The West Virginia University School of Applied Social Sciences in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will sponsor a continuing education workshop on cognitive behavioral therapy May 21-22 at Hawks NestState Park in Ansted.

This workshop will be taught by Betsy Randall, a WVU assistant professor of social work in Charleston. Randall has extensive experience as a clinician and social work educator. She has taught advanced courses on practice with individuals, couples, families and social treatment groups.

Workshop participants will be presented with the basic concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy and how to directly apply its techniques through hands-on skill labs and practice demonstrations during the intensive two-day program.

Participants will gain four main skills: knowledge of the theoretical basis for cognitive behavioral techniques; the ability to identify clinical situations and diagnoses for which cognitive behavioral techniques would be useful; the application of cognitive behavioral principles to a case assessment; and knowledge of how to apply these techniques to a case situation.

“Cognitive behavioral therapy has a better track record of demonstrated effectiveness than any other contemporary model, and its applicable to almost any behavioral or emotional problem,”Randall said.”Im really looking forward to working for a couple of days in an informal and relaxed setting with people who are interested in learning more about the theoretical basis and the techniques and procedures of this type of work.”

The School of Applied Social Sciences is approved by the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners to provide continuing education credit, and participants in this workshop can receive up to 14 continuing education credits.

For more information about participating in this workshop, contact Marcie Weimer with the Continuing Education Program within the WVU School of Applied Social Sciences at 304-293_3501, ext. 3103 or at mweimer@wvu.edu . On-line information and registration is available at the continuing education web site:http://www.wvu.edu/~socialwk/ce/.