Friday, March 19th, 2010 - Day 1:

Emotion Regulation in Couples Therapy: An Integrative Approach

This workshop will present an integrative approach for working with challenging couples characterized by difficulties in regulating emotions. An overview of alternative theoretical approaches to couple therapy will be provided, along with specific intervention techniques within each approach. Indicators and contraindicators of various techniques will be discussed, and an integrative hierarchical model will be presented for organizing interventions in a strategic manner. Special attention will be given to addressing individual emotional and behavioral concerns within conjoint couple therapy.

This workshop is intended for mental health professionals wanting to enhance their ability to integrate diverse couple therapy techniques in an integrative manner, and for experienced couple therapists wanting to improve their ability to work with particularly difficult couples exhibiting individual emotional difficulties or struggling with acute relationship distress. Videotaped couple therapy sessions will be used to demonstrate specific techniques.

This workshop will help participants to:

  • Develop a conceptual model for understanding and addressing emotion dysregulation in couples therapy.
  • Develop skills for identifying core relationship themes relating to emotion regulation.
  • Develop skills for selecting, sequencing, and pacing interventions to address different sources of emotion dysregulation.

Saturday, March 20th, 2010 - Day 2:

Rebuilding Intimacy After An Affair

This workshop will present an integrative approach to treating affair couples. The workshop is designed for couple therapists already skilled in the fundamental techniques of couple therapy, but who wish conceptual as well as specific clinical skills in working with this difficult population. The treatment approach to be presented in this workshop draws on the theoretical and empirical literature regarding traumatic response as well as interpersonal forgiveness. The treatment integrates cognitive-behavioral with insight-oriented or developmental techniques within an ecosystemic perspective. This affair-specific intervention is the only couple-based intervention designed specifically to address both individual and relationship consequences of infidelity to have been empirically examined and supported in clinical research.

The workshop will begin with an overview of the affair literature and will present a theoretical rationale for viewing recovery from affairs from a trauma perspective. Specific domains and clinical assessment techniques will be described for tailoring this intervention to affair couples. Both videotapes and multiple case vignettes will be used to demonstrate key intervention strategies. Discussion of participants’ own cases will promote integration and generalization of skills promoted in the workshop.

This workshop will help participants to:

  • Understand couples’ recovery from an affair from a trauma perspective.
  • Contain the emotional turmoil accompanying discovery or disclosure of an affair.
  • Formulate a comprehensive model articulating factors contributing to an affair.
  • Assist couples in reaching an informed decision about how to move forward.

Workshop Details:

Topics: Day 1 - Emotion Regulation in Couples Therapy: An Integrative Approach
Day 2 - Rebuilding Intimacy After An Affair
Dates & Time: March 19 & 20, 2010 (Friday & Saturday)
8:15AM - 9:00AM Registration & Breakfast
9:00AM - 4:30PM Workshop
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden
5251 Oak St. (at West 37th Ave.)
Vancouver, BC.
See map and location
Registration: To register, please send an email to workshop@wishingwellscounselling.com
Phone: 604-568-6556

Sponsored By:

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