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.
- Reframing Resistance: Maybe teens aren’t stubborn, oppositional, or in denial
- Putting the Pieces Together: Teens, trauma, and substance use disorders
- 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.
REFRAMING RESISTANCE: MAYBE TEENS AREN’T STUBBORN, OPPOSITIONAL, OR IN DENIAL
Description coming soon.
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. In this highly interactive presentation, we’ll explore ways trauma exposure and substance use disorders exacerbate each other, increase our understanding of the stuckness this can lead to, and identify practical strategies for helping trauma-exposed teens get unstuck.
Learning Objective 1: Attendees will examine the difference between trauma-informed and trauma-specific care. They will be able identify their own personal scope of competence in this regard and how this shapes their work as an ethical professional helper.
Learning Objective 2: Attendees will identify the three primary longer-term impacts of trauma, especially as they typically present among teens, and the role of substance use in as a maladaptive attempt to manage these impacts.
Learning Objective 3: Attendees will explore the difference between “survivor” and “surviving,” consider ways this distinction impacts their work as a professional helper, and identify practical strategies for helping trauma exposed 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 to be 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 workshop by deepening our understanding of avoidant attachment style, especially among teens. Next, 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 teen clients.
ONE IN SIX: UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING SEXUAL TRAUMA IN ADOLESCENT MALES
One in six males experiences 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 and clinical competencies necessary for any successful trauma therapy and explore a variety of field-tested strategies for working with adolescent male survivors of sexual trauma. Inspired by motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, and trauma-informed approaches, these strategies are sure to increase engagement, improve treatment outcomes, and start the process of healing.
BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS AMONG TEENS
Behavioral addictions 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 can change that.
We’ll start by deepening our understanding of behavioral addictions, with a focus on problematic pornography use – which is increasingly common among teens and counselors often feel is especially challenging to address. Then, we’ll explore the reasons behavioral addictions develop, their co-morbidity with substance use, and field-tested strategies for helping teens recognize problems, resolve ambivalence, and make change.