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Hard to Engage children youth and families

I Don’t Wanna Talk About It: Working with Hard-to-Engage Children, Youth & Families

When young clients have been traumatized, they often disengage from others even helpers. Understanding the reasons underlying this “resistance” is the first step in the therapeutic process. For many clients including young children and teens, entering therapy is a fearful process. They may feel a lack of control over the decision to attend therapy or that they are being scapegoated for family problems. As a result, even the most seasoned clinicians may experience challenges and frustration trying to engage them. 

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Description

The first step is understanding the reasons beneath what has been called “resistance.” The second step involves engaging clients in the therapeutic process to build rapport, facilitate open communication, and help the client work through treatment goals. In this training “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It: Working with Hard-to-Engage Children, Youth & Families,” participants will learn to recognize the reasons why some children and families may be “hard to reach”.  

You will learn tips, tricks, and techniques to engage children, adolescents, and parents in therapy and maximize potential for change. Emphasis will be on play-based, expressive arts techniques for use with preschool, school-aged, and adolescent clients, including therapeutic games, art, music, and stories. Strategies for engaging parents in therapy will be outlined, as well as activities for use in child-focused family therapy sessions. 

Learning Outcomes 

  1. Describe the factors underlying therapeutic resistance. 
  2. Implement creative interventions to facilitate rapport-building with children of all ages. 
  3. Utilize innovative strategies to engage resistant, hard to serve parents. 
  4. Implement play-based and expressive arts techniques with clients who are reluctant to verbally articulate their thoughts and feelings. 
  5. Utilize activities for child-focused family therapy sessions. 

Who Should Attend  

This course is suitable for clinicians and therapists working with children and youth and with their families. 

Course Dates & Format  

There are no scheduled dates for this course at this time, however in-service is available.

This is a 6-hour training. This course consists of two 3-hour interactive virtual sessions using Zoom. 

Instructor:  Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW 

Liana Lowenstein is a Certified Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT specialist in practice in Toronto since 1988. She is recognized for her innovative work including numerous books on child and family therapy. Liana is frequently invited to give presentations throughout Canada and abroad. She provides clinical supervision to mental health practitioners, runs a play-therapy internship program, and consults to several mental health agencies. She served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy for nine years and is the former Education Chair of the Canadian Play Therapy Certificate Program. She is winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada. 

Training Fee 

Group Registration: Save 20% off individual fees with a group registration of 4 or more participants. Download the group registration form HERE.

Continuing Education Information  

Licensing boards and professional organizations will grant Continuing Education credits for attendance at their discretion when participants submit the course outline and certificate.  

In-Service  

This is available as an in-person or virtual in-service training and customized to suit your needs. 

Categories: In Service, Trauma Focused Intervention, Online Tags: Children, Family, Intervention, Liana Lowenstein, Play Therapy, Resistance, Trauma, Youth
Training Calendar
42 events found.
  • November 2025

Calendar of Events

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0 events, 26
1 event, 27
2025-10-27
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)
October, 27 @ 8:45 am - October, 31 @ 5:00 pm
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) is a systems-based, trauma-informed crisis prevention and intervention model that assists organizations in preventing crises from occurring, de-escalating potential crises, managing acute crisis phases, […]

1 event, 28
2025-10-27
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)
1 event, 29
2025-10-27
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)
2 events, 30
2025-10-27
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Compassionate Leadership: Fostering Self-Care and Well-Being in Staff Teams and Organizations
October, 30 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Compassionate Leadership: Fostering Self-Care and Well-Being in Staff Teams and Organizations

Creating healthy supportive work environments is critical in growing a strong, positive and committed team and reducing personal leaves and turnover. This workshop is designed for leaders […]

1 event, 31
2025-10-27
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)
0 events, 1
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0 events, 3
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1 event, 12
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Addressing Trauma and Attachment in the Classroom Environment
November, 12 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Addressing Trauma and Attachment in the Classroom Environment

Teaching children who come into our spaces with big stories can be challenging. When we do not know how to respond, we often fall back to unhelpful […]

1 event, 13
2025-11-13
Trauma-Informed Practice
Trauma-Informed Practice
November, 13 @ 1:00 pm - November, 14 @ 4:00 pm
Trauma-Informed Practice

The prevalence of childhood trauma in our communities is staggering, and the implications for mental health and substance use profound. It is estimated that around 3 in […]

1 event, 14
2025-11-13
Trauma-Informed Practice
0 events, 15
0 events, 16
1 event, 17
2025-11-17
Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families
Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families
November, 17 @ 1:00 pm - November, 18 @ 4:00 pm
Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families

Do you work with racialized youth and families who have experienced trauma? In this training, participants will use the evidence-based STAIR model and apply the Critical Race […]

1 event, 18
2025-11-17
Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families
0 events, 19
1 event, 20
2025-11-20
Confronting Suicidal Ideation and High Risk Behaviour
Confronting Suicidal Ideation and High Risk Behaviour
November, 20 @ 1:00 pm - November, 21 @ 3:00 pm
Confronting Suicidal Ideation and High Risk Behaviour

