Thursday, 2/6/20, PA Counseling Services, Lebanon, PA
Thursday, 2/20/20, MCIU Conference Center, Norristown, PA
Friday, 1/17/20, WellSpan Philhaven Conference Center, Mount Gretna, PA
8:30am-3:30pm
Embattled family systems are marked by an intense power-struggle between the caregivers, creating an emotional war zone where pressure is placed on children, extended family, friends, and professionals to choose sides. Avoiding becoming triangulated into the conflict between caregivers while maintaining a balanced therapeutic alliance, is one of the most challenging aspects of treating these families. This workshop provides an eco-systemic framework for understanding the dynamics of these families and for effectively navigating their complicated toxic interpersonal politics. In these families, children are often pawns in their caregivers’ conflicts, leaving them invisible as real people with their own ideas, feelings, and needs. A major thrust of treatment is shifting the caregivers away from their conflict with one another, orienting them toward their children’s emotional needs. This workshop identifies common traps in working with these families and demonstrates strategies for avoiding them. Treatment guidelines are presented for removing the child from a triangulated position and opening avenues for the children to receive more emotional support.
Objectives
As a result of participating in this training, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the characteristics of embattled families
- Recognize and Disrupt triangulating interactions
- Recognize and disrupt caregiver efforts to alienate children
- Identify the impacts of chronic intense caregiver conflict on children
- Describe common traps when working with embattled families
- Describe strategies for structuring sessions to contain conflict and reduce polarized parenting
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.