AASW Webinar Recording | Beyond Words, Understanding Minds - Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Children, Adolescents and Parents

Capability Levels: Emerging; Evolving

Did you know that nearly 50% of all lifetime mental health disorders begin before the age of 14? Understanding how early relationships and unconscious processes shape emotional development is crucial for effective mental health intervention.

Mental health social workers are increasingly called upon to support children, adolescents, and families experiencing complex emotional and behavioural difficulties. By deepening our understanding of psychodynamic psychotherapy, social workers can enhance their capacity to create meaningful therapeutic change that extends beyond symptom management, addressing the root causes of emotional distress.

This webinar offers practical insights into integrating psychodynamic principles into everyday practice. It equips social workers with tools to understand attachment patterns, the therapeutic use of play, emotional regulation, and intergenerational trauma, all within the context of child and adolescent mental health.

This webinar will explore:

• The impact of early caregiving on emotional development and relational patterns (Attachment Theory).
• The therapeutic role of play and symbolic expression in helping children communicate beyond words.
• The exploration of internal worlds and strategies for emotional regulation.
• Building a secure therapeutic base through attunement, containment, and trust.
• Addressing intergenerational trauma and supporting parents to break unhealthy patterns.
• Practical applications of psychodynamic insights in clinical work with children, adolescents, and families.

Participants will gain enhanced knowledge of how psychodynamic psychotherapy can be effectively integrated into their practice, providing a deeper understanding of emotional development and therapeutic interventions that support healing and resilience.

Who should register?

This webinar is designed for mental health social workers, clinicians, and allied health professionals who work with children, adolescents, and families. It is suitable for those with foundational to intermediate experience in child and adolescent mental health, including social workers who are:

• Seeking deeper knowledge of psychodynamic psychotherapy principles and their application in clinical practice.
• Looking to enhance their therapeutic skills in understanding attachment, emotional development, and relational trauma.
• Interested in integrating psychodynamic concepts into their work with children, adolescents, and parents.
• Working with complex cases where traditional approaches may not sufficiently address underlying emotional and relational dynamics.

This session will also be valuable for those wishing to build their capacity to support clients by enhancing their ability to work with unconscious processes, intergenerational patterns, and the therapeutic use of play and symbolic expression.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify key psychodynamic concepts, including attachment theory, unconscious processes, and emotional regulation, and their application in child and adolescent mental health.
• Understand the role of early caregiving experiences in shaping emotional resilience, relational patterns, and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents.
• Apply psychodynamic principles to clinical practice, including using play therapy techniques, building therapeutic relationships, and addressing intergenerational trauma in work with families.

AASW Credentials: Mental Health (Focussed Psychological Strategies); Clinical; Family Violence

Testimonials

• "The case studies were incredibly valuable and it was nice to see this therapeutic understanding being spoken about so passionately."
• "The presenter was very knowledgeable, and I really appreciated the concrete examples she had shared with us today."
• "I found this training to be very informative - thank you."