Free Online CE Courses for Therapists
Aspire365 University is excited to introduce Clinical Grand Rounds, a premier learning opportunity for healthcare professionals to expand their expertise and earn Continuing Education (CE) credits. These expert-led sessions provide a dynamic learning environment where providers can exchange insights, explore real-world challenges, and enhance patient care.
Through case-based discussions and evidence-based insights, participants will gain practical knowledge on the latest advancements in clinical practice. Whether you’re looking to refine your skills or stay current with emerging best practices, Aspire365’s Clinical Grand Rounds offer a valuable platform for ongoing professional growth.
Upcoming Schedule
The Art of Seeing What Screeners Miss: Advanced Suicide Prevention Through Clinical Intuition and Human Connection
When: Tuesday January 1, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday December 31, 2026
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost:
Course Description:
This continuing education program equips social workers with advanced skills to assess suicide risk beyond standardized screening tools by integrating clinical judgment, intuition, and evidence-based practice. Emphasizing the social work perspective, including the person-in-environment framework and cultural competence, the training uses real-world case studies and role-playing to help participants recognize subtle behavioral and communication cues that may indicate risk despite negative screening results. The course ensures practitioners build confidence in responding appropriately, while reinforcing ethical standards, best practices, and knowledge of resources, referrals, and follow-up procedures to provide comprehensive care.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
Critically evaluate the limitations of standardized suicide screening tools.
Integrate person-in-environment and cultural factors into suicide risk assessment.
Recognize subtle behavioral and communication patterns that may indicate risk.
Apply advanced clinical interviewing techniques to create safety for disclosure.
Use the therapeutic relationship as a tool for gathering risk-related insights.
Make ethically sound decisions when clinical intuition conflicts with screenings.
Develop comprehensive, individualized safety plans alongside standardized protocols.
Balance client autonomy with professional responsibility in determining interventions.
Meet Sara Dupont
Sara Dupont, MSW, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work at Plymouth State University and a Therapist with Aspire 365, currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education. Licensed across seven states, she brings over 17 years of experience in mental health, substance use, and dual diagnosis treatment for adolescents and adults. Her background spans correctional facilities, community agencies, hospitals, and emergency services, with specialized expertise supporting adolescents and pregnant or postpartum women facing substance use challenges. Combining academic and clinical practice, she utilizes a solution-focused, CBT-based approach that emphasizes practical tools, compassion, and humor. In addition to her teaching and clinical roles, Professor Dupont advances the profession through conference presentations and service as a board member for the New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association.
I Saw a Reel About That: Social Media Therapy, Pop Psychology, and Reclaiming the Real Relationship
When: Tuesday February 3, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday February 1, 2026
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost:
Couse Description:
In today’s digital culture, clients often arrive to therapy armed with therapeutic language, emotional frameworks, and self-diagnoses gleaned from TikTok, Instagram—and even therapy from ChatGPT. While this signals growing mental health awareness, it can also disrupt relational depth, integration, and authentic process.
This course examines the rise of “social media therapy,” tracing the evolution of online therapeutic content, the influence of branded therapists, and the emotional capitalism shaping today’s healing narratives. Participants will explore how therapy-speak and commodified insight impact clinical work, client identity, and the therapeutic relationship.
Through real-world case examples and practical interventions, clinicians will learn how to meet clients in their pop psychology fluency—without collapsing into it—re-centering therapy as a relational, transformative process in a culture obsessed with quick-fix healing.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize how platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and ChatGPT shape client self-understanding, language, and expectations in therapy.
- Explore the impact of therapy-speak, emotional capitalism, and gendered healing narratives on client identity and the therapeutic relationship.
- Assess the clinical benefits and limitations of pop psychology fluency in therapy sessions.
- Implement strategies to engage with social media-informed clients while re-centering therapy as a relational, transformative process.
Meet Hannah Tigh
Hannah Tigh is a certified Life and Health Coach with a B.A. in Political Science from St. Bonaventure University, where she also played Division I soccer. After spending over a decade coaching at the collegiate level, she transitioned into life coaching to focus on the deeper work of mindset, identity, and personal transformation. Hannah received her certifications through the Health Coach Institute and has worked with diverse populations in both wellness and clinical settings — including at Van Duyn Nursing Home in Syracuse, NY, and currently at Aspire 365. She brings both professional training and lived experience to her work and is passionate about helping people reconnect to their inner strength, challenge limiting beliefs, and lead themselves toward lasting change. She lives outside of Syracuse, NY, with her two children.
