Clinical Strategies to Improve Women’s Health and Wellbeing Across the Life Span - Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program Northern California

Presented by Helen L. Coons, PhD, ABPP

Presenter Bio

Helen L. Coons, Ph.D., ABPP is President and Clinical Director, Women’s Mental Health Associates and Health Psychology Solutions. Prior to her current position, she was Clinical Professor, Director of Psychology, and the inaugural Clinical Director, Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Services, Adult Division, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine. A board-certified clinical health psychologist, Dr. Coons specializes in women’s health and mental health and integrated care in women’s health settings. Throughout her career, she has focused on perinatal mental health, pregnancy complications and loss, midlife and menopause, sexual health, chronic physical conditions, early and advanced breast and gynecologic cancers, medical trauma, and older women. Known as a dynamic speaker on a range of women’s health and mental health issues, she provides skills-focused training for interprofessional teams in primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, pelvic pain, oncology and behavioral health. Dr. Coons also enjoys bringing women’s health and mental health education to corporate and community groups. At the national level, she consults and serves on advisory groups on women’s health and mental health – especially on maternal mental health and breast cancer. Dr. Coons received her PhD in Psychology (Clinical) from Temple University after completing her internship in medical psychology at Duke University School of Medicine. She also completed the DHHS Healthcare Policy Fellowship. A fellow of APA, Dr. Coons has held a long list of elected and appointed leadership roles in the Association and was the founding chair of the LIWP. Dr. Coons was also honored to serve on the 2025 APA Presidential Task Force on Midlife and Menopause Health and Wellness.

While profoundly resilient, women all too often cope with undertreated complex and interacting physical conditions, anxiety, insomnia, relentless fatigue, depression, trauma, discrimination, and care-giver burden among other determinants of poor health and mental health. These challenges are even more common in persons from minoritized and marginalized communities. During the skills-focused, interactive continuing education workshop. Dr. Coons will review clinical strategies to promote the health and well-being in women of all ages. We will discuss robust treatment and prevention interventions aimed at transforming and supporting women’s physical, psychological, relational, sexual and economic health. Components of trauma-responsive care will also be highlighted. Case examples will include women from diverse communities and gender identities across the life span to illustrate assessment, treatment and prevention approaches. Participants will be invited to engage in the training material through polls and interactive discussions.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

List four sex, gender, social and economic factors which disproportionately impact women’s health and mental health.
Describe three treatment and prevention strategies to promote the health and well-being in women across the life span.
Review two interventions to promote cultural humility in caring for women from marginalized communities to improve their health and well-being.
Summarize four components of trauma-responsive care for women across the life span.
Describe two strategies to improve communication and collaboration with women’s health care providers.

Instructional Level

Advanced

This CE program is free to Kaiser Permanente employees.
Instructional Methodology
Lecture
Audio/Visual
On-line Presentation

Continuing Education Information

Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Programs (KPMHTP) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. KPMHTP maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Programs designate this live activity for 3 hours continuing education credits for the above-identified licensed professionals.

Refund and Attendance Policy

This session is free to all Kaiser Employees. There is no known commercial support for this program. For questions and requests for information, please contact our program evaluator: supria.k.gill@kp.org

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Those who attend the program in full and complete the appropriate evaluation form will receive CE credits. Please note that credit will only be granted for those who attend the entire lecture.