Emerging from Covid-19: Addressing "Social Malnutrition" in Clinical Practice

Presenter Joel Kanter

CEUs: Category 1 | 1.5 

Location: Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library - Small Room

Although the trend toward a reduction in social ties and social isolation has been evident for over a decade, the "social malnutrition" of many children, teens and adolescents was exacerbated during the Covid-19 crisis.  As a result, the incidence of depression, anxiety, suicide and addiction has increased significantly, even attracting the attention of the Surgeon General as a public health crisis.  In our clinical work, we see the impact of increasing social isolation in our daily practice; a vicious cycle ensues where isolation impacts interpersonal competence and lack of interpersonal competence increases isolation.  

Also, in our professional activities, we have all suffered from a loss of “professional nutrition” since Covid began four years ago: less collegiality, networking and opportunity to learn from colleagues. Join us IN-PERSON (with coffee and bagels!) and discuss these challenges to our personal and professional lives.

Workshop Objectives:

Upon finishing this training, participants will be able to:

Identify the social trends that have greatly impacted the reduction in social ties and increase in social isolation.

1. Identify the social trends that have greatly impacted the reduction in social ties and increase in social isolation.
2. Identify how social isolation impairs personality develop in adolescents and young adults.
3. Outline clinical social work interventions for addressing ongoing social isolation.

Agenda:

• Intro: 10 minutes
• Formal Presentation: 50 min
• Coffee Break: 20 min
• Discussion: 40 mins

Recommended Reading:
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community (2023).

Presenter bio:­ Joel Kanter, MSW, LCSW-C is in private practice of clinical social work in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is a faculty member of the Institute for Clinical Social Work and the China American Psychoanalytic Alliance. He serves on the Editorial Boards of the Clinical Social Work and Psychoanalytic Social Work Journals and has been recognized as a Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academy of Practice in Social Work. He has authored over 50 articles and chapters and the book Face to Face with Children: The Life and Work of Clare Winnicott (Routledge).