Friday, November 14, 2008

Difficult Conversations:
Taking Risks, Maintaining Ethics

• Is there a difficult conversation that you’ve been putting off?
• Are you afraid of hurting someone’s feelings?
• Do you fear that you’ll damage the relationship?

Whether you’re dealing with a difficult colleague, boss, supervisee, trainee, client, or parent, avoiding difficult conversations is not uncommon. We have all experienced anxiety or frustration about having difficult conversations. These conversations typically involve courage because there is risk.

Nearly every ethical complaint, licensing board disciplinary action, or lawsuit can be traced back to a failure of someone or group to have the difficult conversation with the person or persons headed for trouble. The ingredients for violations and trouble are in place long before a situation explodes.

Difficult conversations always involve strong feelings. Identifying and managing emotion is central for understanding and action. We will examine the formal and informal rules within a culture or system that influence whether or not confrontations occur when difficult or emotional topics arise. Then we will focus on strategies for both individuals and groups. Workshop participants will:

• Investigate the individual and group dynamics of difficult conversation avoidance
• Learn how to identify ethical concerns in difficult confrontations
• Obtain strategies to have a difficult but necessary conversation

Workshop format includes lecture, discussion, and case examples.  This workshop offers 6 hours of credits in ethics for all NH mental health professionals.

Instructor

Daniel Jacobs, Ed.M., Psy.D., M.B.A., is a licensed psychologist in private practice at Andover Mental Health Associates.  He was previously the Director of the Adult and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs at Salem Hospital.  Dr. Jacobs trains and consults nationally with mental health agencies, substance abuse providers, residential programs, and schools with a focus on helping improve communication, effectiveness, and ways to initiate lasting behavioral change in difficult circumstances.  Dr. Jacobs believes hope is always an option, and to achieve success we have to be willing to take risks.