Helping Women with Serious Mental Illness Gain Greater Health and Autonomy

Even though serious mental illness, or SMI, is more common among women than it is men, few psychologists currently work with women with SMI. Working successfully with women who have SMI includes a focus on recovery, gender-related issues, and trauma history. The purpose of this article is to describe the main elements of recovery-oriented care for women with SMI, explain the importance of feminist and trauma-informed perspectives in working with women with SMI and explore the key forms of intervention with this population. Copyright 2024.

After reading the CE Corner article, you will be asked to complete a “Commitment-to-Change” (CTC) exercise. The CTC exercise is designed to help facilitate the translation of your learning into practice. Completion of the CTC is required prior to the completion of the CE test based on the APA Monitor CE Corner article.

This product is not included in the APA Unlimited CE program.

New York state psychologists: This program is not currently in compliance with the unique requirements imposed by the New York State Board of Education for New York licensed psychologists CE.

• Describe the main elements of recovery-oriented care for women with serious mental illness, or SMI.
• Explain the importance of feminist and trauma-informed perspectives in working with women with SMI.
• Discuss key forms of intervention with this population, both at individual and systemic levels.

Tori Deangelis