What are the differential impacts of divorce on children? This workshop will consider the thoughts, feelings, behavior, issues, concerns and needs of children in different age groups, from birth to 50 years, within the framework of the stages of the divorce process and for years afterwards. Lecture, discussion, clinical examples and role plays will be interspersed as efficacious interventions are considered.
Ericksonian psychotherapy emphasizes the utilization of people's resources. When working with children of divorced parents, I focus on strengths and keep in mind the Ericksonian interventions should be brief because children may get tired of being in therapy for a long time. In a case with two children, techniques including the use of toys will be discussed. How to make several brief interventions quickly while utilizing "toy co-therapists" in home assignments, and the combination of conversational trance with tasks will be emphasized. There also will be references to the importance of working with the family system.
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.
The Gottmans will review research that shows that when the first baby arrives, up to 67% of couples go through a tragic deterioration in the quality of their relationship, which usually begins the cascade toward divorce. Their research outlines the consistent phenomena in this transition, and how the minority of marriages do manage to succeed in avoiding this tragedy. The Gottmans will describe a new approach to the problem and present the results of randomized clinical trial preventative intervention with one-year follow-up data on that intervention.
This workshop discusses the brain circuitry of the three primary mating emotions: lust, attraction and attachment. It traces the evolution of these emotion systems and illustrates how their neural circuitry contributes to contemporary patterns of marital harmony and discord including adultery; divorce; stalking behavior; clinical depression due to rejection in love; and other issues brought to contemporary couples therapy.
Anxiety and depression are fast becoming the leading causes of personal disability and the single greatest destructive force in relationships. Research indicates that when one person in a relationship is depressed, the divorce rate goes up nine times. Therefore, it is vital that therapists learn to recognize typical and atypical symptoms early in therapy. It also is imperative that symptoms of relational depression are recognized. Lecture, video, written exercises and demonstration will be used.
James Bugental (2000) explains the importance of focusing on immediate subjective experiences. Bugental works with Glenda who is experiencing deep guilt about an upcoming divorce. Bugental addresses questions from the audience. A second volunteer explores issues surrounding her recent career change. Bugental explains his approach and answers questions.