Mastering Behavioral Health Care in the Adult Primary Care Setting

Master efficient, evidence-based strategies to identify, diagnose, and manage common mental health conditions in primary care through an expert-led, integrated behavioral health course designed to reduce fragmentation and improve patient outcomes.

The landscape of health care is rapidly evolving, with primary care clinicians and integrated mental health care professionals increasingly serving as the frontline for managing common behavioral health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. However, the current state of care is fragmented and often characterized by long wait times for specialty referrals, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This growing demand, coupled with challenges like limited time for comprehensive assessments and a lack of integrated care models in most health care systems, places a significant burden on primary care teams.

We've designed this course to empower health care providers with the latest knowledge and skills to identify, diagnose, and manage common mental disorders within the primary care setting. Our faculty experts, who specialize in the intersection of psychiatry and medicine, will share efficient, effective, and evidence-based clinical strategies.

Join us for the day to master these critical skills, enhance patient outcomes, and become pivotal agents in creating a more accessible and effective integrated behavioral health system. We welcome both primary care providers and mental health care providers who are committed to enhancing the mental health outcomes of their patients.

Early Registration Deadline: October 15, 2026

Learning Objectives

• Accurately identify, differentiate, and diagnose common psychiatric disorders.
• Initiate and manage evidence-based treatments for mood disorders.
• Identify common causes of impairment in attention and focus in adults, accurately diagnose adult attention hyperactivity disorder, and review non-amphetamine treatments for adult inattention symptoms.
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to engage patients in sustainable behavior change.
• Review the common characteristics and effective strategies for managing insomnia.
• Describe the risks of treated versus untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and list evidence-based treatment options.
• Reliably identify early psychosis and understand first line treatments available in primary care.
• Summarize normal cognitive changes associated with age, and differentiate between these and common cognitive disorders in older adults.
• List strategies for providing trauma- informed care.
• Review the clinical features and approaches to managing borderline personality disorder.
• Discuss key elements for implementing the collaborative care model to integrate mental health services in primary care settings.

Who Should Participate

• Specialty Physicians
• Primary Care Physicians
• Social workers
• Counselors
• Psychologists
• Physician Assistants
• Nurses

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Medical Knowledge
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at CEPrograms@HMS.Harvard.edu.

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you'll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Reji Attupurath, MD

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (Charlotte), Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Amritha Bhat, MBBS, MD, MPH

Co-Director, Perinatal Mental Health & Substance Use Education, Research & Clinical (PERC) Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Medicine
Associate Professor, University of Washington Medicine

Lois Choi-Kain, MEd, MD

Director, Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute and Director, Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute Research Program, McLean Hospital
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Sadie Elisseou, MD

Primary Care Physician, VA Healthcare System
Corporate Consultant and Internationally Recognized Expert in Trauma-Informed Care
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Heather Huang, MD

Medical Director, Adult Collaborative Care program, UW Health
Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Rachel Kester, DO

Geriatric Psychiatrist, Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry, Everett Hospital
Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Director, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Lisa Rosenfeld, MD, MPH

Psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Health Integration Program, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Greta Spottwood, MD, MPH

Pediatric Medical Director, Vermont Consultation & Psychiatry Access Program

Mari Yamamoto, PhD

Integrated Care Training Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Medicine

Kate Zona, PhD

Clinical Psychologist, Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI) and Director of Measurement Informed Care, Division of Population Behavioral Health Innovation, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School

Course Directors

Hsiang Huang

MD, MPH | Course Director
Training Director, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Director, Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration, Cambridge Health Alliance
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Karen Kuc

MPH | Course Director
Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, CHA
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School 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.

To receive CME/CE credit, learners are required to complete the course evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, you will be able to claim your credit and download your certificate. All evaluations and credit claims must be completed within 60 days of the course end date.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this Live Virtual for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.00 continuing education credits.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email CME@CHAlliance.org.

Social Workers

Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted to NASW-MA. Please contact us at CME@CHAlliance.org for the status of social work CE accreditation. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 7.00 contact hours.

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email CME@CHAlliance.org.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an Affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.00 continuing education hours and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.00 credits. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email CME@CHAlliance.org.

Union of European Medical Specialists

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the Union of European Medical Specialists website.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.