NAMI Ask the Expert: The Future of WRAP with Founder Mary Ellen Copeland OD049

An on-demand video and transcript of the presentation are available here [opens in new tab].

About The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They are an alliance of more than 650 local Affiliates and 49 State organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education to people with mental illness and their loved ones. Through awareness, advocacy and education, NAMI is committed to building stronger communities and a better future for everyone affected by mental illness.

Course Summary

Practice Level: Beginner

This course, based on the Ask the Expert webinar series by NAMI, reviews the origins and future directions of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), including its peer-developed foundation and its role in contemporary recovery-oriented practice. Learners are introduced to WRAP’s core planning elements, including the Wellness Toolbox and Daily Maintenance Plan, and how these components support individualized wellness routines and early identification of stressors and warning signs. The course also addresses WRAP’s values and ethics and emphasizes maintaining fidelity to the evidence-based curriculum when teaching or facilitating WRAP. Finally, the training highlights emerging access pathways and implementation examples across settings, including justice-involved populations and other community contexts. 

The course, with an intended audience of social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors, then translates recovery-oriented, peer-supported self-management planning into practical, ethically grounded strategies clinicians can integrate into assessment, collaborative care planning, crisis prevention workflows, and continuity-of-care support across service settings.

Course Format

This course contains a participant guide, practice test, and on-demand video. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the peer-developed origins and core recovery concepts underlying WRAP.
2. Describe the primary components of WRAP, including the Wellness Toolbox and Daily Maintenance Plan.
3. Distinguish key WRAP values and fidelity considerations when facilitating the evidence-based curriculum. 

Course Syllabus

• Origins and Core Recovery Concepts of WRAP
• WRAP Structure: Wellness Toolbox, Daily Maintenance, and Action Planning
• Values, Ethics, and Fidelity to the Evidence-Based Model
• Implementation and Future Directions 

Current References

Chalker, S., Carter, J., Imai, Y., Depp, C., & Chinman, M. (2025). A recovery-oriented suicide prevention program led by peer specialists for veterans with serious mental illness: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 14, e66182. https://doi.org/10.2196/66182[opens in new tab]

Chien, W. T., Chow, K. M., Gray, R. J., & McMaster, C. W. (2025). Effectiveness of a peer-facilitated, recovery-focused self-illness management program for adults with first-episode psychosis: A randomized controlled trial. European Psychiatry, 68(1), e131. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10093[opens in new tab]

Cook, J. A., Copeland, M. E., Jonikas, J. A., Hamilton, M. M., Razzano, L. A., Floyd, C. B., Hudson, W. B., Macfarlane, R. T., Carter, T. M., & Boyd, S. (2012). Results of a randomized controlled trial of mental illness self-management using Wellness Recovery Action Planning. Psychiatric Services, 63(6), 541–547.https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201100125[opens in new tab]

Copeland, M. E. (2002). Wellness Recovery Action Plan. Peach Press.

Elbogen, E. B., & Verykoukis, N. (2023). Violence and mental illness: Rethinking risk factors and enhancing public safety. New York University Press. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.18574/nyu/9781479801473.001.0001/html[opens in new tab]

Fortuna, K. L., Cui, S., Lebby, S., Xie, H., Bruce, M. L., & Bartels, S. J. (2025). PeerTECH: A randomized controlled trial of a peer-led mobile health intervention to improve medical and psychiatric self-management for persons with serious mental illness. mHealth, 11, 28. https://doi.org/10.21037/mhealth-24-64[opens in new tab]

Frias, C. E., Samarasinghe, N., Cuzco, C., Koorankot, J., de Juan, A., Ali Rudwan, H. M., Rahim, H. F. A., Zabalegui, A., Tulley, I., Al-Harahsheh, S. T., Al-Homaiddi, M. S. S. T., Fendt-Newlin, M., & Campbell, J. (2025). Strategies to support the mental health and well-being of health and care workforce: A rapid review of reviews. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1530287.https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1530287[opens in new tab]

Guerrero, E., Barrios, M., Sampietro, H. M., Aza, A., Guilera, G., & Gómez-Benito, J. (2025). Recovery in mental health: An international Delphi study from a recovery-oriented professional perspective. Social Science & Medicine, 381, 118302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118302[opens in new tab]

Instructors

Dr. Mary Ellen Copeland, Founder and Author of WRAP

Mary Ellen Copeland PhD is a mental health advocate, educator and researcher. She began her work in 1988, before recovery was a word used in reference to mental health issues, interviewing over 100 people to find out how they cope with these issues on a day-to-day basis, how they get well, stay well and move on with their lives. She did this as she searched for answers to her own mental health issues. Her work became the spark that led a group of peers to develop the Wellness Recovery Action Plan. She is the author of numerous user-friendly books and resources on how people can simply and safely overcome their mental health issues and do what they want to with their lives.

Lynn Miller, Director of WRAP, Advocates for Human Potential

Lynn is an Advanced Level WRAP® Facilitator who directs all WRAP initiatives, WRAP develops program implementation guidelines and facilitates program innovations. She works with local agencies and states to incorporate WRAP® into the human services system of service delivery, in correctional facilities and provider agencies military service and more. Lynn successfully developed a Workplace Wellness Initiative in the Pennsylvania State Prison system to advocate for the importance of wellness in the workplace using the evidenced based practice of WRAP. Since that time, she has led workplace wellness initiatives based on the values and ethics of WRAP. Prior to joining AHP, Lynn was the forensic mental health administrator in the PA Department of Corrections and certified peer specialist program director. Lynn is a certified peer specialist and credits WRAP with transforming her life and inspiring her to follow the footsteps of Mary Ellen Copeland to share the WRAP experience.

Lee Horton, Program Development Coordinator, Step By Step

Lee and Dennis Horton are Program Development Coordinators at Step By Step and they are champions of justice who have overcome unimaginable adversity. Wrongfully imprisoned for an astonishing 28 years, their story is one of unwavering faith, hope, and the pursuit of truth. Their exoneration is a testament to their unyielding determination, as well as the tireless efforts of countless advocates and legal professionals who fought to secure their release

Their story is one that touches the hearts of everyone who hears it. For 28 long years, they faced the challenges of life behind bars, all while maintaining their innocence. Their unwavering faith in the justice system, their commitment to proving their innocence, and a truthful conversation with their maternal grandmom, kept them going through the darkest of times.

During their time in prison, Lee and Dennis embarked on a transformative journey that would not only change their own lives, but also positively impact the lives of countless others. They are certified peer support specialists and Advanced Level WRAP Facilitators.

They introduced the transformative WRAP program to Step By Step, extending its benefits to the employees and to the broader community Step By Step serves.
WRAP, with its inclusive approach, is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, stature, or socioeconomic status.  Lee and Dennis are committed to Step By Step and the WRAP program and demonstrate how WRAP embodies the belief that personal wellness and growth are universal aspirations that know no boundaries.

Nicole Errickson, LCSW

Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Georgia. She brings over 19 years experience in the social work field, primarily working in school systems as a school social worker and with the McKinney-Vento grant. Over her career, Nicole has had several opportunities to help develop and execute professional development events. Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Alabama and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 1 general continuing education credits.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.