Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 2:15 pm ET / 8:00 am – 11:15 am PT

Presented by: Anette Birgersson (see bio) & Christin Santiago, CTRS (see bio)

To be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you must attend the entire live training and complete an evaluation form within 24 hours following the live event.

Please note: This training is not eligible for CE credits.

Online Training Description:

The language that professionals use to describe young people can have significant and lasting effects. Likewise, the biases that professionals have—whether they are aware of them or not—can also influence treatment in ways that go beyond the awareness of practitioner and client alike. Research shows that labeling can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where youth internalize negative perceptions that ultimately undermine their self-esteem and mental health. This includes language related to sexual orientation, which can further marginalize young people, increase their sense of isolation, and reduce self-efficacy. Considering the often-fragile mental health of youths entering treatment, the stakes are very high indeed.

These biases and the challenges posed by the language we use can be overcome. Anette Birgersson and Christin Santiago developed training to thoroughly examine the consequences of language, biases and labeling. They offer strategies for recognizing and reshaping these tendencies to improve treatment outcomes and to help young people build better futures for themselves.

In this training, Birgersson and Santiago present strategies for:

• Recognizing and preventing the problematic use of language and labels
• Understanding common biases that occur when working with adolescents whose behaviors have harmed others
• Engaging clients from the first session
• Building skills for affirming and validating clients
• Helping clients to become more self-empowered
• Eliciting and supporting resiliency, motivation, and agency
• Helping youth understand the needs and vulnerabilities that have driven their behaviors
• Promoting pro-social skills

Empowering clients is especially important for youths from diverse backgrounds, helping them navigate their identities and experiences. By creating supportive environments, professionals can reduce the negative effects of labeling and encourage prosocial behaviors and positive identity development.

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

1) Identify the effects of labeling and stigmatizing language that shape young people’s behavior and treatment experiences
2) Assess individual needs and vulnerabilities to tailor treatment
3) Use strategies that empower youths, particularly those from diverse backgrounds and marginalized identities
4) Build and maintain treatment environments that are supportive and nonjudgemental
5) Describe practical methods for overcoming common conscious and unconscious biases in practice and apply methods to reduce their impact on treatment outcomes

We can refund your training fee up to 24 hours prior to the start of the training.

Interactive Follow-Up Meeting

Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.

To view all training details and review our list of frequently asked questions, please click here to visit the promotional page.