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A collaboration between SATTC and SICD
Upcoming Training
March 25, 2025
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Amy Bechtol is a consultant and advocate in the area of mental health and addiction recovery.
She holds a master of arts degree in clinical psychology from East Tennessee State University and a master of science degree in social psychology from the University of Florida. Amy’s academic career spanned 25 years, during which she taught psychology in community college, regional, and large research university settings. She has published peer-reviewed research in the area of health-related behavior change and persuasion and continues to be interested in helping to shape attitudes and behavior in this area. In 2019,
Amy Bechtol
Advocate & Consultant in Mental Health
"Healing Through Hope: Bridging Faith & Behavioral Health for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorder"
DESCRIPTION: Spiritual wellness has been established by SAMHSA as a key component of behavioral health, making it essential for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment programs to explore ways to address participants’ faith. Partnerships with faith-based organizations and/or local congregations is a mutually-beneficial strategy to meet this need. In this session, we will explore practical ideas for effective and sustainable partnerships between SUD prevention/treatment programs and faith-based organizations and local congregations.
OBJECTIVES:
Participants in this session will be able to:
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Describe SAMHSA’s concept of spiritual wellness and its application to behavioral health and Substance Use Disorder prevention and treatment.
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List three characteristics of effective and sustainable community health partnerships with special emphasis on using a trauma-informed service approach.
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Identify differences between SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery and articulate practical ideas for faith-based organizations to serve effectively at each stage of the continuum of SUD care.
Amy began working full-time in the recovery field, combining her knowledge and training in psychology with her lived experience as a person in long-term recovery from co-occurring alcohol addiction and mental illness. She obtained certification as a TN Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in 2020. Since then, Amy’s work as a consultant and advocate has impacted peers and professionals in the faith community, mental health and addiction treatment, medicine, education, agriculture, law enforcement, and non-profit, civic, and government-based organizations. Amy’s central emphasis regardless of specific topic or audience is the absolute value and necessity of community partnerships for effective and sustainable solutions.