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Developing Skills for Demonstrating Empathy

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CE Credits: 1.5 Credits
Length: 1.5 Hours
Level: Introductory
CE Eligibility: APA, ASWB ACE, ANCC, NAADAC, CPA, NYSED
Training Style: Video
Category: GIFR Membership Exclusive
Intended Audience: Mental Health, Correctional, and Legal Professionals

Training Description
Professionals working with people who have abused are typically empathic people. However, having clients feel heard, understood, and respected can be a challenge. This interactive 1.5-hour workshop explores specific steps in improving empathic responding at the front lines of treatment and supervision. It takes place in a warm and friendly environment where no one is expected to have the right answers; it’s better if you don’t! Research has found that clinicians often believe themselves to be more effective with their clients than they actually are. In one 1997 study, Tony Beech and Claire Fordham found that therapists working with clients who had sexually abused believed themselves to be more empathic and better leaders than their clients believed them to be. Meanwhile, professionals around the world strive to be empathic, but don’t necessarily leave their clients feeling heard, understood, and respected. This interactive workshop explores specific skills for formulating an understanding of a client’s experience, expressing it, gathering feedback on that understanding, and then refining that understanding. It reviews key skills such as summarizing statements, seeking elaboration, reflective listening, and “going upstream” – forming hypotheses about a client’s experience from often minimal information. The format blends didactic introduction of ideas with skills rehearsal in a warm, friend, supportive, and directive environment.
Trainer Biography
Mr. David Prescott is the Clinical Services Development Director for the Becket Family of Services. He is the National Adolescent Perpetration Network (NAPN) Chairman and 2018 recipient of NAPN’s C. Henry Kempe Lifetime Achievement award. He is a past president of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) and 2014 recipient of that organization’s Distinguished Contribution award. Mr. Prescott has authored and edited 20 book projects and lectures around the world.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to…
  • Describe “going upstream” while considering the seemingly unmotivated client and formulating responses.
  • Identify 4 ways to formulate reflective statements.
  • Discuss the difference between expressing empathy and being empathic.

1 Sponsorship: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts Continuing Education Credit sponsored by the American Psychological Association. The Global Institute of Forensic Research, provider #1371, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Global Institute of Forensic Research maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 6/8/2022-6/8/2025. Social Workers completing this course receive continuing education credits. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) has been approved by NAADAC as an approved Continuing Education, Provider No. 144308. Programs that do not qualify for NAADAC credit are clearly identified. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education provider. ACEP No.6711. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GIFR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0337. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0036.

2 Refund/Cancellation Policy: If you wish to request a refund on account of technical difficulties, please contact [email protected].

3 Commercial Supports: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) reports no conflicts of interest in the development and sponsorship of this training. MHS receives no commercial support for its Continuing Education programs or from its presenters.

Note 1: The CPA's approval of an individual, group, or organization as a CE Sponsor or Provider is restricted to the activities described in the approved application or annual report form. The CPA's approval does not extend to any other CE activity the Sponsor or Provider might offer. In granting its approval, the CPA assumes no legal or financial obligations to Sponsors, Providers, or to those individuals who might participate in a Sponsor or Provider's CE activities or programs. Further, responsibility for the content, provision, and delivery of any CE activity approved by the CPA remains that of the CE Sponsor or Provider. The CPA disclaims all legal liability associated with the content, provision, and delivery of the approved CE activity.