12.12 Supervision on working with children and child-parent topics

Since the beginning of the war, the life of Ukrainians has changed beyond recognition. Millions right now are experiencing complex psychological conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, for example. It is especially painful to realize that for someone this terrible reality, with explosions, howling sirens, urgent moves and tears, losses and deafening grief, has become part of childhood. Now, more than ever, the topic of child psychotherapy is relevant. We are sincerely proud of our colleagues who help the little citizens of our brave country to get out of difficult conditions. And so we decided to create a supervising group for working with children and children's topics.

Why is it so important now? Why do students and practicing therapists need supervision in working with children and parents?

Supervision is the most important element of the work of a therapist of any direction. After all, it helps to deal with difficulties when meeting with certain client requests. Even in supervision, personal problems related to a particular client, request or topic as a whole are sorted out. Now, against the backdrop of the war, these difficulties are increasing. Firstly, the number of small patients who need help has increased greatly, and the workload on therapists has increased significantly. Secondly, there are not enough narrow specialists in working with children, often Gestalt therapists who are prepared to manage adults and do not have additional education in children's issues often take on such cases. Therefore, now specialists are in great need of help and support in order to work fruitfully and successfully cope with customer requests.

Why is it not enough just to read the literature on child psychology?

Supervision is not only about working with a topic or a certain direction. It considers the internal difficulties of the therapist himself, which arise in the work and prevent him from growing professionally. It’s impossible to read about this in a book - it’s about personal feelings and living client stories. After reading the book, you will only be able to answer the question "Why can't I work with this particular client?". And in the supervisory group, you will be able to work out an internal request, grow professionally and continue to work successfully with a case that you would not have dealt with before.

But what if you feel like a superhero who does not have difficulties?

If you are not aware of the difficulties in your work, this does not mean that they really do not exist. On the contrary, this is a very alarming signal, you risk losing professional objectivity. Meeting with each new client is unique. Even if you have many years of experience under your belt, you may not be fully prepared for the challenge you will face in your next session. After all, a therapist is an ordinary person who absolutely always has some kind of experience about work. For example, resonating with personal experience or with the attitude to the topic in general. And now, against the dark backdrop of the war, there are many working moments that therapists have not encountered before. Therefore, it is very important to bring these difficulties to the discussion in a professional circle. It is also very important to share the experience of success with colleagues. Closing yourself in the office, being alone with work is the path to a professional dead end.

Can this group be considered additional education, which is enough to work with children? Who is the group for?

To work with children, special education is required, because the child's psyche is arranged differently. You need to further study child psychology, take courses. A child, even in basic traumatic moments, requires a specific study, not the same as with an adult. Now specialists without training often start working with children, and in the current conditions this is quite acceptable. But in parallel, you still need to study parent-child issues. Our group can become a very capacious addition to such education. It is suitable for therapists of any direction: both those who work with children and those who work with adults. After all, adult patients also often bring to therapy a request regarding children's issues.

What is the uniqueness of this group's format?

• This is both a supervisory and intervision group. That is, you get the help of a specialist with more than 20 years of experience in pediatric therapy, and discuss working issues with colleagues on an equal footing.
• The group supervision format for therapists who work with adults has been around for a long time. But supervision on working with children's issues is a rarity.
• The essence of the group is not in “working hours”, but in a really deep study of the topic, gaining experience, exchanging practical cases. The atmosphere here is not academic - it is a conversation in which everyone can speak out and find the answer to their question.
• This is not a recitation of a dry theory, but a lively dialogue. The team leader has practical examples for almost any request. These are real stories that will be remembered well. And you can easily apply proven techniques in practice.

IMPORTANT: The group will take place subject to the presence of 7 people.

If you do not have the opportunity to attend the supervision and you warned about it a day before the start, then the payment can be transferred to the next date.

Refunds are not provided.