Chris Cooper, PhD – Illuminated Education

Integrating Sex and Sexuality in EFT Couples’ Work – Feb 2 & 5, 2024

Presenters: Lisa Blum, PsyD and Silvina Irwin, PhD Course Description: Have you experienced the dilemma of helping couples achieve greater emotional connection through EFT, and yet found that this does not always translate directly into greater sexual desire, contact and flexibility between the partners? This workshop will present a frame for understanding that dilemma, and offer approaches for more fully integrating sexual concerns into our EFT work, with the goal of helping couples take new risks with each other so that they can share a more vibrant sexual connection. This workshop will include: how to decipher the map of a couple’s sexual cycle; how to do thorough assessment of each partner’s sexual history, taking into the account the context of the client’s intersecting identities; understanding sexual responses and freezes within an attachment frame; interventions that help create a secure base of “safe touch”; how to identify and work with our own…

BODY LIBERATION: Building grit, resilience and community – July 21, 2023

Presenters: Melissa Johnson, PhD and Angela Youngs, PsyD CE units: 2.0 Location: Zoom Brief Goal: Using the Body Liberation framework, we can help our clients, students, and ourselves find freedom from oppressive cultural body messages while recognizing our value is not determined by societal systems. We are valuable as we are, right now, in this moment. When: July 21, 2023 (Friday) Time: 9:00am – 11:00am (Sign in 8:45 – 9:00) Course Level: Intermediate. This course will be useful for Psychologists and other mental health professionals as well as school counselors, school psychologists, educators, school counselors, and youth program leaders Cost: Early bird cost is $105; $120 after June 16. Please go to the registration page on the Institute for Girls’ Development website for more details. OBJECTIVES Attendees will be able to: identify 3 socio-cultural factors that impact how girls and women feel about their bodies. briefly describe 1 theoretical lens…

Stand Up! Speak Out!® Curriculum Training: Empowering Friendship & Conflict Resolution Skills – June 22-23, 2023

For professionals empowering girls, children and teens to navigate friendships. Program is based on the Stand Up! Speak Out!® curriculum being implemented in many schools and after-school programs and will be informative for Psychologists and other mental health providers. Presenters: Melissa Johnson, PhD and Vicki Chiang, PsyD. CE units: 12.0 When: June 22 – 23, 2023 (Thursday and Friday) Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm (Sign in and light breakfast 8:30 – 9:00) Location: Institute for Girls’ Development, 95 N. Marengo Ave, Suite 100, Pasadena, CA Please go to the Institute for Girls’ Development website for more description of this program. Course Level: Intermediate. This course will be useful for Psychologists and other mental health professionals as well as school counselors, school psychologists, educators and those who lead programming for girls. Learning Modalities: Attendees learn through demonstrations, videos, breakout sessions, presentations, and experiential activities. All participants receive a training packet with resources.…

Gaps and Gains – July 30, 2021

Understand the Social, Emotional and Academic Setbacks and Gifts (Yes, Gifts!) of the Covid-19 Year with Clinical Implication. How has the last unprecedented year and a half affected our children and teens? During this pandemic season, youth have experienced loss, trauma, racial justice concerns, excessive screen time, upended routines, and isolation. They’ve also experienced less frenzied schedules, perhaps developed some new skills and interests, and experienced different kinds of family time (for better or worse). The Covid-19 year has changed children’s lives in so many ways. While the long-term developmental impact of navigating this global pandemic is yet to be known, we’ll have a chance to look together at the latest research, survey data and anecdotal accounts of suffering and resilience. We’ll discuss relevant clinical considerations, interventions and applicable activities through a decolonizing lens. Date: Friday, July 30, 2021 Time: 9am to 11am CE Units: 2.0 Overview: Topics addressed include…

Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Youth: Clinical Tools for Working with Youth Across the Gender Spectrum – August 13, 2021

Presenter: Caroline Carter, PsyD This generation of youth are profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this, many clinicians who work with youth, despite their specializations, may find themselves working with a young client who holds a transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) identity and/or expression. This training will focus on providing practitioners with a deeper conceptual understanding of TGNB youth. When: August 13, 2021 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: This professional training session is a live, interactive webinar. We will send you the link to join the session after your register. The program is presented in conjunction with the Institute for Girls’ Development, Pasadena, CA who will send the link and manage registration. CE units: 2.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION This generation of youth are profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this,…

