Foundations: Orienting Families to In-Home, Family-Based Treatment

Thursday, September 26, 2024, Foundations Group C via Zoom
Friday, September 27, 2024, Foundations Groups A & B via Zoom
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to help therapists introduce and explain the ESFT treatment approach to families.Participants will learn key information to share with families about the ESFT model focusing on both the structure of treatment and the focus on relationships. During the workshop, participants will develop an “elevator pitch” that describes the model quickly and simply, as well as an “orienting script” that provides more information for the family about what to expect during treatment. The workshop discusses systemic thinking, language, and actions that are the cornerstones of ESFT intervention. .

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:

List 6 core mechanisms of change
Develop an “elevator pitch” that simply describes the model;
Recognize differences between systemic and individualistic approaches

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

This is a beginner 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.

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Foundations: Establishing & Managing the Therapeutic Alliance

Thursday, October 10, 2024, Foundations Group C via Zoom
Friday, October 11 2024, Foundations Groups A & B via Zoom
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to help lay the foundations for building and evaluating the quality of therapeutic alliances. Participants will learn key information about the therapeutic alliance including the definition as it pertains to ESFT, differentiation from rapport and joining, and common barriers. During the workshop, participants will use a combination of group discussions and videotape analysis to identify clues to the quality of a therapeutic alliance. Attention will also be given to the importance of having equal empathy for all family members and strategies to engage peripheral/absent members of the family system.

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:

Describe the nature of a therapeutic alliance and how it differs from “creating rapport”
Utilize clues to assess the strength or quality of the alliance with family members
Define the elements of Equal Empathy

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

Foundations: Using Motivational Interviewing
To Engage Reluctant Family Members

Thursday, October 31, 2024, Foundations Group C via Zoom
Friday, November 1, 2024, Foundations Groups A & B via Zoom
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop focuses on the challenge of engaging peripheral and reluctant family members in family treatment. One of the core mechanisms of change in ESFT is ensuring that all key family members have been identified and are engaged and participating in the change process. Common reasons that a family member may be reluctant to participate in treatment are identified, along with Motivational Interviewing strategies for addressing these challenges. Resistance is described in terms of the Stages of Change and the relationship interactions between the family member and the ESFT therapist. Motivational Interviewing techniques such as Rolling with Resistance, Developing Discrepancies and Increasing Self-Efficacy are defined, discussed and then role played for skill development.

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:

Define treatment resistance from a relationship lens.
Identify Motivational Interviewing strategies for increasing family member engagement in sessions.
Practice Motivational Interview strategies, such as rolling with resistance, developing discrepancies and increasing self-efficacy.

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

Foundations: Establishing Leadership and Structure
In Family Treatment Sessions

Thursday, January 9, 2024, Foundations Group C via Zoom
Friday, January 10, 2024, Foundations Group A & B via Zoom
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to explore the importance of leadership and structure in family therapy, and the clinician’s role in this process. Participants in this workshop will learn about the benefits of structure and leadership in producing a safe environment for therapy and growth. Strategies for increasing predictability and structure will be discussed including orienting clients to treatment, facilitation, and debriefing/closure of sessions.

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:

Describe two ways that structure promotes a positive therapeutic environment
Develop protocols for opening and closing therapy sessions
Recognize content and process as it relates to facilitating treatment sessions.

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

Foundations: Working with Reactivity & Strong Affect
In Therapy

Thursday, January 23, 2025, Foundations Group C via Zoom
Friday, January 24, 2025, Foundations Groups A & B via Zoom
8:30am-1:00pm

This workshop is designed to assist participants with decreasing emotional intensity to a productive level in sessions. During the workshop, participants will explore common themes, situations, and experiences that may contribute to reactivity in family sessions, as well as strategies to decrease intensity. The workshop will emphasize the clinician’s self-regulation as one of the key tools to successfully decreasing intensity. Karpman’s drama triangle will be introduced and participants will have opportunities to use presentations to identify how to provide therapy in high intensity sessions.

Objectives:

As a result of participating in this workshop, therapists will be able to:

List three reasons why family members may react in therapy sessions
Identify two techniques to create emotional safety in therapy sessions.
Summarize Karpman’s drama triangle

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