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The Hardest Client: Working with Motivational Interviewing for De-escalation and Beyond

Behavioral escalation can be an ongoing, challenging issue with clients with mental health and substance use disorders. Developing skills and competence to help de-escalate verbal and behavioral outbursts is essential. It's also important to recognize how providers can contribute to an environment that triggers past trauma responses as well as safe spaces where clients thrive. This workshop will explore crisis intervention as well as post-crisis . Participants will examine themes of countertransference, the impact of trauma, and the use of modalities including motivational interviewing, harm reducation and mindfulness to address client escalation. The importance of self care and the ongoing impact of clients' emotion dysregulation will also be discussed as part of the need for ongoing self-care and support.

 https://nefesh.org/workshops/TheHardest/view

The Hardest Client: Working with Motivational Interviewing for De-escalation and Beyond


Friday, March 7th, 2025   1:45 PM EST -4:45 PM EST
$59.99 Juan Olmedo, LCSW

Behavioral escalation can be an ongoing, challenging issue with clients with mental health and substance use disorders. Developing skills and competence to help de-escalate verbal and behavioral outbursts is essential. It's also important to recognize how providers can contribute to an environment that triggers past trauma responses as well as safe spaces where clients thrive. This workshop will explore crisis intervention as well as post-crisis . Participants will examine themes of countertransference, the impact of trauma, and the use of modalities including motivational interviewing, harm reducation and mindfulness to address client escalation. The importance of self care and the ongoing impact of clients' emotion dysregulation will also be discussed as part of the need for ongoing self-care and support.

About the Presenter

My goal as a therapist is to help people make changes, whether deepening understanding of an issue or cultivating more effective coping skills. My goals as a training & teacher are to collaborate with colleagues to build skills and grow as clinicians. I am licensed in New York and Georgia and work on many issues including LGBTQ communities, anxiety, depression and the impact of trauma.

This workshop Offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

Learning Objectives:

  1. To explore two (2) countertransferential responses that effect responsiveness to crisis escalation
  2. To name at least two (2) factors indication client dysregulation
  3. To identify and implement two (2) strategies to intervene de-escalate client crisis situation

Agenda:

Brainstorm: characteristics of a "difficult" client ( ) 1. What makes a client “difficult” o Brainstorm characteristics o Reframing dysfunctional qualities through a trauma lens o Substance use as a coping strategy o Mood and personality disorders (15 minutes) 2. Provider triggers/countertransference o What is trauma o Processing post-trauma responses o Support and self-care (15 minutes) 3. Stages of the assault cycle o Triggering Phase o Escalation/acceleration Phase o Crisis/Peak Phase o Recovery/De-escalation Phase o Post crisis depression/recovery Phase (30 minutes) 4. Strategies for Provider Responses/Safety Considerations o Triggering Phase o Crisis Phase o Recovery Phase o Post-Crisis Phase (30 minutes) 5. Motivational Interviewing o Four principles o OARS / four essential skills o Active listening (20 minutes) 6. Self-care / Follow up o Mindfulness and meditation o Relaxation strategies o Support network/Supervision (10 minutes) Close

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: introductory
Level of Clinician: beginner
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 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. The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy: Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.