Description
June 20, 2025 | 9:00am-12:00pm | Virtual via Zoom
Description:
Social media has transformed the way we connect, communicate, and build identity — but it also presents complex challenges for mental health. This workshop explores the nuanced impact of social media on emotional wellbeing, self-esteem, and interpersonal relation-ships, with a special focus on the populations counselors and social workers serve. Through current research, real-world examples, and clinical insights discussion, participants will deepen their understanding of how to address and mitigate the psychological effects of digital engagement in their practice.
Objectives:
1. Identify key psychological and behavioral effects of social media use across differ-ent age groups and demographics.
2. Assess clients’ social media habits and their potential impact on mental health within clinical and community settings.
3. Integrate practical strategies to support healthier digital engagement and promote digital literacy in therapeutic work
Audience:
Behavioral health professionals
Presenter:
John Yasenchak, Ed.D, LCPC, LADC, is currently a contributing faculty in the School of Counseling, Wal-den University. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor for Graduate Counseling, Husson University. Prior to that, he taught for many years in the Graduate Counselling program at the University of Maine, Orono. John has served as President of the Maine Counseling Association, Chair of the North Atlantic Region American Counseling Association, and as Board Member, Co-occurring Collaborative Serving Maine. He serves on the editorial board of Counseling and Values. John began his teaching career as a phi-losophy instructor with a specialty in ethics and has presented workshops on digital ethics and spir-itual/religious issues in the practice of counseling nationally and internationally. He has received awards for his work in spirituality and religion, multiculturalism, and teach-ing. John has been a student and teacher of yoga for over twenty-five years.
Contact hours:
3 contact hours for social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors, and behavioral health professionals.
3 contact hours for drug and alcohol counselors pending approval from the Maine Board of Drug and Alcohol Counselors.
3 Category I contact hours for Maine psychologists. CCSME is a pre-approved sponsor and provider of Maine Professional Education Activities for Psychologists.
3 contact hours for CHES. CCSME is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
