Arrested Emotional Development Workshop

In two weeks I am going to hold an 8-hour workshop (for in service credit - 40 hrs. every two yrs. in Texas) on a topic I have been researching for over 20 years. This social phenomenon is, to a large extent, the reason we have so many adults acting like children in today's society. We have always had "jerks", however, we are now seeing educated, socially successful adults who will defend their inappropriate behavior. There are many examples presented in the workshop and I will be happy to come to your department to provide this workshop if you have your Training Supervisor call me at 512-282-3158 or 512-971-1918

IMPLICATIONS OF ARRESTED EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

According to Dr.Forest Tennant, Dr. Richard Hawley and Dr. Gabriel Nahas (among others) one of the most tragic results of adolescent chemical abuse is the advent of Arrested Emotional Development (frequently referred to as Post-Drug Impairment Syndrome - P.D.I.S. ). What this means is adolescents using chemicals before adolescence and/or after the onset of adolescence will more than likely develop problems in three essential areas:

· The ability to project into the future and plan, or into the past and correct past mistakes.

· The ability to establish lasting relationships.

· The ability to understand how their behavior impacts the lives of others.

The ramifications of these lost skills are devastating.


· FAMILIES CANNOT GROW IF EVERYONE IS AN ADOLESCENT (even the adults).
· EMOTIONALLY ARRESTED ADULTS TEND TO DISCIPLINE LIKE ADOLESCENTS (poorly defined boundaries, inconsistencies).
· EMOTIONALLY ARRESTED ADULTS TEND TO PHYSICALLY ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN (first reaction is physical).
· EMOTIONALLY ARRESTED ADULTS TEND TO SEXUALLY ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN (still trying to meet emotional needs).
· EMOTIONALLY ARRESTED ADULTS ALWAYS EMOTIONALLY ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN (put-downs, defensiveness, etc.).

Is there going to be an increase in FAMILY VIOLENCE due to the increase in the numbers of emotionally arrested adults -- of course.

Will professionals benefit by being able to understand and deal with these emotionally arrested adults -- without question.