Objectives:
- Identify and manage at least one of their personal Big Five Denial Patterns.
- Identify and manage at least one of their personal Small Seven Denial Patterns.
- Discuss the psychological defense mechanisms that were developed and how they have been both helpful and harmful.
- Explain the five steps of the self-defeating thinking cycle by looking at least one instance they experienced negative consequences and then track the five steps and how they could have intervened at each step to avoid those negative consequences.
Course materials are only available to enrolled students.
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Stephen Grinstead
Dr. Stephen Grinstead is a seasoned expert in the field of addiction and chronic pain management, with over 35 years of experience as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a former California Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC-II), and an Advanced Relapse Prevention Specialist (ACRPS). He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Science, a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology, and a Doctorate in Addictive Disorders (Dr. AD), making him one of the few professionals in the world with this unique combination of expertise. Dr. Grinstead has an impressive background as an educator, having taught at several prestigious universities, including Santa Clara University, UC Berkeley Extension, Stanford University Medical School, and the University of Utah's School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies. He also served on the faculty of UC Santa Cruz Extension Alcohol and Drug Studies Program and as an Adjunct Professor at Alliant University, where he taught Masters Level and Psy.D. students the Treating the Addicted Family System course for the Marriage and Family Therapy track for five years. In 2015, Dr. Grinstead co-founded and served as the Chief Clinical Officer of a Residential and Intensive Outpatient Triple Diagnosis Chronic Pain Management Program in Camarillo, California. He is the author of multiple books on chronic pain management, including Thank You Adversity For Yet Another Test: A Body Mind Spirit Approach for Relieving Chronic Pain Suffering, Freedom from Suffering: A Journey of Hope, Managing Pain, Coexisting Disorders, and the Addiction-Free Pain Management® Recovery Guide. Dr. Grinstead is renowned internationally for his pioneering work in preventing relapse related to addiction and chronic pain disorders and for his development of the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. His extensive experience with chronic pain management, substance use disorders, eating addiction, and coexisting mental and personality disorders make him a valuable resource for patients and practitioners alike.
National Approvals
eCare BHI, as the accredited and approved sponsor, maintains responsibility for all the programs and must abide by each board’s continuing education guidelines.

Professional Counselors — The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 6703. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Addiction Professionals — NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute is officially on file with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as an Approved Education Provider. They are formally known as NAADAC Provider #139138. Please note that E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

Social Workers — Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute, #1706, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. E Care Behavioral Health Institute maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2020 – 06-03-2026.

CE Broker
CE Broker is a continuing education tracking system in which licensees track their compliance and report their completed CE hours credit (CE Broker Tracking #50-33336)
State Approvals
States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers |
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Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |
Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee |
Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
Wyoming |
States that Accepts NBCC Approved Courses: |
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Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Indiana |
Iowa | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Missouri | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
New Mexico | Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
Tennessee | Texas | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin |
- Nevada CPC’s and MFT’s accept ASWB-approved training
- North Dakota Board Of Counselor Examiners LAPC and LAPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council LPC and LPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing – CMHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Washington State Department of Mental Health MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Wisconsin Council on Mental Health LPCS accepts ASWB-approved training
States that Accept NAADAC Approved Providers |
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Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | Delaware | Hawaii | Indiana |
Kentucky | Maine | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Montana | Nevada | New Jersey |
New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Oregon | Rhode Island | Tennessee |
Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
States that Accept APA Approved Providers |
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Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Delaware | District Of Columbia |
Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas |
Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri |
Montana | Nebraska | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Tennessee | Utah | Vermont | Virginia |
Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |