Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work upcoming events

The Art of the First Session (2026) (Friday, May 15, 2026)

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Presenter: Robert Taibbi (VA), LCSW

DC, VA, MD Social Work -- Category 1 | 2.0 CEUs

Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in is DC, Maryland, and Virginia to sponsor social work continuing education learning activities and maintains full responsibility for this program.

NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider -- 2.0 Credit Hours

Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7880. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

While the average length of clinical treatment is 5-8 sessions, most clients seeking therapy come to a particular therapist only once. Having the right diagnosis and effective treatment approach can mean next to nothing if you fail to connect with the client. The pressure is on in that first session. Clients need to leave believing that this is the Right Place and the Right Person. And you’ve got to do it all in 60 minutes or less.

In this webinar we will discuss the essential art of the first session. Drawing on the lessons of sales and with an awareness of clients’ ever-more discerning expectations, we’ll walk through the first session goals and process. We look at ways of changing the emotional climate so that clients feel differently when they walk out than when they walked in. We’ll define the critical skill sets you need to stay focused. We’ll walk through the three parts of the session – the opening, your assessment, the presentation of your treatment plan and next steps. You’ll learn how to handle objections, how to use treatment maps to hit the ground running, how to achieve balance with couples and families, how to recognize and use transference cues with individuals.

You’ll learn what to do, but probably more importantly what not to do in order to make that first session the best it can be.

Audience -- therapists of all disciplines

Workshop Objectives:

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Define 4 ways of changing the emotional climate.
Describe the process for countering objections.
Discuss the 7 goals of the first session.
Define the 4 sources of resistance.
Describe 5 ways of building rapport.

About the Presenter:

Robert Taibbi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 50 years of experience primarily in community mental health working with children, couples and families as a clinician, supervisor and clinical director.

He is the author of 13 books in the areas of anxiety, family and couple therapy, brief therapy, clinical supervision, as well as over 300 magazine and journal articles. He writes an online column for Psychology Today entitled Fixing Families that has received over 21 million views, as well as regular contributions to several online mental health websites and advice columns.

In addition, Robert provides trainings both nationally and internationally in couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, and clinical supervision. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and the University of South Carolina, and has served as adjunct professor at several universities. He is currently in private practice in Charlottesville, VA.

From Monogamy to Polyamory: A Guide for Clinicians (Sunday, May 31, 2026)

Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Camera-on required. GWSCSW is committed to verifying that the same standards are as applicable for virtual workshops as in person workshops. The participant must be observed as present and attending both; therefore virtual workshop attendance requires participants to keep their video camera on for the duration of the presentation, except during scheduled breaks, to receive CEUs.

Presenter Ed Geraty, LCSW-C (MD), LICSW (WV), LCSW (VA), LICSW (DC)

CEUs: Category 1 | 3.0 ETHICS CREDIT

The is a growing visibility of CNM/polyamory in society and more individuals are choosing these models rather than tradition monogamy. Because of this there is increased client disclosure in therapy, however most clinicians are not only unfamiliar with these models but uncomfortable exploring these models with the client due to their own biases or lack of education. There is a need for cultural competence in relational diversity

Workshop Objectives:

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Define monogamy, polyamory, and other (CNM) Consensual Non Monogamy models
Explore clinical implications of diverse relationship structures
Identify common client challenges and therapeutic strategies
Build and affirmative, inclusive clinical practice

Agenda:

10 to 10:15 welcome/intro
10:15 to 11 Define monogamy, polyamory, and other (CNM) Consensual Non Monogamy models
11 to 11:45 Explore clinical implications of diverse relationship structures
11:45 to 12 break
12 to 12:30 Identify common client challenges and therapeutic strategies
12:30 to 1 pm Building and affirmative, inclusive clinical practice

Recommended Reading:

Books: Polysecure, The Ethical Slut, More Than Two
Podcasts: Multiamory, Normalizing Non-Monogamy

DC, VA, MD Social Work -- Category 1 | 3.0 CEUs

NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider -- 3.0 Credit Hours

NEW Member Wine & Cheese Social (Sunday, June 07, 2026)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

The Wine & Cheese committee invites new members of the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work (GWSCSW) for an evening of connection, conversation, and community at our NEW Member Wine & Cheese Gathering on June 7. This special event is designed to welcome members who have joined within the past two years and provide an opportunity to meet colleagues, connect with board and committee members, and learn more about ways to become involved in the Society. Whether you are looking to expand your professional network, engage with the clinical social work community, or simply enjoy a relaxed evening with peers, we look forward to welcoming you.

Hosted by Nancy Harris at her home in College Park, MD (address will be sent in confirmation email once you register.)

Games People Play: Transactional Analysis (Sunday, June 21, 2026)

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Presenter Ed Geraty, LCSW-C (MD), LICSW (WV), LCSW (VA), LICSW (DC)

CEUs: Category 1 | 3.0 ETHICS CREDIT

Eric Berne’s Transactional Analysis (TA) describes how people relate through predictable interaction patterns called Games. Games involve hidden motivations, repeated roles, and emotional payoffs. Clinicians will learn how to identify Games played in the couples/family session.

Workshop Objectives:

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Identify common Transactional Analysis Games as they appear in individual, couples, and group clinical settings
Apply Parent–Adult–Child ego-state formulation to real-world case material and therapeutic interactions
Demonstrate Adult-state clinical interventions that interrupt Games and restore accountability, intimacy, and problem-solving

Agenda:

10 to 10:15 Welcome and introductions
10:15 to 10;45 Introduction to Transactional Analysis
10:45 to 11:15 Ego States: Parent, Adult, Child
11:115 to 12 Social, Life, and Relationship Games
12 to 12:15 break
12:15 to 12:35 Role-Play & Group Exercises
12:35 to 12:50 Questions & Discussion
12:50 to 1 closing

Recommended Reading:

Berne, E. (1964). Games People Play. New York: Grove Press.
Stewart, I., & Joines, V. (1987). TA Today. Lifespace Publishing.
Widdowson, M. (2010). Transactional Analysis. Routledge.
Additional contemporary clinical applications referenced throughout

DC, VA, MD Social Work -- Category 1 | 3.0 CEUs

NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider -- 3.0 Credit Hours