Beyond the Waiting Room Door: Helping a Client with Severe Mental Illness and Their Family Members Find Support and Services - FREE

Presented by Patricia Wentzel

This event is FREE. No CE credits offered.

The participants in this workshop will acquire a basic understanding of peer support programs offered by NAMI Sacramento and other community organizations, learn about the County Behavioral Health System and explore solutions to problems confronted by individuals with severe mental illness and their families to help the clinician apply counseling techniques associated with the theory and/or practice of therapy. 

Presentation Goals

The goal for the mental health professional is to improve knowledge of community programs and resources especially of NAMI Sacramento programs, and to gain insight and information specific to individuals and families of individuals with severe mental illness so that the mental health professional can gain insight into the realities confronting individuals with severe mental illness and their families, make appropriate referrals, provide practical advice and coach individuals and families in seeking behavioral health services from County programs.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to describe the scope and availability of peer-based support programs and other programs offered by NAMI Sacramento that will improve the clinician’s ability to support the client in their wellness journey.
• Participants will be able to name the 13 Urgent, Crisis and Respite behavioral health resources available to all Sacramento County residents regardless of their insurance. 
• Participants will be able to inform individuals and family members about Sacramento County behavioral health programs and discuss eligibility for those programs as well as list ways to refer clients and family members to Sacramento County Behavioral Health.
  

About the Presenter

Patricia Wentzel is currently serving on the Sacramento Mental Health Board as the Consumer representative of District 2. Her paid gigs include Helpline Coordinator and Case Manager for the Peer Mentor program for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sacramento affiliate. For more than eight years she has volunteered in NAMI programs including leading family and peer support groups, teaching classes and making presentations about NAMI programs and community resources. Her background includes six years part time work as an intensive case manager for individuals with a behavioral health diagnosis seen in Dignity Health ERs, linking them to resources and overcoming barriers to treatment. She is the parent of three, now adult, special needs children and learned her case management skills on that merry-go-round. Patricia is also a person living with bipolar disorder.

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