Alternative Modalities for Mental Health
Course Overview
Mental healthcare is in higher demand than ever before. An overwhelming 90% of the public believes there is currently a mental health crisis in the US, with major concerns including the opioid epidemic, COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety stemming from current events, loneliness, and mental health issues in children, teens, and adults.
Despite the great demand, more than half of the public report being unable to access the mental health services they need. This issue is particularly acute for minorities, low-income adults, and uninsured adults over 65 years old. Furthermore, cost remains a significant barrier to obtaining mental health services, with lower coverage compared to physical healthcare services and difficulties in finding providers who accept health insurance as major challenges. In light of these obstacles, many Americans are turning to alternative modalities for mental healthcare.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Recognize common reasons patients choose alternative modalities for mental health treatments.
- Review the educational pathways, certifications, and licensure requirements necessary for practitioners offering mindfulness, yoga, and art therapy.
- Describe various alternative modalities used in mental health treatment, including but not limited to, mindfulness, yoga, and art therapy.
- Explain the theoretical foundations and mechanisms of action for the modalities discussed.
- Evaluate the current research and evidence supporting the efficacy of different alternative modalities in treating mental health conditions.
- Discuss the strengths and limitations of the current body of research on alternative modalities for mental health.
- Identify potential risks and contraindications associated with alternative modalities for mental health treatment.
- Discuss adverse effects and complications that may arise from these modalities, and strategies for mitigating them in clinical practice.
About the Author/Presenter
Natalie Yates, PharmD, Assistant Clinical Editor at TRC Healthcare for NatMed, specializes in Natural Medicines. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco. Before joining TRC in 2023, Natalie worked as a freelance medical writer and served as a clinical pharmacist at Marin Community Clinic and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, focusing on medication management and the safe use of complementary and alternative medicines. Her professional interests include natural medicine research, preventative medicine, patient education, and mycology. Natalie is dedicated to helping integrate natural medicines with conventional treatments to improve patient outcomes.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing, Pharmacy, Physician
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
