The initial session may be even more important for couple therapy than individual therapy because the partners often have different levels of motivation and competing ideas about what problems to work on. They may also hijack the session when their reactivity is high, and then feel that nothing was accomplished. In this workshop, you will hear three experienced couple therapists describe how they take charge of the first session while communicating empathically with the couple, what key information they gather, and how they form a working alliance with two people who are at odds with each other.
Explore the balance between therapeutic neutrality and social responsibility in psychotherapy. Panel topics include the political dimensions of the psyche, the subversive power of therapy, and the ethical need to protect human rights. Debates cover the use of medication, the role of activism, and integrating social and cultural awareness into clinical practice, highlighting the ongoing tension between individual care and broader societal impact.
Moderated by Betty Alice Erickson, MS, LPC, LMFT
