Dominick L. Flarey, PhD, MBA, RN, BC, FACHE E-Mail - Vita
Welcome to NH 713- Psychological Assessment, a Doctorate Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Doctorate in Natural Health Care. We are pleased to offer you this course, which will be a foundational course for the remainder of your studies in the doctorate program. This is an exciting course. We have the opportunity in this course to explore the vast dimensions of mental health care and natural and alternative therapies for mental health assessments and care modalities.
This course is structured to present concepts of Psychological Assessment, based on DSM IV criteria and to present corresponding alternative care modalities for mental health care. It takes us to a fresh starting place in understanding the principles, theories and modalities in use today in natural health care related to psychological disturbances and mental health. Students will study DSM IV criteria related to mental illness and psychological disturbances, and review case studies related to presenting symptoms.
This course also provides learning of brain chemistry and function related to psychological disturbances. Alternative care modalities are studied to provide appropriate modalities in practice of natural health care.
The justification of this course is its foundational role in establishing natural health care modalities for mental illness and psychological disturbances as a legitimate and highly valued mode of care delivery today in the world. It will assist students to understand the vast world of care modalities that exist from a natural perspective, provide for beginning study of mental health and mental illness, particularly as it relates to brain chemistry and nutrition.
This course also provides students with a much broader perspective of natural health care, the fact being that natural health care is more than just the body and physiological processes; Natural health care deals just as much with the mind and the spirit of man. Thus, it is a holistic model of care. I know you will enjoy this course. Please learn as much as you can as you progress through it, as it does lay down a solid foundation for the study of psychological assessment and natural care modalities.
TIME FRAME: This is a four-semester hour course. This course is allotted 10 weeks of time. Students must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the 10-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your text book(s) have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless the student has good justification. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be awarded 4 semester hours of credit.
There are two (2) required textbooks for this course.
Book 1: DSM IV Made Easy: The Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis, by James Morrison, MD. The Guilford Press, 1995/2001. ISBN: 0898625688
Book 2: Healing Anxiety and Depression, by Daniel G. Amen, MD and Lisa C. Routh, MD. The Berkley Publishing Group (Penguin Group), 2003/2004. ISBN: 0425198448
Both of these texts may be found at your locale bookstores. Your locale bookstores most often will order them as a special order for you. Or, you may purchase both of these books online from:
EXAMINATIONS: There are two examinations for this course. One examination is the development of a comprehensive learning portfolio and the other examination is a comprehensive final, objective-type examination. Both exams must be completed by the end of the 10th week in the course.
Students are provided great flexibility in moving through the course materials and completing the comprehensive learning portfolio and the final comprehensive examination. Once a student officially enrolls into the course, they have full access to the expanded syllabus and all assignments for this course, as well as access to the examinations.
GRADING: the grading scale for this course is as follows:
90-100 %
= A
80-89 %
= B
70-79 %
= C
Below 70 %
= Fail
COMMUNICATION: you are encouraged to communicate with your instructor. Your instructor is available as a teacher, coach, and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course. Primarily, communication is through email. However, I am also available for conversation by telephone if you would like. Our classroom for this course has a "chat" room. I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room at your request. From time to time, depending on how many students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we will have some scheduled group chats. You will receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Upon enrollment, students are provided with full instructor contact information.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: there are no written assignments for this course. There is a considerable amount of reading/learning involved in this course, and a considerable amount of time required to complete the learning portfolio examination.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Dominick L. Flarey, Ph.D, MBA, RN, BS, FACHE, is a faculty member of Nursing and Alternative Health Care at Canyon College, and is professor of many of the nursing and health care related Certificate Programs offered by the Canyon College. He holds a BSN degree, a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters in Health Science Education, and PhDs in Nursing Administration and Management. He is a Registered Nurse and a Certified and Licensed Adult Nurse Practitioner. He has held positions as an Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner, A Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with a specialty practice in Biopsychiatry, a Nurse Executive, A Chief Operating Officer, and an Administrator in Acute Care. He has also held several positions with national consulting firms.
Dr. Flarey is past Editor-in-Chief of a journal in Healthcare Law, Ethics & Regulation. He lectures extensively across the country on management and clinical issues in health care, as well as law and ethics and biopsychiatry. He is also a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and holds a doctorate degree in Hypnotherapy. He is Certified in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Certified as a Grief Counselor and Spiritual Counselor. He holds a Practitioner Certificate in Metaphysics from the University of Metaphysics in California. He has lectured extensively across the country on the topics of Biology and Mental Illness, Biopsychiatry, and alternative therapies for mental illness. He is the co-author/editor of 7 texts books in health care, and has authored over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The objectives for this course are:
Understand the breath and scope of diagnostic criteria used in mental health care.
Learn to use DSM IV criteria in working with clients presenting with psychological disturbances.
Identify diagnostic criteria for major mental health illnesses.
Conduct a psychological assessment on clients receiving natural health care consultations and treatment modalities.
Understand when to refer clients to allopathic practitioners for more holistic care.
Experience the Holistic model of natural health care.
Understand the primary modes of prevention and wellness related to mental health.
Understand the role of nutrition, and supplements in maintaining health and preventing brain chemistry disturbances.
Understand the use of diagnostic technology for clients with mental health problems.
Identify and understand the pathophysiology of body-mind related to mental illnesses.
Identify the signs/symptoms and presentations of common mental illnesses.
Identify and explain the use of herbs and other supplements in the holistic treatment of mental illnesses.
Understand the nervous system and disturbances in nervous system functioning and physiology related to mental illnesses.
Incorporate psychological assessment into all general client assessments.
Identify and discuss issues related to Mind-Body-Spirit in the holistic and alternative care modalities for mental illness.
COURSE CONTENT:
History and Use of DSM –IV as a tool for mental health assessment
Assessment of Cognitive Disorders
Assessment of Mental Disorders due to a medical condition
Assessment of Substance-Related Disorders
Assessment of Psychosis and Schizophrenia
Assessment of Disorders of Mood
Assessment of Anxiety Disorders
Assessment of Somatoform Disorders
Assessment of Factitious Disorder
Assessment of Dissociative Disorders
Assessment of Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
Assessment of Eating Disorders
Assessment of Sleep Disorders
Assessment of Impulse-Control Disorders
Assessment of Adjustment Disorder
Assessment of Personality Disorders
Comprehensive evaluation of the mental health patient
Brain SPECT Imaging
Bio-Psycho-Social Assessment of clients
Natural health care modalities for anxiety and depression
The role of nutrition in mental health
The use of nutrition in treating mental illness
The healing power of relationships
Treating insomnia
Impact of mental illnesses on families
Issues related to suicide and violence
Dealing with treatment failures
Herbal remedies for anxiety and depression
Promoting holistic well-being
ASSIGNMENTS: for specific assignments, please click on the "Assignments" link in the class room.
