Engaging the Traumatized Client who Avoids Closeness and Vulnerability

Much has been written on the treatment of intra-familial trauma. Yet few of these writings focus on specific intervention strategies to help the traumatized individual experiencing attachment avoidance. Many people in therapy are attempting to cope with traumatic attachment experiences by becoming emotionally distant, minimizing painful feelings, and by devaluing intimacy, closeness, and vulnerability. When individuals adopt a help-rejecting, self-protective stance, psychotherapy can become a real challenge for both client and therapist.

In this presentation, Dr. Muller will introduce therapeutic techniques he has developed specifically for this population, which are detailed in his new book, Trauma and the Avoidant Client: Attachment-Based Strategies for Healing.

Drawing on attachment theory and research and upon a wealth of clinical experience, Dr. Muller will show how people in therapy how to work with individuals who may be more difficult to treat and how to find points of entry and make contact. Using a relational, psychodynamic approach, he will consider strategies to develop the therapeutic relationship in order to help the client regain a sense of trust in others. This workshop will be an introduction to the issues focused on in Dr. Muller’s book. Theory is complemented by case examples.

This web conference is designed to help clinicians:

1. Recognize characteristics of avoidant attachment;
2. Productively use trauma-related symptoms;
3. Maximize client engagement throughout the therapy process;
4. Work with affect and the therapy relationship.

If you have any questions about this web conference or would like more information, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

1.5 CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety. GoodTherapy.org is also 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 is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. ASWB Approval Period: March 30, 2016 through March 30, 2019. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers participating in this course will receive two clinical continuing education clock hours. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content and is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

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.

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 course.

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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