Live Event

The Invisible Struggle: Supporting Youth With Chronic Pain and Mental Health Needs

Fri, Aug 14th, 2026

11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time

$67 Included free with an Ignite membership!

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Event Details

Fri, Aug 14th, 2026

11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time

(8:00am – 11:15am US Pacific Time)

3 CE Hours

Live Event

Profession Group

About the Event

Youth living with chronic pain often face invisible and deeply misunderstood challenges that affect not only their physical well-being, but also their emotional health, identity, relationships, and daily functioning. Professionals are increasingly called upon to support young people navigating the complex intersection of chronic pain, mental health concerns, school and social challenges, family stress, and systems that may minimize or overlook their experiences.

This training explores developmentally responsive approaches to working with youth and their families experiencing chronic pain and co-occurring mental health needs. Participants will examine the impact of chronic pain across multiple domains of functioning while developing practical strategies to support youth and families through validation, advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and resource navigation. Designed for providers working across clinical, school, healthcare, and community settings, this training offers practical tools and a framework for strengthening support for youth and families living with chronic pain and other invisible illnesses. This training meets the Michigan Pain and Symptom Management training requirement but is not Michigan-specific.

Live Event

This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Christina Marsack-Topolewski

Dr. Christina Marsack-Topolewski is an associate professor of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski received her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has worked with individuals with various intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for 20 years. Her research focuses on individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, their caregivers, advance care planning, the service delivery model, and service utilization. She has over 90 publications in national and international journals and encyclopedias, mainly focusing on individuals with IDDs, caregiving, as well as services and supports. In addition, she has presented her work locally, nationally, and internationally.

Target Audience

This live interactive is intended for Behavioral Health and Physical Health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage & family therapists, art therapists, dietitians, school psychologists, psychoanalysts, music therapists, behavior analysts, dietetic technicians, school counselors, addiction counselors, nurses, occupational therapies, and physicians. It is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

1 Describe the complexities involved in supporting youth with chronic pain, their families, and interdisciplinary care providers.
2 Describe best practices for supporting youth living with chronic pain, their families, and interdisciplinary care providers.
3 Explain interventions, strategies, and resources that support children and adolescents living with chronic pain.

Carter, B., Harris, J., & Jordan, A. (2021). How nurses use reassurance to support the management of acute and chronic pain in children and young people: An exploratory, interpretative qualitative study. Paediatric and Neonatal Pain, 3(1), 36-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/pne2.12045

McKinnon, C., White, J., Morgan, P., Harvey, A., Clancy, C., Fahey, M., & Antolovich, G. (2020). Clinician perspectives of chronic pain management in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and dyskinesia. Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics, 41(3), 244-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2020.1847236

Tolley, J. A., Michel, M. A., Williams, A. E., & Renschler, J. S. (2020). Peer support in the treatment of chronic pain in adolescents: a review of the literature and available resources. Children, 7(9), 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7090129

King, J., Tupper, S., Fletcher, K., Brose, K., & Goodridge, D. (2021). The current practice of social work in pain management: a scoping review on chronic disease. Social Work in Health Care, 60(3), 256-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2021.1878318

Norton, J. G., Newton-John, T., Alcock, M., Moore, J., Southon, N., & Pate, J. W. (2025). Health Professionals’ Perspectives of Working With Children and Adolescents Experiencing Chronic Pain: Barriers and Facilitators. The Clinical journal of pain, 41(6), e1284. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000001284

Wakefield, E. O., Belamkar, V., Litt, M. D., Puhl, R. M., & Zempsky, W. T. (2022). “There’s nothing wrong with you”: Pain-related stigma in adolescents with chronic pain. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 47(4), 456-468. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab122

Wakefield, E. O., Puhl, R. M., Litt, M. D., & Zempsky, W. T. (2021). “If it ever really hurts, I try not to let them know:” the use of concealment as a coping strategy among adolescents with chronic pain. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 666275. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666275

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

Joint Accreditation (JA)

3 AMA PRA Category 1 CE credit hours

3 IPCE CE credit hours

3 Nursing CE credit hours

3 Psychologist CE credit hours

3 Social Worker CE credit hours Clinical

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

More Info

Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC)

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

CE Learning Systems is an accredited provider by the California Board of Physical Therapy. CE Learning Systems maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

More Info

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

3 CE credit hours

20-1392372

Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027

Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).

