AEDP® Seminar Series: January 2026
Clearing the Path: Working Effectively with the Challenges of Defense & Anxiety
Presented by Steve Shapiro, PhD
6 Thursdays | January 29 – June 18, 2026
This training is approved for 16.5 CE see information below
Do you overemphasize feelings and overvalue emotional catharsis?
Do you consider “experiential” to be equivalent to “emotional”?
Do you get confused by clients resisting the very help they came for?
Do you consider perfect attunement necessary for therapy to be effective?
Ironically, many clients interfere with the very progress they seek either through their own resistance or because their anxiety is so high that dysregulation interferes with the psychotherapy process Therapists offer the promise of help based on the presumption that clients will arrive with sufficient motivation to address therapeutic tasks openly, but more often than we would like, this is not the case. To cope with painful underlying experiences and realities, resources for health are always hampered, to some extent, by the barriers of resistance and anxiety. This is akin to “emotional physics” and results in deep internal conflict that perpetuates suffering.
Because it is unnatural, clinicians are rarely adequately prepared to address resistance directly, making it difficult to help more challenging clients. Defenses can be seen as “a problem,” rather than an inevitable part of the process; defense restructuring can mistakenly be understood as an adversarial task, that we then avoid, rather than a compassionate and collaborative venture.
Without a clear map to guide our understanding and interventions, these potential barriers weaken the alliance and create ruptures. This contributes to poor outcomes and premature termination, as well as frustration and a sense of failure for the therapist. While clients enter treatment with conscious motivation, resistance is unconscious and, therefore, difficult to address without a coherent
system. Because therapists are human, we typically react personally to resistance and become confused, frustrated, and hopeless. It is tempting to hold the client responsible and label him/her as “unmotivated” or “resistant”. Often this “resistance” is inadvertently co-created in the therapy dyad.
It is natural to rely on overly simplified guidelines to help understand a process as unpredictable and complex as intensive psychotherapy. When we emphasize feelings in therapy as if the goal is simply catharsis, we miss other equally valid aspects which are just as crucial to a positive outcome. These other parameters are precursors to the deeper work and must be addressed initially. We need a sturdy basement foundation before you start building the first floor. If we ignore the sequential nature of the process, we miss critical steps and damage the alliance. Especially with complex cases involving syntonic resistance or dysregulation it is crucial to be phase-specific in our thinking and interventions. We must first clear the path of barriers and build a healthy emotional infrastructure before diving into more vulnerable emotional terrain. This keeps the process predictable, safe, effective, and efficient. Truly, we must go slower to get there faster. We must face the clinical reality that for many of the more challenging clients who suffer from resistance and anxiety, simple emotional catharsis is not enough to facilitate lasting change.
In this monthly seminar series, participants will learn to move beyond resistance and simple symptom management into deep, transformational processes that release resources of health and resilience. When implicit defense work is not enough, it is helpful to have a map for conducting focused, sequential, “explicit” defense work that addresses barriers in a powerful, yet respectful manner. Learn to accelerate treatment with a series of progressive techniques that implore clients to abandon chronic coping patterns that were once necessary but now cause untoward suffering. Likewise, we will explore ways to regulate anxiety and build emotional capacity for those with complex trauma histories who become dysregulated.
We will use a combination of learning modules that elaborate on basic foundational principles of Experiential Dynamic Therapy (EDT) including AEDP, ISTDP, and APT, and extensive video demonstration to illustrate the concepts. Because an active learning process helps internalize these principles better, we will engage in continuous “deliberate group practice” and “facilitated discussion” as we analyze the material. You will see how the “principle” is the ideal unit of learning as it provides the needed structure to clearly guide the process while leaving room for your authentic presence and individual style. We will examine ways to understand the intrapsychic and interpersonal action in the room (conceptual knowledge) as a way to inform interventions (procedural knowledge) in a way that is not only attuned, but “contingent” in each moment. Alliance building is not just about avoiding ruptures; it is also about leveraging these challenging interpersonal moments into growth and capacity building experiences.