Suicide and high-risk behavior are increasingly common in individuals with a trauma history. At the same time, many professionals in the helping field report fear or state […]

1 event, 21
2025-11-20
Confronting Suicidal Ideation and High Risk Behaviour
0 events, 22
0 events, 23
0 events, 24
1 event, 25
2025-11-25
In Between the Missing and Murdered: The Need for Indigenous Led Responses to Human Trafficking
In Between the Missing and Murdered: The Need for Indigenous Led Responses to Human Trafficking
November, 25 @ 1:00 pm - November, 26 @ 4:00 pm
In Between the Missing and Murdered: The Need for Indigenous Led Responses to Human Trafficking

Indigenous girls, two-spirit and trans women are the most vulnerable population for human sex trafficking, they access mainstream services the least, and present with the most complex […]

1 event, 26
2025-11-25
In Between the Missing and Murdered: The Need for Indigenous Led Responses to Human Trafficking
1 event, 27
2025-11-27
Serving the Mental Health Needs of Persons with a Developmental Disability
Serving the Mental Health Needs of Persons with a Developmental Disability
November, 27 @ 9:30 am - November, 28 @ 9:30 am
Serving the Mental Health Needs of Persons with a Developmental Disability

Individuals with a developmental disability are at higher risk of experiencing mental health problems.  Often their mental health problems go undiagnosed because they are attributed solely to […]

1 event, 28
2025-11-27
Serving the Mental Health Needs of Persons with a Developmental Disability
0 events, 29
0 events, 30
1 event, 1
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues
December, 1 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues

This advanced course will enhance the knowledge and skills of mental health professionals practicing Brief/Short-Term Therapy with clients who are managing complex circumstances, including trauma, risk, grief, […]

1 event, 2
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues
December, 2 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues

This advanced course will enhance the knowledge and skills of mental health professionals practicing Brief/Short-Term Therapy with clients who are managing complex circumstances, including trauma, risk, grief, […]

1 event, 3
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Ambiguous Loss: A Framework to Understand and Respond
December, 3 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Ambiguous Loss: A Framework to Understand and Respond

Ambiguous loss often leads to complicated grief that is overlooked or invalidated by society. Three primary types of ambiguous loss include: physical absence with psychological presence (e.g., […]

0 events, 4
0 events, 5
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Notice
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October, 27
October, 27 @ 8:45 am - October, 31 @ 5:00 pm

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)

October, 27
October, 27 @ 8:45 am - October, 31 @ 5:00 pm

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)

October, 27
October, 27 @ 8:45 am - October, 31 @ 5:00 pm

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)

October, 27
October, 27 @ 8:45 am - October, 31 @ 5:00 pm

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)

October, 30 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Compassionate Leadership: Fostering Self-Care and Well-Being in Staff Teams and Organizations

October, 27
October, 27 @ 8:45 am - October, 31 @ 5:00 pm

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): Trainer Certificate (7th Edition)

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There are no events on this day.
Notice
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Notice
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November, 12
November, 12 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Addressing Trauma and Attachment in the Classroom Environment

December, 1
December, 1 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues

December, 2
December, 2 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues

December, 3
December, 3 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Ambiguous Loss: A Framework to Understand and Respond

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November, 12
November, 12 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Addressing Trauma and Attachment in the Classroom Environment

November, 13
November, 13 @ 1:00 pm - November, 14 @ 4:00 pm

Trauma-Informed Practice

November, 13
November, 13 @ 1:00 pm - November, 14 @ 4:00 pm

Trauma-Informed Practice

Notice
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Notice
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November, 17
November, 17 @ 1:00 pm - November, 18 @ 4:00 pm

Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families

November, 17
November, 17 @ 1:00 pm - November, 18 @ 4:00 pm

Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families

Notice
There are no events on this day.
November, 20
November, 20 @ 1:00 pm - November, 21 @ 3:00 pm

Confronting Suicidal Ideation and High Risk Behaviour

November, 20
November, 20 @ 1:00 pm - November, 21 @ 3:00 pm

Confronting Suicidal Ideation and High Risk Behaviour

Notice
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Notice
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November, 25
November, 25 @ 1:00 pm - November, 26 @ 4:00 pm

In Between the Missing and Murdered: The Need for Indigenous Led Responses to Human Trafficking

November, 25
November, 25 @ 1:00 pm - November, 26 @ 4:00 pm

In Between the Missing and Murdered: The Need for Indigenous Led Responses to Human Trafficking

November, 27
November, 27 @ 9:30 am - November, 28 @ 9:30 am

Serving the Mental Health Needs of Persons with a Developmental Disability

November, 27
November, 27 @ 9:30 am - November, 28 @ 9:30 am

Serving the Mental Health Needs of Persons with a Developmental Disability

Notice
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Notice
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December, 1
December, 1 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues

December, 2
December, 2 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues

December, 3
December, 3 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Ambiguous Loss: A Framework to Understand and Respond

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