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The Hidden Potential for Suicide: Perfectly Hidden Depression (3 CE Credits)

Thursday, July 10th, 2025   10:00 AM EDT -1:00 PM EDT
Dr. Margaret Rutherford
$59.99

Many people are raised to believe that expressing painful emotion is a sign of weakness or that being emotionally vulnerable is far too unsafe. Emotional survival often came by creating a defensive strategy - that of a perfect-looking life.  In this groundbreaking presentation, Dr. Margaret Robinson Rutherford, author of Perfectly Hidden Depression; How to Break Free From the Perfectionism that Masks Your Depression (New Harbinger Publications, 2019) will discuss the symptoms of this overlooked “silent” depression.  

Dr. Rutherford, will discuss early research on perfectionism that noted its connection with depression, as well as the difference between constructive and destructive perfectionism. Suicide trends will be discussed as well as their correlation with destructive perfectionism. Dr. Rutherford will also present more recent studies revealing three types of perfectionism that have been discovered by research and their unique potential for lethality. Dr. Rutherford will present her work on the ten core traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression and will discuss the treatment model she's defined, using mindfulness, cognitive/behavioral, family systems approaches and more, guiding the patient toward greater vulnerability, and thus relief from the burden they've been carrying.

About the Presenter

(Trainer-Dr. Margaret Rutherford, a clinical psychologist from Fayetteville, Arkansas, hosts a highly popular podcast, The SelfWork Podcast, consistently ranked in the top 50 of US mental health podcasts. Her column in Psychology Today and her book, Perfectly Hidden Depression; How to Break Free From the Perfectionism that Masks Your Depression (New Harbinger Publications, 2019), focuses a much-needed light on the dangerous link between destructive perfectionism and depression)

Learning Objectives:

  1. Distinguish between constructive perfectionism versus destructive perfectionism.
  2. Recognize how the perfect-looking life became a working and outwardly successful survival strategy.
  3. Explain the core traits of the syndrome of perfectly hidden depression
  4. Explain how classic depression differs from perfectly hidden depression
  5. Analyze why this awareness must grow and be embraced by the medical and mental health community
  6. Explain the most recent research on the three types of perfectionism and their inherent dangers
  7. Identify clues that are available to a mental health clinician to accurately identify this syndrome
  8. List the five stages of healing that can lead to greater self-acceptance and self-compassion

Agenda:

Agenda:

·         Introduction (5 minutes)

·         The Research Behind Perfectionism (35 minutes)

o   Early work on perfectionism

o   Constructive versus Destructive Perfectionism

o   Self-Oriented, Other-Oriented and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism

·         The Ten Core Traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression (50 minutes)

o   Quiz to Assess the Spectrum of PHD

o   Etiology

o   The Difference Between Classic Depression and PHD

o   Discussion of the Ten Core Traits - What They Are and What They're Not

·         Discussion of the 5 C's of Treatment and Exercises (Total 50 minutes)

o   Consciousness

o   Commitment

o   Confrontation

o   Connection

o   Change

·         Therapeutic Tools to Aid in Assessment and Treatment (30 minutes)

·         Other Lingering Questions or Ideas (10 minutes)

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by 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-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by 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-0325.
  • Therapist Express 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-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.