8.5 clock hour Continuing Education Credits are provided as a written home study if you pass the post-test following the course written content. The certificate of completion will be emailed to you within 10 minutes after passing the post-test.
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Content Areas: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship
Resistant Clients
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This is an introductory to intermediate level course. Upon completion of the course, mental health professionals will be able to:
Develop a personal philosophy for understanding and managing resistance.
Explain how to conceptualize resistance to empower the therapist to avoid, circumvent, and utilize it for client benefit.
Describe five errors therapists make that foster and promote client resistance.
List five principles for dealing with resistance in clients.
Discuss three problems that arise with asking too many questions in therapy, and use alternate linguistic approaches to avoid these pitfalls.
Identify the multiple meanings of "I don't know" responses from clients and apply techniques for managing these responses.
COURSE OUTLINE:
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Foreword "Do Not Read This"
Developing a Personal Philosophy for Handling Resistance
Understanding Resistance
Conventional Definitions
Alternative Perspectives: The Social Interaction Theorists
Resistance and Influence: Breaking the Negative Cycle
Client Dynamics Often Mislabeled as Resistance
The Positive Side of Resistance
Common Errors Therapists Make That Create and Foster Resistance
Your Client is Not Making Progress Toward What?
Why Most People Come to Therapy
The Essential Ingredient Necessary Before We Help Anyone
The Perils of Assuming a Knowing Attitude
Rogers is Still Right and Why People Change
Timing is Everything and "Baby Steps" are Not a Joke
Accepting the Invitation to Take the Pain
Failure to Recognize and Respond to the Client's Stage of Change
Cognitive Distortions of Therapists That Foster Resistance
General Principles for Dealing with Resistance
Averting Resistance By Honoring It
Basic Principle #1: Do the Unexpected
Basic Principle #2: Slow the Pace, Focus on Details, Process Feelings Relative to Meaning
Basic Principle #3: Treat Clients' Resistance with Respect
Basic Principle #4: Maintain an Attitude of Naive Puzzlement
Basic Principle #5: Never Label Clients with Terms That Imply Resistance
Basic Principle #6: Focus Where Clients are Stuck
Basic Principle #7: Frame All Desires in the Positive
Basic Principle #8: If They Are Not Confused, Confuse Them
Basic Principle #9: Resist the Urge to Confront Initially
Words: The Fundamental Tool of Therapists
Two Fundamental Rules of Language Every Therapist Should Know
Lessons from Aikido
Why it is Crucial to Develop the "Desire Side" of the Motivation to Change
The Influence of Words on Mental Processing: Why the Words You Choose are so Important
The Compelling Power of Priming
The Direct Application of Priming as a Technique
Dominant Thought Theory
The Four Steps
Summary Points Regarding Language and Therapy
Goal Creating Language and Techniques
Always Take Time to Establish an Answer to This Inquiry
Enhancing the "Desire Side" of Change
Goal Creating Dialogue for Resistant Clients
Goal Creation Through Enhanced Empathic Responses
Ask the Miracle Question
A Few Points on Creating Viable Goals
Critical Points for Viable Goals/Problem-Solutions
To Ask or Not to Ask, That is the Question
The Problems with Questions Lie Just Beneath the Surface
Generally, Do Not Ask Questions Under the Following Circumstances
What to Do if You Have the Urge to Ask a Question
How to Convert Questions Into Curious Commands
Voice Tone
Generally, Use Questions for These Purposes
Do Not Assume Clients Are Not Asking Themselves Questions in Their Own Minds
Advantages of Avoiding Questions
Managing and Using "I Don't Know" Responses
What Does "I Don't Know" Mean?
Responding to "I Don't Know"
How to Avoid "I Don't Know" Responses
Inquire of a Wise Friend
The Classic Pretend Technique
Using "I Don't Know" to Open Therapeutic Doors
Putting It All Together: Concluding Thoughts
Additional Research Findings of Note
References and Suggested Readings
The course was created from, and is based on, the book, Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients. The book addresses additional areas of resistance beyond those included here. Some of these additional areas of study include dealing with silence, responding to challenges from clients, additional linguistic techniques and language nuances, as well as an assortment of additional approaches such as paradox and reframing. Other Course Information: Partial credit/partial attendance is not allowed for this course.
If you have any questions about this course or would like to request accommodations, you can contact us If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about the CounselorsChoiceAward.com or a continuing education program provided by CounselorsChoiceAward.com, the individual may email Leo.DeBroeck@CounselorsChoiceAward.com. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, we will consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions, and respond as soon as possible. If you have any questions regarding a refund, you can view our policy page and legal notices found at the bottom of this webpage or you can contact us
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Clifton Mitchell Ph.D. is an international clinical trainer and keynote speaker who has a love for teaching and over 30 years of training experience. He delivers practical information in a uniquely entertaining, fast-paced style that is filled with humor and illuminating examples. In his latest book, Priming: Programming the Mind for Habit Change and Success, he teaches a scientifically-based system for partnering with the subconscious to eliminate bad habits and create success-advancing behaviors. He also demonstrates how to use priming to radically intensify therapeutic communications and improve outcomes.
For over 20 years, he has studied and presented seminars on methods for dealing with resistance in therapy. In his book, Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients, he presents cutting-edge approaches for managing psychological resistance. He has also trained thousands of mental health professionals in the management of difficult, perplexing legal and ethical issues and his latest training is in an entertaining, dynamic game show format.
He is a contributing author in therapy books and published in numerous professional journals including the Psychotherapy Networker, Psychotherapy in Australia, Journal of Personality Assessment, Perceptual and Motor Skills, Psychology and Education, Journal of Psychological Type, The Professional School Counselor, Sober World, Counselor, Vistas, and The Advocate. His research includes investigations of therapeutic resistance, legal and ethical issues, subliminal message tapes, stress and coping, PMS, and personality types. His ideas and writings have also been published in Men’s Health Today and Barron’s Financial Weekly. Dr. Mitchell is currently a professor Emeritus at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN, where he was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2002. For more information please visit: www.cliftonmitchell.com.

COURSE ACCREDITATIONS
NATIONAL BOARD OF CERTIFIED COUNSELORS (NBCC)

Counselor’s Choice Award has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education
Provider, ACEP No. 7344. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
Counselor’s Choice Award is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

Counselor's Choice Award Continuing Education is an National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Washington State Chapter Approved Continuing Education Provider and offers approved clock hours for events that meet Washington State CE Counselors requirements. This workshop has been approved for CEs by the Washington Chapter, National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. (Provider #1975-490)
OKLAHOMA STATE BOARD OF LICENSED ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELORS

Counselor's Choice Award Continuing Education is an Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and offers OSBLADC-approved clock hours for events that meet Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program. (Provider #20230154)

REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS
Provider Contact Information
Phone: +1 (425) 931-5336
Email: LeoDebroeck@CounselorsChoiceAward.com
Mail: 3516 NE 75th St #8, Seattle, Washington, 98115, USA