Allies Not Adversaries: Cultivating Collaborative Caregiver Relationships in School, Clinical, and Community Settings
Working with children, adolescents, and families can be the most rewarding part of being an educator, therapist, or practitioner. However, this work can also be very challenging. In this webinar, skills will be learned that can be used by practitioners, therapists, and educators to navigate difficult interactions with parents and guardians within various environments. Seeing caregivers as collaborative allies rather than adversaries can only occur if techniques are developed to promote a positive working relationship. Presenters Drs. Rebecca Vannest and Jason Vannest will share real-life examples of this process based on their many years of experience working with caregivers in school, community, clinical, and play therapy settings.
During this webinar, attendees will learn how to rebound and reframe negative interactions while cultivating a variety of techniques for managing contentious interactions. Attendees will also learn how to better understand the perspective of caregivers, and their unique challenges, in order to cultivate greater empathy and understanding when facing negative interactions. Finally, attendees will learn how to find points of agreement when someone is emotionally dysregulated and intent on having a negative interaction.
By the end of this webinar, session attendees will leave with a variety of techniques that will assist them with implementing new strategies with difficult caregiver relationships. Specifically, you will be able to:
- Capatilize on the ability to increase personal empathy for caregivers;
- Apply reframing and collaborating techniques when working with adversarial caregivers; and
- Practice de-escalation techniques when working with families.
Approved for 1.5 hours of CFLE continuing education credit.
Purchase/Access Webinar Recording
About the Presenters
Rebecca J. Vannest, Ph.D., CFLE, LPC, NCC, RPT-S, SCL, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling at Oakland University with specializations in child and adolescent counseling, play therapy, and school counseling. Dr. Vannest has 14 years of experience as a high school, middle school, and elementary school counselor; has extensive supervision experience; and presents nationally on mental health topics. She was recognized by Oakland University for their 10 Within 10 Award that is given to notable alumni and has served on the Michigan School Counseling Association Board as an elementary vice president and the Ethics Board chair.
Jason Vannest, Ph.D., has been working in the field of counseling in a variety of capacities since 2005. Dr. Vannest began his counseling career working as a clinical therapist at Catholic Charities in the impoverished area of downtown Flint, Michigan and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, National Board Certified Counselor and Licensed School Counselor. Dr. Vannest runs a clinical supervision business and provides supervision to Limited Licensed Professional Counselors throughout the mid-Michigan area. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Vannest has been employed since 2007 as a school counselor working at the primary and secondary levels serving children from 4-19 years of age and is currently on faculty with Walden University. He is active with a number of state counselor organizations including the Michigan Mental Health Counseling Association, Michigan School Counselor Association, Michigan Counselor Association, and the Michigan Association for Play Therapy, as well as the national level chapters of all of these same organizations.
On-Demand Webinar Recording
Even if you can't watch this webinar live, your registration will still grant you access to watch the recording at your convenience. This webinar is now free for NCFR members and Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs), and $94 for nonmembers and non-CFLEs.
Classroom Use
Classroom and departmental use licenses allow faculty members to share the video in class or embed the video in their online learning management system. Departmental use licenses allow more than on faculty to use the webinar in their class. We request that links or downloads are not shared with students.
License for classroom use by one professor is available for $141 for NCFR members, $215 for nonmembers.
License for departmental use (multiple professors) is available for $194 NCFR member / $341 nonmember.
Departmental license for CFLE-approved programs is $167.