More Info

Florida Certification Board (FCB)

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).

More Info

Florida Board of Psychology

3 CE credit hours

20-1392372

Eligible until Jul 22nd, 2028

Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).

More Info

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.

More Info

New York Education Department Board of Social Work

3 contact hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Provider #0060.

More Info

New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

CE Learning Systems (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008

More Info

New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.

More Info

New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

3 CE credit hours

Eligible until Aug 14th, 2026

CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.

More Info

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 8:00am US Pacific Time.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Introduction to Chronic Pain and Mental Health in Youth

Welcome and introductions
Orientation to chronic pain and mental health in youth

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Understanding Chronic Pain in Youth

Understanding chronic pain
Psychosocial and developmental impacts on youth

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Mental Health and Barriers to Care

Prevalence of chronic pain in youth
Co-occurring mental health concerns
Barriers to support and care

12:30 PM – 12:45 PM

BREAK

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM

Developmentally Responsive Care and Best Practices

Best practices for supporting youth with chronic pain and mental health needs
Best practices for care and support

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Practical Strategies for Supporting Youth and Families

Validation and advocacy
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Practical strategies for supporting youth and families

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Recap and Q&A

Key takeaways
Questions and discussion

Policies

If a grievance arises pertaining to your participation in our continuing education activities, please contact our support team immediately. See our full grievance policy for more information.

ADA accommodations will be made in accordance with the law; please indicate your special needs when you register by contacting us.

Up to 30 days prior to the event, live event registrations may be canceled for a refund via the current courses tab in your member account. Less than 30 days prior to the event, live event registration purchases are not eligible for a refund, but can be transferred to a different event. Please contact our support team for assistance with changing your registration.

This is a live event, hosted via Zoom Webinar. you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi/internet connection will be required for best quality.
We recommend clicking your "Join Webinar" button early and checking that your speakers are on before the event begins. Please do not worry about being seen or heard! Attendee video feeds and mics are turned off by default when entering a webinar. You will be able to ask questions via the Q&A feature. You may test your Zoom connection prior to the event at the Zoom Test page .
Please respect that no copying, recording, or distribution of live session content is allowed.

We report all course and event completions to CE Broker. If your licensing board uses CE Broker for CE tracking, please be sure to enter your correct license information in your account.

If you need to cancel your registration for a webinar, please contact our support team for assistance prior to the event. Please note our refund policy, above.

If the activity must be cancelled by the provider, all attendees will receive an email notifying them of the cancellation. The email will also provide details about transferring the registration to another educational activity or receiving a refund of the registration fee. As always, you can contact our support team if you have questions or concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you register, you'll receive an email with the link and instructions to join the live event. The event will be hosted via Zoom. You may test your Zoom connection prior to the event at the Zoom Test page We recommend logging in 10-15 minutes early to be sure your connection is ready.

Most live events are recorded and made available to registered participants for a limited time after the event. Check your event materials for specific details about recording availability.

Certificates for live events are typically available within shortly after the event concludes, as soon as attendance verification is completed. You'll receive an email notification when your certificate is ready to download.

If the event is recorded, you may be able to access the recording after the live session. Contact support for information about makeup options for your specific event.

If you need to withdraw 30 or more days before the event, you can do this your self from your current courses tab.

The Invisible Struggle: Supporting Youth With Chronic Pain and Mental Health Needs

About the Event

Live Event Instructor

Christina Marsack-Topolewski

Target Audience

Learning Objectives

Disclosure to Learners

Planners and Reviewers

Faculty

Commercial support

Joint Accreditation (JA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC)

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

Florida Certification Board (FCB)

Florida Board of Psychology

Florida Board of Nursing

Florida Board of Occupational Therapy (FBOT)

Michigan Board of Physical Therapy

Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

New York Education Department Board of Social Work

New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy

New York State Education Department's State Board for Occupational Therapy (NYSED BOT)

Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

Event Agenda

Policies

Frequently Asked Questions

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