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Introduction
Many clients in the health or mental health systems have a
great deal of difficulty being assertive. Some are excessively passive and find
it almost impossible to set the interpersonal boundaries they might like to
have. Others are excessively aggressive, finding it difficult to set boundaries
without alienating or attempting to control others. A lack of adequate
assertiveness skills is implicated in the origin and/or maintenance of many of
the presenting problems seen in health and mental health services.
In
response, Changeways has developed a psychoeducational group therapy protocol
designed to train clients in assertiveness skills. This program has been
offered at Changeways in Vancouver for several years, and has recently been
redesigned for our outreach training service. Called "Being There," it is
designed to be conducted with clients over eight to ten two-hour sessions. We
offer service providers two days of training in the implementation of the
program. Therapists attending the training seminar receive the 128-page manual
for clients, the 251-page Clinician's Guide, and a set of photocopy masters for
reproduction of the materials for their own clients.
Program Contents
The course offered
to clients runs is designed to run for eight to ten sessions, two hours apiece,
and provides participants with training in the following:
- Definitions of assertive, aggressive, passive, and
passive-aggressive behaviour
- Barriers to becoming assertive, including stress,
gender role expectations, social barriers, and maladaptive beliefs
- Assertive rights
- Nonverbal behaviour styles
- Giving one's opinion
- Accepting compliments
- Giving positive feedback
- Coping with criticism
- Giving constructive negative feedback
- Saying "no"
- Making effective requests
- Dealing with confrontation
Which clients are
appropriate for the Assertiveness Program?
The program is designed
to be used as a component of therapy (but seldom the sole component) for
selected clients presenting with a variety of difficulties, including
depression, anger control problems, many of the anxiety disorders, adjustment
disorder, marital and child-rearing problems, and so on.
The program
is written primarily for adults, though teens should have no difficulty
grasping the principles and younger children may benefit with some
modifications. The client materials are written at a grade six reading level,
though clients functioning below this level may benefit if they have help.
The Materials
The Being
There manual for clients is a 128-page workbook exploring different styles of
communication. It includes numerous examples, short writing exercises, and home
practice recommendations. The Clinician's Guide is a longer resource providing
recommendations about structuring the group, teaching the core content, and
leading practice exercises. It includes a set of point-form session notes
designed to be used as "cheat sheets" for the therapist during the group
meetings.
The Training Workshop
The Being There training workshop for providers is two days long. The
workshop content is presented via lecture, discussion, and participation in
many of the exercises from the group. The workshop is designed to be strongly
interactive and experiential.
Workshop participants each receive a
copy of the Being There client manual and the Clinician's Guide. Each agency
represented receives photocopy masters (on CD-ROM) for the client manual,
instruction sheets for the in-session exercises, and adjunct materials.
Who should attend the workshop?
The
workshop is intended for professional therapists (including clinical
counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and other trained
psychotherapists).
If you plan to
attend...
Workshop participants will experience many of the
assertiveness exercises first-hand, often by splitting into groups of two or
three. Please come prepared to participate in these nonthreatening exercises.
As well, we recommend wearing casual, comfortable clothing.
How to register
- Check the Calendar for
information on upcoming workshop dates, locations, and prices.
- Print a copy of the workshop flyer for the program you
wish to attend. Alternatively, print an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) copy of the
General Registration Form
and fill it in with the price, dates, and location indicated on the Calendar
page.
- If there is an indication that the workshop is nearing
capacity, or if the registration deadline is approaching, call us at 604 871
0490 or fax the registration form to us at 604 871 0495.
- Mail a copy of the form and your cheque (made out to
"Changeways Clinic") to us at Changeways Clinic, Suite 509, 2525 Willow Street,
Vancouver BC, V5Z 3N8.
If you have any questions about the program or about
registration, call us at 604 871 0490.
If you know of additional staff
members who might be interested in the program, let us know. We can send out
brochures to your agency via email, fax, or regular mail.
Space is
limited for all workshops, so register early!
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