Reconnecting to the Pack: Addressing Barriers to Connection from Chronic Loneliness-WMHCA

Presented By

Recorded Summer, 2022 1 CE

Because we need a certain amount of social connection, too much loneliness for too long has demonstrable costs to our wellbeing. Even worse, chronic loneliness makes us struggle with the normal stresses of connection, so we may push away the relationships we crave. In this hour, we will discuss the costs of loneliness on the nervous system including increased rejection sensitivity, and identify ways to support ourselves and our clients in normalizing and neutralizing these challenges to restore meaningful relationships.

Learning Objectives Participants will understand loneliness as “social hunger,” identify the symptoms of chronic loneliness, and identify actionable steps toward social connection.

Outline

1. The dog who apologized. (5 minutes)
2. John Cacioppo’s model of chronic loneliness (15 minutes)
3. Discussion of impacts of COVID isolation on client presentations (20 minutes)
4. Addressing clinical impacts of loneliness (20 minutes)

EPDC CE Hours: 1

Presenter: Anthony Rella, MA, LMHC

Anthony (Tony) Rella is an Internal Family Systems therapist and clinical supervisor in Seattle, Washington, working primarily with men's issues, complex trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, guilt and accountability, and other therapists.