Description
This webinar explores co-regulation as a natural process that happens between people. Co-regulation occurs when one person’s nervous system affects another’s. In psychiatric settings, this happens constantly between staff and clients, often without being noticed. The webinar introduces nervous system regulation in simple terms and explains why co-regulation matters in daily care. Many clients have difficulty regulating their emotions on their own. When staff understand co-regulation, they can use it intentionally to help clients feel safer, more settled, and better able to engage in treatment. This can support a calmer milieu, reduce emotional escalations, and strengthen staff-client relationships. This webinar is designed for frontline psychiatric staff and others working in high-acuity settings. Participants will gain a clear, foundational understanding of co-regulation and why staff awareness and self-regulation are key parts of therapeutic care.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.
This presentation was recorded on February 17, 2026.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of the activity, participants will:
Assess client regulation states and analyze how staff presence, tone, and interaction patterns contribute to co-regulation or dysregulation during routine care interactions.
Apply and utilize co-regulation strategies, including intentional staff self regulation, to manage heightened emotional states and support client engagement in treatment activities.
Apply and adapt co-regulation and nervous system regulation strategies across different contexts, including individual client interactions, group settings, and staff to staff interactions, to support regulation and engagement in varied care environments.
Outline
- Foundations of Co-Regulation
- Role of Staff Self-Regulation
- Clinical Benefits and Outcomes
- Strengthening Therapeutic Relationships
Target Audience
Psychiatrist, Resident or Fellow, Medical Student, Physician (Non-Psychiatric), Physician Assistant, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Technician, Pharmacist, Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, Social Worker
Instructional Level
Introductory
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
Program Release Date: February 17, 2026
Program End Date: February 17, 2029
Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board
After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.
How to Earn Credit
After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses/Nurse Practitioners
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.00 Nursing contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychiatric Technicians
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) as a provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPTs). Provider Number: 15028
This course is approved for 1.00 of continuing education for LPTs.
Pharmacists
This curriculum has been approved for 1.00 contact hours by the American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number for this program is JA0000145-0000-26-017-H05-P. This learning activity is knowledge based. Your CE credits will be electronically submitted to NABP upon successful completion of the activity. Pharmacists with questions can contact NABP customer service (custserv@nabp.net).
Psychologists
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 clinical continuing education credits.
***Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Faculty:
- Jamie Sullivan, OT, MOT is an occupational therapist with experience across state-operated psychiatric hospital systems. His work has centered on improving care delivery, patient outcomes, and staff experience through the development and implementation of population-based approaches, staff education, and quality of care initiatives in high-acuity inpatient settings. At Austin State Hospital, Jamie works in a consultative role supporting system-level efforts to strengthen therapeutic programming, daily care practices, and interdisciplinary staff training. One area of his work includes designing and delivering co-regulation and nervous system–informed trainings that support therapeutic use of self, engagement, and regulation across care environments. Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Occupational Therapy. His experience reflects a practical, systems-informed approach to translating clinical principles into sustainable practices within complex public mental health settings.
Program Planners:
- John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Kathryn Hanley, APRN, Austin State Hospital. Ms. Hanley has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds, Chicago. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Megan Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dr. Ehret has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Amy N. Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires JavaScript and session cookies to be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
Windows PC:
Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |
Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance