Unretiring the Self: Identity, Purpose, and Depression in Later Life
Think of a beloved public library: the books haven't changed, the knowledge is all still there — but when the doors close, something vital is lost. For many older adults, retirement, bereavement, and physical decline create exactly this experience: a rich interior world suddenly shuttered from the outside. This course teaches counselors to reopen those doors. Through evidence-based frameworks, cultural considerations, and practical clinical tools, participants will learn to assess and treat depression in geriatric clients, restore identity and purpose, and help older adults write new chapters rather than simply wait for the story to end.
3
CE Hours
4
Modules
15
Quiz Questions
1
Est. Minutes
What you'll learn
- Distinguish normative aging processes from clinically significant depression in geriatric clients using validated screening instruments
- Apply identity-based theoretical frameworks, including role theory and Erik Erikson's integrity vs. despair stage, to conceptualize late-life psychological distress
- Implement at least three evidence-based intervention strategies — including behavioral activation, life review therapy, and meaning-centered approaches — for older adults presenting with depression and loss of purpose
- Identify cultural, racial, and socioeconomic factors that shape depression presentation, help-seeking behavior, and treatment engagement among diverse older adult populations
- Develop individualized treatment plans that address the intersecting domains of physical health, social connection, identity loss, and existential meaning in geriatric clients
Who it's for
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC/LPCC), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Psychologists, Counselors working in geriatric, hospital, or community mental health settings
Approval & credit
CounselorReady is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP #7760). This course awards 3 NBCC-approved CE hours; a certificate is issued on completion. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CounselorReady is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.