Exploring Mental Illness, Mental Health & Recovery

Course Description:

There remains in modern society many misconceptions and stigma around mental illness.  Media tends to sensationalize violence that occurs and with it points the finger at mental illness as the cause. We also often mix our terms regarding mental health mental illness creating additional confusion around this topic. In this workshop you will learn:

• The difference between mental illness and mental health
• The stress-vulnerability model for mental illness
• Experiences of people who live with mental illness
• The difference between recovery and cure
• Understanding recovery for people with mental illness, trauma histories, and everyone else

Presenter Bio:

Steve Carlson, PsyD has been working in the mental and chemical health field for over thirty years in a variety of settings, mostly in clinical and management positions at various Community Mental Health Centers.  He is currently employed by the University of Minnesota as a Clinical Trainer at the Minnesota Center for Chemical and Mental Health.  Additionally, Steve is a Community Faculty Member at Metropolitan State University.  His areas of interest and specialty include Integrated Mental and Chemical Health Treatment, Stages of Change & Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Mindfulness and Mental Health, The Psychology of Long-Term Homelessness, Trauma-Informed Care using the Sanctuary Model, Supportive Housing Model and other mental health topics.  As a Certified Minnesota Trainer in Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Steve provides training and consultation to agencies around the State of Minnesota and nationally. Steve is a member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. He can be reached at carlson561@gmail.com