Frum Therapist: Mental Health Resources for the Frum Community

The browser you're using is not supported. Please try again using a supported browser such as Firefox or Chrome

Add this Workshop to Your Calendar!

Harnessing the Power of the Incompetent Therapist Within

Therapists strive for competence and success in their practice, dedicated to facilitating client growth and change. However, paradoxically, the harder therapists work and the more competent they attempt to be, the greater the likelihood that clients may remain entrenched in their issues. This phenomenon often arises due to an automatic client resistance when therapists exert effort to be helpful. Interestingly, relinquishing the personal agenda to move the client forward can create a therapeutic space where clients feel more empowered to explore solutions that work best for them.

This advanced workshop is designed for both seasoned and novice therapists who wish to broaden their clinical repertoire by embracing the concept of the 'incompetent therapist.' In a counter-intuitive yet profound approach, therapists admitting their helplessness in directing the client fosters a deeper authenticity in the therapeutic encounter. By ‘wallowing’ in their perceived incompetence, therapists become more human, facilitating a more genuine connection that enhances treatment outcomes.

https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/Harnessingthe/view

Harnessing the Power of the Incompetent Therapist Within

Thursday, January 16, 2025, 10:00 AM EST - 1:00 PM EST

Presenter: Eliot Yisroel Kaplan PhD, LCSW-R / Naftoli Sobel LMSW

Course Length: 3 Hours

Learning Objectives:

Critically analyze the burden of always having to be competent as a therapist and its impact on the therapeutic process, including potential effects on both the therapist and client dynamics
Develop and implement three advanced techniques to strengthen a clinicians ability to bond with clients effortlessly, incorporating principles of empathy, authenticity, and therapeutic presence.
Evaluate and devise strategies to navigate three common traps that clients use to make therapists feel incompetent, employing advanced therapeutic skills and interventions to maintain effective therapeutic alliances.

This workshop Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

Times New Roman

Therapists strive for competence and success in their practice, dedicated to facilitating client growth and change. However, paradoxically, the harder therapists work and the more competent they attempt to be, the greater the likelihood that clients may remain entrenched in their issues. This phenomenon often arises due to an automatic client resistance when therapists exert effort to be helpful. Interestingly, relinquishing the personal agenda to move the client forward can create a therapeutic space where clients feel more empowered to explore solutions that work best for them.

This advanced workshop is designed for both seasoned and novice therapists who wish to broaden their clinical repertoire by embracing the concept of the 'incompetent therapist.' In a counter-intuitive yet profound approach, therapists admitting their helplessness in directing the client fosters a deeper authenticity in the therapeutic encounter. By ‘wallowing’ in their perceived incompetence, therapists become more human, facilitating a more genuine connection that enhances treatment outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Critically analyze the burden of always having to be competent as a therapist and its impact on the therapeutic process, including potential effects on both the therapist and client dynamics
Develop and implement three advanced techniques to strengthen a clinicians ability to bond with clients effortlessly, incorporating principles of empathy, authenticity, and therapeutic presence.
Evaluate and devise strategies to navigate three common traps that clients use to make therapists feel incompetent, employing advanced therapeutic skills and interventions to maintain effective therapeutic alliances.

Agenda:

Agenda - Outline

(10 min)

Introduction

Discussion on the universal aspiration for competence in therapy
Defining a successful therapist
Exploring the concept of the therapist being 'held hostage' by the need to prove competence
Recognizing the burden and fear associated with perceived incompetence
Understanding that embracing 'incompetence' is not merely a technique, but a philosophical shift

(20 min)

Therapy Traps and Client Dynamics

Case examples illustrating common therapy traps: "Yes, but...", "I tried that...", "Your life is perfect...", "Nothing works for me...", "You're the best therapist, right?", "You went to school for this, didn't you?"
Analyzing how these traps create therapeutic deadlocks

(40 minutes)

Advantages of Embracing Incompetence

Discussion on protecting therapists from feeling defeated
How embracing 'incompetence' encourages client responsibility and engagement
Implementing Carl Rogers' principles of empathy, warmth, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard to avoid power struggles
Applying Fritz Perls' Here & Now approach
Utilizing humor and recognizing absurdities in client situations (inspired by Bugs Bunny) to disrupt maladaptive patterns
The therapeutic value of admitting helplessness, leading to a more truthful and effective therapeutic process

(30 min)

Video Examples and Discussion

Viewing and discussing video examples:
- Failed Couples Therapy
- Turning the Tables on Borderline Personality Disorder

(40 minutes)

Practical Exercises

Engaging in exercises to practice therapeutic 'incompetence':
- Telling clients “I don’t know”
- Offering 'bad advice'
- Demonstrating 'poor modeling'
- Removing oneself from the pedestal of expertise
- Modeling imperfection
- Mirroring client behaviors

(30 minutes)

Counter-Intuitive Outcomes of Embracing Incompetence

Exploring the benefits:
- Reduced pressure and tension
- Lower risk of therapist burn-out
- Enhanced authenticity and honesty within the therapist
- Clients' increased autonomy and problem-solving capabilities

(10 Minutes)

Review and Summary

Recapitulation of key points
Final thoughts and takeaways
Additional resources and references for further study

Disclosure: Eliot Yisroel Kaplan, PhD, LCSW-R, is the author of "Paradox Psychology: It's Not What You Think," which is included as one of the references for this course.

This presentation is open to:

Social Workers
Professional Counselors
Therapists
Psychologists
Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services

Course Level: intermediate

Level of Clinician: intermediate

New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.

There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

Therapist Express 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-0774.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Mental Health Counselor #MHC-0082
CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
NEFESH International, 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-0116.

Refunds
Registrants who are unable to attend a Frum Therapist seminar or live workshop may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform Frum Therapist ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting (607) 249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.