February 12, 2020, Carolina Outreach, Durham, North Carolina
February 13, 2020, Alliance Behavioral Health, Durham, North Carolina
February 14, 2020, Alliance Behavioral Health, Durham, North Carolina
8:30am-12:30pm
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:
- Explain ESFT assumptions about what causes and maintains SED
- Describe the characteristics of embattled families
- Recognize triangulating interactions
- Describe treatment goals when working with embattled families
Frequently Asked Questions
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