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September 2019 Edition

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Ok - can you believe it's September? It's weird for me to even write that! I hope you all found some time to rest and recharge this summer. We are in the middle of our yearly MHF retreat this week and once again we are focused on the development of FREE resources for caregivers and clinicians. I have no doubt that by next newsletter, I will have some new goodies to share!

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The EFFT Clinician's Manual

The EFFT Clinician's manual is finally available for pre-order on Amazon! Published by the American Psychological Association, and written to balance the theoretical AND the practical, Shari, Katherine and I are happy, relieved, excited, in disbelief that it's ready.

The official reference is: Lafrance, A., Henderson, K. A., & Mayman, S. (2020) Emotion-Focused Family Therapy: A Transdiagnostic Model for Caregiver-Focused Interventions. American Psychological Association.

We hope you find it to be useful!

New research on EFFT

Thank you to the group in Norway for sharing this great pilot study below - and with both parent AND child outcomes too!

Wilhelmsen-Langeland, A., Aardal, H., Hjelmseth, V., Fyhn, K. H., & Stige, S. H. (2019). An Emotion Focused Family Therapy workshop for parents with children 6-12 years increased parental self-efficacy. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 1-13.

"In this pilot study, we examined whether a 2-day Emotion-Focused Family Therapy workshop strengthened parental self-efficacy, satisfaction and beliefs regarding their ability to help their children regulate emotions and reduce the children’s symptoms of behavioural- or psychological difficulties. Twenty-three caretakers with 17 children (9 boys) aged 6 to 12 years old completed the workshop. Pre, post and 3-month follow-up data on the Parents` Beliefs About Children's Emotions – Guidance scale and Parenting Sense of Competence scale, as well as pre and 3-month follow-up data on the Child Behaviour Checklist parent form, were used to assess the effects of the intervention. Parental self-efficacy significantly increased, the caretakers` satisfaction in the parenting role significantly increased but faded after 3 months and the caretakers` beliefs that children can guide their emotions on their own were significantly reduced. Finally, oppositional defiant problems in the children significantly declined."

The findings also suggest that a booster is needed and so those of you delivering the 2-day or working towards certification, this is something we've also observed in another qualitative research study (under review). As such, it's a good idea to plan a refresher between the 1 and 3 month-mark post-workshop. So exciting that data continues to point to its effectiveness in eating disorders and now in general mental health! In particular, it's great to see that an emotion-focused approach works for kids with oppositional behavior - this is intuitive but new in research! For a summary of other published research relating to EFFT, click here.

A few good links...

How exactly a deep breath changes your mind: A very enjoyable read including this quote: 
"Volitionally controlling our respirations, even merely focusing on one’s breathing, yields additional access and synchrony between brain areas. This understanding may lead to greater control, focus, calmness, and emotional control.

Can neuroscience help us to rewrite our most traumatic memories? This work is at the foundation of several EFT and EFFT interventions where we access old memories, work with their emotional "tags" so that the memories can be stored but without the extra baggage. So cool...

A Family Focused Intervention Influences Hippocampal-Prefrontal Connectivity Through Gains in Self-Regulation Ah-mazing. A fantastic study that shows that caregiver interventions that focus on resourcing parents with emotional support strategies (like emotion coaching!) lead to long-term brain change in their kids! 

Resources for caregivers

Pour les francophones! J'ai le plaisir de partager un feuillet pour cliniciens et parents qui décrit une structure pour la pratique du coaching émotionnel. Gros merci a Eric Burnet, Conseiller en santé mentale au Centre de santé communautaire de Hamilton pour son aide.

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No-Cost Clinician Opportunities

Excited to share our Fall line-up of free webinars for 2019-2020!  Registration will be up and running next week and so for now - save the date!

The Application of EFFT in the Treatment of Eating Disorders across the Lifespan
October 24th – 9am PST / 12pm EST
Facilitated by Natasha Files MSW, RSW
 
The Importance of Experiential Practice when Working With Caregivers 
December 11th – 10am PST / 1pm EST
Facilitated by Ashley Skinner, MSW, RSW

Click here to register for either or both of these offerings (and check out our new and improved website! yay!).

Q & A

What's the difference between "Core" and "Advanced" trainings in EFFT?

Some people sometimes ask what is the difference between the Core and Advanced trainings in EFFT. Simply put – the curriculum. The core content includes an introduction to the 5 modules of the model, with skills practice of select interventions within each of the modules. Many people repeat the Core training to deepen their understanding and skill, including to capture the nuances that sometimes fly by the first time around.

Although the Advanced training includes a brief review of the modules and their primary interventions, the focus is on new interventions for the application of EFFT within families, with caregivers, and with individuals who do not want their caregivers involved or whose caregivers are unable to participate. The content from the Advanced is also a bit deeper in that we spend at least a day (of the 3-day version) focused on various interventions to transform deep resentment and self-blame (in both clients and caregivers). 

Clinicians can also participate in Core and Advanced trainings one after the other or with time in between. There are benefits to both approaches. For some, the Core training isn't enough to give them the confidence they need to go out and practice their new skills (too much material - not enough time). Therefore, taking the Core and Advanced trainings concurrently can provide them with a stronger foundation on which to build. Others prefer to practice what they learned in the Core to then build on their skills by attending the Advanced training 6 months to a year later. Find what fits for you! In my early training in FBT and then EFT, I found that "the more the better" in a short amount of time was what enabled me to get the big picture and start to transform my practice. For more information on upcoming trainings recognized by the IIEFFT, including new online offerings, click here. In particular, there are only a few weeks left to register for our early Fall online options:

Introduction to Emotion-Focused Family Therapy​
September 25, 2019 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)
Facilitated by: Natasha Files, MSW, RSW


Teaching Emotion Coaching to Caregivers using Didactic & Experiential Techniques
October 17, 2019 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)
Facilitated by: Adele Lafrance, C. Psych​
*this online training is a prerequisite for the November online training on Emotion-Focused School Support (unless you already have prior training in EFFT and in particular the 2-step model of Emotion Coaching)


Musings from my bookshelf...

