This workshop covers a comprehensive array of topics essential for understanding and supporting older adults in individual, couple, and family therapy. After exploring (and debunking) common myths about aging, attendees will learn about widespread challenges faced by older adults including senior loneliness, generational challenges, misconceptions surrounding sexuality, and questions surrounding death and dying. The workshop will also focus on often unexamined strengths and coping skills within this population. Attendees will gain helpful clinical tools stemming from therapy models like Narrative Therapy and Internal Family Systems. Finally, clinicians will walk away with a greater understanding of how their Self of the Therapist work can play out in the therapeutic space with older people.

Location: Hybrid. This training will occur in-person at CCRC’s Evanston clinic location and online via Zoom. Please select during purchase how you plan to attend. This training will not be recorded.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn how to explore and discuss the impact of ageism and common myths about the aging process with older clients.

• Attendees will be able to identify possible developmental, biological, individual, and interpersonal constraints associated with older adult populations.

• Attendees will become familiar with strengths found in older adult populations.

• Attendees will gain practical, narrative-based tools that can be used in session when working with older adult populations.

• Attendees will achieve a better understanding of how they can “show up” for their older clients from a Self-of-the-Therapist perspective.

Presenter Bio:

Sam Hardy (ALMFT) was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Individuals, Societies, & Aging and Forensics & Criminality from the University of Southern California. She completed her graduate education at Northwestern University as a therapist-in-training at the Family Institute, earning a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Sam has considerable experience working with older adults experiencing aging challenges and end of life concerns and enjoys supporting older individuals as they process past trauma and combat senior loneliness. Because her clinical training is rooted in an Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) approach, she enjoys drawing from a variety of therapy models including Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She is also the current Director of Social Media for Dr. Alexandra Solomon’s global brand and a portrait photographer in the Chicago area!