Keeping the Behavioral Health Team Healthy: Communication, Conflicts and Coping David Mee-Lee, M.D.   Workshop Content and Purpose Professionals working in the behavioral health field have always been aware of the interaction between the professional’s needs and feelings and those of the clients they serve. Concepts of transference and counter-transference, “enabling”, and the use of the therapeutic milieu as a change agent are part of the behavioral health field’s history and body of knowledge. The pressure in today’s healthcare environment for accountability, efficiency, performance and outcomes has greatly increased the demands on clinical managers, supervisors and administrators in all aspects of behavioral health. Many have become managers through the door of clinical work but feel unprepared for the personal and systems’ pressures they face. This workshop is designed to heighten participants’ awareness of the need for self-care. It will suggest ways to approach difficulties that arise in communication, conflict resolution and personal coping. Concepts and strategies will be offered to improve the functioning of the whole team, whether clinical, supervisory, fiscal, or administrative. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss obstacles and strategies to balance personal needs with those of the organization, the treatment and administrative team and the clients and community. Attention will be paid to a methodology to convert frustrations directed at personal other team members’ failures into systems solutions that can empower, encourage hope and improve personal and team functioning.   Objectives Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to: 1. Identify pressures that impact the health and functioning of the behavioral health team and understand the importance of self-care in both clinical and management positions. 2. Review communication, conflict resolution and coping strategies that promote team cohesiveness and improve self-care functioning. 3. Understand methods for developing systems solutions to frustrations that can erode trust and productivity both personally as a manager and for the whole team.   Keeping the Behavioral Health Team Healthy: Communication, Conflicts and Coping   Workshop Agenda 8:30 AM A. The Current Healthcare Environment   · Changing client populations and decreased funding   · Managed Care - addiction and mental health   · Accountability and treatment outcomes - clinical skills     B. Impact on Communication, Conflict Resolution and Coping   · Productive and counter-productive communication   · Violence and harassment in workplace   · Boundaries and ethical issues     C. Caring for Yourself and Others   · Self-care – what it is and why it is important   · Balancing personal needs with those of the team     10:15 AM Break     10:30 AM D. Finding Systems Solutions to Key Frustrations   · Types of frustrations   · Converting self and outer-directed frustrations into systems solutions     E. Translating the Self- or Other-Directed Frustrating Condition   · Defining the real problem   · Identifying the generic systems’ solution     12 Noon Lunch     1:00 PM F. Skill Building in Translating Frustrations   · Affirming commitment to solving the real problem   · Defining the solution     2:30 PM Break     2:45 PM G. Self Care as a Conscious Choice and Process   · Development of personal aim and mission   · Relationship to the agency’s mission and focus      H. Communication and Conflict Resolution   · Non-violent communication techniques     4:00 PM Adjourn