Reinforcing the “Health” in Health Service Psychology: Brief, Evidence-Based Interventions for Health Behavior Change

Friday, January 4, 2019

Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Program: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Friday Forums are cosponsored with the Metropolitan State University Psychology Department.

About the Program

Approximately 30% of the variance in health outcomes is attributable to modifiable healthy lifestyle behaviors (Kindig & Isham, 2014). In addition to treating mental health conditions, psychologists possess specialized skills in health behavior change (HBC; e.g., diet, exercise, alcohol use) that benefit patients’ overall wellness via prevention and intervention. This program will challenge psychologists to think beyond a primarily mental health focus (addressing common problems of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse) to a broader conceptualization of how to help patients with health behavior change. As the emphasis on population health continues to grow, psychologists in many settings are being called upon to address modifiable behavioral risks for poor health outcomes. Several brief lifestyle modification interventions have been shown to be effective for helping patients make changes in their health-related behaviors (Bully et al., 2015). However, implementation of these interventions is limited. In this session, we will review the literature on evidence-based HBC interventions for six domains (healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, medication adherence, tobacco cessation, and alcohol reduction/cessation), and will share evidence-based resources for clinicians. Role plays and other interactive exercises will give participants opportunities to practice. Although the session will be applicable to psychologists in all types of practices, collaboration with healthcare team members in a primary care setting will be specifically discussed.

This session is at the intermediate level and is designed for psychologists and other mental health professionals.

This session qualifies for 3.0 continuing education credits. You must attend the full 3-hour program to get continuing education credit for the event.

Participants will be able to:

1. Explain several brief interventions for health behavior change and the role that psychologists can play in this arena of health.
2. Recognize opportunities to support patients in traditional mental health care with health behavior change issues and implement evidence-based interventions.
3. Apply awareness of health behavior change strategies to a variety of settings in which psychologists provide services, including opportunities to collaborate with healthcare providers in a primary care setting.

About the Presenters:

Michelle Sherman, Ph.D., LP, ABPP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. She is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and is Board Certified in Couple and Family Psychology. Dr. Sherman is the Director of Behavioral Health at Broadway Family Medicine Clinic, which is part of the North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program. She completed her doctoral work at the University of Missouri-Columbia and residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Stephanie Hooker, Ph.D., MPH, is a postdoctoral fellow in Primary Care Behavioral Health in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. She has been trained in Clinical Health Psychology and focuses her research on health behavior change and meaning in life. Dr. Hooker completed her doctoral work at the University of Colorado in Denver and residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

The presenters have reported no conflicts of interest.

The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS:  If you need disability related accommodations, including parking, to make this event accessible, please contact the Metropolitan State University Center for Accessibility Resources, 651-793-1549, or [email protected]. 

To Register:

Online registration is now closed. Walk-ups are welcome!

Click here for a PDF Registration Form and Flyer.

Walk-up registrations are welcome the day of, but pre-registration is preferred.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: A 100% refund will be made if the event is cancelled. Refunds, less a $5 handling free, will be given if a written cancellation is received at least two working days before the scheduled program begins. Transfer of fee to another program is granted if written cancellation notice is received at least one day before the program. No refund or transfer is given the day of the program.