Description:

Research shows that time spent in nature significantly reduces symptoms of stress, depression, and ADHD, making ecotherapy a valuable addition to any therapeutic practice. This interactive workshop introduces therapists to the principles and practices of ecotherapy, a therapeutic approach that taps into the healing power of nature. Participants will explore how ecotherapy can be integrated into clinical practice by drawing from key resources like Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind by Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquist, and Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy and Molly Brown. The workshop will begin with a grounding exercise and include a land acknowledgment to honor Indigenous wisdom and the lands we occupy. Participants will also reflect on the natural environments they grew up with, exploring how these connections shape our relationships with nature today.

The workshop will cover important topics such as the core concepts of ecotherapy, ethical and cultural considerations, and how to assess clients for readiness for nature-based interventions. Therapists will learn several ecotherapy interventions that can be applied in various settings, from urban offices to natural environments. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with both a theoretical understanding and practical tools to begin integrating nature-inspired therapy into their work.

Objectives:

1. Understand the Core Concepts of Ecotherapy

Participants will be able to define ecotherapy and explain how nature can be used as a therapeutic tool to improve mental health outcomes.

2. Explore Ethical and Cultural Considerations

Participants will learn how to conduct land acknowledgments and explore the ethical and cultural implications of incorporating nature into therapeutic practice

3. Learn and Apply Three Ecotherapy Interventions

Participants will gain practical knowledge of at least three ecotherapy interventions and understand how to adapt them to various therapeutic settings.

4. Assess Client Suitability for Ecotherapy

Participants will develop skills in assessing a client’s readiness for nature-based therapy.

Trainer Bio:

Madelyn Steen, MS, LMFT

Madelyn Steen graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a Bachelor’s of Psychology and English. Then she completed her Masters in Science, Counseling with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University-Long Beach. She is trained in EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, and Ecotherapy.

Madelyn is originally from Minnesota, but has lived in California, and has spent time traveling all over the world. Madelyn is a queer therapist and active in social justice issues, as she believes therapy extends beyond the therapy room and into systems surrounding us.

Description:

While we experience grief and loss due to deaths or other circumstances across our lifespans, certain experiences are more common as we age. This presentation will focus on common grief and loss experiences for middle-age through older adults, ranging from caregiving, retirement, loss of parents and friends, and more. Strategies for navigating grief with adult/older adult clients will be covered, as well as personal exploration into our relationship to grief and loss.

Most of us received next to no training in our graduate school programs regarding aging or grief. Grief is experienced across the lifespan, so it is imperative that clinicians have at least a basic understanding of contemporary grief models. Also given that grief is a universal human experience, it is important to reflect on our own grieving experiences and how that shapes the work that we do. This presentation aims to accomplish both!

Objectives: 

1. Describe common life experiences of grief and loss for middle age to older adults.

2. Discuss 2-3 contemporary grief models to help guide conversations with grieving adults.

3. Build empathy, compassion, and understanding for our older adult clients/patients who are experiencing grief and loss.

Trainer Bio: Tamara Statz, MA, LMFT, FT

Tamara L. Statz, MA, LMFT, FT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota. For the past 11 years, Tamara has provided clinical services to adult individuals, couples, families, and groups with a focus on aging, chronic and terminal illness, grief and loss, caregiving, and dementia. Tamara holds a Fellow in Thanatology designation from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) which signifies expertise in death, dying, and bereavement. Tamara is adjunct faculty at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in the masters in Counseling and Psychological Services Program. She is also a board-approved clinical supervisor for individuals seeking independent clinical licensure in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is passionate about supporting individuals as they age, caregivers as they support their family members, and students and new professionals entering the field of mental health care.

Description:

Havening Techniques is a new cutting-edge, psychosensory modality that consists of seven core protocols designed to process and reframe past trauma. These protocols also support the cultivation of desired emotional states and the enhancement of performance, helping clients achieve emotional clarity and resilience. Havening Techniques, developed by two physicians and grounded in neuroscience, is a highly adaptable therapeutic approach. It is particularly effective in settings where time with clients is limited due to situational or logistical constraints. Unlike many other modalities, Havening requires minimal preparation or resourcing prior to its use and does not typically result in significant emotional or physical distress following a session. These factors make it an exceptionally powerful tool for providing rapid and effective emotional support, even in brief therapeutic encounters.

Through gentle touch combined with specific cognitive exercises, Havening helps to alter the brain's response to trauma and emotional triggers, offering clients a sense of relief and empowerment. For marriage and family therapists, Havening can be integrated into sessions to address trauma, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation in both individual and relational contexts. In a family or couples therapy setting, Havening Techniques can be used to create a safe space for clients to process unresolved emotional pain that may be affecting their relationships with the use of therapeutic touch.

