ODL 323: Ethics in Complementary and Alternative Interventions (CAI) in Clinical Mental Health Practice

Created on: 2/11/25

Attention New Jersey Social Workers: 

This course is approved for all social workers, including New Jersey. The Board Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.3, 6.4, and 6.7 Content Areas for Continuing Education Credit on April 15, 2024. This updates the Board’s regulation. This amendment states that  attendance at programs or courses offered by providers approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) are now acceptable sources of CE credit. 

At the June 12, 2024 public meeting, the Board voted to allow “any applications submitted, or audits which take place, on or after September 1, 2022” to be able “to submit CE from the sources updated in the new amendment adopted on April 15, 2024.”

For more information please refer to https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/sw/Pages/Additional-Information.aspx#CE

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, counselors, nurses, and case managers.

Overview:

Complementary and Alternative Interventions (CAI) are increasingly gaining recognition as effective tools to enhance mental health treatment. Moving beyond traditional therapeutic approaches, CAIs offer holistic, client-centered strategies that integrate mind-body connections, innovative healing modalities, and culturally diverse practices. As healthcare continues to evolve, professionals are increasingly called to explore these non-conventional interventions to better meet the unique needs of individuals and communities. This engaging three-hour session will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of CAIs, emphasizing their impact, ethical considerations, and practical application within clinical practice. Through evidence-based discussions and reflective exercises, attendees will gain insights into how CAIs can complement existing therapeutic frameworks while maintaining professional and ethical integrity. Whether you are curious about incorporating mindfulness, expressive arts, or other alternative therapies, this training will equip you with the knowledge and skills to thoughtfully expand your professional toolkit.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

1. Examine the attitudes, perceptions, and impact of CAI in mental health treatment.
2. Identify & Apply ethical considerations and guidelines related to the use of CAI in mental health practice.
3. Develop theoretical justification for incorporating CAI in clinical practice. 
4. Formulate a personalized plan for ongoing professional development for integrating CAI into mental health.

Presenter:

Dr. Tina Vitolo,  Doctor of Social Work and Licensed Clinical Social Worker 

Dr. Tina Vitolo, a Doctor of Social Work and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with almost two decades of experience in the mental health field, serves as a Qualified Supervisor and operates her private practice, Dimensional Wellness. As the founder and CEO of The Black Sheep Therapist, she also specializes in supporting unconventional mental health therapists in redefining and relaunching their practices within ethical and regulatory standards while preserving their unique skills and passions. Driven by a love for spiritual and holistic interventions, she acknowledges the importance of bridging clinical research with alternative healing methods. Her research, notably published in the Research on Social Work Practice Journal, explores “Licensed clinical social workers’ perceptions of Complementary and Alternative Interventions”. Additionally, she was a co-author on the manuscript “Social work and human rights: Learning from COVID-19,” published in the Journal of Human Rights and Social Work.  Dr. Vitolo’s commitment extends to assisting therapists in aligning their experiences and stories to build an integrative clinical framework, incorporating non-empirically supported interventions within evidence-based practices, and upholding ethical standards in clinical practice. Dr. Vitolo’s teaching experience includes a social work adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL, focusing on Global Studies. Dr. Tina Vitolo hosts free online webinar training focused on bridging clinical and complementary and alternative interventions in her Black Sheep Therapist Facebook Group. Dr. Tina Vitolo teaches an Innovative Practitioner Accelerator Program teaching unconventional therapists redefine and relaunch their private practices within ethical and regulatory standards while preserving their unique skills and passions. Focused on building an integrative clinical framework and aligning non-empirically supported interventions within an evidence-based framework.

3 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 3 Ethics CE Credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 3 Contact Hours
Counselors- 3 Ethics or 3 Contact Hours*
NBCC ACEP – 3 Contact Hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 3 Contact Hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 3 Contact Hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 3  Ethics Contact Hours

* Some states do not require/accept ethics hours for counselors, for those cases contact hours will be awarded.

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.