Master Class: 

Contactivity: NVR Interventions for Overcoming Avoidance 

Instructor: Dr. Uri Weinblatt

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​Contactivity is an NVR-based approach aimed at helping young people foster a sense of
connection—with themselves, their families, friends, schools, and the broader world. By
promoting experiences that encourage connection, we assist avoidant individuals in developing
honesty, intimacy, and belonging—the three elements that oppose disconnection and withdrawal.

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In today’s complex world, the challenge of belonging has intensified. More and more individuals
are experiencing isolation, feeling disconnected from any group or community where they truly
feel “at home.” This problem is particularly severe for avoidant individuals, who often encounter
significant obstacles to feeling a sense of belonging. They are prone to feeling neglected,
underappreciated, and rejected.

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A strong, stable sense of self is rooted in genuine and healthy connections with others and
oneself. These connections foster vitality, motivation, emotional resilience, and self-compassion,
even in the face of failure. Avoidant individuals need our support to develop and maintain these
vital connections. Even when they seem content, indifferent to their isolation, or show no desire
or motivation for change—they still need our help to break free from the fortress they have built
around themselves.
The class will consist in theoretical and experiential activities.

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About the instructor 

​Dr. Uri Weinblatt is a clinical psychologist and the developer of Contactivity, an NVR-informed
therapy for helping young people overcome avoidance. He collaborated with Haim Omer in
writing the original NVR manual for parents and conducted the first outcome study to measure
the effectiveness of NVR. Dr. Weinblatt maintains an active practice and is an international
expert in treating behavioral problems in children, as well as avoidant disorders including school
refusal, social anxiety, and addictions. He is the author of three books and is frequently invited to
conduct trainings in Contactivity and his specialized approach for regulating shame. He has also
recently participated in the docu-reality TV series in Israel, “Parent Therapy.”

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What you will learn​

• What is avoidance? Why do so many children and teenagers choose the path of avoidance?

• Familiarity with the three levels of avoidance (self, other, group)

• The "demand-withdrawal" dynamic and in states of avoidance, and how to get out of it

• How to regulate the central emotion behind avoidance - shame

• The split between normal life and virtual life - how computer games can help avoidant children re-connect with themselves 

• Implementing Systemic Mirroring: an intervention for reconnecting with self and other​

• How to talk to kids who do not talk

• How to evoke the child's wish to connect

• Implementing a successful "connecting Sit-in"

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Dates and time span  

December 9-10, 2024

8 hours X 2 Learning days  ​

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​Delivery

All trainings will take place via Zoom. 

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Group size 

Minimum 6, Maxiumum 20 

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Instructors

Uri Weinblatt PhD., Clinical Psychologist (Israel)  

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Attestation:

A certificate of attendance will be provided to individuals who attended the two.

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Fees:

$650 CAD + 5% GST (~ $480 USD) per participant 

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Who can Register? 

​Admission to the course is open to persons who qualify under criteria 1, or 2, or 3 below: 

1. Professional qualification in a social work, mental health or educational profession, with eligibility for membership in a recognised professional association, a provisional or full registration with a recognized provincial regulatory college (in Canada), or a state licensing board (in the USA). Typical professions of this kind are nursing, social work, special needs teaching, clinical psychology, counselling therapy, addictions counselling, educational psychology, psychiatry, systemic therapy. In certain cases we may invite applicants for a chat in order to help us refine our criteria, and/or assess, together, how well the course may be suited to their expectations.
    

2. Academic training and/or a diploma or certificate considered by CNTP as equivalent to a professional qualification, in cases where the applicant has worked in public services or NGO’s that offer organizational support such as supervision and practice guidelines, for the duration of at least two years. Examples include: child and youth workers in residential and other settings. To evidence equivalence, we kindly ask: 1) That you send us a full CV, including your work experience; 2) That you attach a cover letter explaining your interest in NVR and the way in which participating in the course aligns with your goals and future plans; 3) That you would be willing to meet with us, on Zoom, for a chat.
    

3. Persons who do not necessarily qualify as described above – be they community leaders, administrators, social entrepreneurs – are invited to approach us (see below). We will do our best to admit those persons who in our thinking would benefit most from the Foundation Level course, while benefiting other particpants. This open dialog embodies our commitment to learn about what people and communities need, which NVR education training can address. ​To help us reach the best decision., we kindly ask three things: ​1) That you send us a full CV, including your work experience; 2) That you attach a cover letter explaining your interest in NVR and the way in which participating in the course aligns with your goals and future plans; 3) That you would be willing to meet with us, on Zoom, for a chat.

​​Recent publications related this track

 

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