Seize the Day: Understanding the Psychosocial Impact of Epilepsy

Registration link:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/FmzLfC3eNk?origin=lprLink

Seize the Day: Understanding the Psychosocial Impact of Seize the Day: Understanding the Psychosocial Impact of Epilepsy and Optimizing Quality of Life

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (Pacific)

Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT #148333, Clinical Director, CA-START San Diego

Ingrid Dombrower, MD, Medical Director, CA-START San Diego

Exodus Recovery San Diego CA-START | CAMFT Approved Provider #1033067 | CE credit: 1.5 continuing education hours (for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs)

Cost: No cost for attendees

Instructional level: Introductory to Advanced

Target audience: LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs, START staff, physicians, nurses, psychologists, coordinators, case managers, behavior specialists, and allied professionals.

Registration link:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/FmzLfC3eNk?origin=lprLink

Course Description: This 90-minute, case-based continuing education course examines the psychosocial impact of epilepsy and strategies for optimizing quality of life for individuals living with seizures. Using a de-identified San Diego START consultation case, participants will discuss seizure types and how epilepsy is diagnosed; recognize psychiatric manifestations of seizure activity; and examine the impact of epilepsy on cognitive functioning, learning adaptive skills, emotional wellbeing, psychosocial development, and quality of life. Participants will also review current treatment options for seizures, including potential benefits and adverse effects on mental health, identify practical strategies and accommodations that promote PERMA and quality of life, and brainstorm community resources for psychoeducation and social support for individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Educational Objectives

• Identify at least two seizure types and understand how epilepsy is diagnosed.

• Recognize least one psychiatric manifestation of seizure activity.

• Appreciate the impact of epilepsy on cognitive functioning, learning adaptive skills, emotional wellbeing, psychosocial development, and quality of life.

• Understand current treatment options for seizures, including benefits and adverse effects on mental health.

• Learn/Identify at least one practical strategies and accommodations that promote PERMA and quality of life for people living with epilepsy.

• Brainstorm at least one community resources for psychoeducation and social support for individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Course Schedule

Minutes 0-5: Welcome, CE requirements, disclosures, confidentiality, and learning objectives.

Minutes 5-15: De-identified START case presentation and consultation questions.

Minutes 15-30: Seizure types and how epilepsy is diagnosed.

Minutes 30-42: Psychiatric manifestations of seizure activity.

Minutes 42-57: Impact of epilepsy on cognitive functioning, learning adaptive skills, emotional wellbeing, psychosocial development, and quality of life.

Minutes 57-70: Current treatment options for seizures, including benefits & adverse effects on mental health

Minutes 70-83: Practical strategies and accommodations that promote PERMA and quality of life for people living with epilepsy.

Minutes 83-87: Community resources for psychoeducation and social support for individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Minutes 87-90: Summary, questions, evaluation, and certificate instructions.

Instructor Information

Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT #148333, is Clinical Director of Exodus Recovery San Diego CA-START. He provides clinical leadership, crisis-prevention consultation, and systems coordination for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs. His work emphasizes trauma-informed, person-centered, and neurodiversity-affirming practice; diagnostic differentiation; psychotherapy adaptation; caregiver and system dynamics; and practical strategies that support regulation, safety, engagement, and quality of life.

Ingrid Dombrower, MD, is Medical Director of CA-START San Diego and a psychiatrist. She provides medical and psychiatric leadership and interdisciplinary consultation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs.

Instructor / Planner Disclosures

Commercial support: None; Known conflicts of interest relevant to the course: None disclosed; This course is educational and does not provide individualized medical, psychiatric, or Medic*tion recommendations. A de-identified START case is used for consultation and educational application.

Policies and Continuing Education Statements

• Cost and cancellation: No cost. Registered participants unable to attend should notify the Program Administrator at [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance. No refunds apply.

• Accommodations: Requests should be sent to [email protected] before the training.

• Grievances: Requests for the grievance policy or grievances should be directed to [email protected].

• Certificates: Full attendance and completion of the course evaluation are required.

• No meals, breaks, or non-instructional activities are offered for continuing education credit.

Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Exodus Recovery San Diego CA-START is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs. Exodus Recovery San Diego CA-START maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CAMFT Approved Provider #1033067.

REQUIRED REGISTRATION LINK: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/FmzLfC3eNk?origin=lprLink