Adolescents and Families Archives | The Ferentz Institute

Breaking the Silence: Recognizing and Healing Coercive Control in Relationships

Coercive control is a hidden pattern of controlling and manipulative behaviors that strips away an individual's freedom and autonomy in a relationship.

The Power of Secure Attachment

Drawing inspiration from the arrival of her newest grandson, Jonah Avery, Lisa explores the fundamental role of attachment in shaping a child's future. From understanding the consequences of insecure attachment to the reparative power of the therapeutic relationship, this insightful read offers a deeper understanding of the experiences that can impact and shape your clients' lives.

The Challenges and Stressors of Going Home for the Holidays

Despite how television ads depict the holiday season, for many people this can be a time of great ambivalence and emotional overwhelm. There is a universal expectation and cultural push...

Understanding the Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control

Approximately 1 in 4 adult women and 1 in 7 adult men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Digital Technology Parenting and Attachment

Now more than ever with kids being homeschooled, staying in place, and more disconnected from peers and outside activities, clinicians need to ask questions about excessive video gaming and the...

Assessing for Family of Origin Dysfunction

In order to better understand clients’ destructive behaviors, distorted cognitions, or shame-based, negative affect, clinicians understand the importance of putting clients’ “symptoms” and struggles in a historical context. Learn three...

The Impact of Internet Gaming Disorders: A Full Blown Addiction

I was recently listening to a call-in radio show where a parent lamented the fact that her son had turned down an engineering scholarship and deferred starting college so he...

4 Ways to Define Early Child-Caretaker Attachment Styles

I just had the privilege of giving the keynote address, “Trauma and Attachment” to a large group of clinicians at a conference in Kentucky. Although these were seasoned and extremely...

Why Does That Kid Keep Jumping Out of His Seat?

I recently had the privilege of providing a series of trainings to educators across Canada. My focus was to help teachers, school counselors, and administrators understand the impact that dysfunctional family...

Reaching Adolescence: How Much Guidance do Teens Really Need?

I think there is a common belief within our culture that as kids evolve into adolescence they need less and less guidance and supervision. After all, their primary developmental milestone...

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Lisa Ferentz, LCSW

Lisa Ferentz, LSCW-C DAPA, is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, de-pathologized treatment of trauma and has been in private practice for over 33 years. She presents workshops and keynote addresses nationally and internationally and is a clinical consultant to practitioners and mental health agencies worldwide. She has been an Adjunct Faculty member at several Universities and is the Founder of The Ferentz Institute.

Lisa is the author of “Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Traumatized Clients: A Clinician’s Guide,” “Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing,” and “Finding Your Ruby Slippers: Transformative Life Lessons From the Therapist’s Couch.” She also is a contributing writer for mental health-related blogs and websites, including Psychologytoday.com.

To learn more about Lisa, click here.