This course was created and provided by the Virtual Center of Excellence (VCE), a former project of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN). Content and format will be updated in the near future to address current accessibility standards. If you are unable to access the content in this section, please contact the imp support team for assistance.

This online course series was developed by Ali Amirsadri, MD to enhance working relationships between direct support professionals and the individuals to whom they provide support services.

Part 1 of 4 addresses the principles of establishing empathy. 

Understanding Basic Human Interaction

This course provides the participants with interaction 101. The course expert provides an initial overview of human interaction including how the environment can play a major role in shaping brain function and behavior. 

Contributing Factors of Behavior

The course expert provides evidence-based research regarding the internal and external contributing factors of brain development in children and young adults. This course does also cover specific factors that may have a negative impact on brain development.

Behavioral Health Problems and Human Interaction

Participants of this course will be provided with examples and researched regarding how clients with various behavioral health problems, i.e. schizophrenia, have a biological difference in how they interact with people around them. By understanding this biological difference, behavioral health professionals can interact and affect change in a more effective way. 

Empathy builds trust, can lower the likelihood of mistakes and it affects patient health outcomes positively.

• Develop a better understanding of the basics of human interactions.
• Why people with behavioral health problems act or react differently.
• Explain how can behavioral health professionals take advantage of these differences and turn them into more positive outcomes for all clients.