The Heart Of Storywork: Developing Self-Compassion In Our Clients (Friday, June 12, 2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, June 12, 2025

Time: 12 - 1:30 pm

(Includes 30 minutes of virtual networking prior to presentation)

Location: Online via Zoom

(This event will be held virtually only)

Zoom Link

________________________________________________

CEU INFO

Earn 1 CEU | Approved for LMFTs, LPCs, LCSWs, & Psychologists

CEU Requirements: To receive CEUs, you must complete the evaluation form provided during the event. Once submitted, your CEU certificate will be emailed to you.

This event will be recorded and accessible to Austin AMFT members in the members-only section of our website afterward. If you are a member, you may receive CEUs for watching this recording after completion of the presentation and submission of the evaluation form. This recording will not be available to non-members.

TOPIC

The Heart Of Storywork: Developing Self-Compassion In Our Clients

PRESENTER

Leslie Bley, LPC-S

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION

Do your clients have a strong inner critic? Do they seem to see their own mistakes first and struggle to detach from shame? Self-compassion is a core foundation for growth and healing. Even we as practitioners find this challenging, right? In this webinar, we will look at key principles for cultivating more compassion in our clients: curiosity, reflection, reframing, and new neural pathways to higher self-esteem. You will leave with fresh tools for approaching this powerful counseling framework.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

Identify signals of low self-compassion
Explore the value of compassion in long-term mental health
Understand the clinical, emotional, and somatic patterns and pathways of shame & compassion
Integrative strategies that cultivate self-compassion

BIOGRAPHY

Leslie Bley has been counseling for over 20 years; specializing in group therapy, story work, self-compassion, emotion regulation and stress reduction for women. She is the Director and Founder of Compassion Counseling Group, PLLC and she emphasizes trauma informed care and evidence based practices. She also supervises LPC-Associates and provides individual and group coaching for therapists in their practice and professional formation. Leslie’s group practice is located in South Austin and New Braunfels. Outside of work, Leslie enjoys visiting national parks with her husband and twin teenage boys, spending time with friends, and writing. For more information, visit www.lesliebleycounseling.com.

This presentation is designed to be useful for all levels of training and experience.

Having trouble? Visit our FAQ page for help.

September CEU | Helping Families Navigate Delinquent Teen Behavior (Friday, September 11, 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, September 11, 2025

Time: 12 - 1:30 pm

(Includes 30 minutes of virtual networking prior to presentation)

Location: Online via Zoom

(This event will be held virtually only)

Zoom Link

________________________________________________

CEU INFO

Earn 1 CEU | Approved for LMFTs, LPCs, LCSWs, & Psychologists

CEU Requirements: To receive CEUs, you must complete the evaluation form provided during the event. Once submitted, your CEU certificate will be emailed to you.

Topic:

Helping Families Navigate Delinquent Teen Behavior

Presentation Description:

There are a lot of theories out there about the etiology of harmful behaviors and the rise of narcissistic or antisocial traits among young people ranging from trauma, poor parenting, socioeconomic issues to just plain genetics. It can be hard for therapists, let alone parents, to process it all. Additionally, it can feel like what is considered "typical" behavior for adolescents has become increasingly broad in recent years. This can be hard for family therapists who find themselves with families bringing in their "out of control" teenager for help.

We will discuss the population and tenets of the treatment program here at Williamson County Juvenile Services. We will also discuss the spectrum from prosocial to antisocial behaviors and tips for differentiating between typical adolescent boundary-pushing behavior and concerning delinquent behavior. We will also discuss some skills and interventions helpful for addressing harmful behavior in family therapy that don’t lead to splitting or scapegoating.

Key learning points:

1. The audience will understand the Juvenile Justice population and interventions currently utilized at Williamson County Juvenile Services.

2. The audience will learn about antisocial traits in teenagers and be able to differentiate between typical adolescent boundary-pushing and delinquent behavior.

3. The audience will learn skills helpful to parents and therapists in confronting harmful behavior in ways that are consistent with therapeutic values of compassion and nonjudgment.

Speaker bio:

Natalie Bott is the Assistant Director of Mental Health Services at Williamson County Juvenile Services. Natalie brings experience from nearly a decade working with justice involved youth and their families. Additionally, she weaves in personal experience as a mother to teenagers. She is passionate and dedicated to providing compassionate and nonjudgmental mental health care to families struggling with even the most troublesome and taboo behaviors.

This presentation is designed to be useful for all levels of training and experience.

Having trouble? Visit our FAQ page for help.

Austin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy upcoming events

The Heart Of Storywork: Developing Self-Compassion In Our Clients (Friday, June 12, 2026)

PRESENTER

September CEU | Helping Families Navigate Delinquent Teen Behavior (Friday, September 11, 2026)