Continuing Education & Trainings
At Encourage Forward Counseling & Training (EFC‑T), continuing education and professional training are designed to support meaningful growth in both individuals and organizations working with children, adolescents, and families.
Trainings are practical, engaging, and grounded in real-world experience—helping participants move beyond theory and feel more confident in applying what they learn in their daily work.
Anonymous Evaluations of Past Students
“I will be a better counselor because of his effort, skill, and care.”
“I learned a tremendous amount in this class.”
“He asks a lot from his students, and it’s clear that he puts in even more. He clearly cares very deeply about the courses he teaches and the impact they have on his students.”
“This course was highly engaging, relevant, and empowering.”
Upcoming Trainings
4 Hour virtual training on 8/27/2026 (9 AM - 1PM MST)
Foundations of Adlerian Supervision Theory for Clinical Supervisors is a virtual training designed to help supervisors integrate Adlerian theory into ethical, developmentally grounded supervision practice.
Rooted in principles of social interest, encouragement, egalitarian relationships, and goal-directed behavior, this training presents supervision as a collaborative process that supports both professional development of mental health professionals and client welfare.
Participants will learn how to apply Adlerian concepts to:
· Facilitate supervisee’s professional identity development
· Support theory-driven case conceptualization
· Navigate power, evaluation, and gatekeeping responsibilities
· Promote reflective clinical reasoning across developmental stages
The training emphasizes the integration of ethics, development, and case conceptualization, equipping supervisors with practical tools to guide supervisees in understanding not only what they do in session, but why.
Delivered in an interactive virtual format, participants will engage in applied activities, structured reflection, and case-based learning to strengthen their supervision practice. Participants will leave with a clear framework and actionable strategies to enhance supervisee growth, ethical decision-making, and clinical effectiveness.
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Clinical supervision is a dynamic, relational, and ethically grounded process that shapes not only the competence of counselors, but also their professional identity, clinical judgment, and long-term engagement with the counseling profession. This virtual training, Foundations of Adlerian Supervision Theory for Clinical Supervisors, offers an integrative framework that positions supervision as both a developmental and socially responsible practice.
Grounded in Adlerian theory, this training introduces supervision as a collaborative and purpose-driven relationship, emphasizing social interest, encouragement, egalitarian engagement, and goal-directed development as central mechanisms of growth. Within this framework, supervision extends beyond evaluation to become an intentional space for reflective learning, where supervisees are supported in making meaning of their clinical work, deepening self-awareness, and strengthening their professional identity over time.
Participants will explore how Adlerian supervision can be operationalized across developmental stages, from practicum through licensure; while maintaining ethical accountability and responsiveness to client welfare. The training interweaves professional development, ethical responsibility, and case conceptualization, recognizing these domains as mutually reinforcing rather than separate competencies. Supervisors will engage with structured approaches to guiding supervisees in linking theory, client presentation, and intervention planning in ways that are both intentional and developmentally appropriate.
A central focus of this training is helping supervisors facilitate deeper clinical thinking by supporting supervisees in understanding not only what they are doing in session, but why. Through an Adlerian lens, this includes examining the purposefulness of behavior, the influence of subjective perception, and the role of interpersonal and sociocultural context in shaping both client and clinician experience.
The training also addresses the inherent tension between egalitarian collaboration and supervisory authority, offering strategies for navigating power, evaluation, and gatekeeping responsibilities in ways that uphold ethical standards while fostering growth. Particular attention is given to the supervisor’s role in promoting client welfare, supporting supervisee professional development, and maintaining clear professional boundaries when engaging in deeper reflective work.
Delivered in a virtual format, this training emphasizes active engagement through applied case examples, scaffolded supervision vignettes, and structured reflection. Participants will leave with concrete tools and a conceptual framework for integrating Adlerian supervision principles into their practice in ways that enhance clinical effectiveness, strengthen ethical decision-making, and promote meaningful professional development.
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Explain core principles of Adlerian supervision theory—including social interest, encouragement, goal-directed behavior, and egalitarian relationships—and their relevance to clinical supervision practice.
Apply Adlerian concepts to supervision practice by facilitating supervisee development in case conceptualization, linking theory, assessment, and intervention planning.
