CONTINUING EDUCATION

If you are a psychologist and want CE credits for listening this episode, click on this link: https://learn.findempathy.com/courses/FirstDescents

To find out more about all our CE courses visit: FindEmpathy.com/learn.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate how physical activity and outdoor activities can be helpful or useful for people living with MS.
2. Identify the mood benefits of First Descent Programs.
3. Highlight some of the research focused on First Descent’s work, as well as more general research about being physically active and involved in outdoor activities/sports for people living with MS, chronic, or serious illness.

PODCAST SUMMARY

Outdoor adventure programs can be helpful for the mental health of people living with multiple sclerosis for a number of reasons.

First, these programs provide a structured environment in which participants can trial skills that they may have discussed in therapy. This can be beneficial for testing the limits of perceived capabilities, practicing problem-solving, and improving communication skills. Additionally, these programs often take place outdoors, in nature, which research has shown provides mental health benefits. Finally, these programs typically involve physical activity, which can help to improve mood and reduce stress levels. Overall, outdoor adventure programs offer a unique combination of physical, mental, and emotional benefits for people living with multiple sclerosis.

In this course, we will talk with an individual with multiple sclerosis who completed the First Descents program, an MS psychologist and researcher who has published on the benefits of wilderness programs for individuals with serious medical diagnoses, and the Vice President of Programs for First Descents.

Our Experts:

• Tracy Herring, PhD - MS Researcher and Clinical Psychologist from University of Washington
• Mackenzie McGrath - Vice President of Programs for First Descents
• Jennifer Lee, MD - Both a Medical Professional and participant in the First Descents program

COST

• Listening, reading, or watching the course content is free.
• Pay only if you need the continuing education credits.
• This course costs $25 and provides 1.25 CE credits

CE APPROVALS

PSYCHOLOGISTS Empathie, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Empathie, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. SOCIAL WORKERS Find Empathy, #1817, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Find Empathy maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 06/14/2022 – 06/14/2023. Social