Monday, October 5th: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET
Zoom Online
3 CEs (no CMEs)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 2nd, 2026 at noon ET
This course offers psychotherapists a practical, clinically grounded introduction to the psychiatric medications they encounter most often in their clients
The course will focus on what a non-prescribing clinician needs to understand about psychotropic medications: recognizing the major drug classes and what they treat, understanding common side effects and their presentations, knowing what to watch for between a client’s psychiatry appointments, psychodynamic approaches to psychopharmacology, and communicating effectively with prescribers.
The course will combine didactic presentation with question-and-answer and, if time permits, case discussion. Active participant engagement and discussion is welcomed throughout.
The workshop is intended for psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and graduate-level students.
The workshop is intended for psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and graduate students. Many psychotherapists in private practice work with a substantial proportion of clients who take psychiatric medication, and would benefit from an understanding of how to interpret a patient’s report of a new side effect, when a behavioral change might be medication-related rather than psychological, how to frame a productive question to a prescriber, or when a referral or urgent communication is warranted. This program will provide a working-level overview tailored to the realities of outpatient therapy practice.
Date:
October 5, 2026, Virtual
Time:
- 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET
Location:
Virtual via Zoom
Format:
Online
Registration Closes:
October 4th, 2026 at noon ET
Cost:
- Member – $75
- Retired and Student Members – $50
- Non-member – $90
3 CEs/No CMEs
- How medications work in broad strokes; onset and titration timelines. SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants: indications, common side effects, discontinuation effects, and serotonin toxicity as a red flag.
- Benzodiazepines, buspirone, and sleep agents: uses, dependence and tolerance, and signs of misuse or diversion. Lithium and anticonvulsant mood stabilizers: monitoring, toxicity, and lamotrigine rash as a red flag.
- First- and second-generation antipsychotics: uses beyond psychosis, metabolic and movement side effects, and red flags such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Stimulants and non-stimulants for ADHD: effects, cardiovascular cautions, and misuse/diversion considerations.
- Working with prescribers: scope-of-practice boundaries, what to communicate and when, consent and confidentiality, and writing a clear referral. Supporting adherence and managing client expectations. Case vignettes and open question-and-answer.
6:00 pm - 6:10 pm Intro
6:10 pm - 6:50 pm Foundations & Antidepressants
6:50 pm - 7:25 pm Anxiolytics, Hypnotics & Mood Stabilizers
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm Break
7:35 pm - 8:10 pm Antipsychotics & Stimulants
8:10 pm - 9:00 pm Collaboration, Ethics & Q&A
9:00 pm Conference Ends
By the end of the conference, participants will be able to:
- Identify the major classes of psychiatric medication (antidepressants, anxiolytics/hypnotics, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and stimulants) and the conditions each is commonly used to treat.
- Describe common and clinically significant side effects of these medications and recognize how they may present behaviorally in a psychotherapy setting.
- Explain basic principles of how psychiatric medications work, including onset and titration timelines, so as to set realistic client expectations and support adherence.
- Recognize warning signs that warrant prompt communication with a prescriber or urgent care, including serotonin toxicity, signs of misuse or diversion, and acute changes in mood or behavior.
- Apply strategies for effective collaboration with prescribers, including scope-of-practice boundaries, consent and confidentiality considerations, and clear referral communication.
Gregory Barber, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice in North Bethesda, Maryland, where his work centers on psychopharmacology and psychodynamic psychotherapy. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Barber serves on the American Psychiatric Association’s Ethics Committee and has published peer-reviewed work in psychiatric ethics and novel and emerging treatments in psychiatry. He regularly works alongside therapists in coordinating care and has a particular interest in the collaborative interface between psychotherapy and medication management. Dr. Barber went to medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his psychiatric residency at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Residency Program. He is board certified in Psychiatry, and is licensed to practice medicine in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and New York.
Between 7 and 14 days prior to an event, a cancellation request in writing will result in a refund of 50% of the registration fee less a $50 administrative fee (A $200 registration will be refunded as $100 less $50 or $50).
We regret that cancellation requests made 7 days or less prior to an event will not be accepted.
For questions and additional information on this event, please contact Nilou Mostofi at admin@newwsp.org.