I've read a few books this summer on death and dying, and in particular how to support those facing this transition. I particularly enjoyed: Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying. It occurred to me in a much deeper way that there is SUCH a need for emotion-focused family support for the dying. My goal this Fall is to volunteer in hospice and palliative care and develop some emotion-focused resources for families in the need in the near future. If you know of any relevant resources that already exist, please do share!

In terms of other recommendations, I've found a couple of titles to be particularly helpful in my own personal work, including : Gurdjieff, a Beginner's Guide--How Changing the Way We React to Misplacing Our Keys Can Transform Our Lives and: The Untethered Soul. What's next on my night table is the following: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed (thanks SN for the recommendation :) Can't wait!

One last thought to close... I leave you with one of my favorite quotes - a spiritual approach to human suffering and the "work" - and an excerpt that has certainly helped me in tough times. I hope it brings solace to you / your clients in times where it's hard to make sense of the pain of being human:

"Your conflicts, all the difficult things, the problematic situations in your life are not chance or haphazard. They are actually yours. They are specifically yours, designed specifically for you by a part of you that loves you more than anything else. The part of you that loves you more than anything else has created roadblocks to lead you to yourself. You are not going in the right direction unless there is something pricking you in the side, telling you, "Look here! This way!" That part of you loves you so much that it doesn't want you to lose the chance. It will go to extreme measures to wake you up, it will make you suffer greatly if you don't listen. What else can it do? That is its purpose." 

A. H. Almaas

Until next month,

Adele xo

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October 2019 Edition

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Happy Summer! Hope everyone found some time to stop and smell those roses!  Lots of news and new resources relating to EFFT this month:

Contest time! 

Dr. Ashley Miller and I need your input! Our EFFT-inspired book for parentswill be hitting the bookshelves early 2020 via publisher Taylor & Francis! We are looking for a fun title that catches the eye while also capturing the essence of the book. The book is primarily organized into scenario chapters such as " You love my sister more"; "I don't want to!"; and "I hate my life!" and it guides parents through a practical framework (road-map) where they are prompted to think from their child's perspective as well as offering validation and emotional/practical support. We provide concrete examples all the way through - including sample scripts - and encourage parents to tailor the content to their unique situation. We would love to hear your suggestions for a title AND subtitle!. All entries will be included in a draw for a signed book and a gift certificate for Amazon. Deadline for submissions: August 15th Please send your ideas to drashleypmiller@gmail.com Thanks in advance!

A few good links...

1. A couple of folks have brought this new book to my attention (thanks Shari and Margo!): The Apology by Eve Ensler of The Vagina Monologues (warning - difficult content for some) "The book is an account of an imagined apology from her father for the abuse and trauma she endured as a child. During an interview with the CBC (link provided by Shari Mayman), she speaks about her craving for this apology and her need to have it so badly that she wrote it herself". In various emotion-focused modalities, including EFFT and C-CARE, there are opportunities to facilitate this process and we've certainly witnessed its incredible healing power. To get a snapshot, check out this therapist handout from the Advanced EFFT training, although please know that its use requires training and depending on the issue, modifications may be required.

2. Thanks to Kristen Mennona, I am happy to share with you this excellent Gottman poster on Emotion Coaching that is highly aligned with the work we do and a potential resource for parents, caregivers and school staff. Think how great it would look next to this in your office :) #itsallaboutthetrees 

3. Thanks to Ali Alsaad for sharing with me this fascinating article! I can't tell you how excited I am by the results, especially for our clients whose families have suffered tragedies. I truly believe we can help them see their parents in a different (more positive) light without dismissing old pain AND in a way that increases their capacity to retrieve memories of LOVE. Love it! #itsallaboutlove #healingispossible

No-Cost Clinician Resources
 
1. As you know, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift where rather than focusing on a single individual in need of treatment, we also empower those around them to offer specialized support. So proud that EFFT is one such model. Check out this video for caregivers / the general public that underscores why we value their involvement so very much and feel free to use in your clinical practice (many have been using at intake with positive results). The best part – it’s only 20 minutes and it can be used more broadly – not just with EFFT.
 
2. At the request of newer members of the EFFT community, I’ve put together a tool to help conceptualize ways the model can be structured within the work you do with caregivers. It is by no means the only way but can help to serve as a guide and offers a bird’s eye view of the model in action. It is still in draft form but hopefully helpful!

Resources for caregivers

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We welcomed over a hundred new members since the last edition and so a reminder to new and existing newsletter recipients about the free and always available caregiver resources, including:

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1.  this link for access to the online caregiving video series based on the 2-day EFFT caregiver workshop; 

2.  this link for a caregiver webinar to learn about the Healing Power of Anger 

3. this link for videos that provide helping scripts when supporting a loved one with an eating disorder (like literal scripts of what to say when...)

More coming soon after our Fall MHF retreat in early September!

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New Online Trainings

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We are pleased to offer another series of ONLINE training options. With one exception, no prior exposure or training to EFFT is required. That said, the trainings do build on each other and all are recognized by the IIEFFT for those working towards certification.

Introduction to Emotion-Focused Family Therapy​
September 25, 2019 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)
Facilitated by: Natasha Files, MSW, RSW

Teaching Emotion Coaching to Caregivers using Didactic & Experiential Techniques
October 17, 2019 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)
Facilitated by: Adele Lafrance, C. Psych​

*NEW THIS FALL* Emotion-Focused School Support
Prerequisite: prior training in EFFT or participation in the online training titled: Teaching Emotion Coaching to Caregivers (above). *Participants will receive a sample presentation for their use*
November 22, 2019 - 3 hours (starts 12pmPST/3pmEST)
Facilitated by: Adele Lafrance, C. Psych​

Identifying and Working Through Problematic Parenting Patterns​
​December 4, 2019 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)
Facilitated by: Natasha Files, MSW, RSW​​

Click here for training details / to register for any of the above offerings.

