During interaction with one another and with the therapists, family members often experience frequent fluctuations in their comfort level. There is often significant anxiety. To be most effective, it is critical that therapists attune to and track these fluctuations in family member emotional states. When family members feel therapists are in sync with them, the alliance becomes stronger, and they become more open to trying to connect and relate differently in sessions. When therapists notice family member emotional states, they are better able to foster positive interactions between family members and reduce blame and judgment. The main goal of these workshops is to help therapists understand the concepts of anxiety, negative emotional states, and emotional regulation, and how they show themselves in family relationships. In cases presented for case consultation, Dr. Pollack draws on her training in Emotionally Focused therapy and attachment theory to help therapists look beneath family member behavioral presentations, identify underlying emotional states, and help family members to practice connecting more authentically. Therapists will be asked to reflect on their own emotions and reactions toward family members. Guidance is provided on how this personal awareness can be used to move the therapy forward.

As a result of participating in these clinicals, therapists will be able to:

1. Formulate a systemic, contextual explanation of the problems and use it to guide sessions.
2. Expand the family’s experience of the possible by setting up and facilitating pattern-transforming enactments.
3. Attune to family members for fluctuations in anxiety levels during family interactions that signal a need for more support.
4. Attune to fluctuations in one’s own emotions in sessions and how this shapes interactions with family members
5. Identify emotion-based strategies for establishing an empathic connection between caregivers and their children

This clinical series counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services, but is not currently available for CE credit.

Agenda
8:30am-11:00am: Objectives 1-3
11:00am-11:15am: Break
11:15am-1:00pm: Objectives 4-5

This is an intermediate level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.

In cases presented for consultation in these clinicals, the central focus is on seeing process in family interactions. Based on review of videotapes of family therapy sessions, participants are given the opportunity to recognize patterns, create systemic hypotheses and consider how best to intervene. Attention is given to recognizing common family patterns such as complementarity, triangulation, conflict-detouring, etc. Focus is also given to larger system impacts on the family. Systems theory is explained and systemic interventions, such as enactments and reframing, are demonstrated. Therapists are encouraged to take an active, facilitative role in sessions, seizing upon opportunities to help family members interact in more functional patterns with one another.

Training Topics for 2023-2024
Thinking from the Outside In
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Friday, October 6, 2023
Thursday, November 2, 2023

Assessing from the Outside In
Friday, January 5, 2024
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Thursday, February 1, 2024

Facilitating Change from the Outside In
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Thursday, May 9, 2024

As a result of participating in these clinicals, therapists will be able to:

1. Formulate a systemic, contextual explanation of the problems and share it with the family.
2. Expand the family’s experience of the possible by setting up and facilitating pattern-transforming enactments.
3. Adopt and maintain a stance of respectful curiosity and supportive challenge.
4. Identify and map family and larger system relational patterns that maintain the presenting problems.
5. Locate latent family strengths and resources that can be mobilized to effect positive change.

This clinical series counts toward required annual training hours in Family Based Mental Health Services, but is not currently available for CE credit.

Agenda
8:30am-11:00am: Objectives 1-3
11:00am-11:15am: Break
11:15am-1:00pm: Objectives 4-5

This is an intermediate level course. The target audience is behavioral health professionals working within an Ecosystemic Family Therapy Model. This is a live synchronous distance learning activity conducted in real time, allowing for simultaneous participation of participants and instructors from different locations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our FBMHS Policies & FAQs for additional information regarding the CFBT online learning center, accommodations for disabilities, reporting problems with the course, instructions for viewing webinars, etc.