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Bridging the Divide: The Essential Role of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Behavioral Health

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026   10:00 AM EDT -11:00 AM EDT
Malkie Schick, LCSW
$29.99 USD Cost For Member: $0

Behavioral health treatment increasingly requires an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to effectively address the complex intersection of trauma, mental illness, neurobiology, medical conditions, family systems, substance use, and social determinants of health. Yet professionals across disciplines often work in fragmented systems that limit communication, continuity of care, and treatment outcomes. This presentation explores the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration in behavioral health settings and examines how clinicians, physicians, educators, social workers, case managers, legal professionals, and allied health providers can work together to create more cohesive, trauma-informed, and patient-centered systems of care.

 

 

Participants will examine the neurobiological, systemic, ethical, and practical foundations of collaborative treatment models while identifying common barriers to interdisciplinary communication and integration. Through case examples and applied strategies, attendees will learn how collaborative frameworks improve treatment planning, reduce provider burnout, increase client engagement, and enhance long-term outcomes across diverse populations. Emphasis will be placed on trauma-informed communication, role clarification, shared treatment goals, and the development of sustainable interdisciplinary partnerships in both community and clinical settings.

About the Presenter

Malkie Schick, LCSW, is the Director of Counseling and Integrative Care at Aizer Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Monroe, New York. Malkie has worked to provide high-quality community-based services through the establishment and direction of the counseling and integrative care departments, which provide access for all patients to receive behavioral health care in the primary care setting. Malkie is also a NEFESH board member. Malkie loves to teach and learn. She enjoys her work as a clinician, clinical supervisor, and program director. She has lectured across the United States on a wide variety of topics related to mental health. Malkie received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, her postgraduate certification in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the Dallas Psychoanalytic Institute, and her certification in Transference-Focused Psychotherapy from the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define interdisciplinary collaboration and its role in behavioral health treatment system
  2. Identify common barriers that interfere with effective interdisciplinary communication and coordinated care.
  3. Describe the neurobiological and systemic reasons collaborative treatment approaches improve client outcomes.
  4. Apply practical strategies for improving interdisciplinary collaboration within clinical, educational, medical, and community settings.
  5. Recognize how trauma-informed interdisciplinary approaches support continuity of care and reduce fragmentation in behavioral health services.

Agenda:

Agenda (1 Hour)

I. Introduction and Overview (5 minutes)

  • Increasing complexity of behavioral health care
  • Fragmentation within treatment systems
  • Why interdisciplinary collaboration is essential in modern behavioral health care
  • Overview of presentation goals and learning objectives

II. Foundations of Interdisciplinary Collaboration (10 minutes)

  • Defining interdisciplinary behavioral health care
  • Difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary models
  • Key disciplines involved in collaborative care
  • Core elements of effective collaboration:
    • Shared treatment goals
    • Role clarity
    • Consistent communication
    • Client-centered care

III. Trauma, Neurobiology, and Integrated Care (10 minutes)

  • Effects of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system
  • Overlap between medical, psychological, and social factors
  • Importance of coordinated interventions
  • Trauma-informed interdisciplinary approaches and continuity of care

IV. Common Barriers to Collaboration (10 minutes)

  • Systemic barriers:
    • Confidentiality and administrative limitations
    • Organizational silos
  • Professional barriers:
    • Hierarchical dynamics
    • Differing treatment philosophies
  • Clinical challenges:
    • Burnout
    • Conflicting recommendations
    • Ethical concerns

V. Practical Strategies and Clinical Applications (15 minutes)

  • Communication and collaboration strategies:
    • Interdisciplinary meetings
    • Shared treatment planning
    • Referral and follow-up systems
  • Integrated care models:
    • Primary care and behavioral health integration
    • School-based and community collaborative care
  • Best practices for sustainable interdisciplinary teamwork

VI. Case Example, Key Takeaways, and Q&A (10 minutes)

  • Brief interdisciplinary case example
  • Identifying opportunities for improved collaboration
  • Key takeaways:
    • Collaboration improves treatment outcomes and continuity of care
    • Trauma-informed systems require interdisciplinary consistency
    • Effective communication strengthens behavioral health services
  • Questions and discussion

This workshop offers 1 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Mental Health Counselor #MHC-0082
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0048.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.