In-person Trainings - Fall

A number of in-person offerings open to the public are coming this Fall. Our featured trainings are in Kelowna, BC this September! The first is a half-day training open to front-line staff, clinicians and educators on Emotion-Focused Support for Healthcare and School Settings (AM session + PM sessions available), as well as a 3-day core training on EFFT. Hope to see you there!

Other trainings:

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (2-day) *wait-list only*
Austin, TX - September 26 & 27, 2019; Adele Lafrance
 
Advanced Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)
Denver, CO - October 21-23, 2019; Adele Lafrance
 
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)
Ottawa, ON - October 23 - 25, 2019; Shari Mayman and Katherine Henderson
 
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)
Toronto, ON - October 23 - 25, 2019; Mirisse Foroughe

Advanced Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (2-day)
Vernon, BC - November, 5 & 6, 2019; Natasha Files

For more information on these and other offerings later in the year, click here.

Q & A

Q: Do I need to be certified to practice EFFT?
 
A: While I truly believe in the benefits related to the process of certification, I also feel strongly that you do not need to be certified to practice as an EFFT clinician or therapist. Certification delineates a process to promote a certain level of competence through a minimum standard for training and focused supervision, and that’s a great thing – but it’s not feasible for everyone for reasons of time, resources, etc. I've also had the opportunity to work with many clinicians who were not certified and who were excellent. In other words - there are many pros to the process but it's not necessary. In fact - to all those with training - we encourage you to try out the tools and techniques you've acquired - even if imperfect. As a society, in the context of mental health, we have a long way to go in terms of offering caregivers the support they need and deserve, including skill building. Going out and practising what you've learned is a way to be an active part of the solution.

Donate to Research

I am excited to share that early in 2020, I will be leading an international study exploring the use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder sponsored by MAPS. I am even more excited to share that when designing the study, I included a caregiver component within the study - the first of its kind! That means that a caregiver for each of the participants will be recruited to offer specialized support to their loved one in order to increase the chances of a positive outcome. Although unconventional (when has that ever stopped us ;), if you've seen the results of this new therapy modality in the news relating to severe PTSD, there is so much reason for optimism. In fact, based on this data, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has been granted "breakthrough status" by the FDA. If you or anyone you know might be interested in donating to support this ED research program, please do share this link. Charitable donation tax receipts are available for tax residents of Canada and the USA. 

Self-Care

One last thought to close... Because so many of us dedicate our lives to helping others who are struggling, it can be hard to remember to focus our attention and our kindness inward. This August, consider taking a day all for yourself - reset, recharge, reenergize! If you're feeling really ambitious about self-care (that may be an oxymoron ;), check out this great handout that I use personally and when working with clients. Off to the cottage!

Sincerely,

Adele

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June 2019 Edition

It is the month of June, The month of leaves and roses, When pleasant sights salute the eyes and pleasant scents the noses. Nathaniel Parker Willis

Happy Monday! I am pleased to share with you this month's EFFT Newsletter. So many exciting developments, including new resources and training dates for Fall/Winter (including online options!)

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Resources:

Are you interested in a refresher for parent block chair-work? Check out this previously recorded webinar facilitated by Dr. Allen Sabey and I. You can also access the latest chair-work script here.

Here's a great read on the value of discipline over punishment. Enjoy!

As you may know, I am committed to help caregivers to reduce self-blame. Here is a very interesting article on self-blame in parents/caregivers of children struggling with mental health issues. Here is another article exploring the perceived function of self-blame in parents of infants with perinatal complications. So many parallels and may explain in part why self-blame can be so sticky.

Finally, check out this brand new video developed by the EFT/EFFT team in Norway! About self-criticism and its antidotes (assertive anger and self-compassion)… Love their work and a great resource for clients.

Low-cost and no-cost web-based training opportunities: 

a. ONLINE CLINICIAN TRAINING opportunities are finally here! By popular demand, we will be offering 3-hour live trainings on various EFFT-related topics. Fall offerings include:

Emotion Coaching for Caregivers

November 8, 2018 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)

Facilitated by: Natasha Files, MSW, RSW

Identifying and Working Through Problematic Parenting Patterns

November 9, 2018 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)

Facilitated by: Dr. Adele Lafrance, C.Psych

They will meet criteria for certification requirements (coming June 18!) and will include a Q & A period. Join to learn about the model for the first time or for a refresher.

I will also be offering an advanced training on parent block chair-work. Please note: there is a 6-person limit to enrolment to allow for depth of learning and individualized review of participant video. Prior EFFT training required.

Parent Block Chair-Work – Video Supervision & Training

September 28, 2018 - 3 hours (starts 9amPST/12pmEST)

Facilitated by: Dr. Adele Lafrance, C.Psych

Click here for more information and to register for these offerings (scroll down).

b. Are you a member of the Eating Disorder Association of Canada? If so – you can access a free EFFT consultation lead by Dr. Adele Lafrance and Alison Bell on June 25 12pmEST. Simply respond to this email to register. If you're not a member, consider registering for these and other benefits.

c. Last call to register to attend the final EFFT-related webinars from the series  "In my Experience..." June offerings include:

June 6th at 9amPST / 12pmEST *new date*

EFFT and Dr. Gordon Neufeld's Attachment-Based Developmental Approach

Presenter: Jennifer Pearson MA, RP

Host: Natasha Files, MSW, RSW

Date: June 19th at 9amPST / 12pmEST

Adapting EFFT for Foster and Adoptive Families

Presenter: Lois Ells MSW, RSW

Host: Natasha Files MSW, RSW

And don't forget the last MHF webinar of the season hosted by our very own Sheila Paluzzi. An opportunity to build self-care into your day!

