The anxiety disorders manipulate people by injecting rules into consciousness, then using that set of laws to take over mental territory. The five anxiety disorders (phobias, panic, social anxiety, generalized anxiety and OCD) control people by generating an absolute standard for certainty and comfort. We will look at the common denominators of this game, and isolate its manifestations in each disorder. Then we will explore how the therapist can teach clients to gain ground by engineering their own tactics and strategies, including the second-order change of switching game boards altogether!
This workshop focuses on the specific use of cognitive-behavioral strategies as an adjunct to the many treatment modalities of couples therapy. It offers a basic overview of the theories of cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly as it applies to couples. Participants will learn first-hand techniques and strategies for working with difficult couples and how to integrate these strategies with their respective modes of treatment. The presentation is followed by a videotape showing how to implement techniques.
A key idea in Milton Erickson's work was that a person's problematic experiences and behaviors can be skillfully accepted and utilized as the basis for therapeutic change. Self-relations psychotherapy develops this idea further, emphasizing symptoms as indicating the death of an old identity and the impending birth of a new identity. Thus, we don't try to "get rid of" depression, anxiety, or "acting out/acting in" expressions, but instead invite them into a human relationship of "sponsorship", where their healing and helpful nature may be realized. We will see how a therapist can generate a ritual space where symptoms and other disturbing experiences can be "midwifed" into new identities.
BT06 Workshop 14 - Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Tailoring the Relationship to the Individual Patient - John Norcross, PhDPsychotherapy will maximize its effectiveness by targeting the most powerful sources of change, the therapeutic relationship and the patient him/herself. This practical workshop will provide an integrative structure for customizing therapy relationships to individual clients. Participants will learn to reliably assess and rapidly apply four evidence-based guidelines (patient preferences, stages of change, resistance level, real-time feedback) for constructing the "relationship of choice."
Adolescent self-harming behavior is on the rise and one of the most challenging presenting problems therapists will face today in their clinical practice settings. Therapists referred these clients are often intimidated by their cutting and burning behaviors, the DSM IV labels they have been given, and the army of helping professionals involved with them and their families. many of these adolescents have experienced multiple treatment failures, feel emotionally disconnected from their parents, and come from families where there may be difficulties with marital or post-divorce conflicts, invalidating family interactions, gender power imbalance issues, or family secrets. In this hands-on, practice-oriented workshop, participants will learn a collaborative, strengths-based therapy approach that capitalizes on the strengths and resources of the adolescent, family members, concerned peers, adult inspirational others, and involved helpers from larger systems to rapidly co-construct solutions
Given the increasing popularity of spirituality in the culture, this workshop will address the relationship of spirituality to mental health. We will combine discussion with experiential exercises demonstrating practical methods of spiritual inquiry. Participants will learn to identify common problems associated with spirituality and strategies for encouraging healthy spiritual growth.
It is said that one in three couples experience a sexual desire gap, a difference that often wrecks havoc in every aspect of marital life. When you add to this the compelling statistic that one out of ten couples has a sexless marriage, it's easy to understand why so many couples are losing tough both literally and figuratively. A marriage that is void of healthy intimacy and physical connection risks divorce and/or infidelity. Learn what you can do to help couples bridge the desire gap and bring passion back to marriage, and also help couples heal from infidelity.
Those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder are convinced that great harm will come if they do not comply with rigidly set rules of safety. The therapist can reframe the nature of the problem and incorporate all interventions within four simple but provocative guidelines. Then, utilization and pattern disruption lead to new experiences that challenge the dysfunctional beliefs of the client.
Couples in our society are very isolated from other couples and from "what is normal" in a relationship. Couples workshops provide a unique opportunity to de-mystify relationship stress and change destructive cycles quickly. Attendees will have an opportunity to experience effective exercises used in couple's workshops.
Brief Adlerian Couples Therapy will be described in detail. The key components of Adler's approach as they apply to couples therapy will be highlighted, including the numerous strategies and techniques that are unique to this approach. The program also will show how to integrate the strategies of other theories into this model. The core skills of effective relationships will be discussed and integrated into actual treatment protocols. Several examples from actual couples therapy sessions will be used to show the process as well as to demonstrate the strategies. The program will conclude with ideas that can be used to help couples prevent relapse after an effective intervention has been made.