I’ve presented over 100 times at international, national, and regional conferences. These shorter presentations are some of the most popular of those. They run about 90 minutes each and can be presented online or in-person. They’re excellent options for keynotes, conference break-outs, staff meetings, or other similar events.
- Putting the Pieces Together: Teens, trauma, and substance use disorders
- The Pandemic Generation
- Engaging Avoidant Teens: An attachment based approach to building therapeutic alliance
- One in Six: Understanding and treating sexual trauma in adolescent males
- Behavioral Addictions In Teens
Workshop descriptions are below.
PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER: TEENS, TRAUMA, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Studies show a strong connection between substance-related problems and trauma exposure, especially in teens. Unfortunately, in many treatment settings this connection goes unnoticed and unaddressed — resulting in endless cycles of maladaptive behaviors, multiple treatment failures, and ever-increasing stuckness.
This highly interactive presentation offers practical, effective steps to change this –by exploring ways trauma exposure and substance use disorders exacerbate each other, increasing our understanding of the stuckness this can lead to, and identifying practical strategies for helping trauma-exposed teens get unstuck.
THE PANDEMIC GENERATION
The COVID-19 pandemic had lasting impacts on the mental health of today’s teens –including increased social anxiety, a dramatic rise in behavioral addictions, and heightened existential dread (Mulkey, Bearer, & Molloy, 2023; World Health Organization, 2022). In addition, it has undoubtedly resulted in developmental impacts (Mulkey, Bearer, & Molloy, 2023; Center for Disease Control, n.d.).
Five years after quarantine, this presentation explores these emerging impacts. In addition, we’ll identify practical ideas for addressing them — including field-tested strategies for exploring existential themes with teens, relevant evidence-based approaches from motivational interviewing, the role of therapeutic alliance, and trauma-informed approaches to help teens move forward.
ENGAGING AVOIDANT TEENS: AN ATTACHMENT BASED APPROACH TO BUILDING THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE
Avoidantly attached teens are often labeled resistant, oppositional, or stubborn. They’re likely to seem highly independent, defensive, or dismissive. They’re also likely to engage in treatment interfering behaviors, be suspicious of empathy, and consider any helper an adversary. Building effective therapeutic alliances with these teens can seem daunting to even the most seasoned counselor, yet is absolutely essential.
We’ll start this presentation by deepening our understanding of avoidant attachment style, especially among teens. Then, we’ll explore practical skills for increasing our trustworthiness, nurturing connectedness, and embodying empathy. Along the way, we’ll consider the role of self-disclosure, identify strategies for maintaining therapeutic presence, and explore other ways to become a much needed secure base for these teens.
ONE IN SIX: UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING SEXUAL TRAUMA IN ADOLESCENT MALES
One in six males will experience some form of sexual trauma, most before entering adulthood. Frequently, these experiences are dismissed, minimized, or ignored — by both the young man and the world in general. This can lead to a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns, such as various mental health challenges, substance-related issues, school failures, and other lifelong challenges.
We’ll start this highly interactive presentation by deepening our knowledge of common trauma impacts, identifying ways the Guy Code exacerbates these impacts, and exploring important considerations specific to addressing sexual trauma in adolescent males. Then, we’ll examine the active ingredients necessary for any successful trauma therapy and explore a variety of field-tested strategies sure to increase engagement, improve treatment outcomes, and start the process of healing.
BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS AMONG TEENS
Behavioral addictions — such as excessive gaming, problematic porn use, and online gambling — have been on the rise since the pandemic, especially among teens. Unfortunately, very few counselors have any training or experience treating them. This presentation will help change that.
We’ll start this highly interactive presentation by deepening our understanding of behavioral addictions. Then, we’ll explore reasons behavioral addictions develop, the role of dopamine, their co-morbidity with substance use, and field-tested strategies for helping teens recognize problems, resolve ambivalence, and make change.