Emotion-Focused Care for Clinicians

June 22, 2018 9PST/12PST

Click here to register for these events.

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Upcoming Trainings:

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Our training schedule for Fall and Winter is shaping up! See below for new dates for Fall 2018 and Winter 2019 (public listings only). New material is being introduced at each level and no prior family therapy experience is required.

Canada

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)

Sault Ste Marie, ON

October 1-3, 2018

Click here for details

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)

Calgary, AB

October 10-12, 2018

Click here for details

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (2-day)

Stratford, On

November 5 & 6, 2018

Click here for details

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (2-day)

Greater Vancouver Area (Langley), BC

February 18 & 19, 2019

Click here for details

Advanced Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)

Greater Vancouver Area (Langley), BC

February 20 - 22, 2019

Click here for details

United States

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for Eating Disorders (1.5 hours)

*this session is open to caregivers and clinicians*

Richmond, VA

September 7, 2018

Click here for details

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for Eating Disorders (1-day)

Richmond, VA

September 8, 2018

Click here for details

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)

Denver, CO

Fall, 2018

Details coming soon

Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (3-day)

Austin, TX

Fall, 2018

Details coming soon

Increasing Caregiver Involvement and Decreasing Problematic

Behaviors in Treatment: Lessons Learned from EFFT (1-day)

Louisville, Kentucky

November 15, 2018

Click here for details (AAMFT Conference Institute 109)

Hope to see you there!

Featured EFFT Therapist

This month's featured psychotherapist is Lindi Lazarus, MSW, RSW from Toronto, ON, Canada. Lindi has extensive training and supervision in EFFT. She applies the model to help improve the mental health trajectory of children/adolescents and families. She co-facilitates caregiver workshops as well as offering private services in-person and via secure video. For more info on Lindi's offerings, click here.

That’s all for this month! Hope everyone is well!

Sincerely,

Adele

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May 2019 Edition

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Hello everyone! Hope this email finds you well wherever you are in the world, and that Spring has sprung. We had a busy training month and so I'd also like to welcome all of the new EFFTers out there!

Resources for clinicians

1. Our end-of-season EFFT webinar is coming up in a couple of weeks! Join Allison and Natasha for an interesting presentation about the ways in which EFFT and ACT can complement one another. Allison is a seasoned clinician who will share with us the fruit of her explorations.

Integrating EFFT within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

May, 23 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Presenter: Allison Walford, MA, LPC

Hosted by Natasha Files, MSW, RSW

Click here to register

On this page, you will also find training videos available to view at no-cost or for a small rental fee. Feel free to use with groups in the context of supervision or mini-trainings.

2. We have another new worksheet to support caregivers to internalize the skill of emotion coaching! It's very similar to last month's offering but briefer & more focused (and I think you'll love the third one :). It also comes with a cheat-sheet to guide your/their efforts. 

3. Check out this awesome idea from Beth Ayn Stansfield from Stay Strong Virginia - a non-profit ED resource for individuals, caregivers and professionals...She created a cut-out of the famous "tree", and to normalize the experience of blocks, she invites caregivers in a group to identify which emotions sometimes fuel their potentially problematic patterns of caregiving in the context of ED-support. A great idea and here's a pic for inspiration and a write-up of the activity.

Resources for individuals, including caregivers

1. Don't forget to inform your clients of Sheila's next *FREE* webinar on "Joy Interrupted" coming up May 22nd 4-5 PST/ 7-8 EST. This is one of my new favourite topics - so much to reflect on! This webinar is likely to be of benefit the general population in addition to those who are dealing with distress. Click here to register.

2. Did you miss her offering on "Beautiful Boundaries"? The feedback was really positive and thanks to Mrs Paluzzi's incredible dedication to the cause - it's already up on the website for viewing! And for free of course :) Target audience - anyone!

3. EFFTer and parent advocate Sue Huff will be leading a free workshop through NEDIC on Friday May 10, 2019 from 2:45 pm EST to 4:00 pm EST. It is titled “Relearning Communication: Emotion Focused Approach” and it is inspired by her own experiences as a mom. The workshop is open to all affected by an ED. Click here for more information and to register.

A few good links...

1. Stress - it's not in your head! It's in your nervous system! I've been learning more about somatic therapies and working towards integrating this wisdom within EFFT in a way that is more intentional. Here is a great article that is simple, yet powerful.

2. Warning - heavy material ahead... I am often asked about family work in the context of abuse, including sexual abuse. Although I really believe it can be possible, and incredibly healing for all involved, it must be navigated with great care when it is appropriate to do so. Here is a resource that I found that has been really helpful to me and I hope it is of benefit to you as well.

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Featured trainings:

1. Our first featured training is in the UK at the end of June with Jennifer Danby - founding Board member of the International Institute and EFFT expert. Holiday in London! 

2. Our next featured training is being delivered this October by EFFT/APA book co-authors Drs. Shari Mayman and Katherine Henderson in Ottawa, Ontario. Don't miss this opportunity in the nation's capital. Another great place to visit (and learn :). Click here for more details and to register.

REMINDER - 2-day caregiver workshop facilitation...

In response to growing interest, the IIEFFT will be certifying clinicians in the delivery of the 2-day EFFT caregiver workshop. As a first step, there will be a grand-parenting process to recognize those who've already been through a process of training, supervision and delivery. If you feel you meet this criteria, please complete this form to be submitted to Jennifer Danby at: efft_uk@icloud.com. Certification as an IIEFFT therapist or clinician is not required - this is a stand-alone certification. Those certified will be listed in a directory on the IIEFFT webpage and will have access to other member benefits. Proposed criteria moving forward can be found here.

