How To Work With Challenging Clients Using The Science of Safe Attachment

We have all experienced working with challenging clients. The question is, can we stay focused on our mission and stay the 'safe other' in the room for the client in order to help them navigate difficult emotions?

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1 CEU

Virtual & Live Only

12 PM  Mountain Time

1. Stay focused on the therapist mission

2. Have relentless empathy towards clients

3. Look at personality disorders, trauma, and addiction through an attachment lens

4. Have an awareness of Self of the Therapist issues that may arise and how to work on therapist blocks and needs outside the session

5. Working with client anger

Description: We have all experienced working with challenging clients. The question is, can we stay focused on our mission and stay the 'safe other' in the room for the client in order to help them navigate difficult emotions? Getting triggered by challenging clients means we are human. But we need to be aware of what takes us off our mission and be curious of our own self of the therapist moments that hit us in session and learn how to navigate these blocks to maintain relentless empathy and curiosity with our clients. Together let's look at client attachment-based strategies for survival and how to see deeper the human across from us.

Bio: Growing up with nine divorces between his parents, it became imperative in his later years that Jeff understood how relationships failed and how they succeeded.

Jeff is an ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist & Supervisor, specializing in couples therapy, religious trauma, and LGBTQIA+ issues in the Salt Lake area. He serves as the Chair of the Northern Utah Emotionally Focused Therapy non-profit community board, is a member of NASW's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and is an Adjunct Professor at Utah State University, teaching Emotionally Focused Therapy to second-year MSW students.

Jeff's professional development interests focus on continuous growth with a growth mindset. He presented at the Utah Valley University Bachelors/Masters graduating class conference and was a member of the Clinical team in Uganda for the Summer 2023 EFT Externship.

In addition to his clinical work, he served as a board member for the Utah Chess Association, sang tenor for the Salt Lake Vocal Artists, and played the Tuba for the Utah Wind Symphony. Jeff, a father of a 3-year-old daughter, is dedicated to teaching her the importance of traveling young and valuing cultures from around the world. In 2020, he presented at the Bountiful Utah TEDx conference, sharing his journey of overcoming cultural biases to embrace people different from him; a message he continues to impart.

Jeff has a passion for global exploration, having traveled to over 40 countries to learn about the world and grow from different cultures and beliefs. This extensive travel experience enriches his understanding of the human experience and informs his therapeutic approach.

Jeff earned his Master of Social Work degree and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Utah and has been practicing social work for nine years. He is licensed in Utah and Washington State.