These full day workshops explore a variety of field-tested and evidence-based approaches for providing teens developmentally appropriate, effective, and transformative therapy. Packed with practical strategies, stories from the field, and a bit of inspiration, the workshops explore topics such as fostering therapeutic alliance, facilitating change, and more.
Offerings include:
- Treating Trauma in Teens: Core Concepts, Meaningful Metaphors, and Field-Tested Strategies
- Behind the Mask: Trauma and Depression in Adolescent Males
- Is It a Problem? Substance Use and Behavioral Addictions Among Teens
Descriptions can be found below. These trainings provide 6 general CEUs each and are typically scheduled 9:00am to 4:30pm, with one hour-long lunch break and two 15-minute break. For more details or to schedule a presentation, contact me today.
TREATING TRAUMA IN TEENS: CORE CONCEPTS, MEANINGFUL METAPHORS, AND FIELD-TESTED STRATEGIES
Two-thirds of all Americans experience some form of trauma by age 16. If left untreated, this often leads to a variety of emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns — including increased mental health challenges, substance-related issues, school failures, and more.
In the first half of this highly interactive workshop, we’ll examine useful ways to conceptualize trauma among teens, identify the active ingredients for successful trauma therapy, and explore core clinical strategies for understanding and treating trauma in teens. Inspired by motivational interviewing, narrative therapy and the latest trauma research, these strategies are sure to increase engagement and improve treatment outcomes.
Teens impacted by trauma are doing the best they can with limited resources and skills to manage hyper-vigilance, intrusive thoughts, and other trauma impacts. We can think of this as Surviving Mode. In the second half of this workshop, we’ll look at proven strategies to help teens move beyond Surviving Mode — including ideas for widening their windows of tolerance, engaging in trauma-informed mindfulness, and addressing even the most intrusive thoughts.
BEHIND THE MASK: TRAUMA AND DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENT MALES
Trauma exposure and depression are common among adolescent males. Unfortunately, these young men frequently go undiagnosed and untreated, often because they don’t exhibit typical diagnostic criteria. Instead — after a lifetime being told boys don’t cry — they appear angry, oppositional, self-destructive, or simply numb. They hide behind these masks, pushing away the world and hoping nobody notices they’re actually sad, lonely, vulnerable boys.
In this workshop, we’ll develop the knowledge and skills to look behind those masks and effectively address the trauma and depression that hides underneath. We’ll do this by the increasing our understanding of the Guy Code, exploring the Stuckness that often results, and identifying field-tested strategies for helping these young men start moving forward. Since this often includes Big Questions about death, meaninglessness, and isolation, we’ll also consider strategies for exploring the existential themes often hidden behind their masks.
IS IT A PROBLEM? SUBSTANCE USE AND BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS AMONG TEENS
Most mental health counselors have limited training regarding substance use and behavioral addictions, especially when it comes understanding or addressing these issues among teens. However, teens with these concerns show up in our offices all the time! In fact, up to 40% of teens in mental health counseling have a co-occurring substance use disorder and behavioral addictions have dramatically increased since the pandemic.
When teens don’t get effective treatment for these concerns, they often become stuck in endless cycles of maladaptive behaviors, experiencing multiple treatment failures and frustrating even the most dedicated professional helpers. This presentation will help can change these outcomes. We’ll start by deepening our understanding of substance use and behavioral addiction. Next, we’ll explore the connections between mental health concerns and addictive behaviors, with a special focus on the role of trauma. Then, we’ll identify practical skills for helping teens recognize problems, resolve ambivalence, and get unstuck.