Description of Workshop:

Clinical work with aging clients can present some ethical dilemmas for clinicians. Come join Deb and other clinicians in sorting out the gray areas for this demographic.

For example, there are competing ethical requirements for aging clients such as balancing the client’s right to autonomy and self-determination on one hand and addressing the elder client’s safety in the home and diminishing abilities. Sometimes the aging clients may have concrete needs for assistance in certain decisions, like when to sell a home and move into assisted and/or memory care. How (and should) the client’s therapist engage in this planning? How will such engagement affect the therapeutic relationship? Can therapists find alternative ways to help aging clients to assist with concrete tasks or decisions without providing such help themselves? And what if aging clients require hospitalization for neglect or self-harm? What is the therapist’s role in these decisions, and can the therapy persist if the client is inpatient? What if a family member decides to seek guardianship for the aging client – the therapist may be called to testify regarding the client’s diminished capacity and ability to live alone. How can that legal involvement be managed ethically while still maintaining the therapeutic relationship?

These and other ethical dilemmas that participants share in the workshop will be addressed by Deb and the participants. All will be encouraged to share their specific case examples of clinical work with aging clients and sticky wickets that arise.

Trainings are three (3) hours and certificates will be provided at the end of the seminar.

Description of Workshop:

Clinical work with aging clients can be challenging in unique ways. Deb will present information concerning dementia and other forms of cognitive decline to help participants understand the aging process in its various permutations. Additionally, as therapists age, we have challenges of our own. Deb will encourage participants to share their experiences and dilemmas for discussion.

We will examine issues re: clients concerning elder reporting for neglect/abuse and expanding the clinical approach to include family members of the client when necessary. We will also analyze the conundrum of working with aging clients who are becoming less able to maintain their independence, but still want to retain it.

For therapists’ aging issues, we will be discussing physical and mental changes in therapists and how these normal aspects of aging may be mitigated to prolong useful service. Part of our focus will be on therapists having to deal with their own grief during their aging, such as, (1) loss of loved ones, (2) loss of their own energy and physical abilities, and (3) depression. We will dip into the need for creating a Professional Will and some tips on that process. We will also look at well-being research and how to improve the well-being of our aging clients and ourselves.

Participants will be encouraged to share in whatever way they feel comfortable including sending me situations in advance that I can share anonymously during the workshop. Young therapists and older ones alike will learn more about this stage of life – how to refine therapy skills and understanding for our aging clients and ourselves.

Trainings are three (3) hours and certificates will be provided at the end of the seminar.