66th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 19

Afternoon Workshops

2:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Workshop 29

Vanquishing Monsters: Treating Childhood Trauma in the Group Therapy Setting

Presented under the auspices of the AGPA Child & Adolescent SIG

Chairs:                

Craig Haen MA, RDT, CGP, Clinical Director of Adolescent Services, Kids in Crisis, Cos Cob, Connecticut

Maureen Underwood, LCSW, CGP, Director of Clinical Services, The GOALS Center for Families, Morristown, New Jersey

This workshop examines the dynamics and impact of various types of childhood trauma and offers approaches for engaging traumatized children and adolescents within groups. Methods for utilizing the group process to combat isolation while providing connection will be presented, as will techniques for fostering resilience and developing lifelong coping skills.

didactic-experiential-demonstration-sharing of work experiences

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Integrate concrete tools for the engagement of traumatized children in the group therapy medium.

2. Apply techniques for fostering resilience in group members.

3. Discuss the roles of metaphor and creative approaches in trauma treatment.

Course References:

1. Haen, C. (2008). Vanquishing monsters: Drama therapy for treating childhood trauma in the group setting. In C. Malchiodi (Ed), Creative Interventions with Traumatized Children (pp. 225-246). New York: Guilford.

2. Terr, L. (2008). Magical moments of change: How psychotherapy turns kids around. New York: Norton.

3. Underwood, M. (2005). Group interventions for bereavement following traumatic events. In B. Buchele & H. Spitz (Eds.), Group Interventions for Treatment of Psychological Trauma. New York: American Group Psychotherapy Association.