Metrocare Services

Pharmacology Two-Part Series (virtual)
2024-11-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
Event’s Outline:
Provide knowledge about basic drug actions and potential side effects, particularly when individuals with IDD have difficulty communicating their symptoms and treatment preferences.
Will cover common over-the-counter medications for simple conditions and the psychiatric medications most IDD clients take.
Explore the basic mechanisms of drug action and disease treatment, along with detailed aspects of side effects, toxicities, and appropriate dosing, especially in the context of IDD clients and the elderly.
Professionals and caregivers will be better equipped to manage the complex medication needs of individuals with IDD, ultimately leading to improved care outcomes and a better quality of life.
Register Here:
Part 1
Part 1 Nov. 8, 2024
1:00 – 2:00 PM (CST)
https://qrco.de/bfWO5M
Part 2
Part 2 Nov. 22, 2024
1:00 – 2:00 PM (CST)
https://qrco.de/bfWO6u

Women Veteran Meetup
2024-12-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare, 9696 Skillman St., Suite 170, Dallas, TX, 75243, United States
Women veterans of all era’s please join us for an evening of camaraderie and conversation at The Steven A. Cohen military Family Clinic.

Women Veteran Meetup
Join us for the Women Veteran Meetup, a gathering designed to bring together female veterans for an evening of connection, support, and empowerment. This in-person event will take place on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the welcoming atmosphere of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare.
At this meetup, we aim to create a space where women veterans can share their experiences, form meaningful connections, and find support from fellow veterans who understand their unique journey. Whether you’re recently transitioning into civilian life or have been out of the service for years, this event provides an opportunity to network, exchange stories, and build a strong community of like-minded individuals.
During the meetup, we will facilitate engaging discussions, offer resources, and provide valuable information on various topics relevant to women veterans. This event is all about fostering a supportive environment where everyone’s voice is heard and celebrated.
Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with other incredible women veterans and expand your network. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 3, 2024. and each 1st wednesday of the month throughout 2024 and join us at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare for an inspiring evening of camaraderie, empowerment, and shared experiences.

Nurse's Open Clinic
2025-01-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-10 10:00 - 11:00 | TX
Every 2nd Thursday of the Month 10AM – 11AM (CST) Central

The Nurse’s Open Clinic is designed to create a welcoming and accessible environment where individuals can receive up-to-date health information. Operated by qualified nurse, the clinic offers a range of educational sessions aimed at promoting wellness, managing chronic conditions, and providing care for various illnesses. The open structure of the clinic encourages a sense of community, allowing individuals to seek help without the barriers often present in traditional healthcare settings. By emphasizing preventive care and health education, the Nurse’s Open Clinic empowers individuals to take charge of their health and well-being.

To register click here!

Implementing a Trauma-informed, Multiculturally Responsive Approach to your Clinical Practice
2025-01-24 08:30 - 11:30 | 1345 River Bend Dr, Dallas, TX, USA, 1345 River Bend Drive, Dallas, TX, 75247, United States
Multicultural knowledge, self-awareness, and skill application are the foundation for implementing and engaging competently with a diverse client population (Sue et al., 2022). In this session, we will review counseling multicultural competencies, discuss the Multicultural Orientation framework, and how to apply trauma-informed multiculturally responsive perspectives and behaviors into your practice.
By the end of this training session, participants will be able to:

Understand personal and professional counseling competencies that support working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Discuss the pillars of the Trauma Informed Care and the Multicultural Orientation Framework
Analyze strategies for demonstrating a trauma-informed multiculturally responsive counseling practice using the Multicultural Orientation Framework
Apply trauma-informed multiculturally responsive perspectives and behaviors to respective theory and counseling practice with a diverse client population

Register Here
Cost: $25.00 (Metrocare Staff are free)
Location: Mustang Room
Seats are limited. Please ensure you are registered no later than Friday, January 17th to secure your spot.
Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds and confidentiality.
Continuing Education Hours:
LPCs Earn 3 CE (Continuing Education) hours

____________________________________________________________________________
Presenter: Erin Kaszynski, PhD, LPC
Dr. Kaszynski is the Associate Director of Clinical Education and Research at ACER. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. Dr. K has experience providing trauma-focused services to a diverse population across multiple counseling settings. Trauma-focused, multiculturally responsive care is a theme in her professional training, teaching as a professor, and research in the counseling field.
____________________________________________________________________________
Agenda:
8:15 am – 8:30 am Registration
8:30 am – 11:30 am Implementing a Trauma-informed, Multiculturally Responsive Approach to your Clinical Practice
11:30 am – 11:45 am Closing Remarks and Evaluation

Veterans Peer Group at Cohen
2025-02-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare, 9696 Skillman St., Suite 170, Dallas, TX, 75243, United States
All veterans welcomed for discussion type peer group.

