About this course
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are prevalent and can have significant impact on both physical and psychological quality of life. Many clinicians don’t receive information or training around working with GI disorders unless they specifically seek it out. It can be common for the clients we work with to present with GI distress that is often intertwined with anxiety or other mental health issues. This presentation aims to teach participants about GI disorders and their common symptoms, and give an overview of the empirically supported psychological treatments for working with GI disorders and relevant tools that clinicians can use with their clients.
This presentation will begin with an overview of the most common GI disorders (IBS, colitis, dyspepsia, FGID), their symptoms, and their interactions with mental health. It will specifically outline the differences between structural and functional GI issues, key features of functional GI disorders, and will provide a brief overview of medical treatments (meds, ostomy procedures, etc.) for these issues. The presentation will continue with a discussion of the current findings on effective psychological treatment for GI disorders (GI-CBT, gut-directed hypnotherapy/clinical hypnosis for IBS, ACT, CBT, psychoeducation, relaxation/biofeedback assisted relaxation training, and lifestyle/behavioral medicine strategies). The presentation will conclude with a case study to show a clinical presentation of a client with GI issues and discuss how different interventions could be utilized.
There is minimal risk to attending this CE event, however some participants may experience some discomfort during the discussion of symptoms of GI disorders. Participants are encouraged to seek appropriate consultation and supervision when utilizing new interventions.
