Counseling Techniques

The Psychology of Body Language: Clinical Applications for Mental Health Professionals

4.7

Overview:

Nonverbal communication—often referred to as “body language”—is both universally compelling and widely misunderstood. From viral media analyses to everyday social cues, interpretations of body language often reflect more myth than science. For mental health professionals, these misconceptions can subtly shape clinical judgment, therapeutic relationships, and even the client’s self-perception.

In this evidence-based training, Dr. Stratyner explores the science behind nonverbal behavior and its implications for clinical practice. Participants will learn to distinguish empirical findings from popular disinformation, examine how nonverbal communication functions as a form of self-disclosure, and understand the influence of culture on both expression and perception. Using a culturally humble and positive psychology-informed framework, clinicians will gain strategies to help clients enhance body awareness, improve alignment between verbal and nonverbal communication, and strengthen relational attunement in therapy and daily life.

Objectives:

  • Differentiate empirically supported findings about nonverbal behavior from common myths and disinformation.
  • Analyze how nonverbal communication including gestures, posture, and facial expression serves as both intentional and unintentional self-disclosure in clinical interactions.
  • Apply culturally informed strategies to help clients enhance body awareness, improve congruence between verbal and nonverbal expression, and strengthen emotional communication in therapy.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure

This course provides licensed mental health professionals with an overview of the scientific foundations and clinical applications of nonverbal communication. While this training introduces evidence-informed strategies for integrating nonverbal awareness into therapy, it does not qualify participants for certification in body language analysis, behavioral profiling, or any specialized modality. Clinicians are encouraged to apply the material within their professional scope of practice, ethical standards, and cultural competence guidelines.

Commercial Support Disclosure

Dr. Alexandra Stratyner, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and founder of Stratyner & Associates, where she provides psychotherapy and consultation services. References to her clinical practice or related materials are included for educational purposes only. Participants are not required to purchase any services, books, or products to complete this course. The presenter has no relevant financial relationships to disclose beyond standard speaking compensation.

Course materials are only available to enrolled students.

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    Alexandra Stratyner, Ph.D

    Dr. Alexandra Stratyner is a Manhattan-based psychologist who provides tailored individual, couples, family and group therapy and assessment services in person and via telemedicine alongside her father, Dr. Harris Stratyner, at Stratyner & Associates, a concierge practice. Together, the two are recognized for their individualized, compassionate, and strength-based approach to helping individuals achieve psychological wellbeing. Dr. Stratyner received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Seton Hall University in New Jersey and completed her internship in clinical psychology at Mt. Sinai St. Luke’s and Mt. Sinai West Hospitals in New York. She has worked with individuals across the lifespan and in a diverse range of settings, including internationally in Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Stratyner is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she supervises psychiatry residents and postdoctoral fellows in psychology. She is an adjunct faculty member at New York University and previously served as a core faculty member of Caron Treatment Center’s New York Pediatric Substance Use Disorder Education Program. In addition to her clinical and teaching roles, Dr. Stratyner has authored multiple studies and has served as a research assistant at Weill Cornell Medical College. She has presented her research at multiple conferences, including the American Psychological Association, and is published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Psychiatric Practice on the topic of complex PTSD. Dr. Stratyner is frequently featured in local and national media, including The New York Times and ABC’s Good Morning America, among others. She has been an invited speaker at Horizon Media, Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute, and at New York State Senate hearings.

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. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2026 – 06-03-2029

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)

Notice: We are currently experiencing a technical issue with CE Broker that will cause a delay in reporting CE credits for Ohio-Licensed Social Workers (OH CSWMFT). We are actively working to resolve this and will notify you once credits reporting is available

State Approvals

States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticut
DelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinois
IndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMaryland
MassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraska
NevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhio
OklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennessee
TexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsin
Wyoming      

States that Accepts NBCC Approved Courses: 

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticut
DelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIndiana
IowaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMissouriNew HampshireNew Jersey
New MexicoOhioOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth Dakota
TennesseeTexasVermontVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin 

Notes:

  • 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

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasDelawareHawaiiIndiana
KentuckyMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaMontanaNevadaNew Jersey
New JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOregonRhode IslandTennessee
VermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWisconsinWyoming

States that Accept APA Approved Providers

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaDelawareDistrict Of Columbia
FloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansas
KentuckyLouisianaMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaMississippiMissouri
MontanaNebraskaNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth DakotaOhioOklahoma
PennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennesseeUtahVermontVirginia
WashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming   

Note: Please note that Individual Board Rules are subject to potential changes. The approval and acceptance details we furnish are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of documentation.

Should you have any inquiries or uncertainties not addressed by the provided information, it’s advisable to consult your State Regulatory Board. Ultimately, the decision of whether your license renewal credit hours are accepted or denied rests with you.

Georgia Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (ADACBGA) #19-12-17-1212.

Florida Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Florida Certification Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (FCB) #5387-A.

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling: The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.

Oklahoma Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (OBLADC) #20220136.

Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure: E Care BHI is an approved CE provider for LPC & LMFT

Ohio Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (OCDP)#50-29024

The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.
Note: We are currently experiencing a technical issue with CE Broker that will cause a delay in reporting CE credits for Ohio-Licensed Social Workers (OH CSWMFT). We are actively working to resolve this and will notify you once credits reporting is available.

VA Mental Health Employee: E Care BHI VA COMMERCIAL VENDOR # 81-3353387-01

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP): E Care BHI is recognized by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-22-344-0526

Connecticut Certification Board CCB Approved): E Care BHI is recognized & approved by the Connecticut Certification Board.

Texas Certification Board (TCB): E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Texas Certification Board as an approved education provider. Number 2041-19

South Carolina E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board as an approved education provider Provider #4628

New York (MHC) E Care Behavioral Health is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0277

New York (SW) E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0745 LA-ADRA – E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by Louisiana The Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority as an approved educational provider AEP #E122

Who This Training is For:

This program is intended for mental health professionals such as Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Addiction Counselors, & MFT’s. Psychologists are encouraged to verify if this specific course meets their board’s approval requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are approved Continuing Education providers by ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, APA & many other state boards.

Programs that do not qualify for ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, & APA are clearly identified. eCare Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

To view all of our board approvals, click here

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Yes. (If you’re from Florida, Ohio, & South Carolina). We report CEs to the CE broker daily for courses completed the day before. For both live and recorded webinars.

Recorded Webinar CE Courses:

  • Refunds are only eligible if the course was purchased within 30 days or less.
  • If the customer doesn’t want the course anymore, or was unsatisfied from it – We can transfer credits to another course of their choice (with same CE credit amount).
  • CE Credits 3
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