About the Program
What is the Program?
This program is a comprehensive training program focused on celiac disease (CD) from a psychosocial health perspective.
The program is comprised of free, self-paced, on-demand courses.
It provides specific, evidence-based knowledge about CD and the gluten-free diet as well as concrete approaches for executing psychosocial screening, evaluation, and treatment in individuals with CD.
Program Objectives:
Why is a Celiac Disease Psychosocial Program Needed?
Until recently, the psychosocial experiences associated with CD were poorly understood and not well researched. A proposed clinical agenda for supporting the psychosocial health of children with CD noted the importance of empirically-supported training for MHPs (Coburn, Puppa, & Blanchard, 2019).
Recent research has shown there is a significant psychosocial burden associated with CD across the lifespan. Substantial psychological vulnerabilities have been documented before and after diagnosis, some of which may be mediated by genetic risk or disruption to healthy gut-brain regulation. The only treatment for CD is a lifelong, strict gluten-free diet, which is complex, anxiety-provoking, and difficult to achieve. This workshop is the only existing resource for healthcare providers on the aspects of mental health related to individuals with CD.
Who Created this Program?
The committee for this program is comprised of a team of six psychologists from academic medical institutions with unparalleled experience in the psychosocial impact and treatment of celiac disease. All of our esteemed speakers provide psychological services to patients with CD within the context of multidisciplinary medical teams. Many of our committee members have publications on psychosocial adjustment in pediatric CD or other chronic conditions (e.g., Coburn et al., 2019), and have served in leadership roles for regional and national organizations.
What is the Potential Impact of this Program?
As the majority of individuals with chronic conditions such as CD do not live nearby to a celiac disease specialty program, this program has the potential to dramatically expand the reach of effective mental health services nationwide and internationally.
As a result of completing this training, you will be able to more effectively treat and provide support to youth and families to successfully execute the gluten-free diet and navigate the psychosocial challenges associated with CD.
We are happy to offer six presentations, all free of charge.
