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Department of Professional Counseling to Present June 6 Lecture on Trauma, Mental Health, and Intellectual Disabilities

The Monmouth University Department of Professional Counseling will present a guest lecture series presentation entitled “Trauma, Mental Health, and Intellectual Disability” on Thursday, June 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event is facilitated by the department’s alumni organization, Counseling Alumni Connection (CAC), and will take place on the University’s main campus in the Edison Science Building Atrium.

Nancy Razza, Ph.D., is the presentation’s guest lecturer. Razza has worked in the field of intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) for over 30 years. For decades, advances in mental health treatment have ignored the needs of people with IDD; they have been routinely eliminated as subjects in treatment efficacy research. Moreover, a majority of treatment initiatives for people with IDD, beginning in the 1960s, were aimed at “managing behavior” rather than supporting mental health and emotional well-being. Razza has promoted the development of psychotherapy tailored to the needs of people with IDD via direct clinical service, writing, publishing, and lecturing. She also provides clinical training and supervision to graduate psychology and counseling students at a site where students learn to meet the mental health needs of people with IDD—as well as their families and caregiving staff—through a broad range of treatment modalities.

Attendees will be presented with research showing the particular vulnerability children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) have to mental health disorders. The role of trauma in the lives of people with IDD will be discussed at length as it is central to the high rates of emotional distress and mental health problems in this population. Finally, advances in therapeutic treatment, including individual and family counseling, and group psychotherapy will be described.

Two continuing education credits will be provided, and the fee is $20 for alumni and professionals. Current students can attend this presentation free of charge.

Registration and additional information regarding the guest lecture series presentation is available online. Registration is open to the public until Monday, June 3.