Most clinical conversations about couple relationship problems occur in individual therapy, not couples therapy. But individual therapy models offer little guidance for how to address relationship problems. The result is that therapists sometimes collude with their client’s view of the partner and offer one-sided narratives of complex relational problems. This doesn’t help the client and can undermine the relationship. Even couples therapists sometimes make the same mistakes when doing individual therapy. This workshop will provide specific tools and guidelines for helping individual clients in the context of their relationship, while avoiding common traps when we are seeing just one member of a couple.
The Developmental Model, or DM, is a sophisticated orientation to understanding intimate partner relationships. Organizing relational processes through the lenses of attachment theory, developmental and neuropsychology, and family systems theory the DM maintains a nonpsychopathologizing perspective while fostering interconnection through the process of differentiation. However, The DM, like many models of relational therapy, was not designed to explore the complexities and lived experiences of those with multiple intersecting identities or queer identity formation as areas of consideration and exploration in clinical practice.
The Developmental Model, or DM, is a sophisticated orientation to understanding intimate partner relationships. Organizing relational processes through the lenses of attachment theory, developmental and neuropsychology, and family systems theory the DM maintains a nonpsychopathologizing perspective while fostering interconnection through the process of differentiation. However, The DM, like many models of relational therapy, was not designed to explore the complexities and lived experiences of those with multiple intersecting identities or queer identity formation as areas of consideration and exploration in clinical practice.
For this course, we will first begin by discussing common and unique issues in working with interracial couples. We will then review what “modern isms” are and how they are enacted from one’s historically included identities. After introducing the foundational knowledge and constructs, we will consider options for addressing and naming “modern isms” and that occur within the context of the therapy room between diverse couples and between one or both members of the couple and the therapist. The instructor will share several clinical examples and discuss how she addressed the modern isms in session.
For this course, we will first begin by discussing common and unique issues in working with interracial couples. We will then review what “modern isms” are and how they are enacted from one’s historically included identities. After introducing the foundational knowledge and constructs, we will consider options for addressing and naming “modern isms” and that occur within the context of the therapy room between diverse couples and between one or both members of the couple and the therapist. The instructor will share several clinical examples and discuss how she addressed the modern isms in session.
The Solution Focused Approach is known for being a questions based way of working with clients, thus the key to mastering this approach lays within developing the ability to ask questions that lead toward change. This is an even more crucial skill when working with couples due to the fact that there is more than one person present in the session. This presentation will clearly show how to ask the kinds of questions that evoke love and happiness in a couple's lives.
The Solution Focused Approach is known for being a questions based way of working with clients, thus the key to mastering this approach lays within developing the ability to ask questions that lead toward change. This is an even more crucial skill when working with couples due to the fact that there is more than one person present in the session. This presentation will clearly show how to ask the kinds of questions that evoke love and happiness in a couple's lives.
As more and more people experiment with non-monogamy, therapists everywhere are being called upon to work with polyamory-related relational challenges. Are you prepared to help a client navigate the predictable pitfalls that come with a transition into an open relationship? Clients may be affected by pre-existing unresolved relational issues, like infidelity or substance abuse. They may have significant knowledge deficits about non-monogamous relationship styles, or difficulty making and keeping agreements. Or they may not be able to agree on whether to open their relationship in the first place. How can you help clients build the skills they need in order to make polyamory work well, and what skills are those? Gain concrete strategies for handling the key difficulties your clients will face when opening up. Expect case examples, worksheets and exercises, and an opportunity to ask Martha about your toughest polyamory-related cases.
As more and more people experiment with non-monogamy, therapists everywhere are being called upon to work with polyamory-related relational challenges. Are you prepared to help a client navigate the predictable pitfalls that come with a transition into an open relationship? Clients may be affected by pre-existing unresolved relational issues, like infidelity or substance abuse. They may have significant knowledge deficits about non-monogamous relationship styles, or difficulty making and keeping agreements. Or they may not be able to agree on whether to open their relationship in the first place. How can you help clients build the skills they need in order to make polyamory work well, and what skills are those? Gain concrete strategies for handling the key difficulties your clients will face when opening up. Expect case examples, worksheets and exercises, and an opportunity to ask Martha about your toughest polyamory-related cases.