Sociocultural Attunement
Free · On-demand · 4 CE hours · Learn at your own pace
What You'll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be better prepared to:
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describe social determinants of health and identify health disparities;
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recognize the importance of Universal Human Rights across social contexts;
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understand the role social, economic, cultural, and symbolic capital plays in processes of privilege;
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use third-order thinking to connect the dots between broad social systems and everyday relationships;
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increase your social awareness of self and others; and
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demonstrate sociocultural attunement.
Who This Course Is For
Behavioral health providers, public health professionals, educators, and administrators across the United States, including:
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family therapists, art therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health clinicians,
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problem gambling treatment providers,
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Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADCs),
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Certified Gamling Addiction Counselors (CGACs),
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clinical supervisors,
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prevention specialists,
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peer supporters and traditional health workers,
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public health professionals,
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educators, and
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agency administrators.
What Is Included
This interactive online training invites you to explore how social identities, cultural contexts, and power dynamics shape the way we see, understand, and engage with others. Through videos, reflection, and interactive activities, you will deepen your awareness of social location and build greater intention, curiosity, and responsiveness in your professional relationships.
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This course includes videos, presentations, and interactive learning tools.
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We suggest you take your time, view content as many times as you like, and access suggested readings and resources when possible.
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It is not necessary to complete the course in a single sitting. You are free to open and close the course as many times as you like.
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Once you have reviewed and mastered the content, you will be required to pass short quizzes before you are eligible for verification that you have successfully completed the course.
Who Developed This Course
Senior Instructor Teresa McDowell
Teresa McDowell, EdD, LMFT is professor emerita at Lewis & Clark, where she served as department chair and co-founded the college’s Problem Gambling Services. With over 40 years of experience as a clinician, educator, administrator, and consultant, Teresa focuses on workforce development, equity-based clinical practice, integrated treatment for problem gambling, and clinical supervision. She is a social researcher, program evaluator, and consultant with Partners in Social Research and Senior Instructor for ACORN. Dr. McDowell has authored more than 50 scholarly publications and is lead author of Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy: Applying Third Order Thinking to Theory and Practice (3rd Ed., 2026).
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What Others Are Saying
Learned a great deal to help in my current position
Michelle Dix
Great stories and ideas
Great stories and ideas
Read LessSociocultural Attunement (SCA) is highly regarded as a tr...
Lillian Herbert
It is widely praised for helping professionals center equity and actively disrupt oppressive narratives in practice.
It is widely praised for helping professionals center equity and actively disrupt oppressive narratives in practice.
Read LessI learned a lot of helpful tools that I can use in my pro...
Brent Gordon
Thank you
Thank you
Read LessSociocultural Attunement
Tatiana Adams
It was very good
It was very good
Read Lessgood
Jodi-leigh Tannehill
good
good
Read LessEngaging.
Wendy Lopez
Easy to follow
Easy to follow
Read LessInformational
Katie Leal
very good information
Herman Torres
every thing is good
every thing is good
Read Lessvery important
Rica Ottenbreit
very informative, needed for my program.
very informative, needed for my program.
Read LessGood
Kathleen Pollard-Brue
Good
Good
Read LessWhat About CE Hours
Certificate of completion will be made available on the Student Dashboard after you complete all required course activities and the course evaluation survey.
ACORN is approved by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO), Provider ID: 26-0044, to provide continuing education courses. Additionally, ACORN is approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7274. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ACORN is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Start Learning Today
Free of charge, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority Problem Gambling Services.
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Enroll
Free
4 CE Hours
Next in Sequence for the Problem Gambling Treatment Track
Once you complete this course, continue with:
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Gambling and Co-occurring Disorders
5.0 average rating (54 reviews)On-demand. 2 CE hours. In this course, you’ll explore how problem gambling intersects with mental health and substance use and learn to address co-occurring disorders in treatment. Free, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority Problem Gambling Services.
Free
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Risk Assessment and Suicide Prevention
4.8 average rating (63 reviews)On-demand. 2 CE hours. In this course, you’ll strengthen skills to assess suicide risk, screen for intimate partner violence and financial abuse, and intervene to prevent suicide. Free, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority Problem Gambling Services.
Free
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Suicide Prevention: Responding with Care
4.8 average rating (161 reviews)On-demand. 3 CE hours. In this course, you’ll learn practical, compassionate ways to recognize suicide risk, ask directly about suicidal thoughts, connect people to support, and follow up within your role. Free, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority.
Free
Next in Sequence for the Integrated Co-occurring Disorders Track
Once you complete this course, continue with:
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Co-occurring Disorders in Sociocultural Context
4.9 average rating (47 reviews)On-demand. 3 CE hours. In this course, you’ll explore how sociocultural context and social determinants of health shape co-occurring disorders and treatment. Free, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority ICD Initiative.
Free
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Social Determinants of Health and Trauma-Informed Care
4.9 average rating (49 reviews)On-demand. 2 CE hours. In this course, you’ll explore how social determinants of health affect co-occurring disorders and learn to apply trauma-informed principles to promote safety and person-centered care. Free, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority.
Free
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Screening for Physical Challenges in Behavioral Healthcare
5.0 average rating (7 reviews)On-demand. 2 CE hours. In this course, you’ll learn to discuss and screen for physical health concerns, make effective medical referrals, and integrate physical health into co-occurring disorders care. Free, courtesy of Oregon Health Authority.
Free
