October 3rd, 2011
Sand Tray Psychotherapy: An Introductory Experiential Workshop 10/21/2011
Upcoming Continuing Education Workshop for Psychotherapists
Sand Tray Psychotherapy: An Introductory Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Laurie Young, LCSW-C
Friday, October 21st, 2011, 9:00 am -- 3:00 pm
at Laurie Young's home office
Downtown Silver Spring Md.
Workshop cost is $150; 5 category 1 CEUs offered free of charge
Sand Tray Psychotherapy is a "hands on" expressive therapeutic approach that translates a client's personal experience into concrete, 3-dimensional form. Using a tray of sand, water and thousands of miniature figurines, clients represent their inner worlds in tangible, observable form in the sand. Clients symbolically process their thoughts, feelings and memories in a vivid, memorable and highly personal way. In an unconditional, protected space and with the therapist as respectful witness, the client can work through experiences and internal states which may not be accessible through verbal processing alone.
This 6-hour experiential workshop will introduce clinicians to the theory and practice of Sand Tray. Specific topics that will be covered are:
Description of the history, evolution and key clinical concepts of Sand Tray, and how it fits in with Jungian and Play Therapy orientations practiced today;
Step-by-step instructions about how to facilitate a Sand Tray session with children, adolescents and adults--backed up by experiential exercises practiced during the workshop;
Practical suggestions about how to set up a Sand Tray practice space;
Exploration of the sticky ethical questions involving client selection, chart documentation and confidentiality.
About the Presenter: Laurie Young specializes in using play therapy and other expressive therapies to treat children, adolescents , adults and families in crisis. This is her 10th year teaching and supervising sand tray psychotherapy in the greater Washington DC area.
To register: Contact Laurie Young at lyounglcswc@aol.com
October 3rd, 2011
Upcoming Workshop 10-7-2011
Upcoming Workshop for Psychotherapists
Igniting Creative and Clear Thinking:
Using “The Thinking Environment” in Psychotherapy
Donna Duquette, J.D., Mediator
Judith M. Glasser, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
Friday, October 7, 2011 9 AM – 12 PM
at the Kolmac Clinic
1003 Spring St., Silver Spring, MD 20910
This workshop is offered free of charge: 3 Category 1 CEU’s offered for $20
Complementary lunch provided by Kolmac at 12:00 pm
When the human brain is on fire with emotion it is difficult for people to think well. And yet, clients must think clearly when they make important decisions for themselves and their loved ones. In this workshop we will describe work that has been done by British author Nancy Kline in developing environments that foster clear thinking. Several case examples will illustrate how a model of "good thinking" can be integrated into clinical practice. This workshop is designed to help participants:
Learn the 10-components that create a “Thinking Environment”
Experience several aspects of this model through demonstration and interactive exercises during the workshop
Create “incisive questions,” a powerful technique geared towards uncovering underlying assumptions, core beliefs and cognitive distortions that limit a client's capacity to think clearly
Learn current thinking from a neuropsychological point of view as to why the “Thinking Environment” is effective
Participants interested in learning more are encouraged to read Nancy Kline’s books: Time To Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind (1999) and More Time To Think (2009)
About the presenters: Donna Duquette is a family mediator, attorney and teacher (www.mediationoffice.net). She collaborated with Nancy Kline in applying her powerful framework to mediation, as described in Kline’s book More Time to Think. Judith Glasser is a Clinical Psychologist with 28 years of experience as a psychotherapist in private practice (www.judithglasser.com).
To register: Contact Laurie Young at lyounglcswc@aol.com
For directions and parking information, please visit the Kolmac Clinic website at:http://www.kolmac.com/locat-silver-spring.htm
January 25th, 2011
Thirty-Something Group To Form
A new group consisting of members in their late 20s, early 30s will be forming next month. This age population often finds itself at a crossroads, anxiously questioning issues surrounding relationships, career paths, having children, settling down. The mantle of adulthood can feel weighty and oppressive. The group will allow members to support and challenge each other and themselves, in order to gain inner strength and clarity.
More to follow!
October 7th, 2010
Finding the Best Therapist for You
People seek therapy for a variety of reasons – depression, anxiety, relationship problems, divorce, problems with children, death of a loved one, transitional times – to name a few.
