- Description
- Objectives
- Outline
- Materials
- Certification
- System Requirements
- Watch a Demo
This Mental Health Technician Associate program provides a solid background in mental health so you can work comfortably with clients who exhibit both effective and maladaptive behaviors. This comprehensive course focuses on Mental Health and Direct Support Professional training.
Mental Health Technician
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Recall the history and current trends of mental healthcare
- Name the characteristics of common psychiatric disorders
- Define human behavior and different elements affecting it
- Identify methods for assisting those suffering from loss of life
- Recognize legalities related to the mental health office
Direct Support Professional
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Identify components of intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Recognize etiologies and conditions
- Recall aspects of human development
- Describe support and intervention techniques
- List aspects of health, lifestyles, and advocacy
Mental Health Technician
Mental Health Technician Module 1
Mental Health Care: Past and Present
- The History of Mental Health Care
- Early Years
- 19th Century United States
- 20th and 21st Centuries
- Current Mental Health Care Systems
- Care Settings
- Delivery of Community Mental Health Services
- Client Populations
- Ethical and Legal Issues
Mental Health Technician Module 2
Theories and Therapies
- Sociocultural Issues
- Influences of Culture
- Cultural Assessment
- Historical Theories
- Developmental Theories and Therapies
- Behavioral Theories and Therapies
- Humanistic Theories and Therapies
- Cognitive Theories and Therapies
- Body-Based CAM Therapies
- Energy-Based CAM Therapies
Mental Health Technician Module 3
Principles and Skills of Mental Health Care
- Psychotherapeutic Drug Therapy
- Classification of Psychotherapeutic Drugs
- Client Care Guidelines
- Skills for Mental Health Care
- Principles and Practices for Caregivers
- Mental Health Assessment Skills
- Mental Health Treatment Plan
- The Health History
- Mental Status Assessment
Mental Health Technician Module 4
Therapeutic Environment
- Theories and Characteristics of Communication
- Levels of Communication
- Dynamics of the Therapeutic Relationship
- Characteristics of the Therapeutic Relationship
- Roles of the Caregiver
- Problems Encountered in the Therapeutic Relationship
- Use of Inpatient Setting
- Goals of the Therapeutic Environment
- The Therapeutic Environment and Client Needs
Mental Health Technician Module 5
Childhood to Adulthood
- Normal Childhood Development
- Environmental Problems
- Emotional Problems
- Behavioral Problems
- Mental Health Problems of Adolescence
- Therapeutic Interventions
- Adult Growth and Development
- Mental Health Problems of Adults
Mental Health Technician Module 6
Cognitive Impairment and Managing Anxiety
- Overview of Aging
- Common Problems of Older Adults
- Cognitive Impairment
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Dementia
- Types of Anxiety
- Stages of Dying
- Hospice Care
Mental Health Technician Module 7
Illnesses and Depression
- The Nature of Illness
- The Hospitalization Experience
- Loss and Grief
- The Dying Process
- Theories Relating to Emotions and Their Disorders
- Emotions Throughout the Life Cycle
- Mood Disorders
Mental Health Technician Module 8
Physical and Dissociative Issues
- Role of Emotions in Health
- Anxiety and Stress
- Somatic Symptom Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Sleep-Wake Disorders
- Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Within the Community
- Continuum of Self-Concept Responses
- Self-Concept Throughout the Life Cycle
Mental Health Technician Module 9
Anger, Outward and Inward Focused Emotions
- Theories of Anger and Aggression
- The Cycle of Assault
- Anger-Control Disorders
- Social Factors and Violence
- Mental Health Disorders Relating to Violence
- Impact of Suicide on Society
- Dynamics and Theories of Suicide
- Suicide Throughout the Life Cycle
Mental Health Technician Module 10
Substance, Sexual, and Personality Disorders
- Role of Chemicals in Society
- Categories of Abused Substances
- Characteristics of Substance Use and Abuse
- Sexuality Throughout the Life Cycle
- Modes of Sexual Expression
- Psychosexual Disorders
- Personality Throughout the Life Cycle
- Theories Relating to Personality Disorders
Mental Health Technician Module 11
Schizophrenia and Chronic Mental Health Disorders
- Psychoses Throughout the Life Cycle
- Theories Relating to Psychoses
- Psychotic Disorders
- Public Policy and Mental Health
- Experience of Chronic Mental Illness
- Special Populations
- Challenges for the Future
- Change and Mental Health Clients
**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**
Direct Support Professional
Direct Support Professional Module 1
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Should Disability Terms Be Used?
