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ForwardClinical Issues in Couple and Family Therapy Series 2026: The Power of Relationship in Treatment with Adolescents and Families: A Skills-Based Training for Mental Health Professionals
This is a series of professional education events related to the practice of systemic psychotherapy around a theme of facilitating change and post-traumatic growth. Join us for workshops on a variety of topics.
Research shows that across all populations and levels of care, the client-therapist relationship is the strongest predictor of treatment success. Studies also consistently identify the parent-teen relationship as a key protective factor in adolescent mental health. Yet adolescents and young adults, often mistrustful of adults and resistant to change, can be among the most difficult to engage, especially when family involvement is essential.
This training introduces an evidence-based model for building authentic connections with adolescents and young adults while effectively engaging parents in the therapeutic process. Participants will learn a novel framework for teaching and practicing relational skills, grounded in research and supported by actionable micro-skills drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT.) Issues related to confidentiality and boundaries when working with families will be addressed. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies they can apply immediately in any therapeutic setting.
This conference is being held virtually.
Target Audience
This course is intended for mental health practitioners, including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, professional counselors, and other healthcare professionals.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this session, learners should be able to:
- Understand the research supporting the client-therapist relationship as a primary driver of positive treatment outcomes and the parent-teen relationship as a key protective factor contributing to positive mental health.
- Identify common barriers to engaging adolescents, young adults, and their parents in therapy.
- Learn the elements of the CARE model: Compassion, Authenticity, Acceptance, Respect, Reliability, and Regulation to enhance Engagement within therapeutic and family systems.
- Explore real world application through case-based learning, clinical scenarios, and collaborative discussion.
- Take home concrete, ready-to-use strategies for each skill set that can enhance engagement in any treatment approach.
Faculty
Julie Baron, MSW, LCSW-C; Julie Baron and Associates
Robert Marrs, MS, LMFT; Director, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Milind Mehta, MD; Internal Medicine, Aurora Psychiatric Hospital
Kim Jones, APSW; Clinical Assistant, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Linn Visscher, MA, LPC, LMFT; Family Therapy Institute Manager, Aurora Family Service, Inc
Sharon Hempel, LMFT; Psychotherapist, Aurora Behavioral Health Center
Robert Reff, PhD; Psychologist, Aurora BayCare Medical Centerkarin
Karin Suesser, PhD; Psychologist, Aurora Behavioral Health Center
Meghan Bahr, LCSW-AODA; Manager, Employee Assistance Program
Marcella Blomwillis, MA; Manager, Employee Assistance Program
Disclosure
Faculty disclosures are being reviewed and will be presented to the audience in advance of the program.
Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Advocate Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Statements
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 clinical continuing education credits.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Family Therapy Training Institute (FTTI)
The Family Therapy Training Institute (FTTI) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) COAMFTE. FTTI is an approved continuing education entity per Wisconsin Statute MPSW 19.03 1(b).
Available Credit
- 3.00 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Advocate Aurora Health is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers receiving this course receive 3.00 of ethics, clinical, cultural competence, and/or general continuing education credits. - 3.00 AttendanceAttendance Credit
- 3.00 American Psychological Association (APA)Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Price
How to Register
Complete the form above and click "Add to cart."
Click "Checkout" and follow the prompts to complete your order.
For those attending this conference virtually, a link to the meeting will be provided prior to the event
| FEE | |
| Non-Advocate Health/FTTI clinicians | $75.00 |
| FTTI students, FTTI faculty, and FTTI clinical affiliates | Free |
| Advocate Health teammate or independent clinician | Free |
Payable by credit card only
Registration for this activity can only be completed through the CE Learning Platform. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancelation/Refunds/Substitutions
- Cancellations must be in writing (email)
- Registrants cancelling between two weeks and five full business days prior to the first day of the event are "refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee."
- No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than five full business days prior to the event.
- No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows.
- No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund.
For Further Information
Programs will be recorded and posted online for ongoing viewing. Please turn your camera/video off if you do not want your image shared within the recorded video.
If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Sharon Hempel at [email protected].
If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the IPCE Office at [email protected]
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