Navigating puzzling clinical scenarios: strategies for challenging moments in therapy

Gain practical, evidence-based tools grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and attachment-based principles to confidently address clinical challenges like misinformation, relational distress, stagnation, and self-diagnosis.

Even the most skilled clinicians face moments of uncertainty in therapy. This immersive training is designed for clinicians seeking clinical strategies for challenging therapy scenarios and practical tools to navigate complex and often puzzling situations in therapy. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, facilitated discussion, and group exercises, this session integrates evidence-based practices and real-world experience to help clinicians confidently address these challenges. All strategies presented are informed by research-backed principles from CBT and attachment-based interventions.

This targeted training is for clinicians seeking practical, research-informed strategies to navigate common complex situations in psychotherapy. – Dr. Rana Pishva

Themes covered include dispelling common myths and misconceptions clients bring from social media; addressing relational issues when the source of client distress is a third party (e.g., parent, partner, or child); challenges and clinical pitfalls when clients seek the therapist’s personal opinion or decision-making; and working with a client who feels “stuck”, or a client “over-identifies” with a self-made diagnosis. When time permits, participants can also ask about their own challenging situations for discussion.

Examples of topics covered:

• Responding to “pop psychology” and misinformation
• Working with the “Person not in the room”
• Navigating requests for therapist advice
• Clients feeling “stuck” or experiencing ambivalence, avoidance, and stagnation
• Managing rupture and fostering repair in the therapeutic relationship
• Client self-diagnosis

Learning objectives:

• Implement strategies to overcome barriers to therapeutic progress.
• Enhance skills in case conceptualization by effectively integrating cognitive behavioural and attachment-based theories.
• Recognize and manage ruptures in the therapeutic relationship.
• Effectively use practical strategies for working with relational issues when the client’s distress involves a third party.
• Develop advanced listening skills by learning to notice and interpret discursive markers in client speech.

Grey areas in therapy are inevitable—but with the right tools, you can navigate them skillfully. Register now to strengthen your clinical insight and expand your therapeutic toolkit with clinical strategies designed for today’s most challenging therapy scenarios.

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