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Beyond the Script: Understanding Psych Meds in Therapy

Beyond the Script: Understanding Psych Meds in Therapy

Dec. 20, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:15 PM (EST)

Virtual Event
3 CE Credits
Gain essential psychopharmacology knowledge in this 3-hour training designed to boost counselors’ clinical effectiveness and ethical confidence. Learn how psychiatric medications impact client behavior, cognition, and the therapeutic relationship—without stepping outside your scope. Explore major medication classes, collaborate with prescribers, and support diverse clients navigating medication management. Ideal for counselors looking to deepen their competence in today’s complex clinical landscape.
This 3-hour workshop provides counselors with foundational knowledge in psychopharmacology to enhance their clinical effectiveness and ethical decision-making when working with clients who are prescribed psychiatric medications. While counselors are not prescribers, they are often in a key position to observe, support, and advocate for clients navigating the complexities of medication management. Participants will explore the major classes of psychotropic medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and anxiolytics, with attention to their mechanisms of action, common side effects, and clinical indications. The workshop emphasizes how psychotropic medications can influence client behavior, cognitive functioning, emotional processing, and the therapeutic relationship. Ethical and legal scope-of-practice boundaries will be clearly outlined, along with guidance on collaborating with prescribers and integrating psychoeducation into treatment planning. Special consideration will be given to working with clients from diverse backgrounds, those with co-occurring disorders, and populations such as justice-involved individuals and trauma survivors. Case examples and practical tools will be provided to help counselors apply psychopharmacological awareness to real-world clinical practice while staying within their professional scope. This course is designed for mental health professionals seeking to deepen their competence and confidence in supporting clients who are prescribed psychiatric medications.

This live interactive webinar is designed for behavioral health professionals, including:

  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychotherapists
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Substance Use Disorders Counselors
  • Case Managers
  • Physicians
  • Other Mental Health Professionals
Mita Johnson, Ed.D, NCC, LPC, LMFT, LAC, MAC, SAP, ACS, LMFT-S, BCTHP

Dr. Mita M Johnson has a BA in biology, a MA in professional counseling, and a Ed.D in counselor education and supervision.  Over her 33 years of practice, Dr. Johnson earned numerous licenses and certifications including Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Addiction Counselor, Master Addiction Counselor, DOT Substance Abuse Professional and two supervisory credentials.  Dr. Johnson is a Core Faculty member of the School of Counseling MS in Counseling program, and teaches, trains and speaks on the pharmacology of drugs of addiction and treatment of addictions all over the United States. She became interested in addictions when she realized that most of her clients were dealing directly or indirectly with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse or other behavioral addiction disorders.  Dr. Johnson is passionate about understanding how licit and illicit medications and drugs influence the brain. Effective and sustained treatment and recovery work depends on the brain’s ability to stabilize and compensate for the dysregulation and damage created by drug abuse and addictive behaviors.  Dr. Johnson strives to offer information to clinicians and clients that is relevant, timely, and understandable. She is active with the National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC: Executive Committee, Ethics Committee) and the Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals (CAAP: Executive Committee). She serves on regulatory committees and has acted as a consultant for certifications and licensure requirements for the past 10 years.  She sits on the Curriculum and Trainer Review Committee for the Office of Behavioral Health and has been involved in rule changes and educational requirements related to addiction certification and licensure. Dr. Johnson has been enlightening clinicians and consumers about drugs of addiction for many years, with a special emphasis on drug actions on a person’s physiological as well as psychological systems.

After this training, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the major classes of medication and their actions in the brain.
  • Explore how medications work alongside clinical practice.
  • Define the role of the counselor/professional that supports the role of medications.

10:00 -10:05 am – Introduction

10:05-11:30 am –  Exploring the actions of the major classes of psychotropic medications

11:30-11:45 am – Break

11:45-12:15 pm –  Medications alongside clinical services

12:15-12:45 pm –  Cultural and trauma considerations related to psych meds

12:45-1:05 pm –   Ethical and scope of practice considerations

1:05-1:15 pm – Q&A

Intermediate to advanced.

Registration Cost

Registration $67 | Dec. 20 | Virtual Event | 3 CE Credits | 10:00 am – 1:15 pm ET

Registration Deadline:  Dec. 20, 2025

Cancellation Policy

All registrations are non-refundable. However, you may request a full credit toward a future training if:

  • You notify us at least 72 hours prior to the event start time.
  • Credit is valid for up to 6 months from the original event date.
  • No credit will be issued for no-shows or same-day cancellations.
  • When you register for an event, you agree to these terms

Please email info@clinicalevents.org to request a credit or reschedule.

A total of 3 CE credits are available.

Additional Approvals Pending.

ASWB ACE

Clinical Events, LLC, (provider # 2201) is approved as an ACE provider 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: 11/01/2024 – 11/01/2025.

NBCC

Clinical Events, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved   Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7643 Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Clinical Events, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NAADAC

This course has been approved by Clinical Events, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #320899, Clinical Events is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

NY State Board of Psychologists

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0292.

NY State Board of Social Workers

Clinical Events, LLC 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-0828.

NY State Board of Mental Health Counselors

Clinical Events, LLC 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-0329.

NJ State Board of Social Workers & Professional Counselors

The New Jersey Social Work Examiners Board accepts ASWB ACE Provider credits. The New Jersey Professional Counselors Board accepts NBCC-approved CE provider credits.

All Other States

All other states accept ASWB ACE Provider credits and NBCC-approved CE provider credits. Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their jurisdictions. States and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Florida Certification Board

Clinical Events is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5527-A).

Canada Social Workers

BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC accept ASWB ACE-approved provider programs to meet licensure renewal requirements.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Canada Counsellors

Clinical Events is an NBCC-approved provider.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Financial: Mita Johnson receives a speaking honorarium from Clinical Events, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

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