Do you understand denial? Can you recognize it? Are you able to distinguish it from other difficult coping strategies? Do you know how to effectively intervene or redirect it? This session will explain the positives and negatives of denial as a coping mechanism and teach you how to deal with common issues.

AFTER THIS WEBINAR YOU’LL BE ABLE TO:

• List three common coping strategies that may be perceived as “difficult behaviors”
• Define denial in terms of psychological/emotional well-being
• Differentiate denial as a coping strategy from cultural forms of protection or respect
• Enumerate four degrees of denial
• Explain how to gently assist a person in actual denial to address and meet key admission criteria
• Identify two approaches/interventions to help teams work cooperatively around various aspects of denial and other challenging coping mechanisms

WEBINAR DETAILS: For a concept so often discussed, most people actually know very little about it. Denial is likely misdiagnosed much of the time, or at least, it’s only partially correct. In addition, many are unaware of how best to respond when actual denial is present. Quick hint: a person’s coping method should never be taken away without skillfully working with them to adopt an alternative strategy. This webinar will explore several “stage or level” models for denial and present and address common behaviors that actually aren’t denial at all. The bulk of the webinar will be spent on discussing skillful ways to intervene.

THIS WEBINAR WILL BENEFIT THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES: Hospice, Palliative Care

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? All team members, admissions staff, and volunteers will benefit from attending. The management and leadership team will also benefit in order to ensure practice consistency organization wide.

TAKE-AWAY TOOLKIT

• Discussion guide to use with staff and volunteers regarding denial and other coping strategies
• Exercise with sample scenarios, including methods/techniques and interventions to use in staff and volunteer training
• Online resources for additional learning and discussion
• Handout with additional lecture notes
• Training log
• PDF of slides and speaker’s contact info for follow-up questions
• Attendance certificate provided

DON’T MISS THIS RELATED WEBINAR!

Top Hospice Medical Review Denials & How to Avoid Them originally presented on Thursday, May 15, 2025

NOTE: All materials are subject to copyright. Transmission, retransmission, or republishing of any webinar to other agencies or those not employed by your agency is prohibited. Print materials may be copied for eligible participants only.

MEET THE PRESENTER: Gary Gardia, LCSW, APHSW-C

Over 40 years ago, Gary began his hospice career as a volunteer. Since then, he has worked in many capacities leading a variety of teams and departments, including volunteers, social workers, bereavement, and education. A frequent presenter and keynote speaker at state and national conferences, Gary works as a consultant for various businesses and healthcare organizations.

Gary holds master’s degrees in both education and social work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He also holds the new Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker Certification (APHSW-C). Gary received the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) Heart of Hospice Award for developing innovative programs to meet the needs of caregivers and the bereaved and is the recipient of the national Social Work Hospice and Palliative Network (SWHPN) Award of Excellence in Professional Education. He also served as the Executive Director of the Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Work certification organization.