Bridging Mental Health and Parkinson’s Care: A Training Course for Mental Health Practitioners
This five-part training course is designed for mental health practitioners who work with individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). The course will provide valuable insights into the mental and emotional experiences of people with PD, as well as the unique needs of care partners. Each session will offer practical knowledge and strategies to help you better understand this population, strengthen your clinical skills, and provide more compassionate, informed support.
With a mission to improve the quality of life of those living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) created Bridging Mental Health and Parkinson’s Care: A Training Course for Mental Health Practitioners©. This is a specialized online training course to help mental health practitioners better understand the mental and emotional experiences that come with living with PD and being a PD care partner and how to work with these individuals and families to provide compassionate and informed mental and emotional health support.
The mental and emotional health aspects of living with Parkinson’s disease or being a care partner to somebody with PD can be complex. The goal of Bridging Mental Health and Parkinson’s Care: A Training Course for Mental Health Practitioners© is for those who complete the course to feel better equipped to work with these clients in their practices.
About the training course:
This course is available at no cost. Each session will offer one CE credit.
Session One – Understanding PD: A Foundation for Mental Health Practitioners
Available beginning Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Melita Petrossian, MD, Director, Pacific Movement Disorders Center
A comprehensive introduction to PD, covering symptoms, disease progression, psychosocial impacts, and the complex relationship between PD and mental health.
Session Two – Mental Health & PD
Available beginning Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Gloria Lebeaux, LCSW, Director of Social Services, Friedberg JCC
Practical guidance for addressing depression, anxiety, and apathy in people with PD, including a clinical approach to treatment and best practices for therapy interventions.
Session Three – Supporting Family Caregivers
Available beginning Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Sheila Moore, MSG, LCSW, Pacific Movement Disorder Center
Maureen Feldman, MA, Director of the Social Isolation Impact Project
Explore the psychological toll of caregiving, strategies to build caregiver resilience and well-being, and effective caregiver support systems and referral pathways.
Session Four – Age & Cultural Considerations in PD Mental Health Care
Available beginning Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Natalie Diaz, MD, Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Discover how age-related and cultural dynamics shape the mental health needs of people with PD and learn ways of providing equitable, culturally-responsive support.
Session Five – Addressing Grief & Loss
Available beginning Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Lori Nisson, LCSW, Banner Health
Explore the concepts of anticipatory grief and ambiguous loss – and strategies for supporting quality of life – for people with PD and care partners.
© American Parkinson Disease Association 2026