Tuesday, March 24, 2026
10:00 AM ET – 5:30 PM ET
Overview:
Major depression is a complex and persistent mental health condition influenced by intra-psychic, interpersonal, and environmental stressors. This workshop provides clinicians with research-based knowledge and practical skills for understanding, assessing, and treating depression. Core topics include diagnostic considerations, psychoeducation around medication myths, the distinction between response and remission, and the limitations of medical marijuana in treating depressive symptoms.
In this presentation, Lisa Ferentz will emphasize non-pharmacological and creative approaches that can be used as stand-alone interventions or alongside medication management. Participants will gain a wide range of strategies to help clients reduce negative thoughts, feelings, and somatic distress associated with depression. Interventions explored include Internal Family Systems (IFS)–informed parts work, breath work, movement and exercise, sleep hygiene practices, cognitive reframing, writing and art prompts, solution-focused strategies, positive self-talk, visualization, guided imagery, and somatic resourcing.
Interactive exercises will allow participants to directly experience many of these techniques, equipping them with practical tools to expand their clinical toolbox. By integrating these evidence-informed strategies into treatment, clinicians will be better able to support clients in reducing hopelessness, improving functioning, and fostering empowerment in the management of depression.
Objectives:
- Explain the impact of intra-psychic, interpersonal, and environmental stressors on depression, and discuss key psychoeducational considerations, including medication myths, treatment limitations of medical marijuana, and the effects of sleep deprivation.
- Describe and apply non-pharmacological and creative interventions for depression, including breath work, movement, sleep hygiene, somatic resourcing, Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work, writing and art prompts, cognitive reframing, and solution-focused strategies.
- Implement at least three evidence-informed techniques—such as positive self-talk, guided imagery, or power poses—to help clients reduce negative thought patterns, regulate arousal, and strengthen coping and resilience.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This workshop provides an educational overview of major depression, including contributing factors, diagnostic considerations, and a range of non-pharmacological interventions that may complement standard treatment. This training does not provide certification in any specific therapeutic modality, nor is it a substitute for formal training in IFS, somatic therapies, or other proprietary interventions referenced. Participants are encouraged to apply the material in accordance with their professional licensure, organizational policies, and established evidence-based standards. The workshop does not offer medical advice, prescribe treatment, or serve as a replacement for pharmacological interventions when clinically indicated.
Commercial Support Disclosure
Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA, receives an honorarium for presenting this program. She may reference concepts from her published books and clinical work; however, no commercial products, services, or additional training programs are required for purchase to participate in this webinar. The presenter has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible commercial organizations.
Course materials are only available to enrolled students.
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Lisa Ferentz, MSW, LCSW-C, DAPA
Lisa is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, de-pathologized treatment of trauma and has been in private practice for over 39 years. She presents workshops and keynote addresses nationally and internationally and is a clinical consultant to practitioners and mental health agencies in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Israel. She has been an Adjunct Faculty member at several Universities and is the Founder of “The Ferentz Institute,” now in its seventeenth year of providing continuing education to mental health professionals and graduating several thousand clinicians from her two Certificate Programs in Advanced Trauma Treatment. In 2009, she was voted the “Social Worker of the Year” by the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work. Lisa is the author of “Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Traumatized Clients: A Clinician’s Guide,” now in its second edition, “Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing,” and “Finding Your Ruby Slippers: Transformative Life Lessons From the Therapist’s Couch.” Lisa also hosted a weekly radio talk show, writes blogs and articles for websites on trauma, attachment, self-destructive behaviors, and self-care, teaches on many webinars, and is a contributor to Psychologytoday.com.
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 | |||