Strategies That Support System Involved Youth Healing Based on Neuroplasticity

Rachel Michaelsen

Training Description

All learning and memory is based on neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to wire new connections. Abuse and neglect can teach system involved youth that they are not safe in the world and people are not trustworthy. In order to change these beliefs, all individuals who support these youth can support new learning through the types of interactions and strategies they have with them. You will learn how brain plasticity impacts learning and re-learning and how to apply this theory to the types of interactions you have with both youth and their families. As this class involves lecture, video, self-reflection, and interaction, please plan to have your camera on for most of the training and if you don't have a working camera, plan to actively interact using audio or the chat feature.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Explain how brain plasticity impacts learning and memory
• Identify at least 2 signs that a system involved youth has learned to feel unsafe and/or untrusting
• Determine which types of strategies will counter negative learning and increase a sense of safety and trust
• Support parents and caretakers in having interactions that create a sense of safety and trust in system involved youth

Agenda 

9:00–9:15am   Introductions and Logistics

9:15–9:30am   Experiment and Reflection

9:30–9:45am   How trauma impacts the brain

9:45–10:45am   Neuroplasticity

10:45–11:00am   Break (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

11:00–11:15am   Safety and Trust

11:15–11:45am   Strategies that build safety and trust for providers, teachers, and parents/caregivers

11:45am–12:15pm   Applying what you know to the youth you support

12:15pm   Adjourn and course evaluations

Meet Our Trainer

Rachel Michaelsen, LCSW, is a clinical social worker who has worked in HMOs, public agencies, and private practice as both a mental-health provider and a supervisor for over thirty years. She has taught courses in DSM-5, clinical supervision, law and ethics, childhood psychopathology, time management, boundaries, vicarious traumatization and energy psychology at universities, conferences, and mental-health agencies. She has a private psychotherapy practice and is also the Chair of the Humanitarian Committee for the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology.

This course meets the qualifications for (3) BBS CE Hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.