That's all for this month! Next newsletter will come out in August - I am going to take a small break in June and July to recharge from a busy season. If you have any news, ideas or resources to share for the next instalment, don't hesitate to get in touch!

Sincerely,

Adele

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April 2019 Edition

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Hello everyone! Hope this email finds you well wherever you are in the world. See below for new EFFT-related resources and opportunities, including important information re: certification to deliver the 2-day EFFT caregiver workshop.

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Resources for clinicians, caregivers and individual/couple offerings:

1. THE BOOK IS COMING! Katherine, Shari and I are working on the FINAL revisions for the EFFT Clinician's Manual for the APA. Estimated publication date is November 2019! We will be celebrating its release to be sure - who knew writing a book was so much work! We are excited to share the fruits of our labor!

2. Our next live EFFT webinar is coming up in a couple of weeks! Join Ashley and Sheila for this awesome offering where you will be introduced to one of the latest EFFT interventions to support adolescent and adult clients to move through resistance to caregiver involvement.

April 17, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Presenter: Ashley Skinner, MSW, RSW

Hosted by Sheila Paluzzi, MSW, RSW

Click here to register

On this page, you will also find training videos available to view at no-cost or for a small rental fee. Feel free to use with groups in the context of supervision or mini-trainings.

3. Don't forget to inform your clients of Sheila's FREE webinar on "Beautiful Boundaries" coming up April 25th 4-5 PST/ 7-8 EST. Click here to register.

4. We have a new worksheet! Check out this simple clinician resource to support caregivers to co-create emotion coaching scripts for their loved one. It also comes with a cheat-sheet to guide your efforts. We've been using it in trainings and in the 2-day EFFT caregiver workshop and we're loving it! Hope it's helpful to you and feel free to adapt it for increased relevance.

A couple of good links…

1. Here is a link to a great read/accompanying video on mindfulness and emotions. But check out the title (It's Ok Not To Be In The Moment) - it's not your everyday messaging. I particularly liked this quote: "Our emotions tend to move far more slowly than life does". Whoa! No wonder we sometimes experiences lags in our feelings. Makes so much sense that our emotional states don't always "make sense" in the moment!

2. Speaking of boundaries... This worksheet is for parents who want to teach their children about boundaries. It explains the importance of setting boundaries for children, then gives tips on how to teach them about boundaries. Thank you Edutopia!

Featured trainings:

1. Last call for DENVER April 25-26-27! So grateful to be able to lead this 3-day training in my new hometown and with sponsorship from ERC. That means CE credits, and some yummy food. Or join us in the UK at the end of June! Looking forward to crossing the pond to co-facilitate with Jennifer Danby!

2. Our 2020 dates for BC Core and Advanced are set and open for registration (February). These dates sell out every year. Register early to secure your spot (note: they are designed to follow one another for those interested in attending both). 

3. Don't miss out! In just a few days, Natasha Files will be facilitating the LAST 3-hour online training of this season titled: "Working Through Problematic Parenting Patterns" (April 5th). This training is meant to stand-alone which means no EFFT exposure is required and the material is meant to be integrative to support other treatment models. Click here for more information.

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Access to supervision:

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1. New dates are confirmed for the EFFT video-supervision with me for April (3 spots) May (1 spot) and June (2 spots). Sessions are 1.5 hours. Drop in or stay for the duration of the session. Join us as an active or passive participant. All levels welcome. Register here.

2. You may also consider joining the peer-supervision network. To do so, you can access the shared file below and enter your information following the same format. Then, you can feel free to connect with any others to connect by video to share, learn and practice your new skills. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tysG9CKbziZQKGorTI_e4QCEe10jLJgU-XJh-dIDvy0/edit?usp=sharing

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2-day caregiver workshop facilitation...

In response to growing interest, the IIEFFT will be certifying clinicians in the delivery of the 2-day EFFT caregiver workshop. As a first step, there will be a grand-parenting process to recognize those who've already been through a process of training, supervision and delivery. If you feel you meet this criteria, please complete this form to be submitted to Jennifer Danby at: efft_uk@icloud.com. Certification as an IIEFFT therapist or clinician is not required - this is a stand-alone certification. Those certified will be listed in a directory on the IIEFFT webpage and will have access to other member benefits. Proposed criteria moving forward can be found here.

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On that note...Featured Caregiver Workshops:

Ontario! You have options - and great ones too! EFFTers Ashley Skinner and Jennifer Scarborough will be running a 2-day near Kitchener June 7th and 8th and EFFTers Marlene Traficante and Cheryl Fernandes will be running a 2-day in Hamilton on June 17th and 18th. 

Huge thanks for all that you do for families in need and "see you" next month!

Sincerely,

Adele

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March 2019 Edition 

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Hello everyone! Hope this email finds you well wherever you are in the world. It was an incredibly busy but rewarding couple of months with the introduction of EFFT to over a thousand caregivers and clinicians! It is so so wonderful to see clinicians opening up their practice to support caregivers, and to see caregivers opening up incredible healing pathways.

Resources for clinicians, caregivers and individual/couple offerings:

1. We are excited to announce that whether you are new to EFFT, or interested in a refresher or booster, we have new training videos available to view at no-cost or for a small rental fee. One of the offerings includes a new caregiver block chair-work intervention that I am particularly excited about! Click here for access (scroll down) - and feel free to use with groups in the context of supervision or mini-trainings.

2. Our next live EFFT webinar is coming up in a few days! Join Allen and Sheila for this awesome offering:

EFFT Clinician Block Chair-Work

March 8, 2019 – 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Presenter: Dr. Allen Sabey, LMFT

Hosted by Sheila Paluzzi, MSW, RSW

Click here to register (by donation – any amount for broad access).

