The Sparks That Endure

CE Hours 10.5

About this course

The Sparks That Endure is a 10.5-hour CE/CME course on the enduring human drives—the “Sparks”—that persist in people living with serious mental illness. Across fourteen core drives, including music, food, spirituality, creativity, movement, ritual, humor, touch, storytelling, hope, freedom, sex, money, and nature, each module integrates current neuroscience, psychiatric research, recovery-oriented practice, case vignettes, and patient perspectives. Participants will learn evidence-based strategies to identify these drives, strengthen treatment engagement, and support person-centered recovery across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Designed for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners, counselors, and allied behavioral-health professionals.

Learning Objectives

Identify and describe the 14 sparks that persist in patients with serious mental illness.
Analyze the neurobiological, psychological, and cultural underpinnings of enduring human drives in psychiatric illness.
Describe recovery-oriented strategies that incorporate sparks into individualized treatment planning.
List methods that integrate patient perspectives and lived experience into clinical decision-making.
Critically evaluate systemic and social barriers that limit patients’ ability to access sustaining sparks.
Implement interventions that leverage sparks to strengthen therapeutic alliance, enhance quality of life, and reduce relapse risk.

Course Instructor(s)

Clovis Raymond, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor, Columbia University; Chief of Psychiatry, Rockland Psychiatric Center

Clovis Raymond, MD, is dual board-certified in General Adult Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He serves as Chief of Psychiatry at Rockland Psychiatric Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University. A retired Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, he brings more than two decades of clinical, teaching, forensic, and community psychiatry experience to recovery-oriented care. Dr. Raymond is the author of The Sparks That Endure: Why Our Core Human Drives Survive Mental Illness and the Psychology Today column “The Human Drive.” His work integrates neuroscience, clinical stories, lived experience, and practical tools to help clinicians recognize the human motivations that persist through serious mental illness and use them to strengthen engagement, treatment planning, and person-centered recovery.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

References

Pratt, D. N., Aberizk, K., Guest, R. M., Williams, T. F., Bilgrami, Z., Karp, E. L., ... & Mittal, V. A. (2024). Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. Psychopathology, 483-530.
Slade, M., Amering, M., Farkas, M., Hamilton, B., O'Hagan, M., Panther, G., ... & Whitley, R. (2014). Uses and abuses of recovery: implementing recovery‐oriented practices in mental health systems. World psychiatry, 13(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20084
Penn, D. L. Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany; author, Textbook of Evolutionary Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine; editor, The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Medicine.
Crone, C., Fochtmann, L. J., Attia, E., Boland, R., Escobar, J., Fornari, V., ... & Medicus, J. (2023). The American Psychiatric Association practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 180(2), 167-171. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.23180001
Cohen, N., & Galea, S. (2011). Population Mental Health. Evidence, Policy, and Public Health Practice, 2011.
Aggleton, P., Cover, R., Logie, C. H., Newman, C. E., & Parker, R. (Eds.). (2023). Routledge handbook of sexuality, gender, health and rights. Taylor & Francis Group.
Mogilski, J. K. (2023). The Oxford handbook of evolutionary psychology and romantic relationships. Oxford University Press.
Montejo, A. L., Sánchez-Sánchez, F., De Alarcón, R., Matías, J., Cortés, B., Matos, C., ... & Acosta, J. M. (2024). Switching to vortioxetine in patients with poorly tolerated antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction in clinical practice: a 3-month prospective real-life study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(2), 546. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020546
Pratt, D. N., Aberizk, K., Guest, R. M., Williams, T. F., Bilgrami, Z., Karp, E. L., ... & Mittal, V. A. (2024). Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. Psychopathology, 483-530.
Mueser, K. T. (2018). Shirley M. Glynn. A Guide to Assessments That Work, 435.
Dean, C. E. (2020). The skeptical Professional’s guide to psychiatry: On the risks and benefits of antipsychotics, antidepressants, psychiatric diagnoses, and Neuromania. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003032038
Mechanic, D. (2012). Seizing opportunities under the Affordable Care Act for transforming the mental and behavioral health system. Health Affairs, 31(2), 376-382. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0623
Teasdale, S. B., Ward, P. B., Samaras, K., Firth, J., Stubbs, B., Tripodi, E., & Burrows, T. L. (2019). Dietary intake of people with severe mental illness: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 214(5), 251-259. doi:10.1192/bjp.2019.20
Firth, J., Solmi, M., Wootton, R. E., Vancampfort, D., Schuch, F. B., Hoare, E., ... & Stubbs, B. (2020). A meta‐review of “lifestyle psychiatry”: the role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. World psychiatry, 19(3), 360-380. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20773
Pasqualitto, F., Panin, F., Maidhof, C., Thompson, N., & Fachner, J. (2023). Neuroplastic changes in addiction memory—how music therapy and music-based intervention may reduce craving: a narrative review. Brain Sciences, 13(2), 259. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13020259
Rosmarin, D. H., & Koenig, H. G. (Eds.). (2020). Handbook of spirituality, religion, and mental health. Academic Press.
Almaraz, D., Saiz, J., Baumann, K., & Moreno Martín, F. (2024). The Role of Spiritual Well-Being in Spanish Cancer Patients: Exploring the Relationship Between Health, Religiosity and Spirituality, and the Underlying Psychosocial and Behavioral Pathways. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 34(3-4), 154-171. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2024.2424612
Koivisto, M., & Toivanen, H. (2024). Schizotypy and Creativity: Divergent Thinking, Inhibitory Control, and the Spontaneous Flow of Thought. Creativity Research Journal, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2024.2438609
Louka, E., & Koumandou, V. L. (2024). The emerging role of human gut bacteria extracellular vesicles in mental disorders and developing new pharmaceuticals. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 46(5), 4751-4767. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050286
Yin, Y., Jiang, T., Wildschut, T., & Sedikides, C. (2025). Nostalgia, ritual engagement, and meaning in life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 51(10), 1884-1896. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672241235740
Rintell, L. S., Buchholz, K. R., & Gladstone, T. R. (2021). 6.1 Definition/Diagnostic Criteria. Handbook of Evidence-Based Prevention of Behavioral Disorders in Integrated Care: A Stepped Care Approach, 101.
McMahon, M., & Abkhezr, P. (2024). Narrative Career Counselling. Narrative Career Counselling: From Theory to Practice in Diverse Cultures and Contexts.
da Motta, C. D. A. (2020). Uncovering the endophenotypic factors on the impact of functional outcomes in schizophrenia: studies on different genetic risk samples from the Portuguese Population (Doctoral dissertation, Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)).

