“Incorporating a Family Systems Perspective into Work with Adolescents with Compromised Attachment Histories”

Randall O’Toole, LCSW-C

Friday, December 4, 2015
9:30am – 12:30pm

3 category 1 CEU’s awarded

Cost: $50.00

Hearts & Homes for Youth is authorized by MD BSWE for Category I CEU training

RSVP:
vsnogren@heartsandhomes.org

3919 National Drive, Suite 400
Burtonsville, MD 20866
Ph: 301-589-8444
www.heartsandhomes.org

This training will explore concepts from various family therapy perspectives and their usefulness in working with clients with attachment difficulties. Mr. O’Toole is a clinical consultant and adjunct professor in the Masters of Social Work program at Catholic University and George Mason University.

As a foundation for this training, the concept of attachment disorder will be presented along with the various ways our clients can deviate from a healthy attachment pattern and what this looks like in treatment. Emphasis will be placed on how an attachment difficulty presents in a relationship as well as strategies and techniques that practitioners can use to respond which promote healthy attachment behaviors with clients.

Many of the classic family therapy models – to include Bowenian Systems, Structural, and Strategic family therapies – were not developed with attachment disorder in mind per se and tend to focus on systems issues as opposed to individual attachment dynamics. However, concepts from these models can be very useful in understanding how attachment issues may impact a system. A particular Strategic / Structural approach will be explored to teach participants how to promote a more healthy relational experience for teens with attachment difficulties. Additionally, the idea of preserving and promoting a healthy emotional climate in a system will be emphasized in work with clients with attachment difficulties.

This training will be a combination of PowerPoint presentation, interactive discussion, and hands on activities designed to illustrate the concepts.