3. Thanks again to our beautiful colleague Sheila Paluzzi – we are pleased to offer emotion-focused webinars relating to boundaries and joy. Most recently, and following our focus on the healing power of anger and assertion, caregivers have been curious to learn more about “how” to support their kids in this way. Whether an adolescent, adult or caregiver, we hope these offerings will be helpful! 

Beautiful Boundaries: April 25th 4-5 PST/ 7-8 EST

Setting "beautiful boundaries" is a key skill in the maintenance of relationships that are healthy and loving. Many people struggle with boundaries for a variety of reasons. In this webinar we will explore some of the blocks to boundaries and review experiential exercises to support their development.  

Joy Interrupted: May 22nd 4-5 PST/ 7-8 EST

Do you sometime struggle to fully experience joy? Referred to as "joy-blocks" the most common culprits include feelings of grief, fear and shame. Although many of us long to feel more joyful, it can be a difficult process. Join Sheila Paluzzi as she explains why some of these blocks exist, and leads you through strategies to increase your capacity to connect with joy in an authentic manner.

Click here to register for either or both of these NO-COST offerings!

4. I also want to remind everyone that many of the EFFT caregiver materials are now available in Spanish thanks to Drs Eva Trujillo and Griselda Galvan. Please check out this Dropbox for access.

A few good links…

1. Help the moms in your practice to balance their support of their child with self-care with this article! I also include into therapy some of these self-compassion meditations (audio files) from Kristin Neff’s website to help settle the nervous system, ground and orient. I suggest that caregivers listen to one of them weekly as self-care homework (with or without their loved one). Thanks Kristin for being so generous with your work!

2. A short but very compelling article about the pain of child-parent estrangement. The authors note:

“When asked what did provide comfort to someone who was estranged from a close family member, people said “having someone listen” to them, “being seen as normal,” having someone telling them that they were “an okay person,” and hearing that others had similar experiences all eased the pains. But the strong underlying message is that the complexity of parents and their adult children deserves greater prominence.”

I strongly believe that the Relationship Repair module of EFFT can do more than offer support and normalization of the pain. It can help to reconnect estranged parents more often than not, and I have had the honor or facilitating and witnessing pretty miraculous reconnections just in the last couple of months. Let’s help heal families from estrangement!

Access to supervision:

1. Three spots remain for the March 13th EFFT video-group supervision. March 26th is full. Session is 1.5 hours. Drop in or stay for the duration of the session. Join us as an active or passive participant. All levels welcome. Register here.

2. You may also consider joining the peer-supervision network. To do so, you can access the shared file below and enter your information following the same format. Then, you can feel free to connect with any others to connect by video to practice your new skills. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tysG9CKbziZQKGorTI_e4QCEe10jLJgU-XJh-dIDvy0/edit?usp=sharing

Featured trainings:

1. New 1-day in Toronto coming up March 19th! Perfect intro to the model and meets criteria for certification with the International Institute for EFFT. For those interested, the Advanced training in Toronto follows just a few weeks later.

2. Join us in London, UK for a 3-day training this June.  I have the pleasure of co-facilitating with Jennifer Danby, and family therapy specialist who worked for years at the Maudsley. This training will review core content as well as the new caregiver self-blame intervention.  We will also review a new intervention to work through serious co-parenting issues. For more information on this opportunity and others, click here.

3. There is still time to register for the online trainings coming up on Teaching Emotion Coaching to Caregivers (led by me on March 12th) and Working Through Problematic Parenting Patterns (led by Natasha Files on April 5th). These trainings are meant to stand-alone which means no EFFT exposure is required and the material is meant to be integrative to support other treatment models. Same link as above.

Featured clinician:

Kelly Coulter is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Daring Way Facilitator in Austin, TX with Austin Therapy for Girls.  She uses EFFT individually and in small group settings and is passionate about empowering families with the tools they need to heal and thrive. Recently, she was interviewed by Megan Gipson of The Family Brain Podcast where she talks about how she integrates EFFT into her work with families.  Listen to her podcast episode (Connected Families) here: https://familybrainpodcast.com. For more information or to contact Kelly, click here: www.austintherapyforgirls.com or join us for the Austin EFFT training!

That's all for this month friends and colleagues! Sending love from Asheville North Caroline where I am learning MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to support adult individuals with ED - with the integration of caregivers and EFFT of course! Stay tuned for more info as it all unfolds!

Sincerely,

Adele

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Feburary 2019 Edition 

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Happy February! Very happy to welcome over 200 new EFFTers this month from Chile, Mexico, the US and Canada! 

And...thanks so much to Dr Griselda Galvan and Dr Eva Trujillo, we now have Spanish translations of SO many of the EFFT training and practical resources. Access to some of the caregiver resources can be found here in this shared drive. Like the other tools, it is best if they are shared in the context of a session or group for context/support. Hope they are helpful to you and your Spanish-speaking clients!

Caregiver/Couples Resources:

1. I will be offering a public 2-day EFFT caregiver workshop Feb 28/March 1 in Denver, CO. Should you know of a caregiver or couple who could benefit from this intensive intervention to support their child of any age, please share this link for more information and/or to register. 

2. The couples series is growing! Click here to access the 2-part series for Couples inspired by Greenberg and Johnson EFT models. The feedback has been great so far - thank you all for sharing - and we hope it can continue to be helpful to couples who for whatever reason aren't able to seek in-person or formal services.

3. Excited to share resources from Hand in Hand Parenting (thanks to Ying Yu!). H & H is very aligned with EFFT principles, in particular its emphasis on supporting caregivers. They have a very robust international Facebook and WhatsApp groups for parents where they can offload their pain any time of day or night - with the support of coaches and other parents - for free, so they can be more effective parents! It’s a great resource for parents of infants through teenage years.

4. Do you work with eating disorders? Here is a fantastic monthly newsletter for caregivers that is EFFT-driven with a focus on self-care. Click top left for access to past issues or to subscribe.

