Course Overview

Defensiveness is not resistance; it’s protection. This two-hour, skill-focused training helps clinicians reframe defensive behaviors as adaptive strategies rooted in safety, not defiance. You will learn how to recognize the underlying functions of defenses, build safety through validation, and guide clients toward genuine connection. Grounded in neuroscience, attachment theory, and trauma-informed care, this course integrates the SWEET Four Layers of Transformation—conscious, pre-conscious, unconscious, and existential—to help you move individuals from protection to presence.

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 6-8pm (EST)

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

CEUs: 2

Delivery: Live or On-Demand via the SWEET Institute Learning Platform

This course is eligible for 2 CEUs for Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psychologists in New York State

For more information about CEU approval, please click here.

Learning Objectives

•      Identify at least five common defensive strategies and describe the protective functions they serve.

•      Map a 'Defense → Need → Connection' pathway for at least one real or composite case.

•      Apply three micro-skills—Validation-First, Name-the-Function, and Gentle Redirect—to reduce shame and support connection.

•      Implement the PAUSE→ATTUNE→LINK protocol to transform ruptures into moments of repair and reconnection.

•      Document defense-to-connection interventions in person-centered, non-stigmatizing language.

Key Takeaways

•      Practical scripts, checklists, and handouts for daily use.

•      Real-world vignettes for high-acuity, trauma, and community-based settings.

•      Immediate tools to build empathy, safety, and trust—within minutes.

•      Emphasis on experiential integration and sustainable change.

Why This Training Matters

Defenses are not barriers to therapy—they are doorways to understanding. When clinicians see the purpose beneath the protection, clients feel seen, safe, and ready to connect.

Register here. 

Here's what attendees have been saying about SWEET seminars:

"Love being a SWEET member. I have learned so much practical information. Love the teaching model." - Michelle, LCSW-R

"Everything has been great so far in my experience with SWEET." - Kim Lindsay, LMSW

"Love being a SWEET member. I have learned so much practical information. Love the teaching model." - Michelle, LCSW-R