This training will give attendees a solid understanding of Havening Techniques, including the science behind it and how to use Havening Touch. Attendees will learn skills to use Havening in different therapy settings, which can improve their work with individuals, couples, and families. They will also see how Havening can support other therapy methods, helping clients with trauma, emotional issues, and relationship challenges.

Objectives:

1. Understand the Neuroscience Behind Havening
2. Learn about The Havening Touch
3. Integrate Havening Techniques in Diverse Therapeutic Settings for Individuals, Couples, and Families
4. Learn how to support other treatment modalities with Havening Techniques

Trainer Bios:

Nicole Carreon, LMFT

Nicole Carreon is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, having earned her degree from St. Mary's University. She is skilled in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing® (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. As a board-approved supervisor, Nicole provides practicum and post-degree supervision to LMFTs, fostering the professional growth of emerging therapists. Her dedication to staying informed about the latest developments in her field ensures that she offers effective, evidence-based interventions. Nicole is a Certified Havening Techniques Trainer who conducts training sessions worldwide for those interested in obtaining certification in this innovative therapeutic modality.

Holli Engelhart, LCSW

Holli Englehart is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas–College of St. Catherine School of Social Work in St. Paul, MN, in 2009. Holli has specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and is certified in Havening Techniques®. Holli also serves as a MN Board of Social Work Supervisor. Holli is a Certified Havening Techniques Trainer who offers training programs internationally for individuals seeking certification in this therapeutic modality. Upon discovering Havening, she immediately recognized its potential to revolutionize treatment. This approach has been transformative not only for her as a clinician but also for individuals struggling with the impacts of overwhelming negative experiences. The science behind Havening shows its capacity to create profound changes in the brain, helping individuals break free from years of emotional distress.

Description: 

Clinical supervision plays a crucial role in preventing burnout among new clinicians by providing a supportive environment where they can reflect on their work, share experiences, and develop coping strategies. Supervision offers a safe space for clinicians to discuss their challenges and stressors, which can help alleviate feelings of isolation. Supervisors can also help new clinicians develop effective coping mechanisms and resilience-building strategies, which are essential for managing the emotional demands of clinical work. Constructive feedback and guidance from supervisors can help new clinicians improve their skills and confidence, reducing the likelihood of burnout. This presentation will cover these topics as well as how to facilitate a healthy work-life balance and tips to promote professional growth.

Objectives:

1. Workshop participants will complete a self-assessment of their current strengths and growth areas as a clinical supervisor.

2. Participants will better understand the factors that contribute to burnout for their supervisees.

3. Participants will learn practical tips and strategies to recognize burnout in the people they supervise, and in themselves as supervisors.

4. Workshop participants will leave with a renewed enthusiasm for supervision.

Trainer Bio:

Mark Wilde, LMFT, AAMFT Board Approved Supervisor

Mark Wilde is approved as a supervisor with both the MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and the MN Board of Behavioral Health. He is approved as a supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Mark has provided supervision in a variety of settings, including adolescent day treatment, in-home, and outpatient. Mark Wilde's last presentation on supervision was May, 2024 at Minnesota Association of Children’s Mental Health  Conference entitled: “Helping Supervisees Use Their Self in Their Clinical Work”.

Description:

Consider the following hypothetical:
Your older sibling got married 3 years ago and your parents contributed $5,000 towards their wedding. You are now planning your own wedding. Over the last few years, your parents have made comments about feeling like an ATM to you and your siblings. You approach your parents and ask if they’ll help out financially for your wedding in a similar way that they did for your sibling’s wedding. They say they’ll write you a check for $1,000 but that’s all they can help out with.

Your client is the person asking for help from their parents and they feel angry and disappointed with their parents’ response. How could you help them determine if their anger is justified and what action to take in this situation?

Your client is the one of the parents and they report feeling a sense of nagging guilt. How could you help them determine if their guilt is justified and what action to take in this situation?

In this workshop we will give you the tools to deconstruct situations like this and provide structure on how you can help your clients understand the difference between unjustified and justified anger and guilt, and the appropriate actions to take.

Objectives:

1. Gain the basic knowledge to understand the nature and purpose of anger and guilt.

2. Be able to discern between “justified” and “unjustified” anger and guilt.

3. Build skills to be able help clients know what responsive actions to take with anger and guilt, whether “justified” or “unjustified”.

Trainer Bios:

Sam Franklin, LMFT

Stanley Thiele, LP, LMFT, JD

Stanley Thiele has been a licensed psychotherapist for 18 years and is also a licensed marriage and family therapist. Sam Franklin is a licensed marriage and family therapist. During the last decade they have co-developed the social regulatory model of anger and guilt. Both Stanley and Stan have presented seminars, co-led groups and worked with many individual clients on issues involving anger and guilt.