At no other time in history have men been so awash in mixed cultural messages and in such a state of transition, confusion, reactivity, and trouble. Despite being basically good hearted, many men continue to make a hash of their relationships. We therapists can help, but not before rethinking some of the sacred cows of therapeutic practice. Men need action and leadership from us, challenging them while still loving the little boy inside them and offering guidance and tools to their inner grown-up.
All couples and couples therapies struggle with issues of mixed loyalties. At any given moment, do I choose my own fulfillment as an individual or do I yield to the needs of the relationship? Is it a zero-sum game in which one partner wins and one loses – and if not, how else can we think about it? This keynote address introduces a model integrating both attachment and differentiation in couples therapy through the idea of enlightened self-interest – taking care of yourself by taking care of the relationship – as well as a model of healthy sacrifice, which is missing in our contemporary, Narcissistic culture.
Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson will start the Conference off with a Keynote on why Attachment, Differentiation and Neuroscience matter in Couples Therapy. Skillful integration of these approaches will enable you to more calmly manage couples hostility, outrageous demands and conflict/intimacy avoidance.
In the treatment of the effects of trauma, its inherent relationship with spirituality provides a vital link in the therapeutic process. The understanding of a person’s felt, spiritual connection is central to the therapeutic process. If we are unable to access a person’s spirituality, we may find ourselves trapped, as therapists, in areas that are fraught with pitfalls and “tight corners.” The intimate association between trauma and spirituality suggests therapeutic avenues that support the authentic transformation of traumatic experiences. Through the use of didactic material- including brain research, experiential practice incorporating the bodily “felt-sense,” and video material, we will introduce Somatic Experiencing® as a way to reconnect with the deep self. The focus will be on developing practical tools to gracefully enhance the relationship between trauma and spirituality within the therapeutic experience.
All couples and couples therapies struggle with issues of mixed loyalties. At any given moment, do I choose my own fulfillment as an individual or do I yield to the needs of the relationship? Is it a zero-sum game in which one partner wins and one loses – and if not, how else can we think about it? This keynote address introduces a model integrating both attachment and differentiation in couples therapy through the idea of enlightened self-interest – taking care of yourself by taking care of the relationship – as well as a model of healthy sacrifice, which is missing in our contemporary, Narcissistic culture.
The focus will be on the cognitive-behavioral treatment of adults with affective disorders (anxiety, depression, anger). Such treatment procedures as cognitive restructuring, problem-solving and stress inoculation training will be demonstrated.