Severely Troubled Youth

Description:  This course discusses the population of severely troubled youth who tend to commit juvenile offences in the U.S. The commonly used approaches to treatment and their efficacy are explored in addition to risk and protective factors among juveniles. Additionally, it will cover the importance of developmental and gender-specific interventions as well as institutional and evidence-based practices. The second section delves into aspects related to understanding troubled youth including attachment, gender differences, reasons, and purposes for non-normative behavior. The final section develops the conversation about which strategies to facilitate change are being used and their elements.  These strategies include Mindfulness, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Moral Reconation, Motivational Interviewing, and Restorative Justice. 

Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to describe the four categories of juvenile offense profiles.
2. Participants will be able to list the interventions that have statistically positive results with troubled youth.
3. Participants will be able to discuss the treatment needs/problem profile of severely troubled youth
4. Participants will be able to list the risk factors that increase the likelihood of problem behavior.
5. Participants will be able to list the protective factors that reduce the likelihood of problem behavior.
6. Participants will be able to discuss the role of anger regulation, attachment, gender differences, trauma resolution, and empathy with troubled youth.
7. Participants will be able to list the five critical outcomes of a gender responsive youth intervention program.
8. Participants will be able to describe the eight goals of misbehavior and effective responses to these goals. 
9. Participants will be able to discuss how people change and the transtheoretical model of change.
10. Participants will be able to discuss the elements of eight treatment models that are utilized with troubled youth.

Total CE Credits:  4 (NBCC Hours – 4)

Training Agenda:
Hour One:  Incidence and prevalence, treatment needs problem profiles.
Hour Two:  Risk and protective factors.
Hour Three:  Special issues.
Hour Four: Treatment models.

Methods: Study guide, posttest  & evaluation, Q & A via email to info4u@programservices.org

Content Areas:  Adolescent issues, Criminal Justice, Addictions, Helping relationship, Treatment knowledge, Counseling.

Purpose:   This course is intended for counseling practitioners who want to learn more about working with severely troubled youth who tend to be in the juvenile justice system. Individuals completing this course will be better equipped to understand the underlying issues and the effective interventions for troubled youth.

Target Audience:  Social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, mental health counselors, nurses, employee assistance professionals, addiction professionals, behavioral health technicians, and other allied professionals.