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Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

June 22-23, 2023
AF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children ages 5-17 with histories of physical abuse, harsh and/or coercive parenting and their caregiver, including caregivers who have used inappropriate physical discipline/physical abuse. AF-CBT is a skills-based treatment model that has been shown to decrease child externalizing behavior problems (e.g., tantrums, defiance, aggression) and internalizing symptoms (e.g., PTSD, depression), increase caregiver use of positive parenting and reduce caregiver risk for use of harsh and/or physically abusive behaviors and improves the relationship between children and their caregivers.

This advanced 2-day training, led by AF-CBT National Trainer, Dr. Carole Swiecicki, Ph.D. is for therapists who are already fully trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This training builds upon trauma-focused techniques to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver AF-CBT with youth, as well as caregivers that have engaged in inappropriate, harsh or coercive parenting behaviors. More details are below.

BETWEEN 58-75% OF YOUTH EXPERIENCE TRAUMA IN CHILDHOOD.

MORE THAN 18% OF CHILDREN HAD AN ADULT INJURE THEM DURING DISCIPLINE (FINKELHOR ET AL., 2013).

nEARLY 1/3 OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN PHYSICIALLY ABUSED ARE RE-REPORTED TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES WITHIN 18 MONTHS (MARSHALL & eNGLISH, 1999)

that is where effective therapy comes in...

Even in families where physical abuse has happened, patterns can be broken. AF-CBT has been shown to decrease child externalizing and internalizing symptoms and improve caregiver use of positive parenting and reduce caregiver risk for use of harsh and/or physically abusive behaviors. In one randomized trial of AF-CBT, the 1-year reabuse rate for treatment as usual (standard community care) was 33%, whereas the reabuse rate for AF-CBT was 5%.

The training program in AF-CBT is designed to support clinicians in learning skills to deliver AF-CBT and support them through 12-months of monthly small group consultation calls, led by a national trainer in AF-CBT.

Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT) Clinical Training

June 22-23, 2023

This advanced 2-day training, led by AF-CBT National Trainer, Dr. Carole Swiecicki, Ph.D. is for therapists who are already fully trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This training builds upon trauma-focused techniques to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver AF-CBT with youth, as well as caregivers that have engaged in inappropriate, harsh or coercive parenting behaviors.

This will be a live, virtual training with both didactic and experiential content (i.e., role plays, group discussions). The training program includes 12 months consultation (1 hour/month) and meets training standards for national certification in AF-CBT. The steps for national certification are listed at www.afcbt.org, one of which includes review of audiotaped AF-CBT sessions. Trainees may register for this training with or without the option for audio review.

  • Event Location: This interactive virtual training will be delivered live, via Zoom
  • Event Dates: June 22-23, 2023
  • Event Schedule: 12:30pm – 5:00pm EST (9:30am- 2:00pm PST)
  • Consultation: The training program includes 12, 1-hour consultation calls conducted approximately once per month via Zoom. 
  • Training Fee: $495 per person, includes 2-day training and 12 consultation calls (for those pursuing national certification, the fee is $795 and includes the live training, consultation calls plus review of up to two therapy audiofiles)
  • CE Credit Hours: A maximum of 8 CE credit hours are available. See below for details.
  • Deadline/Cancellations: Registration closes Friday, June 16, 2023.  Refunds for cancellation are awarded up to 7 days before the start of the training. All refunds are subject to a 5% processing fee. To request a refund please email info@harbormaple.com or complete the form at the bottom of this page. If the training must be cancelled due to unforeseen speaker circumstances, an alternate date or full refund will be issued.
  • Requests for ADA Accommodations can be made by emailing or calling Dr. Swiecicki at cswiecicki@harbormaplecounseling.com or 843-874-8526
  • Space is limited.

For additional information, fill out the form below or reach out to cswiecicki@harbormaplecounseling.com

Af-cbt

clinical training and Consultation
$ 495/person One-time Purchase
  • Live, 2-day (5 hours/day) virtual training led by approved AF-CBT Trainer
  • 12, monthly 1-hour consultation calls led by approved AF-CBT trainer (limited in size to 15 or fewer per group)
  • After you purchase, you will receive an email with additional details, including the Zoom link. Be sure to check your Spam!
Register Here!

