Course Catalog

This session offers an exploration into the meaningful connections between humans and animals and how these relationships intersect with our work as social workers. The goal: to equip social workers with practical and ethical frameworks for practice, to offer interactive and reflective space, to consider your role when clients bring animals into the therapeutic conversation and to promote advocacy and informed decision making in your practice. Learn More!

This course provides oncology social workers with critical guidance on the safe and ethical use of technology and social media in cancer care settings. Grounded in the principles of the NASW Code of Ethics, the course examines how technology intersects with social work practice values and ethical practices, such as patient self-determination, confidentiality, and professional boundaries. Participants will explore the implications of digital communication for patient engagement, HIPAA compliance, and caregiver interaction, and will gain practical strategies to manage ethical dilemmas and maintain integrity in virtual spaces. Learn More!

This course introduces oncology social workers to the core concepts of trauma and trauma-informed care (TIC) within the cancer care context. Through the lens of the 3 Es of trauma: event, experience, and effects, participants will explore how trauma impacts the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral responses of patients and caregivers. The course examines common trauma symptoms, including the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, and highlights the prevalence of trauma among those facing serious illness. Participants will learn how to shift from a deficit-based model (“What’s wrong with you?”) to a strengths-based, person-centered approach (recognizing something happened to you?), using the principles of sensitive practice and the “SAVE the Situation” model. Real-world applications and case examples will prepare social workers to incorporate trauma-informed care across all levels of oncology practice. Learn More!

This course introduces oncology social workers to the principles and practices of Trauma-Informed Patient Education (TIPE) across the cancer care continuum. Participants will begin by defining trauma and trauma-informed care, exploring how trauma can affect learning, communication, and trust in medical settings. The course then outlines the four essential components of patient education: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation, through a trauma-informed lens. Social workers will gain practical strategies to tailor education that is safe, accessible, and aligned with patient values. Emphasis is placed on using plain language, respecting boundaries, and promoting collaboration to empower patients and caregivers. The unique role of social work in facilitating resilience, emotional safety, and equitable access to health information will be a central focus throughout. Learn More!

This course invites oncology social workers to critically examine the concept of toxic positivity and its unintended harms in the context of cancer care. This course offers oncology social workers a deeper understanding of toxic positivity and its potential harm to individuals coping with cancer. Participants will explore how relentless positivity can undermine emotional authenticity and connection, and instead learn to apply the framework of tragic optimism as a compassionate, grounded alternative. Drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy, the course provides theoretical grounding and practical tools to help patients and caregivers process complex emotions, preserve meaning, and sustain hope. Learn More!