NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals

Cultural Competence ✛ Cannabis Use and Mental Health

Previously Recorded

$89.99 USD

Alana Atchison
Amar Ghelani PhD, MSW, RSW

Full Day Webinar

January 9th, 2026

10:00 AM - 3:30 PM EST

The cost of one day is $99.99, an individual class is $39.99 and $59.99

To register for the FULL DAY SEMINAR Click "BUY IT NOW". To register for just one class, click on the Class/link below.

If you have any difficulty registering, please contact us here.

Class 1

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Breaking the Cycle: Chronic Stress, Cultural Identity & the Strong Black Woman

This course explores the clinical and cultural dimensions of chronic stress in Black women, with a focus on how the Strong Black Woman identity—while rooted in resilience—can contribute to emotional suppression, unrealistic expectations, and long-term health consequences. Drawing on insights from over eight years of clinical work, Dr. Alana Atchison examines how chronic stress often stems from the breakdown of the StrongBlackWoman identity, as well as unhealed trauma and unresolved emotional wounds. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how racialized gender roles, internalized pressure to “perform strength,” and disconnection from spirit and community drive emotional and physical distress.

Grounded in African-centered psychology, the course offers practical, culturally responsive strategies for helping clients move from survival to wholeness. Attendees will learn how to identify and interrupt harmful coping patterns, promote assertive communication, and integrate healing practices that reconnect Black women to their identity, spirit, and sense of balance. This course is ideal for clinicians who want to deepen their cultural competence and support the liberation and well-being of Black women in therapeutic spaces.

(Trainer - Dr. Alana Atchison is a board-certified clinical psychologist with a private practice based in New York City, where she has served Black women clients for over 8 years. Her work focuses on trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, and the emotional toll of living under constant pressure to be “strong.” Dr. Atchison blends clinical insight with culturally grounded strategies to help women reconnect with rest, identity, and spirit. She is passionate about creating healing spaces where Black women can move from survival to wholeness.)

2 Hours

Class 2

12:30 PM - 3:30 PM EST

Cannabis and Mental Health

This presentation will help participants understand how cannabis affects mental health and why people with mental health difficulties use this drug. We will explore options for supporting cannabis users in social service settings.

Cannabis is more available across North America than ever before and there are many misconceptions about the effects of this drug on mental health. Participants will receive an overview of the research examining the relation between cannabis and stress, trauma, common health difficulties, and a variety of mental health concerns.

This overview will lead into material on clinical assessment, education, treatment, and harm reduction strategies with cannabis consumers. Material will cover topics including the effects of cannabis use on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, pain, anger, psychosis, and more. There will be implications for engagement, education, applying evidence-informed therapies for cannabis use disorder, and relapse prevention.

(Trainer - Dr. Amar Ghelani is an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) with the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social work and Instructor with the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of Social Work Professional Development program. He is also a registered social worker with over 18 years of experience supporting individuals, families, and groups with complex mental health concerns in outpatient, addiction treatment, prison, shelter, school, mobile crisis, and healthcare settings. He has specialized training in CBT, DBT, and suicide intervention, as well as a certificate in trauma counseling.

Dr. Ghelani is passionate about teaching professionals in the mental health field and offers professional development workshops for clinicians in Canada, the United States and Europe. His research focuses on substance use (particularly cannabis use), psychosis, trauma, crisis intervention, harm reduction, recovery, and simulation-based education. He has published studies and articles in leading academic journals, including Clinical Social Work, Early Intervention in Psychiatry, Psychosis, and Health and Social Work. He has also received awards and grants for his research, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship.)

3 Hours

This One Day Seminar includes two excellent classes, a total of 5 CEs. You may attend an individual class for $39.99 and $59.99.

Number of CEs in this bundle: 5

Workshops included in this bundle:

Breaking the Cycle: Chronic Stress, Cultural Identity & the Strong Black Woman

Cannabis and Mental Health

These workshops offer 5 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

These workshops offer 5 Continuing Education Credits
Credits provided are Non-Live interactive credits.

This presentation is open to:

Social Workers
Professional Counselors
Therapists
Psychologists
Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services

Course Level: introductory

Level of Clinician: beginner

New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.

There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

Not all sessions share the same accreditation. Please see accreditation for each individual class below.

NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.