But most are seeking the same thing – to restore equilibrium and a sense of well-being. How does one choose the right person to help on this mythic quest?
The process of therapy itself is pretty miraculous. Discussing and expressing deeply personal emotional distress begins the process of brain integration that promotes psychological healing. And every kind of healing process involves a guide, a coach, a leader whose external reference point leads us beyond our habitual way of thinking and being.
So there are subjective and objective factors to consider when choosing our emotional guide. From the first contact with a potential therapist, one should feel heard, understood and connected with – a visceral sense of being met, and feeling received and comfortable with this person. But not too comfortable. One should also feel challenged, piqued to think outside their box, left with a curiosity about themselves. Intrigued. And wanting to talk to this person again.
Objectively, one should note the therapist’s responsiveness to the initial inquiry, the physical and professional setting of their office and their boundaries. Is the office tidy, clean and private? Is the therapist punctual? Do they explain their policies and procedures, especially those regarding payment and confidentiality? Are they relaxed, yet professional? Do they sit a comfortable distance away, neither too close nor too far away? Is the session interruption-free?
What one observes directly and feels emotionally should be predominantly positive in order to schedule another appointment with this therapist. If anything is troublesome, raise it with her and see how she responds. This provides insight about the flexibility and maturity of your potential new therapist. If you have doubts, trust your instincts and try someone else. Finding the best therapist for you involves a collaboration of your heart, mind and spirit leading you to your optimal experience of psychological growth.
September 21st, 2010
Disciplining 6 to 10 Year Olds: What Works and What Doesn't Work
Setting limits with this age group is tricky. Here are some effective techniques to keep them safe, while offering them more opportunities to be independent:
• Define the rules clearly. Parents and children tend to fight over the same issues repeatedly. Establish set rules. For instance, tell your child he can only watch television after he finishes his homework. This will cut down on daily battles and constant negotiations.
• Use consequences as a form of punishment when rules are broken. For example, "You broke the window when you threw your ball against the wall. You need to pay for it with your allowance." A consequence related to misbehavior reinforces the message that this behavior is unacceptable.
• Discuss emotions. If your child is speaking angrily, ask him what is upsetting him. Once he expresses his feelings, he will have less of a need to be aggressive.
• At this stage children continue to benefit from rewards. If she keeps forgetting to make her bed, promise your child a trip to the mall when she accomplishes this task every day for a week.
• Listen to your child's reasoning. You may not go along with your 8-year-old's wish to go to a rock concert, but it is important to give your child the opportunity to plead his case.
• When your child misbehaves, help her to understand her behavior. If she can connect her emotions to her actions, she will gain greater control.
• Grant your child new privileges when it is feasible. If your 10-year-old wants to walk to school by himself, practice the route with him until you feel comfortable letting him go alone.
• Talk to other parents. This will give you some idea of what privileges you should grant your child and how to handle new situations.
• Always end a discussion about a misbehavior by giving your child a positive skill to use. For example, instruct your 7-year-old, "When you want to buy new Yu-Gi-Oh cards, you need to ask me. You must never borrow money from your friend."
• Maintain realistic expectations. Even though your 9-year-old looks like she is 12, she will still whine and cry. Be patient. She needs time to develop.
• Teach your child to exercise independent judgment. Educate your child about smoking, drugs, AIDS, etc. Give him personal examples of how you dealt with bullies or refused to go along with the crowd. Use role-playing to help him practice self-assertion.
6 to 10 Years Old: What Doesn't Work
• Shaming a child. When your 10-year-old is crying because you will not buy her expensive sneakers, refrain from telling her, "You're acting like a baby." This may lead to self-confidence issues because it communicates that the child's emotions are bad, therefore she is flawed. It is important to acknowledge a child's wish and be accepting of his or her emotional reaction even when saying no.
• Cutting off a conversation. If a child asks for a privilege and you are unwilling to discuss it with him, he will feel enraged. Maintaining an open dialogue is important for a healthy relationship between parent and child.
• Using severe punishments. Punishments should fit the crime. If your child misses one homework assignment, taking away television for a week would be extreme. One evening to help him catch up would suffice.
