Homestudy Program: Psychotherapy with Individuals with Intellectual Disability: Applications from a Metacognitive Approach (Huling) orig. 11.6.2025
12/5/2025 - 12/31/2050
Location: Virtual Event
Event Description
We are pleased that you are interested in IPA's Homestudy Continuing Education Programs!
This process is straightforward: Watch the recording. Complete the evaluation and pass the short test. Receive CE certificate via email.
After registering you will receive a confirmation email, including a critical link and confirmation code. At the very bottom of the email message, you will find an Attendee Confirmation Code for (name) and a link to Log in to event portal at (link). Once logged in, you will see instructions and links to the recording as well as the evaluation and test.
Enjoy!
Originally offered as:
IPA 2025 Fall Conference #4
1.5 Hours of Category I CE credit Thursday, November 6th, 2025, 1:30-3:00 pm ET
Program Description:
Intellectual disability (ID) has traditionally been viewed as a barrier or contraindication for psychotherapy, and individuals with ID have historically been excluded from research trials. As such, this population has been largely neglected in the professional literature, and the majority of work that does exist tends to favor behavioral and pharmacological interventions over other forms of treatment. In recent decades, a small body of work has emerged advocating for increased access to psychotherapy for individuals with ID and underscoring evidence of clinical benefit of a variety of therapy approaches for this population. Despite this, there is still limited work providing rationale for approaches that prioritize meaning-making, reflection, and intersubjectivity versus focus on symptom or behavior change. In this presentation, a conceptual model of how MERIT might be relevant and effective for people with ID is offered. Highlighting MERIT’s core assumptions, or values needed to successfully utilize this approach, it will be asserted that this framework addresses persistent gaps in the literature and psychotherapy access for this population. Further, this presentation will explore additional important considerations in working with this population, including involved third parties and practical modifications to technique. Finally, a case example of long-term MERIT with an individual diagnosed with serious mental illness and ID will be used to illustrate the content discussed.
Learning Objectives:
By completing this program, participants will be able to:
describe the three components of intellectual disability (ID).
summarize the relevant literature on psychotherapy for individuals with ID as well as how Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy addresses important gaps in care for this population.
identify the core assumptions of MERIT and apply these core values into clinical work with individuals with ID.
utilize practical adaptations or modifications that may make therapy more effective for this population.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Huling is a clinical psychologist at Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center’s STARS and Older Adults Services clinics, serving individuals dually diagnosed with intellectual disability and serious mental illness as well as older adults with serious mental illness. Kelsey specializes in assessment, psychotherapy, and clinical research of individuals with psychosis and other serious mental illness. She provides Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT) in her individual and group work with patients and actively trains graduate students and community mental health clinicians in this approach. Dr. Huling has given several presentations and been involved in writing several manuscripts and book chapters related to her work. She completed her doctoral degree at University of Indianapolis, with a focus on adult psychopathology and specialization in psychosis. Dr. Huling completed her internship at Richard L. Roudebush VAMC in Indianapolis, IN in the SMI track where she received advanced training in providing psychotherapy for individuals experiencing psychosis, specifically through MERIT. Dr. Huling has been a member of IPA since 2021 and currently serves on the Fall Conference and ID/DD Committees. She further has been a member of the MERIT Institute since 2017 and is currently a member of the Training Committee and serves as co-chair of the Programming Committee.
Kelsey Huling, PsyD, HSPP
Special Note to Conference Attendees
The Indiana Psychological Association (IPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Indiana Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Indiana State Psychology Board and Indiana Behavioral Health Board:
IPA is an approved provider of Category I continuing education for psychologists.
IPA is an approved provider of Category I continuing education for LSW, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, LMFTA, LCAC and LAC.
Licensees must judge the program’s relevance to their professional practice. Non-Indiana licensees are also advised to check with their state's licensing board to assure their state accepts continuing education programs approved by entities approved by the APA.
We ask that all participants watch the entire recorded presentation, and complete the post-program evaluation form and homestudy test at the conclusion of the program. Dr. Huling and IPA have not received any commercial support for this program or its contents and will not receive any commercial support prior to or during this program.
CE certificates will be distributed via email within two weeks after a passing test (75+%) is submitted.