- Disability Terms in Today’s Context
- Historical Overview of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Expansion of Disability as Difference
- Changing Perspectives
- Understanding Disabilities
- Social Model of Disability
- Trends and Issues
Direct Support Professional Module 2
Advocacy
- International Human Rights and Intellectual Disabilities
- Advocacy and Legal Considerations
- Models of Action
- Development of the Self-Advocacy Movement
- Self-Advocacy as a Social Movement
- Strategies to Promote Advocacy and Self-Advocacy
- Making Services More Effective Through Research and Evaluation
Direct Support Professional Module 3
Human Development
- Introduction to Early Development
- Stages of Development Before Birth
- Important Processes in Prenatal Development
- Complications
- Development After Birth
- Genetics, Genomics, Epigenetics
- Nervous System
- Brain Plasticity
Direct Support Professional Module 4
Etiology and Conditions
- Factors Causing or Contributing to Intellectual and Development Disabilities
- Biomedical Risk Factors
- Down Syndrome
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Direct Support Professional Module 5
Etiology and Conditions Part 2
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Challenges
- Cerebral Palsy
- Other Syndromes and Conditions
- Epilepsy
- Introduction to Behavior and Mental Health
Direct Support Professional Module 6
Support and Intervention
- Assessment, Diagnosis, Interventions, and Services
- Intellectual and Developmental Disability Service Systems and Service Approaches
- Roles, Skills, and Competencies of Direct Support Professionals
- Responding to Cultural and Linguistic Differences
- Defining Culture
- Behavioral Intervention
Direct Support Professional Module 7
Support and Intervention Part 2
- Challenging Families
- Challenging Service Systems
- Psychopharmacology
- History of Psychoactive Medication
- Speech, Language, and Communication Assessments and Interventions
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Direct Support Professional Module 8
Disabilities Through the Life Span
- Typical Milestones Achieved in the First 1,000 Days
- Factors Important for Development
- Early Intervention for Young Children
- Inclusive Early Education
- Maltreatment of Children with Developmental Disabilities
- Education for Students
- Transition from School to Adult Life
- Work and Employment for People with Disabilities
Direct Support Professional Module 9
Lifestyles and Support
- Lifestyles of Adults with Disabilities
- Historical Evolution of Policies and Services
- Providing Support that Enhances a Family’s Quality of Life
- Families as Dynamic Systems
- Sexuality
- Parenting by People with Disabilities
- Gender Issues
- Aging
Direct Support Professional Module 10
Health
- Ethics of Decision Making and Consent
- Supporting Moral Agency
- Physical Health
- Mental Health Needs
- Nutritional Considerations
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
- Future Trends and Advances
**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**
All course materials included.
Mental Health Technician
Upon successful completion of our Mental Health Technician course, students will be prepared to sit for the American Medical Certification Association's (AMCA) Mental Health Technician Certification exam. Proof of course completion is required and applicants must pass the exam within one year from the date of training completion.
Note: This course is not affiliated with, nor has it been endorsed by the American Medical Certification Association.
Internet Connection
- Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections
*Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.
Hardware Requirements
- Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
- Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended
PC Software Requirements
- Operating Systems - Windows 7 or higher
- Microsoft Office 2013 or higher. Also, you could use a general Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
- Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
- Cookies MUST be enabled
- Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
- The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
- PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
- Adobe PDF Reader
- QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player
MAC Software Requirements
- Operating Systems - Mac OS x 10 or higher with Windows
- Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
- Internet Browsers- Google Chrome is highly recommended
- Cookies MUST be enabled
- Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
- The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
- PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
- Adobe PDF Reader
- Apple QuickTime Media Player