Differentiate supervision strategies across developmental stages (e.g., practicum, internship, post-licensure) using a developmentally informed Adlerian framework.
Demonstrate strategies for fostering supervisee professional identity development through reflective dialogue, encouragement, and meaning-making processes.
Analyze the role of power, authority, and egalitarianism in supervision and apply ethical strategies for balancing collaboration with gatekeeping and evaluative responsibilities.
Utilize structured approaches to promote reflective clinical reasoning, helping supervisees articulate the “why” behind their clinical decisions.
Integrate ethical and legal considerations into Adlerian supervision practice, with specific attention to client welfare, supervisor responsibility, and professional boundaries.
Implement at least two practical Adlerian-informed supervision interventions or techniques (e.g., encouragement practices, lifestyle-informed questioning, reflective prompts) in their supervision work.
3 Hour virtual training on 8/21/2026 (9 AM - 12 PM MST)
This training examines the clinical, ethical, and professional considerations faced by male counselors in play therapy, including barriers related to bias, representation, and perceptions of safety and competence. Using a DEIJ-informed and relational framework, participants will explore strategies for building trust with caregivers and organizations, strengthening clinical presence, and communicating boundaries clearly.
The training emphasizes intentional practice, professional identity development, and practical approaches to navigating systemic challenges. Through case-based learning and reflection, participants will gain tools to address bias, advocate for themselves, and engage in play therapy with confidence, ethical integrity, and clinical effectiveness.
Participants will leave being able to:
Identify common biases and barriers male counselors face in play therapy
Apply ethical and practical strategies to build trust with children, caregivers, and organizations
Develop a strong professional identity and clinical presence in play therapy work
Navigate workplace and systemic challenges, including concerns about safety and bias
Use effective communication and boundary-setting to support ethical, confident practice
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This training explores the unique clinical, ethical, and professional considerations faced by male counselors practicing or pursuing play therapy professional training. While play therapy is a highly effective modality for working with children, male counselors often encounter structural, cultural, and interpersonal barriers that can impact access, professional identity, and perceived competence within this specialization.
This workshop is designed to support clinicians in navigating these realities through a DEIJ informed and ethically grounded framework. Participants will examine common challenges, including representation within play therapy, implicit bias related to gender and nurturing roles, public and organizational concerns about safety, and assumptions about empathic capacity or clinical skill.
Grounded in relational and systemic perspectives, this training emphasizes the importance of intentional practice, transparency, and proactive communication in building trust with caregivers, colleagues, and organizations. Participants will explore how to establish clinical presence, structure sessions, and communicate boundaries in ways that promote both client safety and counselor credibility.
The training also addresses the importance of professional identity development, supporting male counselors in integrating play therapy into their work in ways that are authentic, clinically effective, and ethically sound. Participants will develop strategies to advocate for themselves within workplaces, address bias constructively, and maintain confidence and competence in their clinical role.
Delivered in an interactive online format, this training includes case-based discussions, applied reflection, and practical tools that participants can implement immediately. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to navigate systemic barriers, strengthen their clinical presence, and engage in play therapy practice with confidence, intentionality, and professionalism.
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Professional Identity & Representation
Describe the role of gender representation in play therapy and its impact on professional identity development within the field.
Analyze common biases and assumptions related to clinicians working with children, including perceptions of empathy, safety, and clinical competence.
Develop strategies to strengthen professional identity and confidence when practicing play therapy in contexts where representation may be limited.
Ethical and Procedural Considerations
Apply ethical standards related to working with child clients, including informed consent, caregiver communication, and documentation practices.
Identify procedural strategies that increase transparency, safety, and trust (e.g., session structure, physical space considerations, supervision practices).
Workplace and Systemic Barriers
Evaluate workplace and systemic barriers impacting access to and acceptance within play therapy practice, including referral patterns, organizational policies, and stakeholder concerns.
Formulate proactive communication strategies to address concerns from caregivers, colleagues, and organizations while maintaining professionalism and ethical integrity.
Clinical Practice & Integration
Demonstrate strategies for establishing therapeutic presence and engagement with children using play-based approaches that align with clinician identity and style.
Analyze and respond to clinical and workplace scenarios involving bias, boundary concerns, and caregiver dynamics using developmentally and ethically appropriate interventions.