Going deeper: Helping adolescents with histories of trauma become more flexible and compassionate toward themselves and in their relationships

This event will be recorded and made available to all registrants

Everything changes in adolescence. The developmental period brings significant change to the sense of self, physical self, friendships, and community. They can see their childhood and past hurts in ways that can be confusing and make it hard to understand who they are and how they fit in. Adolescence is also a period of social growth, where they extend themselves into friendships, social connections and independence. Today, young people also have to manage this in the context of society changes that bring existential crises. It can be difficult for any of us to cope but think for a moment of how this might all sit on young shoulders. Clinicians see many young people experiencing trauma, either from the past or the present. 

Despite all this, young people can find ways to grow stronger. This workshop will share therapy skills to demonstrate how to help young people grow with flexibility. It uses the framework DNA-v, which is the distillation of cutting-edge acceptance and commitment therapy and contextual behavioural science. This model uses evolutionary science, behavioural science, ACT, compassion research, and positive psychology research to create a new paradigm for promoting vital living. We will use DNA-V for exercises that build compassion, connection, and a deeper sense of self. 

 Learning Objectives

1. Understand the self can become rigid and inflexible
2. Understand how to create flexibility in the self through therapy skills that model openness, compassion and helpful language
3. Help young people understand their histories and build stronger relationship skills
4. Help young people work through challenges in social connections

PRESENTER: DR LOUISE HAYES (AU)

Clinical psychologist, academic, author, trainer and speaker

Louise trains professionals in process, with therapies such as ACT and DNA-V, and their use with young people and adults. She works with clinical settings and schools on the use of acceptance, mindfulness and positive psychology, and regularly provides professionals with supervision and peer support. See her CV here.