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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, Online, Trauma Focused Intervention Tags: Children, Family, Intervention, Liana Lowenstein, Play Therapy, Resistance, Trauma, Youth
Training Calendar
35 events found.
  • October 2025

Calendar of Events

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1 event, 1
12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
3 of 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
October, 1 @ 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
3 of 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

Many professionals struggle with how to help support clients with making positive and healthy changes in their lives, all the while honouring their autonomy and choice. Motivational […]

1 event, 2
12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
4 of 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
October, 2 @ 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
4 of 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

Many professionals struggle with how to help support clients with making positive and healthy changes in their lives, all the while honouring their autonomy and choice. Motivational […]

0 events, 3
0 events, 4
0 events, 5
1 event, 6
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Incorporating Truth and Reconciliation in Our Role as Health and Mental Health Practitioners
October, 6 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Incorporating Truth and Reconciliation in Our Role as Health and Mental Health Practitioners

Combining lived experience with emerging research on the Indigenous Social Determinants of Health, this training, “Incorporating Truth and Reconciliation in Our Role as Health and Mental Heath […]

1 event, 7
2025-10-07
Embrace Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth
Embrace Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth
October, 7 @ 1:00 pm - October, 8 @ 4:00 pm
Embrace Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth

Children and youth who receive intensive services such as out-of-home (residential) care or in-home supports may have been exposed to one or more adverse experiences in early […]

1 event, 8
2025-10-07
Embrace Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth
0 events, 9
0 events, 10
0 events, 11
0 events, 12
0 events, 13
0 events, 14
0 events, 15
1 event, 16
2025-10-16
Centering Equity in Trauma Treatment: Culturally Responsive Assessment and Intervention Strategies
Centering Equity in Trauma Treatment: Culturally Responsive Assessment and Intervention Strategies
October, 16 @ 1:00 pm - October, 17 @ 4:00 pm
Centering Equity in Trauma Treatment: Culturally Responsive Assessment and Intervention Strategies

This interactive training equips practitioners with practical, evidence-informed tools for conducting trauma assessments and delivering responsive treatment for communities facing barriers due to systemic discrimination. Grounded in […]

1 event, 17
2025-10-16
Centering Equity in Trauma Treatment: Culturally Responsive Assessment and Intervention Strategies
0 events, 18
0 events, 19
1 event, 20
2025-10-20
Trauma-Informed Supervision
Trauma-Informed Supervision
October, 20 @ 1:00 pm - October, 21 @ 4:00 pm
Trauma-Informed Supervision

Advocates of trauma-informed practice have identified that effective trauma-informed teams must be supported by trauma-informed supervisors, organizations, and service systems. This training provides supervisors and managers the opportunity to […]

2 events, 21
2025-10-20
Trauma-Informed Supervision
2025-10-21
Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
October, 21 @ 9:30 am - October, 22 @ 3:30 pm
Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

People with developmental disabilities experience mental health issues as a result of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect in greater numbers than the general public.  Behaviors are often mistaken as non-compliance, […]

1 event, 22
2025-10-21
Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
2 events, 23
2025-10-23
TCI Update: TCI for Families Ed. 4
TCI Update: TCI for Families Ed. 4
October, 23 @ 8:45 am - October, 24 @ 5:00 pm
TCI Update: TCI for Families Ed. 4

This update is a two-day program for current TCI certified trainers to learn the content and revisions to the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families (TCIF) curriculum. TCIF […]

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Self Compassion in the Workplace: Caring for Ourselves while Caring for Others
October, 23 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Self Compassion in the Workplace: Caring for Ourselves while Caring for Others

“Self Compassion in the Workplace: Caring for Ourselves while Caring for Others” is designed specifically to address the emotional challenges faced by so many of those working […]

1 event, 24
2025-10-23
TCI Update: TCI for Families Ed. 4
0 events, 25
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
Notice
There are no events on this day.
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October, 1
October, 1 @ 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

3 of 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

October, 2
October, 2 @ 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

4 of 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

October, 6
October, 6 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Incorporating Truth and Reconciliation in Our Role as Health and Mental Health Practitioners

October, 23
October, 23 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Self Compassion in the Workplace: Caring for Ourselves while Caring for Others

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

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

Notice
There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
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October, 6
October, 6 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Incorporating Truth and Reconciliation in Our Role as Health and Mental Health Practitioners

October, 7
October, 7 @ 1:00 pm - October, 8 @ 4:00 pm

Embrace Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth

October, 7
October, 7 @ 1:00 pm - October, 8 @ 4:00 pm

Embrace Trauma-Informed Care with Children and Youth

Notice
There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
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There are no events on this day.
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There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
October, 16
October, 16 @ 1:00 pm - October, 17 @ 4:00 pm

Centering Equity in Trauma Treatment: Culturally Responsive Assessment and Intervention Strategies

October, 16
October, 16 @ 1:00 pm - October, 17 @ 4:00 pm

Centering Equity in Trauma Treatment: Culturally Responsive Assessment and Intervention Strategies

Notice
There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
October, 20
October, 20 @ 1:00 pm - October, 21 @ 4:00 pm

Trauma-Informed Supervision

October, 20
October, 20 @ 1:00 pm - October, 21 @ 4:00 pm

Trauma-Informed Supervision

October, 21 @ 9:30 am - October, 22 @ 3:30 pm

Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

October, 21
October, 21 @ 9:30 am - October, 22 @ 3:30 pm

Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

October, 23
October, 23 @ 8:45 am - October, 24 @ 5:00 pm

TCI Update: TCI for Families Ed. 4

October, 23 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Self Compassion in the Workplace: Caring for Ourselves while Caring for Others

October, 23
October, 23 @ 8:45 am - October, 24 @ 5:00 pm

TCI Update: TCI for Families Ed. 4

Notice
There are no events on this day.
Notice
There are no events on this day.
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)

Notice
There are no events on this day.
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