International Social Work Conference June 14-15, 2012 in Minnesota

Augsburg College is hosting its first International Social Work Conference, June 14-15, 2012 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The conference will be an international exchange of social work practice throughout the world. Presenters are coming from India, Norway, Slovenia and South Africa, in addition to the United States. Breakout sessions will be held on Clinical Practice, Curriculum Development, Community Development, Macro Practice and Research.

One offering in the Clinical Track on Thursday, June 14th is, “Wooden it be nice? Using Family Sculpting in Social Work Practice – An International Tool for Brief Assessment and Intervention” presented by Stein Hardeng, Diaconia College, Oslo, Norway and Julie Thorsheim, MSW, LICSW-MN, KST Associates, MN.

 

David Olson congratulates David Kvebaek

When author and prominent family social science researcher and teacher, David H. Olson, learned of the honor the Norwegian government had bestowed upon Kvebaek, the founder of the Kvebaek Family Sculpture Test, Olson sent a comment to this website:
“Dear David:
Congratulations on the Gold Medal from Norway. That is a great honor–-which you deserve. You were a leader of family systems assessment, and it is great to see that Julie Thorsheim is continuing to offer it in the U.S.
Karen and I are semi-retired from PREPARE-ENRICH and I retired from the University of Minnesota in 2000 . . . . .Wishing you the very best! David Olson” (See comment submitted March 2nd, 2011.)

David Kvebæk awarded King’s Gold Medal

On November 24, 2010, David Kvebæk was awarded the King’s Gold Medal for outstanding lifetime contributions, especially to the field of family therapy. In advance of this ceremony in Oslo, Kvebæk invited Julie Thorsheim to come to Oslo to represent the Kvebaek Sculpture Tool (KST) in the United States.

To read the full text of the presentation, click on this link: Gold Medal translation .

Sculpting “invaluable tool in assessment and family therapy”

“I am very impressed by the practical application of sculpting afforded through the use of the Kvebaek family sculpting tools. You offered me, in the short time we were able to talk, a useful and informative presentation regarding the clinical and theoretical foundations of this therapeutic technique. I think it would be an invaluable tool for use in assessment and family therapy. It practicalizes family sculpting for clinicians –-and would be easily accessible for newer clinicians.”

-L.P., social work professor and clinical supervisor, Colorado

Family Sculpting Workshop-International Focus

June 16, 2009 a workshop focused on Family Sculpting took place at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. Presenters were: Dr. Anne Hollingworth, psychologist in private practice in Sydney, Australia; Thomas Thorsheim, Ph.D. psychologist in private practice in Greenville, South Carolina; Jean Giebenhain, Ph.D., full professor, University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and Julie Thorsheim, MSW, of KST Associates. Moderator was Mary Carlson, Chair, Dept. of Social Work and Family Studies at St. Olaf College. This Continuing Education event was co-sponsored by NASW, Minnesota Chapter, and the St. Olaf College Department of Social Work and Family Studies, and was funded in part by the David and Karen Olson Marriage and Family Endowment at St. Olaf College.

Hollingworth showed how she uses the Kvebaek Sculpture Tool to incorporate “ the child’s voice” in her reports to Family Court when retained to assess parenting capacity and children’s family attachments for the purpose of making placement decisions about at-risk children. Julie Thorsheim provided historical and theoretical framework of the Kvebæk Family Sculpture and showed participants how to begin incorporating this technique into their practice in a variety of settings. Giebenhain provided insight into the way she uses the KST in research and clinical practice with multi-cultural adoptive families. Thomas Thorsheim provided examples of how he uses this figure placement tool in assessment and therapy with both individuals and families.

This skills-building workshop incorporated demonstration, case examples, panel presentation and small group activities to equip participants to use representational family sculpting in their own work. Participants’ evaluations of this full-day experiential workshop were enthusiastic and strong. Look for glimpses of presenters and participants on pages of this website.

Continuing education credits offered at family sculpting workshop

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and St. Olaf College are jointly sponsoring a continuing education workshop in Northfield, MN on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Continuing education units are offered by the various professional boards. For more information and to register, go the the NASW-Minnesota Chapter website.

Rapid insight into family dynamics

“I’m a psychologist in private practice, providing a broad range of
psychological testing and psychotherapy services. I began using the KST in
clinical work about two years ago. It has been tremendously helpful in
both assessment and therapy, giving me and my clients rapid insight into
complex family dynamics. Further, it allows clients to share information
non-verbally at times when putting words to their family experiences may
initially feel painful or overwhelming. In family therapy , it creates a
platform for sharing individual perspectives and helps create dialogue
between family members.”
– Dr. T, Licensed Psychologist in South Carolina

MACMHP Conference

The Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs Annual Fall Conference will be held in Duluth, MN, September 17-19, 2008 at the Duluth Events and Convention Center. KST ASSSOCIATES will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall. This conference is always worthwhile. Stop by to meet us and see the KST product line. For more information about the conference, click on: MACMHP

KST in South Africa

“KST has been successfully used in South Africa in relation to chronic illness. Families even asked for an extra sculpture that would represent the sickness.” The writer continued, “I would like to make use of the KST in order to understand the child’s social environment, and sources of support or neglect. I would also like to understand the social environment of the household as well as to learn about familial role change in the course of chronic illness.”

– D.B., a psychologist in South Africa