Looking at “Phase 1” (capacity building, defense restructuring, anxiety regulation, alliance building, testing reality) and “Phase 2” (emotional breakthroughs, processing emotional conflicts and consolidation) for both “high-defense” and “high-anxiety” clients will enlarge your clinical tool kit to so you can flexibly respond to a wide range of clinical scenarios. Through this journey, we will emphasize phase-specific principles: how to understand what is happening and how to respond. Reliable mnemonics and training aids will help guide your thinking and interventions in ways that will be grounding for you and motivating for your client because they make the process transparent and collaborative.
Therapists of all orientations and levels of experience will gain a clear understanding of the nature and function of defenses, and ways to transform them therapeutically so clients can align with the healthy, buried and previously inaccessible internal resources, as well as effective ways to regulate anxiety when it is too high. The principles taught can be readily integrated with your existing orientation and skill set. By adopting an active, focused, precise, experiential, attachment-based and emotionally engaged stance, therapists can create the safety and attunement necessary for patients to risk abandoning their resistance and shift to healthier functioning. The ultimate goal is to accelerate the healing process for clients, but also to help clinicians practice in a way that substantially reduces counter transference, is deeply rewarding, effective, and authentic, fully compatible with your personal and professional history.
Key Points of the Training
In this monthly seminar series, participants will learn to move beyond resistance and simple symptom management into deep, transformational processes that release resources of health and resilience. When implicit defense work is not enough, it is
helpful to have a map for conducting focused, sequential, “explicit” defense work that addresses barriers in a powerful, yet respectful manner. Learn to accelerate treatment with a series of progressive techniques that implore clients to abandon
chronic coping patterns that were once necessary but now cause untoward
suffering. Likewise, we will explore ways to regulate anxiety and build emotional
capacity for those with complex trauma histories who become dysregulated.
Beyond AEDP Specifics
The primary focus will be on Experiential Dynamic Therapy principles, including AEDP, ISTDP, and APT, as well as elements from Focusing, IFS, psychodynamic theory, crisis intervention, and memory reconsolidation.
Who should attend
Open to All Levels
Seminar Overview
PARTICIPANTS ROLE
Engagement and privacy are two issues central to the success of any advanced learning environment. Consequently, you will be required to keep your camera on throughout the webinar. The patient material that is so vital to experiential learning is highly sensitive. Live video demonstrations from actual psychotherapy sessions provide an invaluable training tool that is only available due to the generosity and trust of our patients. It must be protected at all costs. Increasingly, guidelines are suggesting the inadequacy of transmitting this material into a “blank space” without awareness of the environment in which it is being received.
BEYOND AEDP SPECIFICS
The primary focus will be on Experiential Dynamic Therapy principles, including AEDP, ISTDP, and APT, as well as elements from Focusing, IFS, psychodynamic theory, crisis intervention, and memory reconsolidation. Emphasis will be on gathering clinical data, clinical thinking, response to intervention, and deciding on subsequent steps. The focus will be on exploring rich clinical materials that demonstrate the potential for deep work and transformation in initial sessions. This format offers a unique opportunity for participants to engage with practitioners from various modalities, including I-STDP, fostering a diverse and collaborative learning environment. This approach aims to broaden perspectives and enhance understanding of different therapeutic techniques and their applications in early-stage therapy.
Group Deliberate Practice will be used as we process the videos together to build skills, sharpen clinical judgment, develop assessment expertise, and rehearse interventions. Participants will respond briefly to a variety of choices in the moment.
Schedule: (detailed schedule coming soon)
Thursdays, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST
6 classes, 3 hours each: January – June 2026
January 29, 2026
February 26, 2026
March 26, 2026
April 23, 2026
May 21, 2026
June 18, 2026
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
This program was developed for:
Licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals who are practicing under the supervision of a qualified, licensed clinician. Participants typically hold (or are actively working toward) one of the following credentials:
Graduate students enrolled in accredited mental health training programs practicing under a licensed Supervisor
Psychologists (PhD, PsyD, EdD)
Psychiatrists (MD, DO)
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW, LICSW, MSW)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC, LCPC, etc.)
Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC)
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP, APRN)
Registered Psychotherapists (as recognized regionally)
Occupational Therapists with training in mental health
Licensed or registered art, music, or dance/movement therapists
Training Content Level: Intermediate
To receive credit, participants must pay the CE fee, attend the entire training, and complete the evaluation form. Partial credit is not available. CE certificates are issued after the evaluation is submitted.
Continuing education applications may be underway for various national and state-level boards and agencies. Please check back for updated approvals or email admin@aedpinstitute.org with questions.
Disclosure
All planners and presenters have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. This activity has no commercial support.
Continuing Education (CE) Approvals
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
AEDP Institute, provider #2307, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: October 31, 2025 – October 31, 2026. Social Workers completing the training will receive 16.5 continuing education credits.
New York Psychologists
AEDP Works, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0256. AEDP Works, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This training is approved for 16.5 continuing education credits
New York Social Workers (LMSWs and LCSWs)
AEDP Works, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0805. This training is approved for 16.5 continuing education credits
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
AEDP Works, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7622. Counselors in all states except NY and MFTs in all states except NY and MA are eligible. This training is approved for 16.5 continuing NBCC credits.
Meet The Presenter: Steve Shapiro, PhD
Steve Shapiro, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who maintains a full-time private practice in suburban Philadelphia and has over twenty years clinical and teaching experience. He has been practicing various forms of Experiential Dynamic Therapy (EDT), such as Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), since the mid-1990’s. He is a founding member of the AEDP Institute and has been studying with Dr. Diana Fosha, the developer of AEDP, since 2003
Dr. Shapiro conducts lectures, workshops and ongoing training internationally. His presentations are often commended for translating complex clinical theory into clear, precise, and practical techniques which are easily understandable and readily applied immediately in clinical settings by therapists of all orientations. Read more>>>>
Course Dates & Setting
You will need a private space with a reliable Internet connection.
Please double check the meeting time in your local time zone by visiting here.
Dates
January 29, 2026
February 26, 2026
March 26, 2026
April 23, 2026
May 21, 2026
June 18, 2026
Times
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
Setting
Click here for the AEDP Live, Online Learning Requirements & FAQ’s
Registration, Fees & Scholarships
payment plan option at checkout
Non Member Registration
$949 USD
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Member Registration
$919 USD
Early Bird Rate (Members Only)
Available through August 19, 2025 $889
Scholarships
Limited scholarships available. If a payment plan works for you instead, please email admin
Eligibility Requirements
North America: Licensed mental health practitioners, as well as therapists practicing under the license of a supervising professional.
Beyond North America: Mental health professionals holding licensure equivalent to North American standards, including ongoing affiliation with an organization responsible for issuing and overseeing mental health credentials in their country or region.
Important Note: Coaching licenses and other non-psychotherapy-specific licenses do not meet the eligibility requirements.
If you’re unsure about the relevance of this course for you, or your eligibility, please contact admin@aedpinstitute.org with your credentials before registering.
Attendance and Make up Policy
Institute Sponsored Courses Including Immersion, Essential Skills, Advanced Skill Modules, Seminars/Webinars and Institute Sponsored Core Trainings
The AEDP Institute does not offer make-ups for missed course days. In the rare case where someone joins a course late, or misses a session in the middle of a course, the hour(s) or day(s) that person misses cannot be made up. Why? Group dynamics developed during a course are essential to the course’s success; so someone coming into a course for a short period of time is – regardless of their best intentions – disruptive to other participants and the course’s overall success. The Institute will, however, provide handouts from missed hours or days but will not allow a person to make up the hours or days they miss in another course.
AEDP Level credit: if a participant attends 80% or more of a course, the Institute will apply the course towards AEDP Level advancement
Refunds and Cancellations
Program Cancellation/Changes
The AEDP Institute reserves the right to cancel a training/ program prior to its start, in which case full refunds will be issued to participants for any tuition fees paid for the program. The AEDP Institute is not responsible for participant expenses including travel, childcare, missed practice sessions, etc.
