Course Description

Teen clients who exhibit concerning problem behaviors are often challenging for therapists to not only engage in treatment but also provide effective EMDR therapy. This workshop will describe how protective parts appear hostile and aggressive at home, school and community and how they attempt to torpedo therapeutic treatment through violent or destructive actions to themselves, caregivers, and the therapist. Specialized interventions are required for successful treatment that addresses such disturbing and disruptive symptoms that are encapsulated in dissociation. Participants will learn how to utilize curiosity to engage protective parts with creative interventions and help the internal system collaborate as a team so that the client can desensitize early childhood traumatic memories and caregivers work to repair attachment wounds.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to demonstrate identifying different types and roles of emotional parts, including angry and hostile self-states, and initiate internal communication and cooperation in drawings, interactive cards, sandtray and work towards resolution of early childhood memories.
2. Participants will be able to practice evidence-based family therapy strategies which include recognizing “distancing”/ “contacting” parents, compose reframes negative behaviors of all family members.
3. Participants will be able to describe 2 strategies to work effectively with angry and hostile self-states to resolve traumatic experiences and reduce violent behaviors.

Presenter(s)

Annie Monaco, LCSW, RPT

Annie Monaco, LCSW-R, RPT-S, is co-founder of Playful EMDR, an online hub for training and consultation. Annie travels internationally/US providing specialty trainings on EMDR with children and teens and treating attachment wounds and children using dissociative strategies. Annie has extensive experience with foster care, out of country adoptions, and at-risk teenagers and family therapy. Annie is an EMDRIA approved trainer of EMDR and provides consultation to therapists and agencies. Annie is the co-editor and contributor of chapters for EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room, An Integrated Approach (2020) and contributing chapter for EMDR and Creative Arts Therapies (2022).

Nicole E. Wolasz, LCSW-R

Nicole E. Wolasz, LCSW-R, is a licensed clinical social worker and a faculty member of the Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute. Nicole has been serving youth and families in Western New York since 1997. She specializes in family therapy, grief/loss issues, trauma therapy and juvenile offender work. She was a director of restorative justice programs for teen offenders and their families at a non-profit agency. She provides training and consultation to therapists and agencies throughout WNY on Trauma-Informed Care and how to implement it into daily practice. Additionally, Nicole is an Approved EMDR Consultant and Trainer.