The Ethics of Self-Preservation: Addressing Burnout and Moral Injury in Social Work Practice
When: Tuesday March 3, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday February 1, 2026
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost:
Course Description
This training reframes burnout and moral injury in social work as ethical issues, emphasizing that self-care is a moral obligation rather than a luxury. It explores how systemic pressures, inadequate resources, and overwhelming caseloads can compromise professional integrity, creating moral distress and unintended harm to clients. Through self-reflection and case-based learning, participants will examine the tension between individual responsibility and systemic change, develop strategies to uphold ethical practice under adverse conditions, and learn when to refuse harmful directives while fostering sustainable, meaningful approaches to social work.
Learning Objectives:
Understand how burnout and moral injury can lead to ethical violations and compromised client care.
Recognize symptoms and triggers of moral injury in social work practice.
Reframe self-care as an ethical responsibility guided by the NASW Code of Ethics.
Navigate ethical dilemmas caused by organizational pressures and systemic barriers.
Apply strategies such as documentation, advocacy, and harm reduction to maintain ethical practice under adverse conditions.
Determine when professional duty requires refusing harmful directives or reporting unethical practices.
Differentiate between individual and systemic responsibility for ethical challenges.
Develop sustainable practice models that balance client needs with practitioner well-being.
Build advocacy strategies to address systemic causes of moral injury while preserving professional integrity.
Meet Sara Dupont
Sara Dupont, MSW, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work at Plymouth State University and a Therapist with Aspire 365, currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education. Licensed across seven states, she brings over 17 years of experience in mental health, substance use, and dual diagnosis treatment for adolescents and adults. Her background spans correctional facilities, community agencies, hospitals, and emergency services, with specialized expertise supporting adolescents and pregnant or postpartum women facing substance use challenges. Combining academic and clinical practice, she utilizes a solution-focused, CBT-based approach that emphasizes practical tools, compassion, and humor. In addition to her teaching and clinical roles, Professor Dupont advances the profession through conference presentations and service as a board member for the New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association.
Supporting Student Veterans in Higher Education
When: Tuesday April 2, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday April 5, 2026
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost:
This course explores the unique challenges faced by student veterans as they transition from military service to higher education. With a focus on the psychological, social, and academic stressors that impact this population, the course examines how the college environment can either exacerbate or help buffer against mental health risks, including suicide. Participants will gain insight into the lived experiences of student veterans and analyze the support systems and institutional strategies that can foster resilience, inclusion, and academic success. By the end of the course, learners will be equipped to advocate for and implement effective support structures that honor the service of veterans and promote their well-being in academic settings.
- Analyze the psychological, social, and academic stressors that student veterans face during their transition from military service to higher education.
- Evaluate how the college environment can either contribute to or help mitigate mental health risks—such as suicide—among student veterans.
- Develop and advocate for institutional support systems and strategies that promote resilience, inclusion, and academic success for student veterans.
Meet Wilton “Wil” Williamson Jr.
Wilton “Wil” Williamson Jr. is a Peer Support Coach with Aspire365 and a United States Marine Corps combat veteran. He specializes in mental health recovery, addiction support, and trauma-informed care, with a focus on PTSD and military-related trauma. Wil holds a master’s degree from Rutgers University, is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, and ASIST certified. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, he is dedicated to helping others heal and grow through connection, support, and resilience.
Beyond the Border: An Accessible and Optimistic Approach to BPD
When: Tuesday May 5, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday May 3, 2026
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost:
Course Description
This continuing medical education (CME) lecture will provide a fresh and accessible framework for understanding and treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We will explore BPD not as a characterological deficit, but as an understandable and manageable condition stemming from an inborn emotional sensitivity to the world. This presentation will reframe BPD as a challenge in navigating this sensitivity, leading to both struggles and unique strengths. We will discuss how patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior emerge from this core vulnerability, and why these patterns can be clustered into a predictable diagnostic picture. The lecture will highlight effective, evidence-based treatment approaches, with a focus on skill-building and personal empowerment. Ultimately, this course aims to demystify BPD, reduce its associated stigma, and inspire an optimistic outlook for both clinicians and their patients, emphasizing that true growth begins when an individual takes ownership of their own journey.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:
- Reframe the diagnosis of BPD as a challenge of emotional sensitivity and reactivity, rather than a characterological flaw.
- Recognize the core symptoms of BPD as predictable patterns arising from this heightened sensitivity and subsequent coping mechanisms.
- Identify the unique strengths associated with emotional sensitivity, such as enhanced empathy.
- Differentiate BPD from bipolar disorder by understanding the distinct patterns of emotional dysregulation.
