Complex difficulties require complex solutions
Tracks
Track 5
| Saturday, May 16, 2020 |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Presenter(s)
Ms Elisabeth Shaw
BA(Hons) Masters in Couple & Family Therapy; MMgt (Comm); MProfEthics
Relationships Australia NSW
Complex difficulties require complex solutions
10:30 AM - 5:00 PMAssumed knowledge of attendee
Intermediate (working knowledge of topic area e.g., treated a few cases)
Level of learning
Intermediate
Outline
A growing body of evidence ties human difficulties and symptoms to the relational world in which the symptom bearer is embedded, including family, the wider system/s and the therapeutic system. In addition, evidence now supports the use of family therapy, a relational practice to addressing and resolving such problems (Carr 2018, Carr 2018).
Family intervention can mean many different things in clinical practice, from psychoeducation to family psychotherapy. Clinical psychologists routinely work in settings where it is possible to include and engage family members, but often this is to inform them about the work they are doing with the “symptom bearer” and how they can enhance changes taking place between the patient and the therapist.
This workshop is designed to assist clinicians who are curious about the relationship between people and how it contextualises the presenting problem. It will focus on the clinical interview being an opportunity to move from partners and family members being informed assistants, to a position of engaged participants, maximising the dynamic in the room in service of the identified patient.
This workshop offers both a theoretical and practical overview to the use of systemic approaches to major difficulties that present to clinical psychologists which may initially resolve when working with an individual but then reappear when that person returns to the context which perpetuates it. It will explain a family therapy approach and support this with the use of case studies, practical examples and opportunities to practice new skills. It is for people comfortable and practiced in seeing or relating routinely with partners and family members, but who want to take their work further, and who would like to explore the possibilities of this with colleagues similarly placed.
Family intervention can mean many different things in clinical practice, from psychoeducation to family psychotherapy. Clinical psychologists routinely work in settings where it is possible to include and engage family members, but often this is to inform them about the work they are doing with the “symptom bearer” and how they can enhance changes taking place between the patient and the therapist.
This workshop is designed to assist clinicians who are curious about the relationship between people and how it contextualises the presenting problem. It will focus on the clinical interview being an opportunity to move from partners and family members being informed assistants, to a position of engaged participants, maximising the dynamic in the room in service of the identified patient.
This workshop offers both a theoretical and practical overview to the use of systemic approaches to major difficulties that present to clinical psychologists which may initially resolve when working with an individual but then reappear when that person returns to the context which perpetuates it. It will explain a family therapy approach and support this with the use of case studies, practical examples and opportunities to practice new skills. It is for people comfortable and practiced in seeing or relating routinely with partners and family members, but who want to take their work further, and who would like to explore the possibilities of this with colleagues similarly placed.
Learning outcomes
At the conclusion of this workshop, participants should be able to:
• Understand a systemic approach to managing human difficulties
• Undertake new ways of contextualising individually constructed presenting problems
• Capitalise on the behaviour and attitudes of family members in relation to the presenting problems, and consider how they can better resource the work through active participation
• Extend their toolkit of strategies to utilise in the clinical interview that address challenging dynamics.
• Understand a systemic approach to managing human difficulties
• Undertake new ways of contextualising individually constructed presenting problems
• Capitalise on the behaviour and attitudes of family members in relation to the presenting problems, and consider how they can better resource the work through active participation
• Extend their toolkit of strategies to utilise in the clinical interview that address challenging dynamics.
Biography
Elisabeth is CEO of Relationships Australia NSW, and a clinical and counselling psychologist focusing on couple and family therapy, supervision & training in private practice in Drummoyne, NSW. She has taught in a number of Masters programs in couple and family therapy and professional ethics, and published work in areas of relational ethics, domestic violence, couple and family practice and supervision. She is co editor of Couple Therapy in Australia, Issues Emerging from Practice (2007, Melb.:PsychOz) and co author of Ethical Maturity in the Helping Professions, Making Difficult Life and Work Decisions (2012, Melb.:PsychOz; 2013 JKP:UK), as well as numerous chapters and articles on relational practice, ethics, and supervision. She is past chair of the APS and PACFA Ethics Committees.
Ms Catherine Sanders
Complex difficulties require complex solutions
10:30 AM - 5:00 PMBiography
Catherine is a member of the college of clinical psychology of the APS, Board-approved supervisor, accredited clinical member of the Australian Association of Family Therapy and Co-Director of Bower Place. She wrote and directs the Bower Place Graduate Diploma in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, a nationally accredited two-year competency-based course.
