Neufeld`s Five-Step Model of Emotional Maturation

Sessions: 4 

Lecture: 5h 15m

Certificate: 8+ hrs

100 CAD

Dr. Neufeld outlines what needs to happen to mature emotionally, whether one is a child or catching up as an adult. This developmental knowledge is especially important as immaturity has become epidemic and most interventions make the mistake of attempting to address the symptoms of immaturity rather than getting at the roots. This model is easy to follow, whether a parent, teacher or therapist. 

As is the case with all our courses, this course features lectures by Dr. Neufeld, carefully curated support for enriched study, study aides, the opportunity to ask questions of trained faculty or course facilitators, a year's access to the campus to enable study at one's own pace, and a certificate of attendance upon completion. For more information, consult the 'about our courses' page.

COURSE SUMMARY

In this course, Neufeld reveals why emotional immaturity is so epidemic in our society, even among the most educated, and clarifies what we can do to bring our children, students and clients to their full human potential as creatures of emotion. Given that emotion is at the heart of the matter in psychological maturation, understanding the developmental steps that need to take place to get to emotional health and maturity is absolutely essential for addressing stuckness along the way. This knowledge can help to avoid the most common pitfall of battling against the symptoms of emotional immaturity while failing to address its roots. This model is surprisingly easy to apply and provides a clear map for parents, teachers and therapists who have made emotional maturity and well-being their priorities for the children and adults in their care.

SUITABILITY/APPLICABILITY

These insights and resulting practices are applicable to every venue – home, school and treatment, as well as every age group – infancy through old age. As always, Dr. Neufeld focuses on how problems develop in childhood and adolescence as a way of creating a foundation for healing and treatment throughout the lifespan. Although the course is addressed primarily to helping professionals and educators, the material is very helpful to parents, as well as for self-understanding and healing. A growing number of therapists are using Neufeld's Five Steps as a template for treatment.

SAMPLE TOPICS

  • how the prefrontal cortex works to support emotional maturation
  • reframing the stress response and resilience response as emotional phenomena
  • the dual role of attachment in facilitating and restricting emotional expression
  • how to recognize the signs of emotional immaturity
  • how empathy, courage, patience and self-control are the natural fruit of emotional maturity
  • the natural cure to impulsiveness and lack of self-regulation
  • how inner conflict cures impulsiveness and is the natural engine of higher development
  • the early warning signs of a child or adolescent in emotional trouble
  • the role of emotion immaturity in anxiety, depression, aggression and addiction
  • the singular emotional condition that becomes the common denominator of most troubled behaviour and syndromes
  • the role of emotional playgrounds in emotional health and development
  • how to use the five steps as a roadmap to emotional maturity

COURSE OUTLINE

The course is structured into 4 sessions with each session including approximately one hour and twenty minutes of instructional video from Dr. Neufeld. 

  • Session 1 – Emotion as the Heart of the Matter
    In the first session, Dr. Neufeld puts emotion back into the centre of our considerations as the core dynamic that underlies most troubling behavior, syndromes and diagnoses. Looking through the lens of emotion sheds significant light on the nature of stress, resilience, spontaneous development, adaptation, troubling behaviour and even mental illness.
  • Session 2 – Back to the Beginning: getting the first step right
    Surprisingly, it is the failure of emotion to find safe expression that thwarts both emotional health and the process of maturation. The objective of this session is to appreciate the developmental foundations of emotional health and maturation, so that retreating to the beginning becomes our informed response.
  • Session 3 - Towards Fully Feeling: addressing the impediments
    In this session the role of feelings in emotional health and development is revealed. Since feelings are several steps removed from emotion, we discuss what can go wrong and how this can be corrected. Feeling one's emotions is absolutely essential to moving forward towards emotional health and maturity.
  • Session 4 – Supporting the Final Steps AND The Five Steps as a Template for Treatment
    The role of felt conflict in becoming emotionally mature is revealed together with how to supported tempered experience and expression. The Five Step Model is presented as a template for treatment regardless of age and venue.

Inquiries

If you have questions or require additional information that you cannot find on our website or FAQ page, you may contact our office on our Inquiries page.

Charity & Non-Profit Status

The Neufeld Institute is a registered Canadian charitable organization under the name Neufeld Institute Foundation and is also registered as a NPO in British Columbia. If you would like to make a contribution to us, please go to our donation page.

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