- Describe the primary goals of treatment, including the use of mindfulness, radical acceptance, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to build more adaptive coping skills.
- Discuss the role of medication as a means of addressing stress sensitivity rather than curing the core condition.
- Articulate an optimistic and empowering approach to the diagnosis of BPD, encouraging patient ownership and engagement in their treatment journey.
Meet Dr. Randall Turner
Dr. Randall Turner is a double board-certified psychiatrist specializing in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Touro University Nevada and completed his residency at Loma Linda University.
Dr. Turner’s practice focuses on general adult psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and addiction medicine. He is dedicated to relieving suffering and fostering growth for those he treats.
In his free time, he is an accomplished musician and enjoys reading, bird watching, and traveling. He currently resides in Southern California with his wife and four children.
The Visual Voice: Creative Engagement as Clinical Intervention in Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment
When: Tuesday June 2, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday May 31, 2026
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost:
Course Description
This presentation will explore a visual arts-based engagement model as a clinical intervention strategy for adolescents in intensive treatment for mental health and/or substance use disorders. Attendees will gain insight into the rationale, structure, and outcomes associated with the Empowered Expression program, designed to enhance clinical compliance and youth-centered therapeutic integration.
Relevance:
The talk highlights how creative modalities, when woven into multidisciplinary care, can support emotional literacy, decrease treatment fatigue, and foster deeper therapeutic engagement. The session also addresses ethical incentive strategies, developmental appropriateness, and trauma-informed principles.
Learning Objectives (ACE-Compliant):
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify at least three clinical engagement barriers commonly observed in adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
- Describe the neurodevelopmental rationale for integrating visual and somatic modalities into adolescent treatment planning, citing at least two supporting theories or frameworks.
- Differentiate between verbal and non-verbal therapeutic entry points for adolescents and categorize two or more expressive modalities that can be ethically and effectively integrated into multidisciplinary care.
- Apply ethical decision-making criteria to a case example involving incentive-based engagement, clearly defining boundaries between coercive practice and trauma-informed reinforcement.
- Formulate a discipline-specific integration plan to incorporate visual engagement practices into existing clinical, case management, or peer support workflows.
Meet Dr. Judith Belton
Dr. Judith Belton is a distinguished mental health expert, Certified Adolescent and Family Support Specialist Trainer and Supervisor, Certified Trauma Care Practitioner Supervisor, and a leading advocate for trauma-informed care. With over three decades of dedicated service to the field, Dr. Belton has become a trailblazer in transforming the lives of individuals and families impacted by trauma and those thwarted by limiting beliefs. She is a Hampton Institute, Medical University of South Carolina and Argosy/Trinity University. Dr. Belton’s terminal degree is in Psychology. Dr. Belton holds numerous certifications in Equity and Excellence in Therapy, Art Therapy, Internal Family Systems and is currently completing her DBT Certification.
As a seasoned clinician, Dr. Belton has worked extensively with diverse populations, specializing in providing trauma-informed, culturally competent care to her clients. Her empathetic and nurturing approach, combined with her deep understanding of NeuroWellness, emotional regulation, cognition and self-led empowerment, has supported countless individuals to overcome emotional dysregulation, cognitive distortions, self-abandonment, imposter syndrome, and internalized racism.
Dr. Belton’s commitment to advancing mental health extends beyond her practice. She is a sought-after speaker, author, and educator, having developed groundbreaking training and support programs, courses, and educational materials tailored to an individual’s or organization’s unique needs Her work has been recognized for its impact on dismantling barriers and addressing limiting beliefs within this community.
In addition to her clinical and educational endeavors, Dr. Belton is an influential thought leader in the field of trauma-informed care. She has contributed to research, published articles, and presented at numerous conferences, sharing her expertise on trauma recovery and self-empowerment. Dr. Belton’s mission is to change the mental health landscape. Her unwavering dedication to the well-being of her clients and her commitment to breaking down the barriers to mental health care make her a driving force in the journey “From Trauma to Triumph.”
CBT for Anxiety: Evidence-Based Strategies for Treatment
When: Tuesday October 7, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday October 5, 2025
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost: Free
This continuing education course offers an in-depth overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions specifically designed for treating anxiety disorders. Participants will learn how to assess, conceptualize, and treat various forms of anxiety using core CBT principles.
The training will cover practical tools such as cognitive restructuring, exposure techniques, behavioral activation, and psychoeducation. Designed for mental health professionals, the course will emphasize skill-building, case application, and clinical decision-making to improve client outcomes.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the cognitive and behavioral model of anxiety.
- Identify and differentiate between various anxiety disorders using CBT frameworks.
