The Creative Toolbox for Working with Young People

Kids can be challenging to engage and motivate therapeutically. The symptoms of modern-day problems such as anxiety, low mood, social difficulties, and anger issues mean that helping professionals are often faced with an enormous challenge just to win the trust and confidence of young people.

Research has shown that a professional’s ability to engage and motivate a young person has a massive impact on the effectiveness of their work together. Now more than ever it is important for helping professionals to have a suite of effective, evidence-based strategies and interventions in their professional kete that they can draw on to assist in building therapeutic connection and skills.

In this dynamic workshop Clinical Psychologist Dr Chris Garrod will present a creative toolbox of strategies and techniques that have proven to be effective for breaking down therapeutic barriers and working purposefully with children and young people. These tools are influenced by the latest respected research and models; including neurobiological science, systems work, creative approaches, Dyadic Developmental Practice, narrative work, motivational techniques, CBT and ACT. These can be implemented across therapeutic, home, classroom, and community-based settings.

Some of the key areas Chris will explore include:

Ways to explore the underlying causes of anxiety, low mood and anger
Creative techniques for creating stronger, more supportive therapeutic relationships with children and young people
Practical Ideas for assisting children and young people to increase their motivation to change
Tools to help children and young people regulate themselves and manage their feelings and become more confident
Adaptations to interventions to accommodate cultural differences and diversity
This workshop is experiential, energising and fun. It is a must for every professional who works with tamariki and wants to reinject some creativity into their work. Participants will leave with a range of new techniques that can be easily and immediately incorporated into their own professional setting to the benefit of the children and young people that they work with.

Dr Chris Garrod is an Auckland based specialist Clinical Psychologist, consultant, & trainer. He has extensive experience working successfully with children, young people and whānau in Aotearoa, and in the UK. Prior to emigrating to New Zealand Chris lectured in psychology at the University of Hull and occupied a broad cross-section of clinical roles across the disability, community, and education sectors. In addition to his busy clinical practice, he currently provides training, advises and consults for a number of social service and education-based organisations nationally. He has a contagious energy and optimism about working more effectively with kids that will ensure this is a workshop not to be missed.