Counseling Individuals With Disabilities: Best Practices For Ethical And Inclusive Care

Program Description

This training equips mental health professionals with practical strategies for providing ethical, inclusive, and person-centered counseling to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Participants will examine disability through a diversity and cultural humility lens, identify common barriers to mental health care, learn to adapt strength-based counseling interventions, and explore the role of the Adult Individual Service Plan (ISP), the Ohio Disability Bill of Rights, and County Board of Developmental Disabilities Major Unusual Incident (MUI) reporting in clinical practice. Through discussion and case examples, attendees will also develop strategies for navigating ethical challenges while promoting autonomy, accessibility, and self-determination in the counseling relationship.

Learning Objectives

• Disability and Diversity
• Barriers to mental health care access
• The application and adaptation of strength-based counseling interventions
• The importance of the adult, ISP, Disability Bill of Rights and County Board of DD Major Unusual Incident(MUI) reporting in the counseling setting
• Ethical challenges and how to navigate them.