Better than Okay: Moving from Illness to Happiness

Learn current research to help your mental health clients become more mentally healthy, fulfilled, and satisfied.

Better than Okay: Moving from Illness to Happiness

The traditional goal of mental health treatment has been to alleviate symptoms of disease, rather than promote health and happiness. From Freud’s view that the best that neurotic human beings can achieve is “ordinary unhappiness,” to the common assumption that happiness is simply what you get when you get rid of what’s bothering you, behavioral science has been slow to apply scientific principles to the study of what makes a life worth living. All this is changing, however, and today we’re beginning to understand the principles behind what makes people feel better than “just OK.”

This workshop will provide you with suggestions so you can help your clients move beyond “neutral” in their lives, using findings from neurophysiology, research data from “Positive Psychology,” and observations from the new science of happiness. We will focus on what makes people mentally healthy, fulfilled, and satisfied—not simply free from misery.

In this workshop you learn how to:

• understand the different models of "mental health"
• describe the major tenets of positive psychology
• apply knowledge about happiness and meaning in working with clients with various disorders, as well as yourself

Workshop topics

• Mental health—What is it and who says so?
• What is positive about positive psychology?
• Is there really a science of happiness?
• Why "it's always something?" What keeps us from being happy?
• Is happiness possible?
• How can I help my clients, my friends, and my family, and myself be happier? Useful exercises in happiness.

Your instructor

David Mays, MD, PhD, is a forensic psychiatrist who directed the forensic program at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison for 13 years. He served as the unit psychiatrist for the Management and Treatment Unit, a 14-bed maximum security unit for the most challenging and violent mental health clients in Wisconsin. He currently provides training and consultation throughout Wisconsin and is on the clinical faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He is the recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the Exceptional Performance Award from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Dr. Mays is a seasoned clinician and highly sought-after presenter.  His seminars are consistently rated as excellent learning experiences by participants.

Student comments

“I’ve been to similar programs presented by Dr. Mays. It’s always a great refresher course, and I appreciate his thoughtful updates.” ~ Nina Bartell, PhD, Advanced Psychological Innovations

“Dr. Mays is consistently one of the best instructors I have heard.” ~ Glenn Larson, community forensic services specialist

“The program was excellent. It was packed with a lot of information that is usable.” ~Dottie Winch, aoda coordinator

“Excellent. I especially appreciated the information on communicating with physicians.” ~ Joann Nishiura, MS, clinical interviewer

General information

Times: 8:30-9:00 am (registration), 9:00 am-4:00 pm

Fee: $150 includes instruction, materials, refreshment breaks, CEU, and a non refundable administration fee of $20. Lunch is on your own.

Location: Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St, Madison, WI.

Registration deadlines: Early registration is recommended. If you do not receive our confirmation letters before the workshop, please call 608-262-2451.

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to attend or arrange for a substitute, you may obtain a refund minus the $20 administrative fee by contacting our registration department at least 3 business days prior to the program. If you cancel 3 business days or less before the program, or do not attend, you are responsible for the entire fee. To cancel or arrange for a substitute, please call 800-725-9692.

Credit: 0.6 (6 hours) Continuing Education Units (CEU) are awarded from the UW-Madison for full participation.

Social Workers: The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Professional Development and Applied Studies, (PDAS), (provider number #1042) is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), (800-225-6880) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. PDAS maintains responsibility for the program.
WI, IA, MI and MN Boards of Social Work recognize ACE programs.
IL Registered Social Worker Continuing Education Sponsor #159.000243.
Counselors: PDAS is recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors to offer continuing education for National Certified Counselors. PDAS adheres to NBCC continuing education guidelines (Provider #5990).
WI Psychologists, and Marriage and Family Therapists: Qualifies as an accredited university continuing education course relevant to professional practice.
WI Substance Abuse Counselors: Qualifies as a continuing education course consisting of relevant subject matter taught by qualified presenters.
Educators: This program may qualify towards your Professional Development Plans (PDPs).
Other professions: Completion of each program qualifies for continuing education hours. Contact your own board or organization for specific continuing education requirements.

For program information contact: Anne Voxman, 608-263-7023 or toll-free at 800-442-4617 or e-mail at avoxman@dcs.wisc.edu.

Registration options

By phone: Call 608-262-7942 or 800-725-9692.

By mail: Print, complete and mail the Continuing Studies registration form.

Online: Secure online registration is available for this program.