Instructor:                  Jay Clark, MS, LPC

Undergraduate:         CE 495 – 001561 - 1 Undergraduate Credit

                                    Grade Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Credit (PNOC)

Graduate:                   CE 595 – 001562 - 1 Graduate Credit

                                    Grade Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Credit (PNOC)

Workshop Only:        CE 0002 – 001563 - Non-Credit: No academic credit awarded

                                    (13 Continuing Education Contact Hours will be awarded

                                    upon successful completion of workshop requirements)

Dates and Times:       Friday, April 3, 2009 – 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

                                    Saturday, April 4, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Location:                    University Center Rochester – CF 206/208

The preteen and teen years are often a tumultuous time in life.  Adolescents sometimes display characteristics of childhood and adulthood simultaneously, presenting a challenging paradox for parents, teachers, other family members, peers, and even themselves.   Many important factors influence teen cognitions, emotional states, impulses, and behavior.  In addition, adolescence is typically a time of great instability.  Some of the most common issues faced by these not-too-young-but-not-very-old people include:  relational problems with parents and/or siblings, peer pressure, romantic relationships, academic pressure, time management, and planning for the future.  Individual stressors such as trauma, depression, anxiety, other mental health concerns, pregnancy, self-injurious behavior, academic deficits, law infractions, aggressive behavior, and alcohol and drug abuse compound the pressure on teenagers.  Yet, oftentimes, adolescents are the healthiest members in their families.  Participants in this workshop will explore the incredible ability of adolescents to manage situations that would severely challenge most adults.  The workshop will incorporate case studies from the presenter coupled with small and large group activities.  Students who wish to understand how to approach preteens and teens in helpful and empathic ways will find this workshop to be of particular interest.

Jay Clark, MS, LPC

Jay Clark is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  He has worked with “at-risk” adolescents and their families for 10 years.  Jay graduated with a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Winona State University in 2001.  He has worked in a variety of community-based mental health settings and currently runs a day treatment program for middle and high school students in Houston County, Minnesota and works as an outpatient therapist and school based therapist in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  He has served as an adjunct faculty at Western Wisconsin Technical College and in the Counselor Education Department of Winona State University.  Jay works primarily within the Humanistic paradigm, identifying meaningful connections and empathy as the primary components of successful counseling.