Invisible Wounds: Understanding & Supporting Children of Difficult Parents

Training Description

Home visitors and family support workers often find themselves walking into complex family dynamics—sometimes where one caregiver controls, criticizes, or manipulates others in the home. These situations can be confusing, emotionally charged, and even unsafe if not recognized and navigated carefully.

This training will help participants identify controlling or emotionally harmful behaviors that may occur in homes where one adult exhibits traits of difficult personality patterns. Attendees will learn how to recognize warning signs, protect themselves and the vulnerable family members they serve, and communicate in ways that avoid escalating tension or placing the client at risk once the worker leaves.

Learning Objectives

• By the end of this 3-hour training, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize signs of controlling, manipulative, or emotionally abusive behavior within the home environment.

2. Understand how these behaviors impact children and non-dominant caregivers.

3. Use safe, neutral language when interacting with families to avoid increasing risk for the victim or children.

4. Apply strategies to maintain personal safety and emotional boundaries when visiting high-conflict homes.

5. Identify resources and support systems available for families and professionals when emotional abuse or coercive control is suspected.

Join either in person at First 5 Shasta, 393 Park Marina Circle or on Zoom.

Presenter Bio

Ashley N. Green, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, author, a Certified Clinical Supervisor who specializes in narcissistic abuse recovery as a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician. She is the founder and owner of Heal Your Heart Therapy in Redding, California, and has trained clinicians, educators, and community professionals across all of California on trauma-informed approaches to recovery from narcissistic and emotionally abusive relationships. Ashley’s teaching style blends compassion, clarity, and practicality, empowering professionals to help rebuild safety, self-trust, and resilience.

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: First 5 Shasta, 393 Park Marina Circle, Redding or join on Zoom

Who should attend? Shasta County providers of service to children ages 0-5, parents/primary caregivers of children ages 0-5, home visiting staff, mental health clinicians, and pregnant women

Includes

• Light breakfast for those attending in person
• Presentation materials

This free training is open to Shasta County parents/caregivers, pregnant women, and providers serving children ages 0-5 and their families. This training is brought to you by First 5 Shasta whose aim is to provide the highest quality opportunities for young children, pregnant women and providers of service to children 0-5.

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Host or Publisher First 5 Institute