Beyond Boundaries: Treating Addiction in the Family System with Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)
2025-02-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Training
Do you work with clients whose lives have been affected by the addiction of a family member? If so, this session is for you. Addiction not only affects individuals but can deeply affect family systems. In this session, participants will learn more about CRAFT, an approach for families who have a loved one struggling with substances.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Discuss the stages of change model and its implications for individual and family treatment of addiction
Identify the 3 primary goals of CRAFT and the 8 primary CRAFT Techniques
Implement CRAFT concepts in practical ways within multiple levels of care

Register Here!
Cost: $25
This virtual event is limited to 30 participants. Please ensure you are registered no later than Monday, February 17th to secure your spot.
Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds and confidentiality.
Continuing Education Hours:
Earn 1 CE (Continuing Education) hours

_____________________________________________________________
About Andrew Ahles
Andrew Ahles, LMFT-S has worked for over a decade as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both outpatient and inpatient treatment settings to provide compassionate and effective therapy to individuals and families suffering from severe mental illness and addiction. As an experienced LMFT and LMFT supervisor, Andrew loves engaging with even the most complex family cases to shift patterns and create space for change. Andrew is trained in multiple couples and family counseling models including Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFT) and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT).
As the Manager of Clinical Training at Metrocare, Andrew leads the organization in providing clinical and trauma-informed training for all mental health professionals and counseling staff. Andrew is a Certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) trainer and facilitates professional and community training on topics including Family Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Mental Health Awareness and Education, Professional Boundaries, Gambling Disorder, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He is passionate about supporting counselors as they provide life-changing services to the community.
______________________________________________________________
Agenda
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Beyond Boundaries: Treating Addiction in the Family System with Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)

What is Emotional Regulation and What Happens when it Goes Awry?
2025-03-07 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual Training
In this session, we will explore how the brain generates and regulates emotions, focusing on key areas like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Attendees will learn five practical strategies for managing emotional responses, such as reframing thoughts or redirecting attention. We will also examine what happens when these regulatory processes break down in major depression and how treatment can help restore balance in the brain.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to….
• Describe the approaches used to study emotion in the brain
• Explain the roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in emotion
• Apply the five behavioral strategies used to modify emotional experiences
• Differentiate how major depression and its treatment impact emotion processing in the brain in comparison to those without depression
Register Here!
Cost: $25
This virtual event is limited to 30 participants. Please ensure you are registered no later than Monday, March 3rd to secure your spot.
Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds, and confidentiality.
Those who complete the session evaluation will receive a Certificate of Completion within 7-10 business days of the event.

_____________________________________________________________
About Kyle Blidy, PhD
Dr. Kyle Blidy is the Assistant Director of Education, Training, and Research at ACER. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience and five years of research experience focused on treatments for neuropsychiatric ailments. His work includes: 1) identifying neural profiles necessary for language recovery post-stroke; 2) identifying neural markers that predict therapy response among individuals with PTSD and/or SUDs; 3) examining how the brain reacts to social threats and whether intra-nasal oxytocin can reduce these reactions in individuals with cocaine use disorder; and 4) investigating how the brain creates rewarding memories among individuals with PTSD who struggle to feel joy. Dr. Blidy has showcased his work via publication and at national and international conferences. His goal is to identify moderators of treatment effectiveness across trauma-related conditions.
______________________________________________________________

Stress Response and the Brain
2025-03-21 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Have you ever wondered how stress affects you physiologically? Would you like to learn simple ways to explain this phenomenon to your clients?
Join us as we examine the human physiological response to stress and the impacts of ongoing toxic stress levels. Counselors and helping professionals will learn how to educate their clients about their physiological responses to stress and implement strategies for managing symptoms.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to

