Mislabeled: Preventing Diagnostic Errors in Youth with Complex Trauma Histories

Mislabeled: Preventing Diagnostic Errors in Youth with Complex Trauma Histories

Maegan Heller, LCSW, CCTP, CCATP

2.0 Medical Errors CEU Hours

Description: Diagnostic errors in behavioral health can lead to ineffective or harmful treatments. Youth within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems experience elevated rates of mental health diagnoses, yet complex trauma often manifests in symptoms that mimic severe pathologies. This 2-hour medical errors course frames misdiagnosis as a critical clinical error impacting patient safety. Attendees will review the root causes of diagnostic pitfalls across 7 common disorders assigned to system-involved youth (including ADHD, bipolar, and borderline personality disorder). Participants will learn to utilize Root-Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify systemic and cognitive biases, differentiate trauma responses from severe pathology, and implement error-prevention strategies to avoid mislabeling vulnerable youth. This workshop fulfills the Florida Chapter 491 Board requirement for 2 hours of Medical Errors continuing education.

Learning Objectives:

CEU Workshop Agenda

10:45 am - Registration
11:00 am*- Lunch Served and Networking
11:15 am - Self-Introductions, Sponsor Spotlight, and Speaker introductions
11:40 am - Learning Part I
12:45 pm - Break and Networking
1:00 pm - Learning Part II
1:55 pm - Closing and Evaluations
2:00 pm - Event Concludes

Maegan Heller serves as the Director of Victim Services with FLITE Center, overseeing a multidisciplinary team of advocates, clinicians, and mentors with lived experience who work with human trafficking survivors ages 10-24. She has spent more than a decade treating and advocating for children and adults with complex trauma histories. Maegan earned her master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Central Florida in 2014 and is a licensed, EMDR-trained clinician with multiple certifications in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, and anger management. She maintains a small clinical caseload while overseeing FLITE Center's provision of anti-trafficking services in 8 Florida counties. She currently co-chairs the Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Advisory Committee for Orange County Public Schools, as well as the Victim Services Subcommittee of the Space Coast Human Trafficking Task Force. Maegan is also the creator and facilitator of the only educational workshop dedicated specifically to human trafficking awareness in two Central Florida jails, further demonstrating her commitment to prevention and education.

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