The Psychology of Long Term Homelessness

Course Description:

For the most part, no one chooses to live without a safe, secure, comfortable home base. Yet thousands of people in America find themselves in this situation. A small percent of homeless persons are considered “long-term homeless.” How do they get to this point? What factors lead a person to be homeless for many years? What is the toll homelessness takes on the human body, mind, and soul? And what strategies can human service workers use to support the re-communalization of the person who has been disenfranchised from mainstream society for years? These are the questions that will be addressed in this workshop.

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