Discuss the human physiological response to stress
Explain the short and long-term impacts of early and ongoing exposure to stress
Apply knowledge and clinical skills to counseling interventions discussed in the session that address heightened stress response

REGISTER HERE
Cost: $25
Seats are limited. Please ensure you are registered no later than Monday, March 17th to secure your spot.
Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds and confidentiality.
Continuing Education Hours:
LPCs Earn 1.5 CE (Continuing Education) hours

___________________________________________________________________
Speaker: Erin Kaszynski, PhD, LPC
Dr. Kaszynski is the Associate Director of Clinical Education and Research at ACER. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. “Dr. K” has experience providing trauma-focused services to a diverse population across multiple counseling settings. Trauma-focused, multiculturally responsive care is a theme in her professional training, teaching as a professor, and research in the counseling field. For more information on Dr. Kaszynski’s professional experience, visit her on Linkedin.
Speaker: Kyle Blidy, PhD
Dr. Blidy is the Assistant Director of Education, Training, and Research at ACER. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience and five years of research experience focused on treatments for neuropsychiatric ailments. His work includes: 1) identifying neural profiles necessary for language recovery post-stroke; 2) identifying neural markers that predict therapy response among individuals with PTSD and/or SUDs; 3) examining how the brain reacts to social threats and whether intra-nasal oxytocin can reduce these reactions in individuals with cocaine use disorder; and 4) investigating how the brain creates rewarding memories among individuals with PTSD who struggle to feel joy. Dr. Blidy has showcased his work via publication and at national and international conferences. His goal is to identify moderators of treatment effectiveness across trauma-related conditions.
____________________________________________________________________
Agenda:
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Stress Response and the Brain

Implementing a Trauma-informed Multiculturally Responsive Approach to your Clinical Practice
2025-03-28 08:30 - 11:30 | Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Metrocare Services, Midway Road, Addison, TX, USA, 16160 Midway Road, #218, Addison, TX, 75001, United States
As counselors and mental health professionals, we seek to expand our knowledge of the diverse populations we serve, and the complexity of how traumatic and stressful life events impact the mental health of individuals, families, communities, and systems. In this session, we will explore the framework for a trauma-informed multiculturally responsive perspective and how to integrate this into your clinical practice.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to

Discuss the pillars of the Trauma Informed Care and the Multicultural Orientation Framework
Understand personal and professional counseling competencies that support working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Analyze strategies for integrating a trauma-informed multiculturally responsive counseling practice
Apply trauma-informed, multiculturally responsive perspectives and behaviors to your counseling practice

REGISTER HERE
Cost: $25 Community Members / FREE for Metrocare Staff when they register using their Metrocare email address
Seats are limited. Please ensure you are registered no later than Friday, March 21st to secure your spot.
*Metrocare staff should obtain supervisor approval before registering for the event.
**Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds, and confidentiality.
Continuing Education Hours:
LPCs Earn 3 CE (Continuing Education) hours

___________________________________________________________________
Speaker: Erin Kaszynski, PhD, LPC
Dr. Kaszynski is the Associate Director of Clinical Education and Research at ACER. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. “Dr. K” has experience providing trauma-focused services to a diverse population across multiple counseling settings. Trauma-focused, multiculturally responsive care is a theme in her professional training, teaching as a professor, and research in the counseling field. For more information on Dr. Kaszynski’s professional experience, visit her on Linkedin.
____________________________________________________________________
Agenda:
8:15-8:30am Sign in and grab a breakfast pastry
8:30am – 11:30am Implementing a Trauma-informed, Multiculturally Responsive Approach to your Clinical Practice
11:30-11:45am Post Session Q&M

Choices that Matter: A Practice-Focused Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
2025-04-18 08:30 - 11:30 | Metrocare River Bend 1345, 1345 River Bend Dr., Dallas, 75247, United States
Join us for an introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This counseling practice helps clients develop psychological flexibility that support their sense of meaning, enhance their ability to adapt to challenges, and learn value-based decisions.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Discuss the history of the ACT model and the current research base for the efficacy of ACT
Identify the 6 core concepts of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and corresponding interventions for each concept
Apply 6 core concepts of ACT to various treatment settings; including general mental health, addiction, and family treatment.

