Overview

The Deep Mind Series: Working Relationally with Children and Adolescents

Most therapists are trained to respond to behaviour. This second webinar of a two-part webinar series invites you to understand the mind beneath it. In the first webinar, we explore how to work with children (5–12) through play as a form of communication, integrating relational dynamics and parent work to access the child’s inner world. In the second, we shift to adolescents, where play gives way to complex relational patterns, resistance, and identity struggles, requiring a more flexible and integrative therapeutic approach. Across both sessions, you’ll learn how to move beyond surface-level interventions and develop a coherent, depth-oriented framework that integrates your work with children, adolescents, and their families — so you can feel more confident, less pressured, and more effective in the therapy room.

Working Relationally with Complexity, Resistance, and Identity -  Adolescent therapy requires a flexible and integrative approach that goes beyond technique. This webinar introduces a Deep Mind framework for working with adolescents, where presenting problems are understood as a re-emergence of earlier attachment dynamics within the context of identity development, separation, and increasing complexity.

Participants will explore how to integrate a range of therapeutic approaches — including relational, psychodynamic, and conversational methods — while maintaining a clear focus on the therapeutic relationship as the central mechanism of change. The webinar will address common challenges such as resistance, disengagement, acting out, and strong countertransference, while providing a framework for working effectively with both adolescents and their families.

Further information about Tania's approach: https://deepmindpt.com/

This is the second webinar in a two part webinar series. Participants are able to register for one or both of these webinars separately. To register for Webinar 1, please click here.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:-

• Understand adolescent presentations as expressions of underlying attachment dynamics and internal conflict, and apply an integrative framework to guide intervention.
• Develop a flexible, relational approach to treatment, integrating multiple modalities while using the therapeutic relationship and countertransference as key tools for understanding and change.

Presenter(s)

Mrs. Tania Kalkidis

About the presenter(s)

Tania is a highly experienced and respected Clinical Psychologist with extensive qualifications and expertise in psychodynamic psychotherapy, child and adolescent therapy, and clinical supervision. Holding a Masters in Clinical Child Psychology from The University of Melbourne and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from LaTrobe University, Tania has been a registered psychologist in Australia since 1992. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Tania is the director of Deep Mind Psychodynamic Training in Queensland, where she provides individual, couple, and family psychotherapy, along with online advanced training workshops for psychologists and psychotherapists. She offers in-depth training in psychodynamic psychotherapy and reflective practice, focusing on neuroscience, attachment, and trauma in therapeutic settings. She has worked with children and adolescents across various settings, including inpatient units, outpatient programs, and private practice, and are recognized for integrating creative therapeutic approaches such as psychodrama, relaxation techniques, and somatic work. In addition to clinical practice, Tania is a sought-after supervisor and educator, regularly presenting at national conferences and webinars. She is an experienced educator and PsyBA approved trainer for the Australian Psychological Society Supervisor Training Program. Tania also maintains active involvement in professional development, continually expanding her knowledge in psychodynamic theory and child psychotherapy, and they contribute to the training of future psychologists through supervision and teaching roles at various universities.

Notes

Target Audience

This event is aimed at all psychologists working with children and adolescents.

Please note:

• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the Zoom link) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, event-recording and any additional resources shared during the session.

Duration of Access

This event will be recorded. The recording will be emailed to all registered within 2 weeks post event and available for viewing up to 90 days

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.