6 Hours / 6 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Aging and Long-Term Care is presented by Maximilian Fuentes Fuhrmann, PhD, ABPP.

In this program, myths and stereotypes of aging are explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat older adults, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological, and social needs. To facilitate interactivity there are four case studies reviewed and discussed.

This program reviews distinguishing “normal” aging changes in intellectual, cognitive, and memory functioning from those which are a consequence of disease; introduction to the biopsychosocial model of assessment and psychotherapeutic treatment of older adults; and issues involved when working with the elderly and their families when they confront long-term care. You also have a chance to challenge assumptions about your own aging and potentially look at issues that may impact how you plan for your life as a senior.

This program is intended for professionals at any career stage, including,  licensed psychotherapists working in clinical settings, including medical, behavioral, or long-term care environments.

The 6-hour program is structured to meet the California psychologist pre-licensure coursework requirement for training in Aging and Long-Term Care for Psychologists as required by the California Board of Psychology.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe at least three symptoms which differentiate normative late life memory changes from those which are a consequence of disease.
  • 2 Describe at least four risk factors for developing a neurocognitive disorder in later life.
  • 3 Describe at least three components of the biopsychosocial model and three ways it can be applied to assessing mental illness in the elderly.
  • 4 Describe ageism and provide two examples of how it can negatively impact the mental health assessment and treatment of older adults.
  • 5 Describe the three main components of a dementia/neurocognitive work-up.
  • 6 Demonstrate an ability to list 3 symptoms of delirium.
  • 7 Describe three types of psychotherapeutic approaches which can treat mental illness in older adults.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals who work with older adults and their families, regardless of their career stage. It is particularly relevant for those specializing in geropsychology, aging-related mental health, or family therapy. The training is suitable for professionals working in clinical environments such as medical settings, behavioral health clinics, or long-term care facilities.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.
    This training is inclusive of all experience levels and is tailored to those supporting older adults and their families in a variety of clinical settings.

  • Practice Setting

    • Psychologists, social workers, and counselors.
    • Professionals specializing in geropsychology, aging-related mental health, and family therapy.
    • Those working in medical settings (e.g., hospitals, primary care), behavioral health clinics, long-term care facilities (e.g., nursing homes, assisted living), and community mental health centers.

Presented By

Maximilian Fuentes Fuhrmann, PhD, ABPP, PhD, ABPP

Maximilian E. Fuentes Fuhrmann received his B.A. in psychology, M.A. and Ph.D. from the renowned clinical-aging psychology program, all from the University of Southern California. He was also one of the first to obtain a certificate in gender studies from the Study of Women and Men in Society (SWMS) program at USC. He has been an adjunct faculty appointment in the USC School of Social Work and has supervised doctoral students in the clinical and clinical-aging psychology programs also at USC. Since 1992, he has primarily worked as a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in geriatrics and GLBT concerns with offices in Westlake Village and Beverly Hills. He has provided over 200 mandatory educational trainings in gerontological issues to licensed psychotherapists and graduate students. He is certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in geropsychology. He was a certified trainer for the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. He served on the Washington D.C based Transgender Aging Advocacy Initiative Committee. He was also part of the Division 44 committee of the American Psychological Association which wrote practice guidelines for working with transgendered individuals. He currently serves on the US Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH) middle aged and older adult committee and is developing a training on this topic for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Global Eduation Institute (GEI). Since 2004, he has provided trainings for individuals working for Los Angeles County Youth and Family Services, USC School of Social Work and more recently the UCLA Luskin Center for Social Welfare. Since 2010, he has provided these trainings for the Seneca Family of Agencies in numerous northern California counties. The emphasis of these presentations has been on how to evaluate grandparents’ ability to become or maintain status as legal guardians of their grandchildren. Additionally, he taught gerontology and psychology courses at California State University Northridge (CSUN) for 19 years. He has also taught at the California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and at California Lutheran University (CLU) in Thousand Oaks. Dr. Fuhrmann was the second psychologist in California to be elected President of a Medical staff at Pacific Shores Hospital. In 2022, he co-authored, with Jeff Shevlowitz, Pandemic Schmandemic, describing the incredible resilience the seniors are showing in the face of the pandemic. In 2006, he also co-authored, with Jeff Shevlowitz, Sagacity: What I Learned from My Elderly Psychotherapy Clients. Continuing education credits are available for this work. In 2014, he co-authored Lessons Learned on the Path to Filial Maturity with Brynn Craffey, which addresses how adult chidren struggle to help their elderly parents, especially when the parents identify as gay, lesbian or transgender. In 2021, he was published in Authority, Next Avenue, Hitched & Divorced magazines. Also in 2021, he was interviewed on the radio/podcasts Vegas Never Sleeps, The Brain and Lee Show, Dr. Health Radio with David Snow and Searching for Integrity. All his recent publications, podcasts and intervews can be found at agewelldrmax.com. In the spirit of “practicing what you preach” about aging well with diverse projects and leisure, Dr. Fuhrmann is a certified spinning (indoor cycling) insructor. He also took a 3 month sabbatical in summers 2017 & 2018 to drive long distance remote backpackers in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains & take photographs of the area through his company SherpaMax. His photos are on display at local art shows and fairs.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Maximilian Fuentes Fuhrmann, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • The biopsychosocial model of assessment of the elderly.

  • Common mental health diagnostic and treatment issues.

  • Countertransference issues, which may negatively affect your work.

  • Psychotherapeutic treatment approaches and factors that are believed to contribute to longevity.

  • How to age well.

  • How to motivate elderly clients to change behavior.

  • Psychometric assessment of neurocognitive disorders, depression, and anxiety.

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE 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 #SW-0356 and 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-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.