ODL 341: Behind the Curtain: Exploring Aging, Identity, and Caregiving Through Theater 

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.

1 CREDIT HOUR APPROVED FOR:
Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 1 General CE Credit
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 1 Contact Hour
Psychologists
APA – 1 CE Credit
Counselors
NBCC ACEP – 1 Contact Hour
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 1 Contact Hour
Substance Abuse Counselors
NAADAC – This course is not approved for NAADAC Contact hours.
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 1 Contact Hour
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 1 Contact Hour
Case Managers
CCMC – 1 Contact Hour

Created On:  5/21/25                   

Target Audience:

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

Overview:

This 1-hour training uses a dramatic monologue performance as a springboard to examine the emotional and psychological complexities of aging, caregiving, and familial identity. Through the lens of theatrical storytelling, participants will reflect on the lived experiences of older adults and their caregivers, exploring themes of memory, loss, humor, and resilience. The training will integrate discussion, reflective exercises, and clinical applications to enhance empathy and cultural competence among social workers, counselors, and allied professionals working with aging populations.

Course Objectives:

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

• Analyze the psychosocial and emotional dynamics of caregiving and aging as portrayed in the dramatic performance.
• Identify the role of storytelling and the arts in deepening empathy and understanding of complex family systems in later life.
• Apply narrative and expressive techniques to clinical or case management settings with older adults and caregivers.

Presenter:

Sara J. English, PhD, LMSW, CPG, and Associate Professor of Social Work at Winthrop University

Dr. Sara J. English is an Associate Professor of Social Work and the faculty advisor for the Gerontology Minor Program at Winthrop University. She is a Certified Gerontology Professional (CPG) and AGE-SW fellow, and has presented her research at local, national, and international venues, including at the University of Bath and the University of Iceland, as well as in South Africa and New Zealand. She serves as the NASW-SC representative to the Alzheimer’s Advisory Board for the South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging and was recognized by the NASW-SC as the Social Work Educator of the Year for 2022. Dr. English is the faculty representative for Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society and serves as president of the Winthrop’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. 

Dr. English studies the power of non-familial relationships among staff and residents of institutional settings. Dr. English also explores how simple mindfulness practices can enhance mental health and well-being, and was selected as Winthrop University’s Thompson Scholar for the academic year 2023-2024, creating a student-focused mindfulness program. She is passionate about utilizing the arts and mindfulness practices to enhance the lives of older persons and those who love them.