Join me for a three-part seminar exploring the dynamics of working with adolescents and their parents, framed through the prism of Contemporary Self Psychology and Winnicottian Theory. Whether you are an established therapist specializing in teens and their parents, a newcomer to adolescent psychotherapy, or someone seeking insights into recognizing similar developmental struggles in adults, this course aims to enhance your understanding of the technical and developmental challenges of effectively addressing resistant adolescents and skeptical parents. 
 
Throughout the sessions, we will address topics such as establishing a therapeutic frame with parents and adolescents, navigating common pitfalls that can disrupt an otherwise productive treatment alliance with a teen, and effectively communicating with adolescents about their distress and symptoms. For example, I plan to discuss strategies for handling scenarios where teens refuse to engage or insist that “everything is fine.” I also intend to illustrate interventions for situations such as when teens fall asleep or text during sessions. Moreover, we will explore the developmental significance of adolescents wanting to share movies or videos. 
 
Equally important is the involvement of parents in the treatment process. We will discuss balancing confidentiality with adolescents while maintaining a working alliance with their parents. We will also address challenges from parents who may question how you work with their teens or want a quick fix. 
 
This course introduces a model based on contemporary Self-psychology and Winnicottian theory. Instead of exclusively concentrating on verbal insight and interpreting resistance, we explore the developmental necessity of adolescent defenses. I aim to assist you in decoding symptoms and non-verbal cues, highlighting the importance of incorporating playfulness and humor when addressing typical adolescent resistance and defiance. 

Instructors: Don Schimmel is a psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. He has over 50 years of experience working with adults, children, adolescents, families, and couples. Dr. Schimmel is a senior faculty member of the Seattle Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, teaching seminars in Self Psychology, Relational and Intersubjectivity Theory, The History and legacy of Freud, Ego psychology, and Object Relations Theory. He also leads classes on how to treat children, adolescents, and their parents. 

Learning objectives:

By the conclusion of this course, participants will have developed the following skills: 

• Learn the value of establishing a clear and consistent therapeutic frame.
• Learn how to respond to parents when they tell you their teen refuses to talk to a therapist.
• Learn how to talk with parents about their teen’s developmental needs.
• Learn how to play with adolescent resistance and acquire techniques to do it.
• Describe the difference between the dynamics of play and joking in adolescent psychotherapy.
• Attain a better grasp of how concrete symptoms and actions can stand in for unconscious communication. Acquire techniques for communicating this concept to parents who may hope for a quick fix.
• Learn non-defensive responses to parents asking if you are teaching their teen “coping skills” or “providing them with tools.”
• Learn how to creatively respond to adolescents when they tell you they no longer need therapy.

Fees: $140 for Members and $180 for non-members.
Class Size: Class is limited to a maximum of 10 participants.
Refund Policy: Refunds less a $35 handling fee will be given up until one week before the first class.

This presentation has been approved for a total of 3.75 CE’s for licensed mental health counselors and associates, marriage and family therapists and social workers by the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work.