Rethinking the DSM: A Strengths-Based Perspective Course
This course will provide an in-depth look at the “dissociative spectrum” and explore therapeutic strategies
The DSM is often viewed as a cornerstone of clinical practice, providing a standardized language for
understanding and diagnosing mental health conditions. However, its application can sometimes
overshadow the complexity and richness of individual experiences, particularly when diagnoses are used
to label pathology rather than explore resilience and context.
This course invites participants to critically reexamine the DSM through a strengths-based lens,
integrating the principles of differential diagnosis and the medical model with the social work value of
understanding the person within their social, cultural, and systemic contexts. Participants will explore how
to move beyond traditional diagnostic practices that may perpetuate stigma, instead learning to leverage
the DSM as a tool for fostering deeper client connection and empowerment.
Through engaging discussions, case studies, and group exercises, attendees will:
Develop a nuanced understanding of the DSM’s purpose, including its strengths, limitations, and
historical evolution.
Examine the role of differential diagnosis in identifying and addressing mental health conditions
while emphasizing a holistic view of the individual.
Critique the medical model in mental health practice, balancing its utility with its potential to
depersonalize and pathologize.
Apply a person-in-context framework, exploring how sociocultural and systemic factors influence
clients’ mental health and diagnostic experiences.
This course equips participants with practical strategies for transforming diagnostic practices into
collaborative and liberatory processes. By shifting the focus from deficits to strengths, clinicians can
enhance their ability to support diverse
This course will provide an in-depth look at the “dissociative spectrum” and explore therapeutic strategies
The DSM is often viewed as a cornerstone of clinical practice, providing a standardized language for
understanding and diagnosing mental health conditions. However, its application can sometimes
overshadow the complexity and richness of individual experiences, particularly when diagnoses are used
to label pathology rather than explore resilience and context.
This course invites participants to critically reexamine the DSM through a strengths-based lens,
integrating the principles of differential diagnosis and the medical model with the social work value of
understanding the person within their social, cultural, and systemic contexts. Participants will explore how
to move beyond traditional diagnostic practices that may perpetuate stigma, instead learning to leverage
the DSM as a tool for fostering deeper client connection and empowerment.
Through engaging discussions, case studies, and group exercises, attendees will:
Develop a nuanced understanding of the DSM’s purpose, including its strengths, limitations, and
historical evolution.
Examine the role of differential diagnosis in identifying and addressing mental health conditions
while emphasizing a holistic view of the individual.
Critique the medical model in mental health practice, balancing its utility with its potential to
depersonalize and pathologize.
Apply a person-in-context framework, exploring how sociocultural and systemic factors influence
clients’ mental health and diagnostic experiences.
This course equips participants with practical strategies for transforming diagnostic practices into
collaborative and liberatory processes. By shifting the focus from deficits to strengths, clinicians can
enhance their ability to support diverse
This course will provide an in-depth look at the “dissociative spectrum” and explore therapeutic strategies
The DSM is often viewed as a cornerstone of clinical practice, providing a standardized language for
understanding and diagnosing mental health conditions. However, its application can sometimes
overshadow the complexity and richness of individual experiences, particularly when diagnoses are used
to label pathology rather than explore resilience and context.
This course invites participants to critically reexamine the DSM through a strengths-based lens,
integrating the principles of differential diagnosis and the medical model with the social work value of
understanding the person within their social, cultural, and systemic contexts. Participants will explore how
to move beyond traditional diagnostic practices that may perpetuate stigma, instead learning to leverage
the DSM as a tool for fostering deeper client connection and empowerment.
Through engaging discussions, case studies, and group exercises, attendees will:
Develop a nuanced understanding of the DSM’s purpose, including its strengths, limitations, and
historical evolution.
Examine the role of differential diagnosis in identifying and addressing mental health conditions
while emphasizing a holistic view of the individual.
Critique the medical model in mental health practice, balancing its utility with its potential to
depersonalize and pathologize.
Apply a person-in-context framework, exploring how sociocultural and systemic factors influence
clients’ mental health and diagnostic experiences.
This course equips participants with practical strategies for transforming diagnostic practices into
collaborative and liberatory processes. By shifting the focus from deficits to strengths, clinicians can
enhance their ability to support diverse