Be Patient and Consistent
It takes children a very long time to learn how to control their impulses, follow the rules and relate appropriately to others. You will need to be patient and repeat the rules over and over again. If you set limits with your child in a consistent, positive way, eventually your child will internalize your expectations.
August 20th, 2010
Upcoming Sand Tray Workshop in Silver Spring: September 17, 2010
Upcoming Continuing Education Workshop for Psychotherapists
Sand Tray Psychotherapy: An Introductory Experiential Workshop
Presenter: Laurie Young, LCSW-C
Friday, September 17, 2010, 9:00 am -- 3:00 pm
at Laurie Young's office
8720 Georgia Ave, Suite 808, Silver Spring Md. 20910
Workshop cost is $150; 6 category 1 CEUs offered free of charge
This workshop meets the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners Continuing Education Ethics requirement
Sand Tray Psychotherapy is a "hands on" expressive therapeutic approach that translates a client's personal experience into concrete, 3-dimensional form. Using a tray of sand, water and thousands of miniature figurines, clients represent their inner worlds in tangible, observable form in the sand. Clients symbolically process their thoughts, feelings and memories in a vivid, memorable and highly personal way. In an unconditional, protected space and with the therapist as respectful witness, the client can work through experiences and internal states which may not be accessible through verbal processing alone.
This 6-hour experiential workshop will introduce clinicians to the theory and practice of Sand Tray.
Specific topics that will be covered are:
Description of the history, evolution and key clinical concepts of Sand Tray, and how it fits in with Jungian and Play Therapy orientations practiced today;
Step-by-step instructions about how to facilitate a Sand Tray session with children, adolescents and adults--backed up by experiential exercises practiced during the workshop;
Practical suggestions about how to set up a Sand Tray practice space;
Exploration of the sticky ethical questions involving client selection, chart documentation and confidentiality.
About the Presenter: Laurie Young specializes in using play therapy and other expressive therapies to treat children, adolescents , adults and families in crisis. This is her 7th year teaching and supervising sand tray psychotherapy in the greater Washington DC area.
To register: Contact Laurie Young at lyounglcswc@aol.com
August 20th, 2010
Upcoming Ethics Workshop for Psychotherapists -- September 13, 2010 in Silver Spring
Upcoming Ethics Workshop for Psychotherapists
TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN:HELPING DIVORCING PARENTS NEGOTIATE PARENTING PLANS
Presenter: Donna Duquette, J.D., Mediator
Monday, September 13, 2010, 9:00 am -- 12:00 pm
at the Kolmac Clinic
1003 Spring St., Silver Spring Md. 20910
Workshop is offered free of charge; 3 Category 1 CEUs offered for $20
This workshop meets the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners Ethics Requirement
This 3-hour presentation will explain how therapists, mediators and parents can work together to design a parenting plan that promotes the health and well-being of the children.
Specific areas that will be covered are:
Explanation of the critical elements of a parenting plan and how the parenting plan fits in the divorce process (including a description of legal terms and common parenting schedules);
Suggestions on how therapists and mediators can "team up" to encourage parents to think clearly about the needs of all family members;
Description of conflict resolution methods which convey compassion yet keep the focus on parental decision-making tasks; and
Exploration of the ethics involved in supporting the self-determination and empowerment of clients when the therapist has concerns about the parents’ decisions.
About the Presenter: Donna Duquette is a family mediator, attorney, and teacher. Her private mediation practice (www.mediationoffice.net) is devoted primarily to mediation for separation and divorce. She is recognized as a Certified Mediator by the Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution. Donna teaches a course in conflict resolution at the University of Maryland, College Park, and has presented workshops to a wide variety of governmental, religious, and educational organizations.
TO REGISTER: Contact Laurie Young at lyounglcswc@aol.com
fOR dIRECTIONS AND PARKING INFORMATION, please visit the Kolmac Clinic website at:
http://www.kolmac.com/locat-silver-spring.htm
February 25th, 2010
Men's Group
MEN'S GROUP
A new group is forming for male clients.
This Group is for YOU if you struggle with social isolation and few male relationships that are meaningful and significant.