Expressive Art Therapy: Explore the Healing Power of the Arts August 6, 2021

Presenter: Sushi Frausto, LMFT The Creative Arts have historically been a way for humanity to express, discover, grow and connect. Combined with therapeutic and educational theories, the arts can wield powers of true transformation. Expressive Art Therapy brings together various theoretical approaches and combines them with the artistic process to create spaces for healing and growth. In this course, we will discuss ways to make art safe and approachable, learn how to use various art modalities to foster development, and discover ways to incorporate the arts into the approaches you are already using. But let’s not just talk! Come ready to experience the arts for yourself as we enjoy practicing interventions you can use for yourself and those you support. When: August 6, 2021 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: This professional training session is a live, interactive webinar. We will send you the link to join the session after…

Effective and Compassionate Clinical Work for Gender-Expansive Children, Teens and Families – September through November, 2021

This course is presented in connection with the Institute for Girls’ Development, Pasadena, CA. Presenter: Susan P. Landon, LMFT This generation of youth is profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this, many clinicians who work with youth, despite their specializations, may find themselves working with a young client who holds a transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) identity and/or expression. Many of us have little training or experience working with these children, teens or their families. These presenters have many years of experience working to understand and help us understand the challenges faced by transgendered and non-binary people and their families. Ms. Landon has been working with gender expansive youth and their families – particularly children (ages 3 and older) – for many years. She will be providing training on working with both teens and young children, but her emphasis will…

Toward Antiracism and Liberation in Your Clinical Work – April 13 and May 11, 2021

Presenter: Parisa Emam, LMFT When: April 13 and May 11, 2021 (2 Tuesdays) Time: noon – 1:30pm Location: These professional training sessions are in the form of a live, interactive webinar. We will send you the link to join the session after your register. The program is presented in conjunction with the Institute for Girls’ Development, Pasadena, CA who will send the link and manage registration. CE units: 3.0 — you must attend both sessions in full to obtain CE credit. No partial credit can be given. GENERAL DESCRIPTION This 2-part training combines lecture and experiential activity to identify how mental health clinicians can adopt an antiracist stance in their work. Drawing from research and theory related to self-of-the-therapist identity, antiracism, and microaggressions, this training offers strategies clinicians can use to begin unlearning white-centric ways of practicing mental health therapy. Clinicians will strengthen their ability to identify, respond to, and…

Effective and Compassionate Clinical Work for Gender-Expansive Children, Teens and Families – February through April, 2021

Note: This course will be repeated in September-November, 2021 and is presented in connection with the Institute for Girls’ Development, Pasadena, CA. Presenter: Susan P. Landon, LMFT This generation of youth is profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this, many clinicians who work with youth, despite their specializations, may find themselves working with a young client who holds a transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) identity and/or expression. Many of us have little training or experience working with these children, teens or their families. These presenters have many years of experience working to understand and help us understand the challenges faced by transgendered and non-binary people and their families. Ms. Landon has been working with gender expansive youth and their families – particularly children (ages 3 and older) – for many years. She will be providing training on working with both…

Effective and Compassionate Clinical Work for Gender-expansive Children, Teens and Families – part 2 (July, 2020)

New Video Format! Postponed from March, 2020 Presenters: Susan P. Landon, LMFT and Aydin Olson-Kennedy, LCSW This generation of youth is profoundly expanding our understanding of the possibilities available for gender identity and expression. In light of this, many clinicians who work with youth, despite their specializations, may find themselves working with a young client who holds a transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) identity and/or expression. Many of us have little training or experience working with these children, teens or their families. These presenters have many years of experience working to understand and help us understand the challenges faced by transgendered and non-binary people and their families. Come join us to learn from them. Dates: July 13th, 20th and 27th, 2020 Time: 12 noon – 2 pm CE Units: 6.0 Note: This training meets for two hours each of the Mondays listed above. In order to obtain the CE units you…