Counseling Difficult or Extraordinary Individuals to Achieve Positive Therapeutic Outcomes

Successful therapeutic outcomes often depend on the quality of the relationship between the clinician and the individual in therapy, but what if the person being counseled is difficult to work with? "Difficult" individuals may exhibit disruptive behaviors such as anger, aggression, and grandiosity or they may be immersed in helplessness and apathy. It is not uncommon for clinicians to struggle with providing effective treatment for such individuals.

In this two-hour continuing education web conference, Dr. Jeff Gardere will share clinical strategies that help prevent the therapeutic relationship from breaking down and causing damage to the therapist and the person in therapy. Attendees will learn to identify personality traits and behaviors that are considered to be oppositional, angry, or threatening and how they are symptoms of deeper problems that are often mired in vulnerability.

Attendees will learn to reframe the concept of “difficult” to see the individual in therapy as extraordinary. Dr. Gardere will describe how he identifies these extraordinary individuals as opportunities to learn more about transference, countertransference, and professionalism. He will help attendees understand his use of unconditional positive regard to address DSM-5 diagnoses. Dr. Gardere will also explain the strategies he has developed to increase cooperation in therapy and promote better client outcomes.

This introductory instructional level web conference is designed to help clinicians:

1. Recognize the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to the formation of the difficult or extraordinary individual.
2. Demonstrate skills for creating rapport between difficult or extraordinary individuals in therapy and their mental healthcare providers.
3. Develop strategies to address transference and countertransference.
4. Describe the characteristics and demographics that contribute to difficult and extraordinary individuals in therapy.
5. Apply strategies for repairing and maintaining appropriate clinical relationships.

For additional information about this event or our CE grievance procedures, please contact us here.

Event Reviews from Members

One of my favorite CEU events! Such an important topic to address. Great presentation and loved the talk on boundaries and their importance. – Kati Morton, LMFT ​

This presentation was valuable to me on a number of levels. It helped me realize that I'm not the only therapist who attracts challenging clients. It also offered valuable tips to strengthen the client-counselor relationship and spur on progress.
- Michael Leffingwell, LPC, MA 

The presenter does a good job of maintaining interest in the topic, and the information is useful and timely. - Celeste Hope Nettles, MS, MBS, LPC

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Two CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

GoodTherapy.org has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6380. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GoodTherapy.org is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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