Family Therapy and the Process of Change

presented by

Erica Berger, LCSW-C

Participants will learn about the process of change and stages of change (Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Recycling) to consider their relevance to family therapy.  Throughout this training, specific family therapy techniques will be connected to each stage.  Family therapy is a very rich, dynamic intervention and offers endless opportunities and options for change.  However, rarely do family members enter therapy in the same frame of mind about change.  Each family member brings his or her own level of interest, motivation and readiness for change.  Helping a family sort out and move through a change process together can therefore pose very interesting challenges.  Actual behavioral change is often easiest to see but much is happening before and after this occurs, and much can be done to support individuals and families in this process.  Viewing a family through a lens of change as a process can help us maintain a spirit of hope and possibility and allow for families to reach deeper acceptance of themselves and each other.

Learning Objectives

 Participants will be able to:

1. List the six stages of change as defined by Prochaska, Norcross and DiClemente.
   
   
2. Identify at least one useful family therapy technique for each stage of change.
   
   
3. Describe how to approach treatment with families in which members are in different stages of readiness for change.
   
   
4. Explain the stance of a family therapist

Biographical Sketch:

Erica Berger is a licensed clinical social worker, in DC and Maryland, with more than 18 years of clinical experience. Ms. Berger works as a child and family therapist at Alvord Baker & Associates in Maryland, as well as in private practice in Washington, DC.  Ms. Berger received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland with a specialization in Families and Children. In addition, she has completed the Intensive Clinical Externship Program in Family Therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York.  Ms. Berger provides a broad range of counseling services including individual, family, couples and group therapy. Areas of specialty include: anxiety; depression; family communication; family transitions; adolescent development; adjustment to illness; and bereavement. She has worked with children and families coping with disabilities, trauma, chronic/life threatening illness and losses related to 9/11/01.  In addition to her direct clinical experience, Ms. Berger has spent many years offering consultation, training and supervision to mental health professionals.

Continuing Education: 3 credits

• Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC maintains responsibility for each program and its content.
  
  
• Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC is authorized by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners as a sponsor of Continuing Education. A certificate for Category 1 credits will be awarded at the completion of each workshop

Refund Policy:

If Alvord,Baker & Associates, LLC  decides to cancel the class, all registrants will receive a full refund. Through Friday, Februrary 17th, registrants who need to cancel for any reason will receive a refund of 90% of their registration fee. Cancellation requests must be received no later than February 17th either by phone 301-593-6554 x14 or by email: malvord@alvordbaker.com . Be sure to include your name, address and contact information as provided in your registration information. No refunds will be issued for any reason after February 17, 2012.

Additional Information

301-593-6554 x27

Email:  Erica Berger