Ask the experts: Navigating dysfunction in mental health facilities
with
Lisa Thomas, NCPsyA, LPAT, LPC, ACS, ATCS
Kaila Hawriluks, LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC, NCC
Ashley Gerolstein, LPAT, ATR-BC, LPC, ATCS, ACS
Brown Bag Lunch Series
May 21, 2025 12:00 – 1:00 pm EST
On Zoom Only – 1 CE
Participation is FREE. There is a $17 ADMIN FEE for each CE. The registration will close on May 21 at 10 am EST
Navigating the Emotional Challenges of Mental Health Training: A Student–Supervisor Perspective
Training in the mental health field can be both deeply rewarding and emotionally demanding. Students often encounter personal material—both in the classroom and in field placements—that can evoke unresolved feelings. Clinical settings may expose them to chaotic environments, difficult staff dynamics, systemic limitations, and emotionally intense interactions with clients.
In such conditions, the expectation to engage in self-reflection while managing clinical responsibilities can be overwhelming. Supervisors play a critical role in helping students process these experiences and remain grounded in their development. Just as important, clinical supervision of supervisors provides a needed layer of insurance that the many difficult, often subjective, feelings assailing both therapist and supervisor are recognized, processed and resolved. This process ensures most effective care for all involved in the delicate balance of the therapeutic process.
In this presentation, we share our experiences as student and supervisor, and how we navigated the complexities of clinical training. We will explore how modern psychoanalytic supervision can help contain emotional overload, manage countertransference and resistance, and support students in maintaining emotional balance.
These tools allow for a deeper understanding of clinical work and create space for growth, resilience, and meaningful therapeutic engagement.
Course Objectives – Participants will be able to:
1- Recognize the importance of understanding emotional inductions from both patients and staff within clinical settings.
2- Identify the benefits of consulting directly with patients and staff to enhance therapeutic and organizational insight.
3- Analyze the interpersonal dynamics between students, patients, and staff to foster greater self-awareness and clinical effectiveness.
4- Explore how supervisor resistance may impact the supervisory process and develop strategies to address it constructively.
ACAP is an approved CE provider for:
Art Therapists
Counselors
Marriage and Family Counselors
NJ Psychoanalysts
Social Workers
NY Creative Arts Therapists
Psychologists
For questions or information email Cassio Campello at [email protected]
or call 973-629-1002
