Therapy

Dennis Ortman, PhD

In this Therapeutic Mindfulness Course and training, Dr. Ortman describes how conventional talk-therapy can be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of concepts of Mindfulness. Through using both research summaries and experiential exercises, Dr. Ortman demonstrates techniques such as meditation, present-moment awareness, and acceptance and shows how this will improve therapy and both short- and long-term treatment outcomes. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the concept of Mindfulness.
2. Compare and contrast conventional talk-therapy approaches with mindful approaches.
3. Explain how 'acceptance' is the goal of 'mindfulness'.

John Bradshaw, MA,MSP,THA

In this Therapy Course John Bradshaw will use the material from his new book Reclaiming Virtue to show you how to develop and enrich your moral intelligence and help your clients do the same. Based on the latest findings of Neuroscience, you will learn how your mind can change your brain. You will learn how to develop your emotions and use them for precise decision making, how to be free of binding toxic shame, and how to develop your imagination to help you find new and better alternatives in this original and cutting edge work. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the history of moral development from a philosophical perspective.
2. Demonstrate three techniques to use your mind to change your brain.

Robert Ackerman, PhD

In this Therapy Course and training discover how self-defeating behaviors may have once helped a person survive a crisis, but now cause harm by limiting the client from the potential to develop healthy behaviors. Some examples of self-defeating behaviors include procrastination, defensiveness, perfectionism, under-achievement, and so on. Using a cognitive behavioral approach, Dr. Ackerman will show you how you can help your clients reduce their self-defeating behaviors and replace them with life enhancing skills. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how self-defeating behaviors are developed and maintained.
2. List three techniques used to replace self-defeating behaviors with life-fulfilling ones.
3. Apply self-defeating theory to clients who have survived crisis situations or dysfunctional families.

Laurel Parnell, PhD

In this EMDR Course and training Dr. Parnell describes EMDR's discovery and development, EMDR's theoretical model, the structure of an EMDR processing session, and presents cases from her books. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful and effective therapy for treating trauma-based problems. This revolutionary therapy has helped thousands of people recover from such traumas as war, accidents, assaults, disasters and childhood abuse. In addition to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, EMDR is also used to treat the psychological effects of smaller traumas that manifest as symptoms of depression, anxiety, phobias, low self-esteem, creativity blocks and relationship difficulties. There are more controlled research studies on EMDR for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder than any other therapy-most with positive results. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss how large and small traumas affect the body and mind.
2. Assess clients for potential EMDR treatment effectiveness.
3. Describe the structure of an EMDR session.

Bill O'Hanlon, MS, LMFT

Positive Psychology has swept through the therapy field and popular culture, but this research-based model doesn’t readily translate into practical therapeutic moves. In this Therapy Course and training, Bill O’Hanlon, perennially creative and psychotically optimistic, will show how the research on happiness and the good life can be implemented within the therapy room. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss the latest research on happiness and life satisfaction.
2. Create practical therapeutic interventions based on this research.

Clifton Mitchell, PhD

You will rethink your definition of resistance after listening to Dr Mitchell. He asks the question, “Is resistance in your client or you?� In this Psychological Resistance Course you will learn advanced approaches for managing resistance when it is encountered in the therapeutic process. The focus is on the most common errors therapists make that foster resistance and techniques to overcome these errors. Dr Mitchell walks you through how to break these non-productive critical therapeutic exchanges. He reviews specific tools to help in this change: slowing down during sessions, learning how to become naïve and puzzled to get the information you need, how to deal with “Yes, but…� responses and how to plant seeds of positive behavior. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe common errors therapists make that promote client resistance.
2. Use methods for managing “Yes, but…� responses from clients.
3. List 4 resistance-management tools.

Donna Markus, PHD

In this Therapy Course, Dr. Markus will explore how an addict’s early attachment experiences may be driving (or derailing) their treatment progress. Neuroscience supports that insecure attachment to the primary caregiver can cause ‘attachment breaches’ on the brain. Those who have insecure attachment styles can often have difficulty establishing positive, supportive relationships that are critical for treatment success and relapse prevention. Having a better understanding of your client’s attachment style can help you anticipate treatment challenges and identify your client’s potential difficulties with affect regulation. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the 4 primary attachment styles.
2. Explain how attachment organization is related to affect regulation.
3. Explain how attachment organization is related to social support.

Clifton Mitchell, PhD

You will re-think your definition of clinical resistance after taking this Psychological Resistance Course with Dr. Mitchell. Defining therapeutic resistance in a new way Dr Mitchell teaches techniques for moving through critical junctures in the therapeutic dialogue. Specifically, addressed are the perils of over questioning, managing “I don’t know� responses, responding to challenges, silence and defining goal setting with a new approach. Dr Mitchell teaches how to ask therapeutic questions using specific proven technique. All therapeutic junctures are discussed from the perspective of minimizing resistance and altering the dialogue style to maximize the potential for movement. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the pitfalls of over-questioning when working with resistant clients and
2. Utilize alternative dialogue styles to avoid question laden dialogue and reduce resistance.
3. Describe approaches for managing direct challenges from clients.

Laurel Parnell, PhD

In this EMDR Course, suitable for anyone but especially geared to mental health, medical and education professionals, you will learn how to begin using Resource Tapping—a powerful, highly effective Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-related technique that harnesses the power of imagery and bilateral body stimulation to achieve deep healing. Through lecture and experiential exercises, Dr. Laurel Parnell, a world-renowned, pioneering EMDR teacher, will show us how to use the basic, breakthrough tools of this clinically recognized system, which has demonstrated the capacity to build resilience, aid in healing, and calm the body on a deep physiological level. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Utilize inner resources for stress-relief and healing.
2. Describe the basic principles of Resource Tapping.
3. List the four most commonly used resources accessed with 'tapping'.

Bill O'Hanlon, MS, LMFT

Recent years have seen a shift in focus from what is wrong with people (diagnosis of deficits and damage) to what is right with people (strengths, competence and abilities). This approach has been validated by recent research findings about the plasticity of the brain and on what makes us happy and gives our lives meaning. Translating this research into practical interventions isn't always obvious.

In this inspiring and informative Therapy Course, Bill O'Hanlon helps the therapist translate the latest research findings into practical interventions for their patients and provides tools to more rapidly join with clients and help them change. It can make your clinical work easier, more cooperative and more joyful. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. List three findings from Positive Psychology that can help make cinical work more effective.
2. Use five methods of dissolving resistance.

Colin Ross, MD

Trauma Model Therapy involves a mix of cognitive-behavioral and expressive therapies. It is suitable for a wide range of Axis I and II disorders and addictions, particularly when extensive co-morbidity is present. In this Trauma Course Dr. Ross will present an overview of the model and discuss it's practical application. Treatment strategies and techniques will be illustrated through case examples. This is an intermediate course intended for practicing clinicians.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the scientific structure of the Trauma Model.
2. Explain the two core principles of Trauma Model Therapy.
3. Describe treatment strategies used in Trauma Model Therapy and provide examples.