Come join Mary Jo Barrett, MSW, the founder and director of the Center for Contextual Change, for a weekend workshop! 

After 25 years of long term follow up interviews, we have discovered the essential ingredients of all effective trauma treatment.  Our clients are not cookies and so it is clear that not one approach is the solution to the myriad of both vulnerabilities and resources that our clients possess. Change is a natural process that exists organically in nature. Believe it or not, effective treatment for trauma follows these same phases of change. 

What clients tell us is that through all the different types of therapy they experience- the missing piece is the work with their partners, families/significant relationships they are in presently, and/or their  family of origin. Humans are relational beings- why aren’t the relationships considered as part of the healing process? Why isn’t family/relational treatment considered one the quintessential models for complex developmental trauma?

This workshop will present a practical, three-tiered, strength-based contextual model, which simplifies the understanding and treatment of intergenerational trauma and neglect. We will explore the repetitive cycles of trauma and will learn how to harness the natural cycles of change when working with couples and families.The Collaborative Change Model (CCM) is a meta framework that can be applied to all treatment models, it is taking the natural cycle of change and making it conscious and present in the room. The meta framework allows the therapist and clients to collaborate and create change together. We will learn a relational blueprint for trauma work. 

Day One: we will focus on learning the Collaborative Change Model and specific interventions that are useful in any and all of their currents relationships. We explore the essential ingredients of all effective trauma treatment.  And to implement these ingredients in family and couple work. 

Day Two: will focus on participants learning the Family Dialogue Process.  A solution focused, time limited process. Family Dialogue is designed to help trauma survivors and members of their families, reconcile differences as a result of past traumas that are still causing distress in present day life. 

In Stage One of the Collaborative Change Model, therapists create a context for treatment through assessing resources and vulnerabilities, emphasizing safety and the importance of acknowledgment. We will also explore the vulnerabilities and resources of the therapist, through ethically attunement. We will experientially learn how to assess what models will best work for the client and how to integrate techniques and modalities to create change.  Stage one creates the context for every session and all of therapy.  How to design and implement the role of relationships throughout the process of change. In Stage Two, the action mode, the focus is on techniques and interventions to use for particular symptomatic patterns of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings, in relationships  Emphasis will be given to working with couples when one of the partners has a trauma history or to helping an individual client who may have a partner or loved one who has a trauma history. We will also explore Family Therapy with both families of creation and families of origin.  We will explore the integration of different theoretical approaches, such as IFS, EMDR, CBT, DBT, Family Systems etc. Stage Three will bring us to the most effective ways to help clients consolidate their gains and prevent relapse.

As a result of these two days, participants will be able to:

·       apply the Collaborative Change Model to complex trauma cases and to the Family Dialogue Process

·       incorporate psycho-education for and treatment of loved ones of those with trauma history.

·       demonstrate interventions utilized to create a non-traumatic therapeutic environment.

·       articulate the guidelines for effective trauma treatment and for Family Dialogue

·       apply the concepts of ethical attunement to their practice.

·       support themselves in the midst of working with difficult cases.

Mary Jo Barrett, MSW  is the author of Treating Incest: A Multiple Systems Perspective and Treating Complex Trauma: A Relational Blueprint for Collaboration and Change (Psychosocial Stress Series). She is also the Executive Director and co-founder of The Center for Contextual Change, Ltd. and in the past has been on the faculties of University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, The Chicago Center For Family Health, and the Family Institute of Northwestern University. Mary Jo was the Director of Midwest Family Resource and has been working in the field of family violence since 1974. She focuses on the teaching of the Collaborative Change Model, systemic and feminist treatment of women, adult survivors of sexual abuse and trauma, eating disorders, couples therapy, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and compassion fatigue.

About the Conference

This year, the AFTNC conference will be held in San Anselmo and next year, we'll be back at Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma. Attendees will be able to join in person, or via Zoom.  There will be complimentary coffee, snacks, and bagels in the morning and afternoon, and an option to have lunch on site.  Cost for Zoom attendance is discounted due to not needing to have food provided. For more information about the 2023 AFTNC Conference, please email conferencechair@aftnc.org 

Students - As with each conference, we encourage students to join, and schedule a lunch with students and the presenters.  

Schedule -

*For those attending via Zoom, we will be hosting small breakout rooms during lunch to allow for networking with other colleagues!

When: Saturday, May 6th and Sunday, May 7th, 2022, 9am - 5pm

Where:
In Person: San Francisco Theological Seminary, 101 Seminary Rd, San Anselmo,
                   Scott Hall (1st classroom on the right up the small flight of stairs)
Online: Zoom*
*AFTNC is using the San Francisco Theological Seminary's video conferencing services for high quality video, audio, and technical staff to ensure that Zoom runs smoothly, participants are included, can hear the presenter clearly, and can hear live participant questions clearly.  

We understand that plans may change due to mitigating circumstances.  Please contact us at least two days prior to the conference at help@aftnc.com if you would like to change your registration from In Person to Zoom or vice versa.  We will gladly update your registration and you will be charged or refunded the difference in cost, respectively.

Costs:

AFTNC MEMBERS
  In Person*
   Licensed Member - $330 (13 CE is free for members)
   Student/PreLicensed/Early Career - $180
   Retired Clinician - $180
   With Lunch on Site - Add $40
   Zoom
   Licensed Member - $300 (CE is free for members)
   Student/PreLicensed/Early Career - $150
   Retired Clinician - $150
    On Demand Recording Available for Attendees

NON MEMBERS

   In Person*
   Licensed Member - $405
   With 13 CE - Add $20
   Student/PreLicensed/Early Career/Retired - $210
   Retired Clinician - $210
   With Lunch on Site - Add $40
   Zoom
   Licensed Member - $375
   With 13 CE - Add $20
   Student/PreLicensed/Early Career - $175
   Retired Clinician - $175 
   On Demand Recording Available for Attendees

*The option to purchase for one day is also available for those who are interested. 

*all attendees must present proof of current vaccination as well as abide by the state's current laws regarding mask use