S26-702 The Modality is YOU: Centering the Clinician in Practice
Total Credits: 3 Category I CEs
- Categories:
- 700 Professional Growth & Development | New
- Instructor:
- Karissa Doster-Hoffman, DSW, LCSW-S
- Course Levels:
- Intermediate
- Duration:
- 3 Hours 15 Minutes
- Target Audience:
- Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Description
This course envisions a future where social workers lead with integrity, rooted in authenticity, and fully aligned with who they are. This transformative training invites social workers to turn inward — exploring their lived experiences, values, and identities as vital instruments of change. Rather than viewing therapeutic modalities as external tools to master, participants will be guided to discover how their unique presence, perspectives, and personal healing journeys shape the way they hold space for others. Through deep reflection and experiential engagement, we’ll explore core approaches like CBT, psychodynamic therapy, narrative therapy, and more—not just as techniques, but as mirrors that reveal the self behind the strategy. This course is a call to lead from within, to honor the modality that is you.
This workshop is in accordance with and compliance with the NASW Standards with a focus on service, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence and social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, to the broader society.
This workshop is in compliance with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5) and with the District of Columbia Board of Social Work 17-70-7008.4.
Instructor
Karissa Doster-Hoffman, DSW, LCSW-S Related Seminars and Products
Karissa completed her doctorate in social work degree from Simmons University in December 2024. Knowledge is power, and Karissa recognizes the privilege of having access to education, which she used to earn her clinical license in social work. Currently, she works closely with folks experiencing trauma-related issues, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, addiction, identity issues, and more. As a Black queer woman, she believes representation is imperative for her fellow BIPOC folks and BPOQe folks to have options in the mental health world. Her goal is to provide quality, client-centered therapeutic service while bringing her genuine self to every session. She believes to help others on their journey to mental wellness and sustainability is a gift given to her to share.
Karissa's philosophy is best represented in the quote, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek," President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America. Enacting change, in Karissa's opinion, means inserting yourself in spaces where that change is needed. Karissa's passion surrounding holistic advocacy for the Black and Black queer community is the foundation for all her current and future endeavors. Karissa looks forward to every potential connection and intentional nurturing of the relationships that develop.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
8:50 am – 9:00 am Log on
9:00 am – 12:15 pm
There will be one 15-minute break.
Welcome & Grounding - 15 minutes (approx.)
Introduction to the training and purpose
Brief centering exercise or check-in
Set community agreements
The Clinician as the Modality - 30 minutes (approx.)
Lecturette: Reframing therapy—seeing the clinician as the modality
Prompted reflection: “Who am I in the room?”
Pair or small group share
Modalities Through the Self - 50 minutes (approx.)
Overview of 2–3 major modalities (e.g., CBT, Narrative, Psychodynamic)
Interactive activity: How do you show up in each?
Large group debrief
From Framework to Embodiment - 55 minutes (approx.)
Guided exercise: Clinical strengths, biases, life lessons
Integration: Mapping your experiences onto a modality
Optional share-out
Leading With Integrity - 25 minutes (approx.)
Discussion: Ethical alignment and authenticity in practice
Reflection: What gets in the way of showing up as you?
Closing insight round
Wrap-Up & Next Steps - 5 minutes (approx.)
Final thoughts
Invitations for continued reflection
Thank you and close
12:15 pm Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Identify at least three aspects of their personal identity or lived experience that influence their clinical style and therapeutic relationships.
-
Articulate how at least two traditional therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, narrative therapy, psychodynamic) can be applied or adapted through a personal lens.
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Describe specific ways their values and inner experiences align with or challenge conventional clinical practices.
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Demonstrate increased self-awareness by creating a brief written or verbal reflection that integrates personal insight with chosen therapeutic frameworks.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Cavener, J., & Vincent, S. (2021). Enhancing knowledge and practice of “personal reflexivity” among social work students: A pedagogical strategy informed by Archer’s theory. Social Work Education, 40(8), 961–976.
Constance-Huggins, M. (2012). Critical race theory in social work education. Critical Social Work, 13(2).
Dyer, J. & Gushwa, M. (2023). Going DEIPAR deeper: Developing and incorporating a social justice curricular framework [Manuscript submitted for publication]. School of Social Work, Simmons University.
Feize, L., & Gonzalez, J. (2018). A model of cultural competency in social work as seen through the lens of self-awareness. Social Work Education, 37(4), 472–489. https://doi-org.ezproxy.simmons.edu/10.1080/02615479.2017.1423049
Grassroots Power Project (2012, December 1). Power and social change. https://grassrootspowerproject.org/analysis/power-and-social-change/
Xu, Y ., Harmon-Darrow, C., & Frey, J. J. (2019). Rethinking professional quality of life for social workers: Inclusion of ecological self-care barriers. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 29(1), 11–25.
Course Completion & CE Information
Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement
The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 3 Category I Continuing Education Units. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education.
ASWB Information
University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education, #1611, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 2/11/2024-2/11/2027.
To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance.
Certificate Access
To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.
Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate.
In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate.
Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.
Evaluation
Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.
After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Live Interactive Webinar Platforms
LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS
The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.
System Requirements:
- Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
- Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.
Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.
- Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.
**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.
Course Interaction Requirements:
To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.
Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.
Webinar Policies & FAQs
Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs
https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129
Code of Conduct
The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics. This policy is to ensure that the training environment for social work professionals remains respectful, productive, and conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning process, disrupts the training experience for others, or undermines the integrity of the program will not be tolerated.
Expectations for Participant Engagement:
In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics and the University of Maryland Baltimore Code of Conduct, participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, which includes respecting confidentiality, maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone, and contributing positively to the group dynamic. Disclosures made during the training (e.g., case studies or personal reflections) must be handled with care and in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.
All participants in the training program are expected to:
- Engage actively in the learning process and show respect for the opinions and contributions of others.
- Demonstrate professionalism in both attitude and behavior, maintaining respect for instructors, peers, and the training environment.
- Maintain open communication by expressing concerns or disagreements constructively and respectfully.
- Follow the guidelines and expectations provided by instructors and facilitators.
- Support a collaborative learning environment where all participants feel valued and safe to contribute.
Instructors and CPE staff reserve the right to dismiss participants who do not adhere to ethical/professional principles and standards. If removed, CEs will be adjusted to reflect the time attended, unless otherwise specified.
ADA Accommodations
To request ADA accommodations:
Please email our office at least four (4) weeks before the workshop. Late requests may not be accommodated.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On 02/27/26, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.** To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop.
For more information, please read the general policies on our website.