Af-cbt

clinical training and Consultation WITH AUDIO REVIEW
$ 795/person One-time Purchase
  • Live, 2-day (5 hours/day) virtual training led by approved AF-CBT Trainer
  • 12, monthly 1-hour consultation calls led by approved AF-CBT trainer (limited in size to 15 or fewer per group)
  • Review of up to 2 audio files of therapy sessions for fidelity monitoring
  • After you purchase, you will receive an email with additional details, including the Zoom link. Be sure to check your Spam!
Register Here!

Meet the trainer

Hello!

Carole Swiecicki, Ph.D.

Dr. Carole Swiecicki, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist, owner at Harbor Maple Counseling and Psychological Services and Affiliate Assistant Professor in the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She also provides direction to Remolina Support Programs and consultation with her local Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), and has been a Mental Health Director and Executive Director at CACs. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at St. Louis University, followed by a psychology internship at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her clinical work and research focuses on disseminating effective assessments and interventions for traumatized children, teens, and adults. 

Dr. Swiecicki is a national trainer in both AF-CBT and TF-CBT and has obtained numerous federal grants aimed improving access to evidence-based trauma treatment. She is a former member of the board of directors at National Children’s Alliance, Child Advocacy Centers of Virginia and the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers.

participant requirements

This AF-CBT Clinical Training is for therapits who are fully trained in TF-CBT therapists who:
Participant Expectations:
Participate actively in the live training

This training is not one of those "put it on Zoom and walk away!" Participants will have role-plays in small breakout rooms and discussion through each of the 2 days.

complete consultation while delivering Af-cbt

Consultation calls are kept small (no more than 15 per group) and clinicians are expected to complete AF-CBT during the course of the training, presenting on cases during the calls. Therapists routinely rate these as one of the most helpful parts of the training program.

continuing education details

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe 2-3 reasons why it is important for interventions with families who have experienced harsh or coercive parenting to include both children and parents.
  2. Reference at least 2 clinical symptom outcomes that the empirical research shows are improved through delivery of AF-CBT.
  3. Identify and describe at least 2 techniques for deescalating angry or aggressive behaviors in the context of AF-CBT.
  4. Demonstrate 1-2 strategies for engaging caregivers in AF-CBT.
  5. Describe the goals of talking with children about family experiences.
  6. Describe the goals of talking with caregivers about family experiences.
  7. Demonstrate 2-3 strategies to accomplish the goals of the Individual Skill Building phase.
  8. Demonstrate 2 strategies for managing child misbehavior.
  9. Describe the purpose and process of the clarification letter in AF-CBT.
  10.  
CE Approvals
  • Social Workers: This program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers – South Carolina Chapter (CE Approval # 886385087) to offer 8 continuing education general contact hours.
  • Psychologists: This live activity is approved for a maximum of 8.0 APA CE credit(s). Psychologists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Harbor Maple Counseling & Psychological Services is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Harbor Maple Counseling & Psychological Services maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Frequently asked

The trainer, Dr. Carole Swiecicki, is an approved trainer in AF-CBT and the training includes the live training content in AF-CBT, as well as the required 12 consultation calls. 

The steps for national certification are listed at www.afcbt.org, one of which includes review of audiotaped AF-CBT sessions. Trainees may register for this training with or without the option for audio review. To qualify for national certification, registrants must submit audio sessions for review.

No. This training follows researched best practices in adult learning to impact practices, which includes live, interactive training. Even over Zoom, this training has breakouts and role plays. The days are kept to 5 training hours to limit “Zoom fatigue.”

  • Refunds for cancellation are awarded up to 7 days before the start of the training. All refunds are subject to a 5% processing fee. To request a refund please email cswiecicki@harbormaplecounseling.com

register for the upcoming training

Af-cbt

clinical training and Consultation
$ 495/person One-time Purchase
  • Live, 2-day (5 hours/day) virtual training led by approved AF-CBT Trainer
  • 12, monthly 1-hour consultation calls led by approved AF-CBT trainer (limited in size to 15 or fewer per group)
  • After you purchase, you will receive an email with additional details, including the Zoom link. Be sure to check your Spam!
Register Now!

Af-cbt

clinical training and Consultation WITH AUDIO REVIEW
$ 795/person One-time Purchase
  • Live, 2-day (5 hours/day) virtual training led by approved AF-CBT Trainer
  • 12, monthly 1-hour consultation calls led by approved AF-CBT trainer (limited in size to 15 or fewer per group)
  • Review of up to 2 audio files of therapy sessions for fidelity monitoring
  • After you purchase, you will receive an email with additional details, including the Zoom link. Be sure to check your Spam!
Register Now!
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