Facilitating Groups of Youth

Evidence-based interventions are tending towards using groups for treating emotionally disturbed and acting out youth less frequently.  However, those working in a residential setting or a day treatment/school setting, probably are currently doing groups within the milieu.  Whether deciding to keep groups or moving away from this modality, this training may help staff to work more safely with groups of youngsters who can exhibit challenging behaviors.  Study how to prepare for groups before beginning, how to set the stage and structure of a group from the beginning, and how to address challenging behaviors, if they do occur, during the group.

Instructor Ellen Morrison, training Director at Edgewood Center for Children and Families in San Francisco, has been a trainer and facilitator for over 10 years, with experience in program development, management, and direct service with children and adults. She offers a breadth of experience in the field of administrative and direct service social work, has extensive experience facilitating group processes in clinical and education settings and specializes in group dynamics. Through the lens of social justice, her trainings are experiential, relevant, and supportive of professionals. 

Instructor Natalia Estassi, PsyD, is a bilingual/multi-cultural clinician with over 11 years of clinical experience working with families, adults, children, and infants exposed to violence and trauma. Other areas of clinical expertise include: Child-Parent Psychotherapy, CBT, acculturation issues, dual diagnosis, and infant mental health. This includes training and practice of the DC 0-3 (Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood.) Her doctorate degree is in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on family and children. Her dissertation focused on self-care practices of therapists in avoiding vicarious traumatization and burnout. She is currently working as the program manager for the Safe Start Program at Edgewood Center for Children and Families, a national research project designed to best understand and treat the impact of violence on children and their caregivers. Dr. Estassi has over 16 years of experience conducting trainings at local, state, national, and international levels.