A psychobiological approach to couple therapy (PACT) is, at is core, a social-justice, purpose-centered approach to primary attachment relationships (two or more). That is to say, PACT therapists expect their partnership clients to become secure functioning. A secure-functioning system is one that is a two (or more) psychological system grounded in fairness, justice, mutual sensitivity, collaboration, and cooperation. In other words, secure functioning relationship is a team sport. For many, secure functioning is a high bar to achieve. It requires a degree of social-emotional development, moral reasoning, individuation, differentiation, self-activation, and of course interest in, and a willingness to pursue it as a goal.
What do consent, great sex, strong agreements, and well-functioning polyamory have in common? The Developmental Model of Couple’s Therapy holds important keys to creating all of them. In this keynote, sex therapist Martha Kauppi will discuss why she finds the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy to be an ideal fit for her relational sex therapy practice. Learn how weaving together concepts of attachment, differentiation, and neuroscience empowers clients to create strong, healthy intimate and sexual relationships.
The Solution Focused Approach with couples is a brief and outcome-driven approach to couples therapy. The focus is on the present and future, rather than the past. The aim is to help couples identify and achieve their desired outcomes, while ignoring or minimizing any problematic behaviors.
Participants will receive an overview of RLT, a potent form of couples therapy which offers clients a map and specific set of skills that enable them to live relationally – that is, in a state of authentic connection to themselves, those they love, society, nature, and Spirit.
RLT replaces the individualistic and patriarchal delusion of power over nature with “ecological wisdom.” Our relationships are our biosphere. We live within them, not above them.
RLT offers a practical “relational technology” that delivers on our cultures brand new ambition- a truly intimate life-long romance.
This two-hour workshop will demonstrate how to organize and approach partner betrayal. In this case, the secret-keeper has kept vital information from the discovery-partner – such as a love affair, sexual acting out, financial decisions, a secret life, and other instances where the secret-keeper withheld, lied, and used gaslighting to cover their tracks. The reveal or discovery of important information that, if previously known, would have changed everything, is arguably the most devastating form of betrayal in romantic relationships. The discovery partner almost always exhibits PTSD symptoms of mood instability, sleep problems, flash backs, intrusive and obsessive thoughts, paranoia, and abandonment depression. A specific therapeutic architecture and therapist stance is vital to a successful therapeutic outcome of secure functioning.
Attendees will learn how to approach this unidirectional betrayal structure through and video example.
This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of how the Adaptive Information Processing Model (including the three-pronged protocol and 8 phases of EMDR) is applied for the treatment of relational trauma for the betrayer and the betrayed partner within the context of an intensive therapy model, provided by a therapeutic team system at Psychological Counseling Services, Ltd. (PCS). This presentation will focus on the implementation of EMDR that is focused on assisting the healing of the couple using Standard Protocol EMDR, EMDR addiction protocols, internal family systems EMDR, and couple’s shared EMDR.
This two-hour workshop will demonstrate how to foster secure functioning in your couple practice. Attendees will first get a deeper understanding of what is secure functioning versus insecure functioning in a couple system. We will answer the question as to why secure functioning is the only possible solution to relationship satisfaction and longevity. Then, through live demonstration, attendees will experience various challenges and opportunities to promote secure-functioning principles and orient partners toward a two-person psychological system of interdependency, teamwork, threat reduction, win-win outcomes, and protection of their union. We will also cover conflict management and why a couple system can be measured by how much load bearing it can take before the wheels start coming off.
This workshop will provide participants with an integrated framework, e.g., sociological, systemic, and models of sex therapy, from which to consider the strengths and skills that non-heteronormative relational systems can teach relational therapists working with monogamous couples interested in deepening both emotional attunement and interpersonal differentiation. Specific topics will include exploring clinician bias, challenge heteronormative constructs of
relational, sexual, and erotic practices, and the necessity of integrating various relational models of intervention tailored specifically to the relational systems we work with.
Under patriarchy – the framework we all live within – one can be connected or powerful; but not both at the same time. This workshop gives nuts and bolts technique for helping our clients discover “soft” or “loving” power. How to stand up for one’s self and cherish one’s partner, and the relationship, in the same breath. How one partner can help empower the other to come through for them, a win/win for both.
Learn how to teach clients the 3 steps to getting what you want
– Daring to rock the boat
– Teaching them what you want
– Encouraging, rather than discouraging, progress