Description
Kerry and Palmer’s work together was sparked by a devastating and staggering statistic: “40% of youth suicides are preceded by intense conflict with parents.” After studying this statistic further by conducting a research project, this mother-son duo made it their life’s work to honor both parents and teens as learners in the process of navigating the adolescent years.
Kerry and Palmer will take you back into the raw, messy middle of their once disconnected parent-teen relationship. They dive into their real journal entries from that difficult season and share the emotions and thoughts of a mom who was hopeless and heartbroken over the trajectory her son was on and of a teenage boy who struggled deeply with depression and suicidality.
Their story is equally powerful and relatable to families who struggle to feel connected, as well as to therapists who walk alongside parents, families, and teens who face similar challenges.
They will teach their Family CPR model which includes three incredibly impactful skills to redefine the way parents and teens view and interact with each other for a closer, more connected family.
By attending this talk online, you will benefit from paradigm-shifting discussions and exercises on how to implement the Family CPR model into your family or therapy practice, gain a deep sense of understanding for parents and teens who struggle to connect, recognize some of the subtle indicators of youth suicide risk and depression, and leave with easy-to-implement strategies for creating a family kids want to come home to.
Learning Objectives:
- Observe the two sides of the story of the deterioration of a parent-teen relationship and recognize subtle indicators of youth suicide risk and depression.
- Utilize the Family CPR model to strengthen connection between parents and their tweens and teens.
Agenda:
(5 min) Welcome and Introduction to the Speakers
(10 min) Context for importance of strong parent-teen relationships and impact on youth suicide and youth mental health.
(10 min) Audience engagement to guide parents through the process of creating meaningful connection with their teens.
(10 min) Behind-the-scenes parent perspective: insight into the deterioration of a parent-teen relationship.
(5 min) Audience engagement for deeper understanding of challenges in parent-teen dynamics and impact on emotional expression.
(10 min) Behind-the-scenes youth perspective: insight into youth depression and suicide risk.
(5 min) Two sides of the story: audience engagement relating to parent and teen conflict.
(10 min) Family CPR Model to redefine the way parents and teens view and interact with each other for a closer, more connected family.
(10 min) Part 1: Pivot the Perspective + audience engagement
(10 min) Part 2: Change the Conversation + audience engagement
(10 min) Part 3: Redefine the relationship the relationship + audience engagement
(10 min) Closing: hope for healed relationships
(15 min) Questions
Presenter Bios:
Kerry Stutzman: LMFT, MSW, AAMFT Fellow/Approved Supervisor, DFI Clinical Supervisor, National Speakers Association (NSA) Professional Member, EMDR Certified
Palmer Skudneski, Certified Youth Coach and MFT Graduate Candidate: Northwestern University’s Graduate School
Kerry and Palmer are a mother-son duo creating a movement where parents and teens honor each other, change the conversation, and redefine their relationship – creating a happy and healthy home. They have made it their life’s work to help parents create close, connected families by offering Parent Coaching Groups and public presentations.
Kerry Stutzman: As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Parent Educator, Public Speaker, and Clinical Supervisor, Kerry has dedicated her life to helping parents be the best version of themselves so that their children feel seen, cherished, and loved.
She has three sons, two stepsons and one stepdaughter. She is a Denver native who has never stopped marveling at the gorgeous mountains where she loves cycling, sailing, picnics, and family dinners. She also loves the adventure of her semi-nomadic RV life.
Palmer Skudneski: 25-year-old Teen Success Coach who attends Northwestern University’s Graduate School of Marriage and Family Therapy.
He was ‘that kid’: The one who broke rules for the fun of it and rebelled (hard!) against his parents. He had ADHD and a knack for creating mischief. Sometimes he marvels that he survived some of those crazy teen-year decisions that he made. After a big interruption in life, he made it his life’s work to help teen boys navigate their path through adolescence with success and better decisions.
(NBCC and AASECT CEs are available. This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists [AASECT] and is approved for 2 CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.)
