Forgiveness can heal relationship ruptures. Procedures for addressing forgiveness will be offered. Attendees can learn methods of working to promote forgiveness.
This workshop will provide participants with an integrated theoretical framework, e.g., sociological, systemic, somatic, and psychodynamic, to the assessment, formulation, and treatment of trauma within relational therapy. This presentation will focus on the everyday use of witnessing, movement, and art to engage self-soothing, connection, and the re-engagement of voice, touch, and healing in relational therapy.
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.
Extrinsic forces, centered in racism, classism, sexism, heteronormativity, ageism, ableism, and other intersecting identities impact relationships. However, they factors are not extrinsic, as we are all steeped in and operate from or are operated on, but these factors making them all too present and, unfortunately, made invisible to us as clinicians and the relational systems that we work with. The panel will define these factors, explore the power of their invisibility and impacts on relationships at the micro, mezzo and macros levels of experience and discuss their clinical implications on relational and systemic therapies.
The process of working with erotic transference and countertransference is often avoided in clinical practice and in the training of psychotherapists. As therapists we must recognize and address that erotic transference and countertransference are significant pathways, albeit uncomfortable topics steeped in fear and defensiveness, toward greater vulnerability, healing, and the potential for growth within the clients we treat and the clinicians we long to be. This keynote discussion will begin a conversation on the process of removing fear from topics traditionally avoided within the realm of normative psychotherapy practice and parameters for their exploration within a boundaried and ethical framework will be provided.
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.
This keynote will highlight core themes that are imperative for therapists to consider before working with relational systems that exist beyond the purview of heteronormativity. Specific topics will include becoming aware of ones sexological world views, understanding and working with sexual and relational health, and exploring what variant sexual, erotic and relational systems may offer heteronormative and monogamous couples in terms of increasing vulnerability, differentiation, and deepening relational attunement.
Gender roles are in flux and evolve quickly. The panel will review issues of masculinity and indicate how therapists can respond constructively to men.
A streaming option in place of the Couples Conference 2020 4 hour event. This recording provides a comprehensive cross-section of a variety of approaches to couples therapy, including specific therapeutic models, discussions on sexual desire discrepancies, working with resistance in the therapy room and more.