EMDR Protocol for Use with Families and Children Who Resist Contact with a Parent
Course:EMDR Protocol for Use with Families and Children Who Resist Contact with a Parent
Instructor: Stacey White Kinney, M.S., LMFT
Approved for 2.0 Hours of CE Credit
Fulfills License and EMDR Requirements
High Resolution Video
Program Description:
Children who resist contact with a parent present with many challenges for families and clinicians. When there are no immediate safety issues, these children present with high anxiety, distorted perceptions, and maladaptive, avoidant behaviors that cut them off from a parent both physically and emotionally. The trauma of separation, divorce, divided loyalties, guilt, and shame all factor into the child’s alignment with one parent, with emotional cutoff with the other.
The goal of a successful reunification program involves establishing healthy, balanced relationships with both parents. EMDR can be effectively used with high conflict families, including the challenging client who avoids or refuses contact with a parent, the aligned parent and the rejected parent. This intermediate workshop is for EMDR clinicians who want to expand their knowledge of EMDR and work with families involved in high conflict divorce when a child resists or refuses contact with a parent. The workshop introduces the Resist Refuse Protocol, integrating the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model into treatment of this difficult population. By treating the trauma, processing distorted perceptions and faulty belief systems, family members can move forward to reestablish more balanced relationships. The workshop will apply the Resist Refuse Protocol to EMD, EMDr and EMDR and demonstrate how these interventions can be used in conjunction with an existing case plan. In addition, a review of guidelines and research of the effectiveness of EMDR in trauma treatment, as well as practical applications of EMDR with high conflict divorce families will be explored.
Often this dynamic presents within a forensic setting, requiring additional work by the clinician for case management and treatment. The workshop will familiarize the clinician with ethical considerations and guidelines for treatment planning, court testimony, and cooperating with attorneys and judicial officers.
Goals & Objectives:
- Summarize the AIP model.
- Recognize the therapist’s role working with high conflict divorce families.
- Describe the treatment of trauma in high conflict divorce.
- Use the Resist Refuse Protocol for children and adults.
- Apply EMDR with family members involved in high conflict divorce.
- Create a plan for using EMDR in a forensic setting.