Registration numbers are limited in order to provide appropriate physical distance in the classrooms.

When: Spring 2021 / TBD

Continuing Education: 6 CE Credits Awarded. No partial credit awarded.

Fees: Guests: $150 / Alumni: $135

Continuing Education: 6 CE Credits Available. No partial credit awarded.

Presented by

Dr. Linda Buchanan founded Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders in 1993 which was acquired by Walden Behavioral Care in 2017. She is now Senior Director of Clinical Services with Walden, a leading national healthcare system specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. Dr. Buchanan received her master’s degree from Georgia State University and a Diploma from the Psychological Studies Institute (now known as Richmont University) in Christian Counseling from whom she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999. She received her Ph.D. from Georgia State University doing a residency at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Buchanan has just published a book with TPI Press titled A Clinician’s Guide to Dealing with Pathological Ambivalence: How to be on Your Client’s Side Without Taking a Side the content of which she has presented both locally and nationally. She serves as a peer reviewer of American Psychological Association Journals for Practice Innovations and was a reviewer for the APA guidelines for treating eating disorders. Dr. Buchanan has published two chapters on her model of treatment of eating disorders which have been used as texts in a local doctoral program for Clinical Psychology students.  Additionally, she has published four research articles on the treatment of eating disorders including two outcome studies of the treatment provided at Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders.  She has been married for over 30 years and is the mother of two adopted sons.

Workshop Description

Resistant. Oppositional. Borderline. Mental health professionals commonly use such terms to describe patients who, despite expressing a strong desire to reduce their emotional distress, repeatedly reject or ignore their therapist’s interpretations and advice. Conversely, therapists may label themselves as inadequate when dealing with these patients. When this continues session after session, both patient and therapist end up feeling stuck and frustrated. This presentation, based on Dr. Buchanan’s Book, A Clinician’s Guide to Pathological Ambivalence: How to Be on Your Client’s Side Without Taking a Side, offers an alternative interpretation of patients’ apparent resistance, termed pathological ambivalence, which is rooted in early experience, biological functioning, and psychological narrative. The narratives which these clients have formed result in the development of strong but conflicting needs (such as wanting connection but fearing rejection) that can slow down, confuse or even halt the therapeutic process. The natural tendencies of therapists to take the side for growth can lead to many kinds of therapeutic obstacles. The therapist will be most effective when utilizing skills that promote a sense of being on the client’s side without taking any side. These skills empower the change to occur from within the client and minimize the likelihood that the therapist will become the target of the ambivalence, engage in power struggles, prematurely discount the client’s beliefs, unknowingly participate in the client’s previously formed scripts or, potentially the most damaging, perceive the client as resistant. The concept of pathological ambivalence draws from several established theoretical perspectives in explaining why some people seem to sabotage their progress in psychotherapy and how some therapists become unintentional enablers. Specific strategies and case examples will be shared that enable the therapist to avoid these common pitfalls focusing instead on facilitating a resolution of pathological ambivalence and helping the client re-evaluate and change their narratives.

 Learning Objectives:

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Reframe resistance as Pathological Ambivalence (PA)
2. Identify theoretical basis for understanding PA
3. Describe the factors which cause some individuals to be more prone to developing PA than others.
4. Quickly identify common expressions of PA in psychotherapy
5. Utilize evidence-based strategies for sidestepping power struggles to empower clients to resolve ambivalence from within
6. Utilize narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral strategies for helping clients create behavioral change

Schedule

Instruction Level: Beginner to Advanced

Target Audience: Professional Counselors, Psychologists, Marriage & Family Therapists, Social Workers, Graduate Students

Refund policy: In order to receive a refund, please send refund requests to Martha Busby at mbusby@richmont.edu the Friday prior to the training.

For questions, please contact Martha Busby at mbusby@richmont.edu

There is no known commercial support for this program.

Richmont Graduate University has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4534. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Richmont Graduate University is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Richmont Graduate University is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Richmont Graduate University maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

References

Acevedo, B.P., Aron, E.N., Aron, A., Snagster, M.D., Collins, N., & Brown, L.L. (2014). The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others emotions. Brain and Behavior, 4(4), 580-594.

Caspi, A., Hariri, A.R., Holmes, A., Uher, R., & Moffitt, T.E. (2010). Genetic sensitivity to the environment: The case of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) and its implications for studying complex diseases and traits. American Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 509-527.

Haddock, G., Foad, C., Winsor-Shellard, B., Dummel, S., & Adarves-Yorno, I (2017). On the Attitudinal Consequences of Being Mindful: Links Between Mindfulness and Attitudinal Ambivalence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 43(4):439-452.

Mitchell, C. W. (2012).  Effective methods for dealing with highly resistant clients (4th ed.).

Johnson City, TN: Clifton Mitchell Publishing.

Ribeiro, A.P., Goncalves, M.M., Silva, J.R., Bras, A. & Camp; Sousa, I. (2015) Ambivalence in narrative therapy: A comparison between recovered and unchanged cases. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. 23(2), 166-174.

Schneider, I.K., Schwarz, N. (2017). Mixed feelings: the case of ambivalence. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. Volume 15, Pages 39-45