In the rare situation that the AEDP Institute makes changes to advertised presenter(s), tuition fees will not be refunded.
By adhering to these policies, we aim to ensure a fair and consistent approach to cancellations, refunds, and transfer requests.
Canceling 16 or More Days Before a Course or Seminar:
- Refund: 85% of your course fee.
Canceling 1-15 Days Before a Course or Seminar:
- No Refund
- An Institute credit of 85% of your course fee will be provided for use towards a future course.
Canceling / Withdrawing / No Show on the 1st Day or During a Course or Seminar:
- No refund
- No credit
Transfer Requests Made 45+ Days Before Course Start:
- Requests will be accommodated wherever possible without financial penalty.
Transfer Requests Made 44-1 Days Before Course Start:
- $200 Transfer fee Applied to new course
Participants in Multi-Module Essential Skills (ES1) Courses:
- Requests to transfer from one ES1 course series to another are highly disruptive and rarely possible.
- Exception: In rare and extreme circumstances where an exception is made, a $200 transfer fee will be charged
Refund Policy for Institute Sponsored On Demand (recorded) Seminars
If for any reason you are unsatisfied with an Institute sponsored (recorded) On Demand Seminar, please email admin@aedpinstitute.org with an explanation of why you are dissatisfied. We will offer, one time per person, a credit for your payment, less a 15% banking and administrative fee that you may apply to a different (recorded) On Demand seminar.
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Technology on the Internet is developing at a rapid pace, and we need to maintain our flexibility in the online arena. If we need to change our policy in the future, we will post these changes as soon as they go into effect.
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AEDP Institute Grievance Policy & Process
Overview and Commitment
AEDP Institute is fully committed to conducting all activities in compliance with all legal and ethical responsibilities in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants and the community. This policy sets out the procedure for receiving, reviewing, and responding to grievances.
While the Institute strives to provide fair and equitable treatment for all participants in its events and activities and makes every effort to anticipate potential concerns, it acknowledges that grievances may still occur.
We are committed to resolving grievances in a timely way, and in alignment with our Participant Agreement.
Grievance Submission Process
Grievances should be submitted online at aedpinstitute.org/complaint or sent using this form. Note that Social Workers should indicate in their grievance that they are a social worker so the AEDP Social Work Consultant can be appropriately involved in the grievance resolution process.
Submit form to:
AEDP Institute
225 Broadway, Suite 3400
New York, NY 10007
Review and Resolution Process
Initial Review and Response Timeline
Grievances will be forwarded to the Administrative Director responsible for overseeing the relevant area. The Director will review the matter and issue a decision or resolution in a timely manner (usually within 30 days)
Special Considerations for Speaker/Presentation Complaints
If the grievance concerns course content, the speaker, facilities, non-receipt of certificates and other miscellaneous occurrences, the Administrator Director will pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the aggrieved individual.
Confidentiality
The confidentiality of the aggrieved individual will be maintained except when disclosure is required by law, necessary to prevent imminent harm, or authorized in writing by the individual. All confidential information will be shared only with authorized personnel involved in the complaint process.
Appeal Process – Filing an Appeal
If the individual who submitted the grievance is not satisfied with the Director’s decision or resolution, they may submit an appeal.
Final Decision
The appeal will be reviewed in consultation with the AEDP Institute Steering Committee and a final decision will be made jointly by the the committee and the relevant Director(s). Once this final decision is issued, the grievance process will be considered complete.
Additional Feedback Opportunities
In addition to the procedure above, participants are given an opportunity to voice comments, concerns and general feedback in a survey that is provided at the completion of each course; the link which guarantees 100% anonymity is also provided in this survey.
ADA
Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations please contact Marilia Rodriguez, admin@aedpinstitute.org or call 813-553-1294 thirty days or more before the event so we can be sure to accommodate you.
Questions
Please contact Customer Service Administrator
Marilia Rodriguez
admin@aedpinstitute.org
813-553-1294
Office Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern (USA)