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When Patients Refuse - Evidence-Based Assessment and Clinical Intervention for Resistance, Ambivalence, and Treatment Refusal (1.0 Clinical - Asynchronous)

CE Hours 1

About this course

Treatment refusal is among the most complex and ethically challenging situations encountered by healthcare social workers. Patients may decline medications, diagnostic testing, therapy, discharge recommendations, behavioral health services, hospice, or other medically indicated interventions for a variety of clinical, psychological, cognitive, cultural, and social reasons. Distinguishing informed refusal from impaired decision-making requires thoughtful clinical assessment and evidence-based intervention. This advanced clinical training provides healthcare social workers with practical frameworks for assessing resistance, ambivalence, decisional capacity concerns, readiness for change, and psychosocial factors contributing to treatment refusal. Participants will explore evidence-based approaches including Motivational Interviewing, stages of change, trauma-informed care, person-centered practice, and cognitive-behavioral principles to enhance patient engagement while respecting autonomy and ethical standards. Using realistic healthcare case examples, participants will develop clinically defensible assessment and intervention strategies that improve communication, strengthen therapeutic alliances, support informed decision-making, and enhance documentation when working with patients who decline recommended treatment across healthcare settings.

Learning Objectives

  • Differentiate clinical factors that contribute to treatment refusal, resistance, and ambivalence through comprehensive psychosocial assessment.
  • Apply evidence-based clinical interventions, including Motivational Interviewing and stages of change principles, to increase patient engagement and facilitate informed healthcare decision-making.
  • Implement clinically appropriate documentation and ethical decision-making strategies when responding to treatment refusal while supporting patient autonomy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and quality patient care.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Donna W. Wimberly, MSW, LCSW-BACS

    Donna Wimberly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in clinical practice, leadership, and social work management. As graduate of Louisiana State University School of Social Work, owner of her own private practice, and Manager of Social Work Services, Donna strives to enhance clinical outcomes and foster team development while dedicating her career to advancing mental health and social work practice. Donna is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and has served as member of the NASW-Louisiana Board, the Regional Chair for the Lafayette Chapter, as well as past committee member for multiple NASW-Louisiana committees. Donna is a current member of the LABSWE Rules Committee. Donna has vast experience authoring and presenting continuing education programs across the state.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

CE Process Info

Content

  • Recording
    1 parts
    • Recording
  • Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners (LABSWE)

    This program was approved for 1.0 Clinical contact hours of continuing education credit by the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners. Offered through ProRenew Academy, an approved provider of LABSWE continuing education.

When Patients Refuse - Evidence-Based Assessment and Clinical Intervention for Resistance, Ambivalence, and Treatment Refusal (1.0 Clinical - Asynchronous)
You Have Completed This course
$19
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    1
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Aug 31st, 2026

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