Saturday 27th September 2008 (9.30am-5.00pm)
FAMILY BREAKDOWN, DIVORCE AND PARENTS FIGHTING: HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE RECOVER AND WORK THROUGH
Cost: £145 (includes a complimentary buffet lunch)

Each year in the UK, up to 963,000 children are exposed to domestic violence (UN Secretary General study on Violence Against Children, 2006). For every 3 marriages there are now 2 divorces. 1 in 4 children will experience chronic stress due to family breakdown (NSO 2007). Those who have experienced family breakdown are 75 percent more likely to fail at school, 70 percent more likely to become a drug addict and 50 percent more likely to have alcohol problems. This pain and misery is experienced by a huge number of children and young people right across the socioeconomic spectrum. Yet ‘only a tiny percentage of government money is spent on family breakdown compared with its cost to society. Instead funding is focused on dealing with the effect of broken lives.’ (Centre for Social Justice, 2006).

This conference will address the torn-apart world, and often overwhelming and unbearable feelings some children suffer as a result of family breakdown, or witnessing parents fighting. Presenters will speak about the resulting states of anxiety, depression, illness, the incapacity to learn, anti-social behaviour, and turning for solace to self-harm, drugs or alcohol. They will consider the children with chronically low self-esteem, who attribute the family breakdown to their own unloveability or inherent badness. Presenters will then explore a range of interventions, practical tools and techniques showing how children and families can be helped to heal. Focus will also be given to prevention in terms of empowering parents with new relational skills so that children are not the casualties. Overall, the conference aims to inspire delegates by offering effective ways forward so that children and young people do not repeat the negative relational patterns they have so painfully witnessed.

Benefits from attending this conference

  • Understand the complexity of emotional reactions in children and young people who face family breakdown, violence and/or dysfunction
  • Learn the effects of attachment ruptures and how these can be addressed and worked through
  • Learn how parents can be empowered to talk to children about what is happening in parental divorce or separation
  • Learn how children can find their voice instead of becoming impotent bystanders of traumatic family interactions and events
  • Learn about a range of family therapy interventions
  • Take away creative ways forward for helping those who have witnessed parental fighting or domestic violence

Speakers

Camila Batmanghelidjh
Psychotherapist. Ernst and Young Woman of the Year 2006 award. Founder of The Place To Be and Kids Company, inner city charity offering education, therapy and a life-line to hundreds of young people whose lives have been affected by drink, drugs, violence, abuse or neglect. Author of the groundbreaking book Shattered Lives.

Gill Gorrell-Barnes
Consultant Marital and Family Therapist. Consultant and Expert Witness. Specialist in the effects on children of parental separation and divorce. Author: Family Therapy in Changing Times, Working with Children and Parents through Separation and Divorce.

Stuart Lane
Registered Integrative Child Psychotherapist. Working with children, adolescents and families in a variety of settings including social care, education and CAMHS.

Julie Lynne-Evans
Psychotherapist specialising in working with children and families. Works with The Child and Adolescent Unit at the Royal Free Hospital and many other hospitals and schools. Referrals from GPs and psychiatrists.

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