Empathic Listening

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This class is offered as a two-hour introduction to topics as well as a 6-hour in depth workshop.

Literature strongly substantiates that empathy, and the ability to communicate empathy, is crucial to all forms of helping relationships (Reynolds, Phil, & Scott, 2001).  This workshop content will be derived from basic Motivational Interviewing listening skills (Miller & Rollnick, 2013) and is based on William R. Miller's 2018 book, "Listening Well: The Art of Empathic Understanding".  This class will offer clear explanations, specific examples, and practical exercises for developing your skillfulness in empathic listening.

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Vicarious Trauma

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Vicarious trauma, also referred to as secondary trauma, describes the effects of working with traumatized persons that often include symptoms similar to those traumatized (Trippany, Kress, & Wilcoxon, 2004).  Symptoms may include changes in trust, feelings of control, issues of intimacy, esteem needs, safety concerns, and intrusive imagery (Trippany, Kress, & Wilcoxon, 2004).  Workshops offered, as a part of this project, will offer knowledge about and support for those impacted by vicarious trauma.  Increasing knowledge, skills, attitudes about trauma with health care workers as well as others such as family, first responders, and teachers can improve the care and outcomes of those who are effected by trauma (Carly & Driscoll, 2001 and Ko, et al., 2008). 

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

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DBT was developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1990’s to teach and support emotion regulation and distress tolerance for individuals who are suicidal and suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (Koerner & Linehan, 2012).  This method focuses on validating patients and recognizing that they are doing the best they can with what they have been given in life.  The therapist works to recognize that some feelings and behaviors are maladaptive and they work with them to identify alternatives and develop the tools to change.  In a review of studies to date, Koerner and Linehan (2012) have found positive outcomes including increased therapy session attendance, better social adjustment, and reduced drug use in addiction related treatment.  

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Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)

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Mindfulness based interventions (MBI’s) are showing promising results in treating a variety of physical and emotional problems including substance use issues for adults (Tang et al., 2013; Witkiewitz et al., 2014).  One such MBI approach that has been found to be useful  in working with substance use issues is Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) (Bowen, Chawla, & Marlatt, 2011).   MBRP is a treatment for preventing relapse in addictive disorders that integrates mindfulness meditation with standard relapse prevention practices, generally based in various cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) (Bowen, Chawla, & Marlatt, 2011).

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Engaging Others in Treatment

Presented by the founder of the Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT) and based in the concepts of the CRAFT approach, this 2-hour class will introduce ways for working with unmotivated individuals in drug abuse treatment by engaging concerned significant others (Meyers, Miller, Hill, & Tonigan, 1999).  Supported by extensive peer-reviewed research, the CRAFT concepts introduced are evidence based skills that teach families to optimize their impact while avoiding confrontation or detachment (Roozen, de Waart, van der Kroft, 2010).  This class is appropriate for both providers and concerned significant others in learning  how to best support those with substance use issues.

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