Description
People who are experiencing complex situations and/or intense problems are often the least likely to be able to commit to traditional forms of intervention due to the significant and competing needs that are often present in these circumstances. As a result, mental health practitioners working in these contexts must learn specific skills in order to maximize the time that they have with people. Participants in this course, “Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues,” will leave with skills that assist them to prioritize what is most important to the client in the time that is available. Techniques to contain conversations and avoid retraumatization and/or amplify the problem will also be introduced.
Learning Outcomes
- Minimize risks associated with complex situations within brief or short-term therapy contexts.
- Use targeted questions to prioritize what is most important for the client regardless of clinical presentation or problem severity.
- Use targeted questions to identify existing internal and external resources that can be mobilized by the client, whether or not they participate in longer term interventions.
- Understand how very brief and short-term therapy aligns with trauma-informed and decolonizing approaches to mental health interventions.
| This course is ONLY for mental health professionals with knowledge and experience delivering short-term or brief therapy. Prerequisite: Course 1 & 2 of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Certificate and/or, a minimum of 12 hours of training in solution focused, narrative, or single session therapy. |
NOTE: This course is equivalent to ‘Using Brief and Single Session Therapy with Complex and High Risk Issues’ the 3rd training in a three-course series which comprises the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Certificate
Who Should Attend
“Advanced Skills for Brief Therapy Practitioners: Managing Complex and High-Risk Issues,” will benefit mental health practitioners who frequently engage in short-term and/or stand-alone conversations with clients and is designed for practitioners working in brief service delivery formats such as mental health walk-in-clinics, crisis or outreach services, school settings, and community-based mental health organizations.
Course Dates & Format
December 8, 9, 17 & 18, 2025
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
This is a 12-hour training. This course consists of four 3-hour interactive virtual sessions using Zoom.
Instructor: Alesya Courtnage, MA, RP, CCC
Alesya received a Masters of Arts degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA in 2001 and has been practicing as a psychotherapist in different mental health settings ever since. In 2008 Alesya attended her first workshop in the Solution Focused Approach and fell in love with the hope, optimism and respect that drives this way of working with others. Currently, Ontario is the epicentre of mental-health walk-in clinics and her clinical work in this area inspired Alesya to become interested in the potential of Single Session Therapy both as a service delivery model and as an effective clinical intervention. This passion has led her to both lead and attend trainings in Single Session Therapy around the world. She has provided training to hundreds of front-line staff and continues to act as a consultant to many agencies across Canada. Alesya is currently completing a PhD in Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her area of research is connected to risk management and the integration of brief and traditional service delivery models.
Training Fee
Member Fee: $325.00 + $42.25 (HST) = $367.25
Non-Member Fee: $375.00 + $48.75 (HST) = $423.75
Group Registration: Save 20% off individual fee with 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.