Register Here!
Cost: $25
Location: Mustang Room (first floor)
Seats are limited. Please ensure you are registered no later than Friday, April 11th to secure your spot. Breakfast snacks will be provided.
Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds and confidentiality.
Continuing Education Hours:
LPCs Earn 3 CE (Continuing Education) hours

__________________________________________________________________
Speaker: Andrew Ahles, LMFT-S, Clinical Training Manager, Metrocare
Andrew Ahles, LMFT-S has worked for over a decade as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both outpatient and inpatient treatment settings to provide compassionate and effective therapy to individuals and families suffering from severe mental illness and addiction. As an experienced LMFT and LMFT supervisor, Andrew loves engaging with even the most complex family cases to shift patterns and create space for change. Andrew is trained in multiple couples and family counseling models including Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFT) and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT).
As the Manager of Clinical Training at Metrocare, Andrew leads the organization in providing clinical and trauma-informed training for all mental health professionals and counseling staff. Andrew is a Certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) trainer and facilitates professional and community training on topics including Family Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Mental Health Awareness and Education, Professional Boundaries, Gambling Disorder, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He is passionate about supporting counselors as they provide life-changing services to the community.
____________________________________________________________________
Agenda:
8:15 am – 8:30 am Sign in and Introductions (Grab a Breakfast Snack)
8:30 am – 11:30 am Choices that Matter: A Practice-Focused Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
11:30 am – 11:40 am Closing Remarks and Survey

Adopting a Trauma-informed Clinical Supervision Approach
2025-05-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Trauma-informed supervision integrates the elements of trauma-informed care and relational dynamics of the supervisor-trainee relationship. In this session, participants will explore the elements of trauma-informed supervision, including strategies for implementing the approach to practice.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Explain the elements of trauma-informed supervision and its importance to the practice of supervision
• Identify the characteristics of trauma-informed clinical supervisors, supervisory relationships, and potential challenges of this approach
• Implement trauma-informed practice principles to Bernard’s Discrimination Model for counselor supervision
REGISTER HERE
Cost: $25 Community Members / FREE for Metrocare Staff when they register using their Metrocare email address
Seats are limited. Please ensure you are registered no later than Friday, April 25th to secure your spot.
*Metrocare staff should obtain supervisor approval before registering for the event.
**Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds, and confidentiality.

Continuing Education Hours:
LPCs Earn 1.5 CE (Continuing Education) hours

___________________________________________________________________
Speaker: Erin Kaszynski, PhD, LPC
Dr. Kaszynski, LPC is the Associate Director of Clinical Education and Research at ACER. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas #74929. “Dr. K” has experience providing trauma-focused services to a diverse population across multiple counseling settings in the DFW area. Trauma-focused, multiculturally responsive care is a theme in her professional training, teaching as a professor, and research in the counseling field. For more information on Dr. Kaszynski’s professional experience, visit her on Linkedin.
____________________________________________________________________
Agenda:
12:00pm – 1:30am Adopting a Trauma-informed Clinical Supervision Approach
1:30-1:45pm Post Session Q&A

On the Spot Career Fair
2025-05-31 09:00 - 13:00 | J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Interested in a Career with Metrocare?
The following is a registration sheet for our career fair, Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9:00 am-1:00pm.
To view our open positions, please click here
This event is full and no longer accepting registrations.

Military Cultural Competency (MCC) Virtual Community Training
2025-07-09 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-09 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-09 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-09 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-09 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-09 12:00 - 14:00 | TX
The Military Veteran Peer Network Dallas Chapter is offering Military Cultural Competency Virtual Community Training on the Second Wednesday of every month starting on June 11, 2025 from 12pm to 2pm CST via Zoom for everyone in the local community who is interested in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to effectively engage with Service Members, Veterans and their families. By understanding Military Culture, we can build trust and create supportive environments.

Military Cultural Competency
Military Cultural Competency

Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Enter Email

Confirm Email

Phone(Required)Are you military affiliated?(Required)

Yes

No

Please note: Zoom link will be sent a day prior to the meeting.
For questions, please contact D’Ann Jones at dann.jones@metrocareservices.org or (469)-890-7969.

