Training
Registration and Training Information for
Therapeutic Connectedness
A group training offering 20 continuing education credits (details at bottom) for licensed mental health psychotherapists and counselors practicing at all levels of expertise (introductory, intermediate, and advanced).
Facilitated by
Curtis Graf, Ph.D.
(For his qualifications read About Curtis)
Held in historic
Brattleboro, Vermont
November 17-19, 2017
Self-selected Participation Fee
(See Registration below for more details about
the self-selected participation fee.)
Enrollment Limited to 12 Participants
Training Relevance:
The purpose of this group training is to enhance therapeutic connectedness in mental health practitioners so they can better facilitate health and well-being in their clients. Decades of clinical research has established that the most significant contribution mental health practitioners can offer to insure a positive outcome is therapeutic connectedness. And the depth of connection with clients depends on the depth that practitioners are connected to themselves, something that most graduate training programs never address. In fact psychotherapists and counselors are typically educated in techniques of disconnection such as objectivity, detached neutrality, and analytical problem-solving. As useful as techniques can be for clients, their overuse tends to alienate practitioners from their own emotions, bodies, and ability to be fully present and thus to limit the depth that practitioners connect with clients and the extent that they facilitate clients' healthy, connected wholeness.
Brief Description:
This 20-hour training is a unique opportunity to participate in an interactive group process facilitated according to Rogers's approach. The training group is an ideal laboratory for participants to explore their capacity for connectedness and providing successful psychotherapy. The facilitator for the training group is not the expert who teaches group participants connectedness, but instead is someone who provides the space for participants to explore at their own pace their capacity to be genuinely connected in their relationships with other group participants and in their relationships with clients. In addition to facilitating the group process, the trainer may provide presentations, initiate group discussions, and offer guided group exercises depending on the needs and interests of the participants.
Testimonials:
-Alan Majerol, Brooklyn, NY
-Tris Dashti-Gibson, Eliot, ME
-Paul Groleau, Manchester, ME
-Linda Bagshaw, Auburn, NH
-Lisa Gold, Concord, MA
-Patricia Moore, Lincoln, MA
Continuing Education Objectives:
As a result of participating in this training, you will be able to:
- define inner connectedness and its significance for psychotherapists;
- describe how the therapist/client connection promotes positive psychotherapy outcomes;
- delineate how meta-analyses confirm the significance of the therapeutic relationship;
- identify some of the ethical dilemmas when providing psychotherapeutic connectedness.
Training Schedule and Outline:
Friday November 17
11:00 am-1:10 pm - Introductions and Orientation to Group Process
1:10 pm-2:00 pm - Break
2:00 pm-6:20 pm - Experiential Group Process & Inner Connectedness
Saturday November 18
9:00 am-1:20 pm - Therapeutic Connection & Psychotherapy Outcomes
1:20 pm-2:00 pm - Break
2:00 pm-6:20 pm - Meta-analyses & Positive Psychotherapy Outcomes
Sunday November 19
9:00 am-12:10 pm - Ethical Dilemmas & Therapeutic Connectedness
12:10 pm-1:00 pm - Break
1:00 pm-4:10 pm - Closing Experiential Process & Summary
Please email Dr. Graf for further information about the outline of topics for group sessions.
Training Location and Overnight Accommodations:
Main Street Brattleboro where the 1908 street clock stands at the entrance to our Training meeting room, across from the 1871 Brooks Hotel.
The training is held in historical downtown Brattleboro, Vermont, which is located in the heart of New England (2 hours drive from Boston, 3 hours from Manhattan). The nearest major airport is Bradley International near Hartford, Connecticut (about 1 hour drive from Brattleboro). All group meetings are held at Dr. Graf's office (139 Main Street) in the midst of Brattleboro's wide range of dining options, shops, and pubs. Accomodations: The most convenient overnight accommodations are available at the Latchis Hotel (50 Main Street), an art deco landmark structure on the National Register of Historic Places. The Latchis Hotel is an easy 5 minute walk from the training meeting room, includes parking during the 3-day training, and single or double room rates of approximately $120 per night plus tax. You will find accomodations of all types and at a range of prices within 2-3 miles of downtown Brattleboro. Please consult with Curtis for suggestions about overnight accommodations.
Registration:
Self-selected Fee: Given the generosity of everyone who participated in these trainings over the years, I offer my group facilitation as a gift and will be grateful for your support in turn. I ask that you select a participation fee to contribute to the expenses that arise in coordinating the training. In order to determine the fee you donate, please consider your financial resources, incidental costs for the weekend (some have airfares, long drives, overnight accommodations), and the value you place on the experience. Together we will continue to create these unique continuing education trainings. Please note that if you need the 20 CE Credits, they will be an additional $40 cost to be paid at the completion of the training.
To register: Mail a check for your self-selected participation fee which is fully refundable until 7 days prior to the training. Make checks payable to Curtis Graf and mail to PO Box 358, Brattleboro, VT 05302 (credit card payments not accepted) and include the information requested below. The participation fee includes full participation in the training and daily refreshments.
Please send a note with your check that includes the following information:
- Your Name
- License Number for CE Credits
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Day and evening phones
- Will you commute or will you need a hotel room?
- Are you in need of any special accommodations to attend the training? NB. The meeting room is not wheelchair-accessible.
Mail note and check to Curtis Graf, PO Box 358, Brattleboro, VT 05302
Continuing Education Credits:
This event is co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars.
Satisfactory Completion: Participants must have paid tuition fee, signed in, attended the entire seminar, completed an evaluation, and signed out in order to receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available.
Psychologists: R. Cassidy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for this program. 20 CE hours.
Social Workers: R. Cassidy Seminars, ACE provider #1082, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for the program. Approval Period: April 15, 2015-April 15, 2018. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers participating in this course will receive 20 continuing education clock hours.
Counselors/Marriage and Family Therapists: Nearly all state Counselor and MFT boards accept either APA or ASWB approval. Check with your state licensing board to be sure.
Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations please contact our office 10 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board's approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.
A CE Certification link will be provided to you by the presenter after conclusion of the training. You will be required to register, complete the online evaluation, and then your certificate will be available to print. For additional CE information please call R. Cassidy Seminars at 866-992-9399.
If you have a concern or grievance with regard to this training, please contact Curtis Graf at 505-977-6215.