CE Process Info

Content

Module 1

1 parts
- Introduction to Sparks in Psychiatric Recovery
Module 2

1 parts
- Sex and Intimacy – Preserving Connection and Consent
Module 3

1 parts
- Money and Security – Financial Identity, Power, and Access
Module 4

1 parts
- Food and Nourishment – Symbolic and Biological Drives
Module 5

1 parts
- Music and Resonance – Rhythm, Memory, and Belonging
Module 6

1 parts
- Spirituality and Meaning – Faith, Purpose, and Healing
Module 7

1 parts
- Creativity and Expression – Imagination and Identity
Module 8

1 parts
- Movement and Embodiment – Somatic Recovery and Agency
Module 9

1 parts
- Rituals and Structure – Repetition, Rhythm, and Reorientation
Module 10

1 parts
- Nature and Grounding – Environment, Regulation, and Awe
Module 11

1 parts
- Humor and Playfulness – Resilience and Relationship
Module 12

1 parts
- Touch and Sensation – Regulation, Safety, and Human Contact
Module 13

1 parts
- Storytelling and Meaning-Making – Narrative, Voice, and Validation
Module 14

1 parts
- Hope and Possibility – Future Orientation and Recovery Vision
Module 15

1 parts
- Freedom and Autonomy – Choice, Control, and Personhood
Module 16

1 parts
- Course Conclusion – Integration, Reflection, and Next Steps

Joint Accreditation (JA)

In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Nurses (ANCC) Credit Designation Statement (ANCC)

Successful completion of this program qualifies for up to 10.5 contact hours for nurses.
American Psychological Association (APA)

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive up to 10.5 continuing education credits.
PEERPOINT (PEERPOINT)

Accreditation and Designation Statements and Disclosure Report The Sparks That Endure: Human Drives and Psychiatric Recovery This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of PeerPoint Medical Education Institute and the Sparks That Endure. PeerPoint Medical Education Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. PeerPoint Medical Education Institute designates the enduring format for this educational activity for a maximum of 10.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Enduring approval period is: September 1, 2025 – September 1, 2028 Financial Disclosures. The following planners, speakers, reviewers or staff have relevant financial relationships to disclose: All presenters, planners, editors, or staff report no relationships to disclose: “I do not have at present nor have had within the last 24 months, any financial relationships with ineligible companies.”
New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

CE Learning Systems SW CPE 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 #0060.
New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

CE Learning Systems, LLC 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-0072.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com 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-0016.
New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.

The Sparks That Endure

About this course

Learning Objectives

Course Instructor(s)

Disclosure

References

CE Process Info

Content

Joint Accreditation (JA)

Nurses (ANCC) Credit Designation Statement (ANCC)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

PEERPOINT (PEERPOINT)

New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

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