Men in our culture have difficulty relating emotionally to other men. Men who were raised in dysfunctional home environments have an even harder time. Children are traumatized by parents who are abusive, absent, checked-out or who expect their sons to be who they need them to be. When sons must attune to their parents needs in order to survive emotionally – instead of the other way around –, they develop in ways that impede adult intimacy.
Group Therapy works because emotional problems that form as a result of inadequate early relationships HEAL in the context of healthy, honest adult relationships. Group provides a context where men experience emotional connection – including anger – with other men, and transform strong impulses into positive change. Group also encourages men to see themselves realistically, rather than through the distorted lens of their childhood trauma.
Men who exhibit symptoms of depression, anxiety, addiction, relational hostility, conflict avoidance, social isolation, rage, and/or feelings of inadequacy, may not understand the source of their discontent. They may believe that their childhoods were normal or not-so-bad, but their symptoms belie this belief. Why? Victims of childhood trauma can sometimes identify obvious instances of emotional or physical abuse. Oftentimes, however, the “abuse” is more subtle. It may have been directed towards another family member or disguised as neglect.
Group therapy is an extremely effective means of healing from childhood trauma.
Please call Elizabeth Perwin at 301-589-5089 for more information.
May 22nd, 2009
Developing Healthy Attachment and Sexuality in Couples Therapy
On July 10, 2009, SSPA therapist Elizabeth Perwin will address a group of local therapists at the Silver Spring Library on the theory and practice of working with couples based on the “Passionate Marriage” approach developed by David Schnarch. Elizabeth has been treating couples in psychotherapy for more than 10 years. She has participated in extensive trainings, workshops and couples work herself. Her insightful and challenging style of couples therapy is described briefly below.
Partners understandably look to each other to satisfy emotional needs, and to provide validation and empathy. While these are often the traits we look for in a “good relationship,” couples can become overly reliant on each other to maintain a personal sense of well being. Cultural notions of love relationships, as well as certain popular styles of couples counseling, can inadvertently reinforce too much closeness—called emotional fusion--while masquerading as healthy attachment.
In fused relationships, couples expect or even demand that their partners soothe and support them. They may feel angry and betrayed if this assurance is not forthcoming in the particular way they want it. Fused relationships inevitably generate high conflict and/or high avoidance. Partners may feel puzzled by the conflict or withdrawal because the support and care they are asking for is so reasonable. Becoming reactive and personalizing their hurt can escalate to a familiar, painful dynamic that never resolves, leaving couples feeling angry, confused and unhappy.
Understanding how this fused system works can lead partners to a more mature and differentiated relationship. Reduced conflict, greater compassion and improved sexuality are typical byproducts of the “Passionate Marriage” approach to couples therapy. This approach can help unlock the couple’s destructive dance by allowing each partner to develop independently while remaining connected to each other. This results in much happier and significantly enriched intimate relationships.
July 25th, 2008
2008-2009 Sand Tray Therapy Training Series
Upcoming in January of 2009 -- Dates and location TBA
THE SAND TRAY PLAY THERAPY SERIES: A SKILL-BUILDING SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Course Instructor: Laurie Young, LCSW-C
What is Sand Tray?
Sand tray is a "hands-on" expressive therapeutic approach that translates personal experience into concrete, three-dimensional form. Using a tray of sand, water, and thousands of miniature figurines, clients create and photograph 3-dimensional scenes in the sand. Without having to depend upon words, clients vividly and symbolically express feelings and conflicts in a tangible, highly personalized way.
Training Program Description
Sessions 1 and 2 are foundation courses and sessions 3 through 6 are electives. Participants must complete the first two sessions prior to signing up for any of the electives (or have permission from the instructor to start mid-series). This training is highly experiential; participants learn by immersing themselves in the experience of creating and witnessing play in the sand. The only way for mental health professionals to learn Sand tray is experience it it in a deeply personal way. However, please note that all experiential exercises are designed to provide professional training (not psychotherapy)...even though past participants report experiences of being deeply moved by their work in the sand.
Foundation Courses
SESSION #1
Introduction to sand tray. Participants will learn about the history and therapeutic value of sand tray play therapy, then build and hold a five-item sand tray. Participants will learn and practice the non-directive approach to conducting a sand tray session. Practical concerns about documentation and how to set up a sandtray space will be covered.
