Page 20 - AFCC Australian Conference 2018

Workshop
s
AFCC Australian Chapter Guidelines for Working with Children.
Room: Ballroom B
Ms Pat Woodcock 2.15 pm – 3.00 pm
Forensic Psychologist Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Cairns, Queensland
Chair: Ms Fiona Darroch
Psychologists who work with children are by nature usually trusting individuals. While this is usually a positive, there are times when the psychologists need not only to protect themselves but also protect the children with whom they work, particularly those with separated parents. Currently the Australian Psychological Society, while having guidelines when involved with multiple clients, has no speci c recommendations for psychologists working with children of separated parents. While the AFCC in the USA does have guidelines for court-involved therapy, they may not apply for Australian practitioners. This session will highlight the danger zones and risks for psychologists providing services for separated families, such as unwittingly supporting alienation in children, and present the Australian chapter AFCC draft guidelines for Australian practitioners providing therapy to children and their separated parents for discussion and comment.
Workshop 12 Less is Sometimes More...Being Aware of the Footprint We Leave on the Family.
Dr Robert Simon
Psychologist, San Diego, California, USA
Judge Tom Altobelli
Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Wollongong, New South Wales
Dr Peter Krabman
Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatrist, Sydney, New South Wales
Chair: Ms Julie Jackson
Room: Ballroom C 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm
Family law professionals (Judges, Lawyers, Psychologists, Parent Educators) do this work primarily out of a sense of purpose and commitment to families and to children. Sometimes, the need of the professionals to ‘help’ outstrips the ability of the family to receive ‘help’. Sometimes helping has unintended consequences such as disempowering the family, making the family feel micro-managed or energizing the dysfunctional dynamic between parents.
This workshop will explore the issues of unintended consequences and the ‘footprint’ on the family from the perspective of mental health professionals and the bench. Ultimately, increasing our sensitivity to our impact on the family can lead to greater sensitivity, greater acceptance of ‘help’ on the part of the family and ultimately to greater ef cacy.
20. 5th Annual AFCC AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE 2018