How could he do it? An exploration of adolescent violence via the Netflix series, "Adolescence"

Dates: October 1, 8, 16, and 22, 2025

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET

Facilitator: Marshall Korenblum, MD, FRCP (C).

CE hours: 8

This training is suitable for:

• Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers.
• Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors.
• Educators: teachers, ECE, school administration, support staff.

Client age category: For professionals who work with clients 12 years to adulthood.

Level of training: Introductory/Intermediate

Trigger Warning: Participating in our programming may evoke powerful feelings and can trigger participants who have experienced personal trauma. A brief snippet of a violent video is shown.  Parents of teenagers may identify with the parents in the show, and may thus experience heightened emotions. Feel free to take breaks at any time, consistent with prudent self-care.

Description: The need to belong to and be accepted by a group is a normal developmental task of adolescence.  However, with the rapid rise of instant communication via social media, and the hyper-sexualization of teens by society, this need can be magnified and distorted to a pathological degree.  What happens if/when one is rejected by the group—or when a “crush” is unrequited?  When does the need to belong become an unbearable pressure?  What does it take to push someone who looks “normal” over the edge?

This newly developed 4-week course will follow Jamie, a fictional 13-year old boy, through the treacherous waters of teenage relationships, using the Emmy nominated Netflix series “Adolescence” as a springboard for discussion.  Along the way, issues of cyber-bullying, misogyny, “incel” culture, explosive violence, and the impact of trauma on parents and family will be explored.  What supports are in place for today’s teenagers?  Where have all the adults gone?

Learning objectives:

• List the factors that contribute to teen relational violence.
• Appreciate the impact of cyber-bullying on adolescent development.
• Describe what a “good” mental health assessment does and does not look like.
• Have greater empathy for parents of disturbed teens.
• Reflect on and consider ways in which we can improve the safety and security of today’s teenagers.

Training format: This course will use a “flipped classroom” format, delivered over four 2-hour sessions. Participants will be required to watch each assigned episode of Adolescence independently at home in advance of each session. A personal Netflix subscription is required to access the episodes.

Weekly episodes and topics:

• Week 1 - Episode 1: The suspect and the crime.
• Week 2 - Episode 2: The school and social media.
• Week 3 - Episode 3: The mental health assessment/assessor.
• Week 4 - Episode 4: The impact on the parents.

Each weekly session will include:

• A facilitated reflective exercise and group discussion based on the episode viewed that week. Participants will engage in peer consultation to explore clinical questions raised by the content.
• A scholarly debrief led by Dr. Korenblum, who will place the episode in an academic context by integrating evidence-based research with actionable clinical insights.

Be among the first to register for this new training and build essential skills to better support teens and families facing the realities of adolescent violence and mental health.

Registration fee: $300 | Student and group rates are available

Learn more and reserve your spot at: https://cvent.me/QM5qox