- Apply CBT techniques such as thought records, exposure hierarchies, and behavioral experiments.
- Utilize outcome tracking tools to measure treatment progress.
Meet Kristy Notarangelo
Kristy is a licensed clinical social worker and A-CBT certified therapist with over 25 years of experience. She earned her Master of Social Work from The Rockefeller College at The State University of Albany in 1998 and her MBA from IONA College in 2006. In 2020, she became a Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies.
Kristy specializes in helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, addictions, conduct and personality disorders, and anger management. Her expertise includes treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and addictions in both adults and teens
Supporting Student Veterans in Higher Education
When: Tuesday November 4, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday November 2, 2025
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost: Free
This course explores the unique challenges faced by student veterans as they transition from military service to higher education. With a focus on the psychological, social, and academic stressors that impact this population, the course examines how the college environment can either exacerbate or help buffer against mental health risks, including suicide.
Participants will gain insight into the lived experiences of student veterans and analyze the support systems and institutional strategies that can foster resilience, inclusion, and academic success. By the end of the course, learners will be equipped to advocate for and implement effective support structures that honor the service of veterans and promote their well-being in academic settings.
Meet Dr. Judith Belton
Dr. Judith Belton is a distinguished mental health expert, Certified Adolescent and Family Support Specialist Trainer and Supervisor, Certified Trauma Care Practitioner Supervisor, and a leading advocate for trauma-informed care. With over three decades of dedicated service to the field, Dr. Belton has become a trailblazer in transforming the lives of individuals and families impacted by trauma and those thwarted by limiting beliefs. She is a Hampton Institute, Medical University of South Carolina and Argosy/Trinity University. Dr. Belton’s terminal degree is in Psychology. Dr. Belton holds numerous certifications in Equity and Excellence in Therapy, Art Therapy, Internal Family Systems and is currently completing her DBT Certification.
As a seasoned clinician, Dr. Belton has worked extensively with diverse populations, specializing in providing trauma-informed, culturally competent care to her clients. Her empathetic and nurturing approach, combined with her deep understanding of NeuroWellness, emotional regulation, cognition and self-led empowerment, has supported countless individuals to overcome emotional dysregulation, cognitive distortions, self-abandonment, imposter syndrome, and internalized racism.
Dr. Belton’s commitment to advancing mental health extends beyond her practice. She is a sought-after speaker, author, and educator, having developed groundbreaking training and support programs, courses, and educational materials tailored to an individual’s or organization’s unique needs Her work has been recognized for its impact on dismantling barriers and addressing limiting beliefs within this community.
In addition to her clinical and educational endeavors, Dr. Belton is an influential thought leader in the field of trauma-informed care. She has contributed to research, published articles, and presented at numerous conferences, sharing her expertise on trauma recovery and self-empowerment. Dr. Belton’s mission is to change the mental health landscape. Her unwavering dedication to the well-being of her clients and her commitment to breaking down the barriers to mental health care make her a driving force in the journey “From Trauma to Triumph.”
Mindfulness for a Joyful Holiday Season
When: Tuesday December 2, 12PM–1:30PM EST
Where: Live Interactive via Zoom
Registration Deadline: Sunday November 30, 2025
1 CE Credit Offered
Course Cost: Free
The holiday season can be a joyful yet busy time, often accompanied by stress, overwhelm, and high expectations. This course offers practical mindfulness techniques to help you stay present, calm, and centered throughout the holidays.
You’ll learn how to manage holiday stress, cultivate gratitude, and enjoy meaningful moments with loved ones. Through guided practices, mindful breathing exercises, and gentle reflections, you’ll develop tools to create a more peaceful and joyful holiday experience.
Meet Bridget Walsh, CASAC, CHWC
Bridget Walsh is the Director of Client Support Services for Aspire365, with an extensive background in healthcare and wellness management. In her current role, she oversees the integration of comprehensive support services tailored to enhance patient outcomes and streamline care coordination.
Course Policies, Requirements, and Contact Information
- Refund Policy: This course is free; no refund policy is necessary. (All request for refunds must be made in writing through email. Written notice of cancellation will need to be received by email 24 hours prior to receive full refund. All requests should be emailed to aspire365ce@aspire365.com. No transfers allowed.)
- Cancellation Policy: If the course is canceled, participants will be notified at least 24 hours in advance.
- Accessibility: Closed captioning available for hearing impairments. Instructions on enabling captions will be provided.
- System Requirements: Zoom-compatible device. View detailed requirements here.
- Contact Information:
- Email: aspire365ce@aspire365.com
- Phone: 385-513-4932