Course | Reaching Troubled Kids

Price

Original price: CA$100

Description

Indications are that children have more troubles, get into more trouble, are more troubled and can even be more troubling, than ever before. Dr. Neufeld puts the puzzle pieces together to reveal three hidden stories that are shared across a wide spectrum of troubles, and a surprising way through to make a lasting difference.

As is the case with all Neufeld Institute's courses, this course features lectures by Dr. Neufeld, carefully curated support for enriched study, study aides, the opportunity to ask questions of trained faculty or course facilitators, a year's access to the campus to enable study at one's own pace, and a certificate of attendance upon completion. For more information, consult the "about our courses" on Neufeld Institute's page.

Sessions: 4
Lecture: 5h 11m
Certificate: 8+ hours

Course Summary

Are there really 298 different disorders, plus countless other syndromes of problem behaviour? Could it be that we have been missing something more fundamental about how the brain works and thus what can go wrong? Neufeld insists that there are now enough puzzle pieces to reveal not only the emotional roots of troubled experience and problem behaviour, but even the particular emotions responsible. Using the lens of development, he also helps us understand how these problems first develop in childhood and what they look like at their beginnings. In distilling these dynamics to their essence, he also opens the doors to reversing these problems in both childhood and adulthood.

This approach to troubled kids is Dr. Neufeld’s synthesis and distillation of the relevant theory and research, honed by over 50 years of clinical practice involving troubled children and youth. This insight model provides a refreshing alternative to the more common behavioural and cognitive approaches, as well as to the medical "disease" or "disorder" approach. The attachment-based developmental approach has clear and practical implications for parenting, education, and treatment, regardless of one’s arena of involvement and venue of application. This approach also applies to adults, as the dynamics of trouble are the same.

Suitability/Applicability

While highly relevant to any parent, this course is designed to be especially applicable to educators and helping professionals involved with children and youth who are somewhat troubled or having trouble behaving, or manifesting symptoms that would qualify them for a diagnosis of disorder.

Sample Topics

• The nature and purpose of emotion in the unfolding of human potential
• The universal signs of immaturity that are common among troubled kids, and why
• The surprising emotional condition that underlies most troubling symptoms
• How to read the first signs of emotions in trouble
• The emotional root of aggression, violence, and suicide
• The common emotional root of anxiety, agitation, adrenaline-seeking, cutting & burning, and most attention problems
• The emotional root of most eating problems, bullying, and narcissism
• The meaning of boredom in the context of troubled emotions
• Why alpha problems are so pervasive among children and youth today
• How to best address and resolve problems rooted in emotion

Course Outline

The course is structured into four sessions, with each session including approximately an hour and 15 minutes of instructional video from Dr. Neufeld. Supplemental support includes a 45-minute dialogue with Tamara Strijack, expanding on the concepts presented and discussing case examples.

• Session 1 — The hidden stories of troubled kids
Beneath the diverse symptoms of troubled kids are three common stories, typically eclipsed by our focus on behaviour and diagnoses. These are not the expected stories of troubling events and adverse childhood experiences, but rather of what is missing in their emotional lives. In this session, we explore a significant stuckness that lies at the root of most troubling symptoms and the common theme that permeates throughout.

• Session 2 — Problems rooted in primal emotion
In this session, you'll flesh out Walter Cannon's fight-flight reaction to stress to uncover the three primal separation emotions that lie at the root of most troubling symptoms. You'll explore the underlying emotional conditions that give rise to troubled symptoms, paving the way with understanding to correct this condition.

• Session 3 — Problems rooted in basic attachment instincts
In this session, a multitude of diverse manifestations are traced to two very basic but little-understood attachment instincts — displacement and counterwill. In addition, you'll uncover boredom not only as the experience most troubled kids have in common, but also as providing some clues to a natural cure given a supportive culture.

• Session 4 — Reaching the hearts of troubled kids
Based on a foundation of understanding and equipped with the conceptual keys to make sense of troubled kids, you'll explore ways to make a difference in the lives of troubled kids, regardless of the nature of your involvement with them.