Clinician Resources:

1. Join us for this month's EFFT webinar on supporting caregivers to initiate relationship repair, share the burden of their child's pain and relieve their self-blame.

Delivered by EFFT expert Jennifer Danby from London, UK

February 27, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Click here for more information or to register for this webinar or others offered in the months to come.

2. Little gem here for you! Anger can be a very healthy emotion and for more information from Les Greenberg about this emotion and others, click here. Awesome article to conceptualize the work.

3. Here is a really important article that shows that early caregiver interventions can actually change their child's brain! Very exciting, very hopeful and a useful resource to garner support from your organizations to implement caregiver-interventions for prevention and clinical response to the needs of their children. 

EFFT Training Opportunities:

This month's feature training is happening through the SickKids Center for Community Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario on March 18-19, 2019. Very excited to be back "home" and just in time for the Advanced EFFT training in Toronto in early April.

For more information on these and other online and in-person trainings happening in Canada and the USA, click here. Online and core trainings are open to individuals new to EFFT or interested in a refresher and they meet criteria towards certification with the International Institute for EFFT.

EFFT Supervision:

Interested in EFFT supervision? I am offering online group supervisions open to clinicians of all levels of exposure to the model. Click here to register for February options.

If you would prefer 1:1 supervision (in-person or by video), a number of EFFT supervisors are accepting new clients including: Ashley Skinner; Katherine Henderson; Laura Connors (Sept 2019); Lindi Lazarus and Shari Mayman. Contact information for these and other EFFT supervisors can be found here.

Featured EFFT Clinician:

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Jen Scarborough MSW RSW is an advanced EFFT clinician in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Jen works with parents who have a child with a mental health concern. Additionally, she works with children, adolescents, and adults who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, anxiety, depression, and/or general self-esteem concerns. 

Have a great month! Sincerely,

Adele

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January 2018 Edition

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Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Excited to share the first EFFT newsletter for 2019! 

Caregiving/Couple Resources:

1. Big news everyone! We have fully updated the parenting video series! The old videos have been replaced with a series of new and improved videos that match the caregiver workshop more closely. Again - thanks to the MHF team - and Natasha in particular - for preparing and recording many hours of new content. Please share widely with your clients and feel free to use them to deepen your own familiarity and flexibility with the model.  The previous version will remain available on the same webpage.

2. During our annual retreat, we also recognized that there was a need for couples resource to complement the parenting offerings. And so here we grow! 

Couples Resource Part 1: A huge thank you to Sheila Paluzzi (MSW, RSW) for preparing this fantastic video resource for couples titled: Where is the disconnect? Please feel free to share with your clients - it's the equivalent of an intro session and a perfect resource for those anxious about taking the deep dive into this work. It's also a great complement to co-parenting work and available 24/7 from the comfort of home.

Couples Resource Part 2: Please also inform your clients of the anonymous follow-up session "Increasing Connection" that will be held live on Wednesday, January 9th, 3:0pm PST / 6:00pm EST. In this webinar Sheila will discuss strategies to deepen feelings of love and connection in adult partnerships. Participants will also learn ways to effectively communicate and maintain connection, even in the midst of arguments or conflict. *same link as above*

3. Click here for a great read for parents/caregivers and a list of 12 strategies (some of which are emotion-focused) to help kids manage emotions.

Clinician Resources:

1. New EFFT webinar series now open for registration! We are absolutely delighted to be offering a new series of by-donation clinician webinars on various EFFT-related topics. Check out our amazing line-up for Winter/Spring 2019!

EFFT for Somatic Symptoms
January 30, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Relationship Repair, Sharing the Burden and Relieving Self-Blame
February 27, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

EFFT Clinician Block Chair-Work
March 8, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Chair-work to Process Client Resistance to Caregiver Involvement
April 17, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

Integrating EFFT within Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
May, 2019 - 9am-10amPST/12pm-1pmEST

2. I will be offering group consultation on all things EFFT in January and February. Limited spaces available (via secure Zoom) and all levels are welcome. Participation in these groups can be active or passive and video review is welcome. Stay for the entire session or drop-in. Click here for more information or to register. 

3. Have you some training in EFFT but still feel a little clunky or unsure? Watch this awesome video by EFFTer Kristin Edstrom who talks about "moving from skill to stance". Relevant for clinicians of course but also for caregivers! #wereinthistogether

4. Free information session January 24th! Are you trained in EFFT, or interested in getting trained, and wondering what the certification buzz is all about? Join IIEFFT Board Member Natasha Files for an online, one-hour information session to learn more about the Institute, the certification process, and whether it's the right path for you. *Reminder - you do not need to be certified to practice the tools and techniques of EFFT*

ED-specific Resources:

Do you have clients in the GTA? EFFTer Lindi Lazarus will be leading a fantastic group session next month:

Introduction To EFFT for parents and caregivers of loved ones with an eating disorder

This psychoeducational and skill building workshop will introduce caregivers to the principles and practices of Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). EFFT supports caregivers to become active agents in their child’s healing. Learn to support your child’s emotions, improve your relationship and set appropriate boundaries – at any age! 

When: Tuesday February 5th, 2019 from 9:30am -12:00 pm 

Where: Sheena’s Place (87 Spadina Road, Toronto, ON M5R 2T1)  

Facilitator: Lindi Lazarus, MSW, RSW

Register here: https://sheenasplace.org/register/

ED+EFFT Supervision - 4x a year:

Join me and other EFFT trainers for ED-specific EFFT supervision through The Eating Disorder Association of Canada. Next one is February 26 at 2pmEST - open to EDAC members. Non-members can attend the first supervision for free and membership is less than the cost of a regular hour of supervision (so great value). As a member you will have access to these supervisions and other benefits throughout the year, including access to many other SIG group meetings on FBT, ED Nutrition, and EDs in Private Practice. To join me next month, simply use this link to connect via video: https://zoom.us/j/211742853

Thanks all and have a great week!

