3 Hours / 3 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Treating Later-Life Depression: Personalized Approaches is presented by Dolores Gallagher Thompson, Ph.D., ABPP, and Ann M. Steffen, Ph.D., ABPP in partnership with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

One of the greatest challenges for practitioners treating later-life depression is the wide variability of life circumstances that accompany depressive symptoms for aging patients across outpatient mental health and integrated care. 

This program reflects continuing international scientific and clinical advances in applying CBT with depressed middle-aged and older adults, using examples from the newly revised Treating Later-Life Depression: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach from Oxford University Press. 

Detailed suggestions are provided and demonstrated for how to modify core therapy strategies with aging patients, including behavioral activation, problem-solving, emotional literacy, and cognitive reappraisal. A particular focus is on strategies for addressing common comorbid concerns such as brain health, chronic pain, sleep problems, family caregiving responsibilities, grief, and relationship difficulties.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe essential domains to include when developing a case conceptualization of later-life depression
  • 2 Describe an individualized course of treatment (prioritize treatment goals and select appropriate change strategies) for patients with later-life depression and comorbidities
  • 3 Describe within-session strategies to enhance outcomes with depressed older adults
  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for ABPP-certified psychologists who provide clinical care to middle-aged and older adults with depression. It is especially relevant for professionals specializing in geriatric psychology, cognitive-behavioral therapy, integrated care, and mental health services for aging populations. The program addresses the unique challenges and best practices in treating depression among older adults across various clinical settings.

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for experienced, board-certified psychologists (ABPP) and clinicians with established clinical practice in adult and geriatric mental health.

  • Practice Setting

    • ABPP (American Board of Professional Psychology) certified psychologists

    • Clinicians working with middle-aged and older adults experiencing depression

    • Psychologists practicing in:
      • -Outpatient mental health clinics
        -Integrated care or primary care settings
        -Hospitals
        -Private practice

Presented By

Ann M. Steffen, PhD, ABPP, Professor, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Ann Steffen, Ph.D., ABPP is a professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis where she has spent her career in teaching, research, supervision, professional training, and direct clinical services focused on the needs of older adults and family caregivers. At UM-St. Louis, she has served as the director of Gerontology programs and as director of clinical training for the American Psychological Association-approved doctoral program in clinical psychology. Dr. Steffen is a faculty clinician at the UM-St. Louis Community Psychological Service, and is dual board certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology and in Geropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Ann enjoys her contact with licensed clinicians and is active as a professional trainer in CBT applied to the needs of middle-aged and older adults.

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Ann  M. Steffen, PhD, ABPP

Presented By

Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, PhD, ABPP, Trainer in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dolores Gallagher Thompson, PhD, ABPP, is a well-known trainer in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depressed older adults within the United States. She is a board-certified Geropsychologist with over 25 years of experience, a Stanford University School of Medicine Research Professor Emerita, and former director of the Stanford Geriatric Education Center (SGEC). Dr. Gallagher-Thompson is an international expert in adapting interventions to be culturally responsive. She maintains a strong interest in reducing stress in family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Dolores’ efforts in the field of geropsychology have led to awards as well as a large number of books and professional journal articles.

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Dolores  Gallagher-Thompson, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Later-Life Depression; including, Features, Assessment-GDS vs PHQ9, Treatment Planning/Goal Setting, Session Modifications-Pacing and Focus

  • Core Interventions; including, Cultivation of Positive Emotions, Behavioral Activation, Cognitive Reappraisal

  • Personalized Modules; including, Brain Health, Pain, Sleep, Caregiving, Grief, Relationship Skills

  • Discussion and Q&A

We are proud to partner with

American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

We are proud to partner with The American Board of Professional Psychology for this training. The American Board of Professional Psychology serves the public by promoting the provision of quality psychological services through the examination and certification of professional psychologists engaged in specialty practice. ABPP is the primary organization for Specialty Board Certification in Psychology. There are currently 15 Specialty Boards and one Subspecialty Board..

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.