SESSION #2
Introduction to sand tray, part II. Participants will learn how to work with wet sand and will explore the archetypal meaning of earth and water. Working with wet sand , participants will explore a wide range of transference and countertransference reactions. Practicum will include building and holding wet sand trays, distinguishing between the archetypal meaning and idiosyncratic meaning of earth and water, and examining transference and counter transference reactions.
Electives
SESSION #3
Working with children and adolescents. Participants will learn how to integrate sand tray therapy into clinical assessment and treatment of children (ages 5 and up) and their work with adolescents. Participants will learn how to modify the non-directive approach to work with different age groups. Identification of common themes seen in children at different developmental stages will be included. Discussion of the role resistance plays and techniques used to address resistance will be included. Practical concerns of boundary-setting and working with parents will be discussed. Practicum will involve building and holding a directed sociogram sandtray.
SESSION #4
Using the sand tray to work with families. Following a review of family therapy principles, participants will learn how to modify the non-directive approach to work with families. This session will use lecture and case presentation to focus on the unique challenges and opportunities of working with families. Participants will take turns practicing family therapy interventions using sand tray.
SESSION #5
Using sand tray with parents to develop a working alliance. Participants will use the sand tray to collect psychosocial background information, develop a treatment plan, track progress in their child’s treatment and conduct parent education. Emphasis will be placed on addressing parental resistance (both to sand tray and to therapy) and on relationship-building with parents. Workshop participants will practice conceptualizing one of their own cases using sand tray.
SESSION #6
Deepening the sand tray experience by integrating it with art and guided imagery. Participants will learn how to amplify a theme by moving back and forth between sand tray, guided imagery and art. Emphasis will be placed on identifying archetypes and developing metaphors. The experiential practicum will integrate the use of guided imagery, art and sand tray to follow an archetype or metaphor.
About the Faculty
Ms. Young's particular expertise is in providing practical, solution-oriented psychotherapy for children, teenagers, adults and families in crisis. Besides maintaining an active psychotherapy practice, Ms. Young also provides clinical training to other therapists through monthly workshops and clinical supervision. This is her fourth year teaching the Silver Spring Sandtray Series.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, E-MAIL LAURIE YOUNG AT lyounglcswc@aol.com or call (301) 537-6363.
July 10th, 2007
Using EMDR to Treat PTSD
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro nearly two decades ago. Since then nearly 100 case studies and at least 20 formal randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of EMDR versus other treatments to treat post-traummatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result of this research, in 2004, the American Psychiatric Association gave EMDR the same status as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy--another well established therapy modality-- as an effective treatment of both acute and chronic symptoms of PTSD. One reason that EMDR remains the treatment of choice is that it usually requires fewer sessions than CBT and other behavior-based therapies for PTSD sufferers to experience relief and resolution of symptoms.
At SSPA, all of our therapists are trained in EMDR, not only to treat PTSD but also to provide relief for other anxiety disorders, depression, grief and to enhance performance in such areas as sports and public speaking. EMDR treatment begins with a thorough assessment of symptoms and memories surrounding a trauma or stressful life event and then targets specific areas to work on using a particular EMDR protocol developed by Francine Shapiro and the EMDR Institute in California. Sometimes EMDR just helps clients to relax using creative visualizations and guided imagery. Over the years, many of our clients have gotten significant benefits from using EMDR, which provides further evidence for us that it is now an important and ground-breaking therapy.
Kathleen Smith
May 21st, 2007
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder can be severe food restriction (anorexia), bingeing and purging (bulimia), consistent bingeing or overeating, or take a subtler form: "emotional eating", which means eating that is driven by emotions, not hunger.
Typically the person with an eating disorder feels very ashamed and attempts to keep the behavior a secret. A sense of shame about one's body; a preoccupation with food, weight, and appearance; and a feeling of being out of control are usually present also.
The goal in psychotherapy is two-fold, and happens simultaneously. One goal is to understand the (psychological) purposes that the behavior serves. As awareness of these underlying reasons grows, different ways can be found to meet those emotional needs. The other goal is to learn to manage the behavior, until it is no longer "needed".
In addition to psychotherapy, medication can be a useful part of the process
Catherine Lowry, LCSW-C
