Foster Care Training

In this workshop, Karen Fried, Psy.D., LMFT will demonstrate through theory, case studies, and practice how to work with emotions, including and especially anger and aggressive energy in the therapy process. According to the Oaklander Model, children who have experienced trauma often become shut off from and/or block their difficult emotions; and as Dr. Oaklander wrote in her article, “The Many Faces of Anger,” anger is often the least tolerated and most misunderstood emotion. Participants will have access to this article, as well as a blend of theory and experience of how to empower children and adolescents to understand and express their own anger and other strong emotions in an atmosphere of safety, playfulness and fun. This training will teach participants how to apply the theory and technique of the use of projections through drawings and use of clay and how to consider, honor and include children and teens with diverse backgrounds and identities. The Oaklander Model has been used with therapists worldwide in dozens of cultural contexts and is particularly suited to facilitating the expression of emotions to promote a strong sense of self, which is a key goal in the therapeutic process.