The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is introducing a new, free five-part educational program for mental health professionals who support individuals living with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their families. Titled Bridging Mental Health and Parkinson's Care, the course is designed to deepen understanding of the emotional and psychological challenges associated with Parkinson's while equipping practitioners with practical tools to better support both patients and their care partners.

The online training series will be released over five months, with one session becoming available each month from July 22 through November 18, 2026. Participants who complete each module will be eligible to earn one continuing education (CE) credit per session.
Course Schedule

Session 1: Understanding Parkinson's Disease – Building a Strong Foundation for Mental Health Professionals
Available: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Led by Melita Petrossian, MD, Director of the Pacific Movement Disorders Center, the opening session introduces participants to Parkinson's disease, including its symptoms, progression, psychosocial effects, and the close connection between neurological changes and mental health.

Session 2: Mental Health Challenges in Parkinson's Disease
Available: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Presented by Gloria Lebeaux, LCSW, Director of Social Services at Friedberg JCC, this session focuses on identifying and managing depression, anxiety, and apathy in individuals with PD. It also covers evidence-based therapeutic approaches and practical intervention strategies for clinicians.

Session 3: Supporting Family Caregivers
Available: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Facilitated by Sheila Moore, MSG, LCSW, of the Pacific Movement Disorder Center, together with Maureen Feldman, MA, Director of the Social Isolation Impact Project, this module examines the emotional demands placed on caregivers. Participants will learn approaches to strengthen caregiver resilience, enhance well-being, and connect families with appropriate support resources.

Session 4: Age and Cultural Perspectives in Parkinson's Mental Health Care
Available: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
In this session, Natalie Diaz, MD, of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, discusses how cultural background and age influence the mental health experiences of people living with Parkinson's. The presentation also emphasizes culturally responsive, equitable approaches to care.

Session 5: Understanding Grief and Loss
Available: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Presented by Lori Nisson, LCSW, of Banner Health, the concluding session explores anticipatory grief, ambiguous loss, and practical strategies that help maintain quality of life for both individuals with Parkinson's and those who care for them.

According to Rosa Peña, MSW, APDA's Senior Vice President of Programs & Services, the emotional and psychological effects of Parkinson's disease frequently receive less attention than its physical symptoms, despite their significant influence on everyday life. She noted that this specialized training is intended to give mental health practitioners the knowledge and confidence needed to provide compassionate, informed, and effective support for people with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

The new program expands APDA's growing collection of professional education courses, which also includes:

All APDA professional training programs are delivered online, offered at no cost, available to anyone interested, and can be completed at each participant's own pace, making them accessible to professionals seeking flexible continuing education opportunities.

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The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has introduced an innovative resource for individuals living with Parkinson's disease (PD) called ParkinSex: The Game. Developed specifically for the Parkinson’s community, this free resource aims to support couples who may experience challenges with emotional and physical intimacy while managing life with PD.

Parkinson’s disease can influence many parts of a relationship, particularly closeness and intimacy. Symptoms such as stiffness, fatigue, mobility difficulties, and mood changes may make it harder for partners to maintain the same level of connection they once shared. Even in strong relationships, couples can gradually begin to feel emotionally distant. Recognizing this need, APDA introduced the original ParkinSex™ kit and booklet in 2023 to encourage couples to reconnect and strengthen intimacy in ways that suited their individual comfort levels. Following the strong response to the kit, APDA expanded the initiative by creating a companion card game. The development of all ParkinSex materials involved contributions from couples affected by Parkinson’s, a clinical sexologist, healthcare professionals, and the creative support of Havas Lynx New York.

ParkinSex: The Game offers couples impacted by PD a relaxed and engaging way to spend meaningful time together while encouraging intimacy and communication. The card-based activities are designed to inspire conversation, closeness, and shared experiences in a comfortable, pressure-free setting.

Each card highlights a familiar household item — such as a candle, blindfold, or bubble bath — paired with a prompt encouraging couples to connect, for example by setting aside quiet time together. By introducing playful interaction and open communication, the game helps partners work through common relationship barriers and rediscover emotional connection. Instructions and a video tutorial are included, though players are also encouraged to adapt the game and create their own rules.

The focus is simply on enjoying each other’s company and exploring the prompts together. Although the featured items originate from the original ParkinSex kit, most are everyday household objects or can be easily replaced, allowing anyone to participate even without owning the kit itself.

According to Rosa Peña, Senior Vice President of Programs and Services at APDA, Parkinson’s can place significant emotional and physical strain on relationships, often causing romance and intimacy to become secondary concerns. She explained that the lack of supportive resources for couples facing these challenges inspired the creation of both the original kit and the companion card game. APDA hopes these tools will help individuals with PD and their partners reconnect, strengthen their bond, and rediscover intimacy in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful for them.

Click here to order the game. While currently there is no cost attached to the game, quantities are however limited.

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