Brain Stimulation in Mental Health Care: Current FDA Approvals, Clinical Applications, and Future Directions
2025-07-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Would you like to gain insight into brain stimulation techniques recognized in psychiatry?
This session will explore how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) work, their FDA-approved uses, and how they compare to traditional therapies. Grounded in current research, this training will equip helping professionals with knowledge to discuss these emerging treatments with patients, address common misconceptions, and consider how neurostimulation can complement existing treatment approaches in clinical practice.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe the FDA-approved uses of TMS and tDCS in mental health treatment.
Identify key clinical applications of brain stimulation for treatment resistant depression, smoking cessation, and other disorders.
Recognize the future potential of these interventions and their place in evidence-based practice.
Discuss ethical considerations in patient education, referrals, and scope of practice for mental health clinicians.

REGISTER HERE
Cost: $10 Community Members / FREE for Metrocare Staff (register using Metrocare email address)

Seats are limited. Please ensure you are registered no later than Monday, July 7th to secure your spot.
*Metrocare staff should obtain supervisor approval before registering for the event.
**Please be sure to review our policy and procedure for any questions regarding cancellations, refunds, and confidentiality.
ALL PARTICIPANTS will be asked to complete a survey at the end of the training.
Those who complete the survey WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE within 7-10 business days.
__________________________________________________________________
Speaker: Kyle Blidy, PhD
Dr. Blidy is the Assistant Director of Research for the Altshuler Center for Education and Research at Metrocare.
He for holds a Master’s degree in Education and PhD in Neuroscience with five years of research experience focused on treatments for neuropsychiatric ailments.
His work includes:
1) identifying neural profiles necessary for language recovery post-stroke;
2) identifying neural markers that predict therapy response among individuals with PTSD and/or SUDs;
3) examining how the brain reacts to social threats and whether intra-nasal oxytocin can reduce these reactions in individuals with cocaine use disorder; and
4) investigating how the brain creates rewarding memories among individuals with PTSD who struggle to feel joy.
Dr. Blidy has showcased his work via publication and at national and international conferences. His goal is to identify moderators of treatment effectiveness across trauma-related conditions.
____________________________________________________________________

4th Annual Back 2 School Fair
2025-07-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Harry Stone Recreation Center, 2403 Millmar Dr, Dallas, TX, 75228, United States
Metrocare’s 4th Annual Back to School Community Fair
Metrocare began hosting its Back to School Community Fair in 2021 in response to the needs of the children and teen clients we serve. The fair offers families an opportunity to receive school supplies and vital resources and information from community partners and local businesses. In 2024, Metrocare provided supplies and connected the families of over 400 children to community resources to prepare them for a new school year.
Metrocare is the largest provider of mental health and developmental disability services and provides a broad array of services from mental health care, crisis services, programs for veterans and their loves ones, accessible pharmacies, housing and supportive social services. Metrocare’s Altshuler Center for Education & Research advances innovative mental health research while training multidisciplinary clinicians needed to expand the clinical workforce across Texas.
Event Registration
Registration for this event is now closed.

Hillside Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
2025-09-25 09:00 - 11:00 | Metrocare Hillside, 3242 Remond Drive, Dallas, TX, 75211, United States
Content is protected.

Hillside Partner Open House
2025-10-29 15:30 - 17:00 | Metrocare Hillside, 3242 Remond Drive, Dallas, TX, 75211, United States

Fall Festival
2025-11-01 14:30 - 16:30 | 4701 Samuell Blvd, 4701 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, 75228, United States
Celebrate the season with us at this beloved community event! Enjoy a fun-filled day featuring games, face painting, arts & crafts, and more.
Feel free to come in costume and join the festive spirit, we can’t wait to see your creativity shine!
Bring your friends and family—it’s going to be a blast!

Date: Saturday, November 1
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: 4701 Samuell Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75228

Holidays at Hillside
2025-12-06 14:30 - 16:30 | Metrocare Hillside, 3242 Remond Drive, Dallas, TX, 75211, United States
Celebrate the Holidays with Metrocare! Join us for a free, family-friendly event filled with festive fun:

Cookie & ornament decorating
Hot cocoa station
We Rock The Spectrum pop-up shop
Coloring and stocking decorating
Yard games, such as ring toss & mini-basketball
Pictures with Santa

Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: 3242 Remond Drive, Dallas, TX 75211

To ensure we have enough crafts and supplies, please register using the form below. Bring your friends and family—it’s going to be a blast!
Online registration is closed, but you can register on-site at the event.