Adele

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December 2018 Edition

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The word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. - Carl Jung

Ok – seriously – how is it already December?! It has been an incredibly busy month with over 200 new EFFTers trained in Canada and the USA. Welcome! We are excited to have you join our growing community. Next month – Chile y Mexico. There is still time to register for these completely bilingual training events. Venga amigos!

Caregiver Resources:

Happy Holidays! We are excited to share with you another FREE caregiver resource! Thanks to Natasha Files -  parents and caregivers now have 24/7 access to a new EFFT video introducing information and skills to respond to their loved one’s anger in a way that is compassionate and productive. Please share this resource widely with those who you feel might benefit from this awesome resource!

I would also like to remind you to check out this new video titled: “Why We Want You!" which outlines the many rationales for increased caregiver involvement in  the  treatment of mental health issues across the lifespan -  plus a review of the most common caregiver concerns related to such involvement. We’ve already heard from some of you that you’ve been using it as a pre-session primer and we couldn’t be happier about that! The best part - it’s only 20 minutes long :)

Thanks also to Beth Ayn Stansfield for sharing this awesome website which includes strategies and scripts to support friends and family to start potentially uncomfortable yet empathetic conversations with their loved one. Seize the awkward! As you can tell it’s a resource that combines humor and support – my favorite kind!

I feel like every other month I am sharing a resource for Aha! Parenting. I just love their work so much.  Here is a fantastic article written for parents re: alternatives to discipline. Go Laura (again)! P.S. If anyone knows her personally – would you tell her I’m one of her biggest fans! :D

Clinician Resources:

The MHF team has been busy editing videos to increase the offerings available to those clinicians interested in learning more about EFFT or benefiting from a refresher. Click here for a dozen or so videos for your use, with more to come (the only thing we ask for is a donation :). Thanks to the facilitators and as always, feel free to organize peer supervision around them and/or share with your colleagues who you think might also benefit from these resources.

Triggers… Triggers can be so sneaky in that they can really feel “external”, rather than connected to an internal system of vulnerability. Here is a resource developed by the Gottmans to help clients move from : “You made me feel…” to “I felt…”. I’ve decided that I’m going to keep it on hand to support clients to practice pivoting from an other-orientation to a more internal one. Hope you like it!

Free information session! Are you trained in EFFT, or interested in getting trained, and wondering what the certification buzz is all about? Join IIEFFT Board Member Natasha FIles for an online, one-hour information session to learn more about the Institute, the certification process, and whether it's the right path for you.

ED-practitioners:

Have you heard of Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani’s new book? I had the privilege of writing a review for its release and it is *so good*.  I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a must-have for anyone affected by ED and it fits nicely within EFFT.

You may also want to check out Dr. Timothy Brewerton’s new article on trauma-informed care and practice for eating disorders. A very worthwhile read. Click here for the abstract and if you are interested in the full-text you can request access via his ResearchGate profile here.

Finally - there is still time to register for our free EFFT clinician webinar this month! Last one for 2018 and it will be a great one! 

Integrating EFFT into outpatient eating disorder programs across the lifespan: A journey of successes and challenges

Tuesday December 11th 9am PST / 12pm EST:

Presenter: Elspeth Humphreys, MSW, RSW

Hosted by Natasha Files, MSW, RSW

Click here to register

New Online Trainings

We are so excited to report that the first series of online EFFT trainings were a success and so we’ve scheduled 2 more series for the New Year and registration is now open. These trainings were developed for individuals new to EFFT as well as those EFFTers interested in a review of the concepts, tools and techniques and/or updates. Once again, the offerings include:

“Teaching Emotion Coaching to Caregivers”

(the new and improved 2-step model)

and

“Identifying and Working Through Problematic Patterns of Parenting”

These trainings also meet criteria for certification and recertification and can be found here. A great alternative for those who can't afford to travel or the extended time off work.

Featured Advanced in-person trainings

Advanced trainings in EFFT in Langley, BC, Toronto, ON and Denver, CO!

Do you have 2 days of in-person EFFT training? If so – join us to take your learning to the next level.  Among other content, you will learn a new therapeutic technique to transform client resistance to caregiver involvement as well as new applications of the relationship repair intervention. Don’t worry if you feel rusty or like you lack preparation – one of the other benefits of this advanced training is consolidating what you’ve learned in your earlier training. 

EFFT Career / Education Opportunity

Interested in immersing yourself in EFFT as a post-doc, in your supervised practice or as a career? Contact Dr. Mirisse Foroughe to learn more about opportunities in Toronto, Ontario.

Food for Thought

Did you know that loneliness is an incredibly strong health risk? More so than smoking 15 cigarettes a day! This touching new article describes the need to "treat" it as a serious condition.  The holidays are just around the corner and this is a time of increased vulnerability for those who feel disconnected from the world – for whatever reason. As an act of social advocacy – I encourage you to reach out to someone who you think could benefit from a chat over tea or a FaceTime date. If everyone who reads this newsletter commits to doing so – we could make a huge difference!

Featured EFFT Clinician

I am just so delighted to feature Dr. Amanda Stillar this month! From a former student – to a collaborator on most of the EFFT research -  and now a full-fledged psychologist with a private practice of her own in Edmonton Alberta. Amanda is a total star with a heart of gold. Here's more info on her practice:

Dr. Amanda Stillar treats a number of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and trauma. Dr. Stillar is an advanced EFFT therapist, supervisor, and trainer. She offers individual and group supervision and training to mental health professionals in Alberta. For more information visit her website - www.stillarpsychological.com

Finally….thank YOU all for the incredible work that you do on behalf of our most vulnerable. I wish you all the happiest of holidays and we shall reconnect in the New Year!

Sincerely,

Adele

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