Title:

 Engaging Traumatized Clients who Avoid Attachment, Closeness & Painful Feelings

When:

 April 26th & 27th 2018, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Location:

 Holiday Inn
Calgary Alberta

Type:

 workshop

Practice Area:

 Clinical

Contact Email:

 lucypascal@shaw.ca

Contact Name:

 Lucy Pascal

Contact Organization:

 Talk Therapy Seminars

Contact Phone:

 403-467-7252

Contact Website:

 http://www.talk-therapy.ca/avoidant-clients/

Continuing Competency Code:

Date Posted:

          January 17 2018       

This practical workshop, led by Dr. Robert T. Muller- a leading expert on therapy for Trauma and globally acclaimed author of the psychotherapy bestseller: Trauma & the Avoidant Client, Attachment-Based Strategies for Healing’ – is aimed at building our therapeutic understanding of clinical work with avoidant clients. While there has been considerable research into effects and treatments of trauma, surprisingly little work has been focused on specific intervention strategies to help traumatized clients who are avoidant of attachment. Many clients cope with traumatic intra-familial experiences by minimizing painful feelings, by becoming emotionally distant, and by devaluing interpersonal closeness, intimacy and feelings of vulnerability. With individuals who adopt a self-protective help-rejecting stance, psychotherapy can prove extremely challenging for client and therapist alike. Drawing upon attachment theory and research, and upon a wealth of clinical experience, Dr Muller explains how, as psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists, we can work with such hard-to-treat clients, how we can find points of entry and ways in which we can make contact. Using a relational, psycho-dynamic approach, the workshop discusses and demonstrates strategies for developing the therapeutic relationship, such that we can assist the client to regain a sense of trust in others. We explore therapeutic techniques through which the client is encouraged to take interpersonal risks, to mourn losses, and to face vulnerabilities. Uniquely, Dr. Muller illustrates how the frustrating challenges that arise in the therapeutic relationship can in fact be used as a productive force in the therapeutic process. Throughout the workshop, theory is complemented by case examples and segments from Dr. Muller’s own therapeutic sessions. The workshop focuses on clinical skills that are directly applicable in our own work as therapists.