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*Participants must attend the entire chosen day to earn CEU credit. 8 CEUs are offered Friday; 6 CEUs are offered both Saturday and Sunday. CEUs are provided by The Couples Center. Please click here for CEU Policies. The Couples Center is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education credit to MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and LCSWs. CE approval agency: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). CAMFT provider number 144125. All payments are final.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF WHICH DAYS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

DETAILS OF DAILY SCHEDULE

Friday, October 11th, 2019

SESSION 1

9:00 am – 12:30 pm

A Psychobiological Approach to Working with Impasse in Couples Therapy: Dysregulation and Disorganization

General Course Description:

The PACT model of couples therapy is based on a conceptual framework of committed, intimate relationships referred to as secure functioning. Secure functioning relationships are based on a stance of the relationship first and adherence to true mutuality, fairness, justice and sensitivity to each other’s needs.

The three foundational underpinnings of PACT work: developmental neuroscience, arousal regulation and attachment theory are essential clinical perspectives for the therapist in her task to help the couple develop a secure functioning/co-regulatory relationship. PACT therapists utilize a bottom-up or process-oriented approach to simultaneously promote in the couple the development of greater understanding and empathy for their own and their partner’s self-protective strategies while moving them towards a secure functioning relationship.

In PACT work the therapist main focus is not on the content of the conflict and impasses that each couple brings, but rather on developing the capacity to resolve these issue utilizing secure functioning principles.

PACT is suited for work with both secure and insecure individuals as well as those with pockets of disorganization or even those who are more severely disorganized. Disorganized individuals are more easily dysregulated given their tendency to perceive danger and threat in the environment. PACT therapy has specific sets of principles and skills for intervening with disorganized partners or couples–these couples may have more difficulty establishing secure functioning given the vulnerability to perceive partners as dangerous as well as adherence to a one-person psychology.

In this presentation, we will discuss how attachment and arousal regulation shape the couple relationship and present skills and intervention specific for assessment and intervention designed to move them to move toward secure functioning. We will focus on how dysregulation and disorganization contribute to high conflict and impasse as well as specific interventions for dealing with these issues.

We will utilize experiential exercises, role play, and demonstrations to deepen the understanding of PACT work with couples.

PRESENTERS

Hans Stahlschmidt, Ph.D.

Hans Stahlachmidt, Ph.D., received the foundation of his education and training as a psychologist in Germany. As a licensed psychologist in Germany, he worked with individual and groups as well as provided training in various body therapies. Dr. Stahlschmidt also received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He draws from a wide range of professional experiences as well as various disciplines and trainings over the last forty years. His current approach is based on Dr. Stan Tatkin’s neurobiological PACT model. He has a private practice in Berkeley, specializing in couples work and leading several consulting groups. He is a core faculty member of the PACT Institute and trains therapists in California, Oregon, and Washington in couples-therapy.

Patricia Hart, Ph.D.

Dr. Patricia Hart has worked as a clinical psychologist for the past four decades. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University and her doctorate from the University of Hawaii. She has worked in a variety of settings providing services to children and families, couples and individuals. She has also provided supervision, training, and consultation as well as presented widely on issues relating to divorce and remarriage. Dr. Hart has worked in private practice in Berkeley since 1985. For the past twelve years since beginning training in a Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT), her work and training has focused primarily on couples. She has received the highest level of training in PACT and is also works as an affiliate of the PACT Institute presenting the PACT model to health organizations, professional groups, and training organizations. She also assists her husband, Dr. Hans Stahlschmidt in training PACT therapists.

SESSION 2

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Beyond Communication: Using Psychoenergetic Touch in Couples Therapy

General Course Description:

Romantic partners respond to each other on a subtle energetic level, based on non-verbal cues and even when no words are said. In every interaction, each person’s protections (defenses) as well as their underlying longings and needs show up as patterns in their body.

When used skillfully, touch can be a powerful healing tool in couples therapy. Through touch the client can get ‘in-touch’ directly with their feelings and needs. Touch also evokes body memories and therefore provides a direct experience of wounded child parts that are being activated in the relationship.

This talk is based on applying PsychoEnergetic Touch to couples therapy, a form of therapy that uses direct subtle tracking of the client and touch on the body. Therapists will gain greater understanding of  how the wounded child shows up in relationship, and how the body can be used as a tool for accessing and changing relationship patterns.

PRESENTER

Gal Szekely, LMFT

Gal Szekely is a somatic therapist, teacher and supervisor. His work is infused by Mindfulness, Heartfulness and Embodiment. Gal and his wife, Liron, are the founders of The Couples Center, a relationship counseling center in the bay area. Together they lead Love Made Simple, a weekend couples workshop that teaches practical tools based on mindfulness, neuroscience and somatic exercises. Gal is a Hakomi teacher, an adjunct faculty at CIIS University and a teacher of PsychoEnergetic touch. He holds a master’s in Counseling Psychology and a master’s in Social Psychology and his work is also influenced by a background in the business world and as a management consultant.

SESSION 3

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Assessment and Treatment of Sex and Intimacy Issues with Couples

General Course Description:

This workshop is designed to give the clinician a basic introduction and understanding of the integration of sex and relationship therapy and its application in the treatment of intimacy issues in couples.  Some of the common sex-related issues for couples will be presented, such as sexual desire issues and desire discrepancies.  It will introduce the clinician to sex therapy assessment, sex history taking, sex and intimacy issues, and their treatment.  Sufficient knowledge and clinical competence in the areas of sex, sexuality and intimacy issues is imperative to effectively work with individuals, couples and the diversity of relationships that exist today.  Attendees will be given an opportunity to practice some of the skill sets they will be learning about in this workshop.

PRESENTER

Seth Prosterman, Ph.D.

Dr. Seth Prosterman is a Sex & Relationship Therapist, who has maintained a successful private practice in San Francisco, California for over 35 years. Dr. Seth is a Board-Certified Sex Therapist by the American College of Sexologists and the American Board of Sexology and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. His doctoral degree is in Human Sexuality and he additionally earned a Master of Science in Counseling with a focus on relationship, marriage and family therapy. Dr. Seth was an associate professor of Clinical Sexology for the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality and has also been an undergraduate instructor of Sexuality at San Francisco State University. In his therapy practice, Dr. Seth strives to help individuals and couples overcome sex, intimacy and relationship issues. He believes that everyone can achieve the healthy, passionate and satisfying sex life, that allows couples to attain higher levels of intimacy and connection in their relationships.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF WHICH DAYS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND!

Note that CEU’s are available for $10 extra per day.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Saturday, October 12th, 2019

SESSION 1

9:00 – 12:30 PM

Healing Shame in Couples: Getting Couples Out of the Blame Shame Dynamic

General Course Description:

PRESENTERS

Sheila Rubin, LMFT, RDT/BCT

Sheila Rubin, LMFT, RDT/BCT, is a leading authority on Healing Shame. She co-created the Healing Shame – Lyon/Rubin method and has delivered talks, presentations and workshops across the country and around the world, at conferences from Canada to Romania, for over 30 years. Sheila is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Registered Drama Therapist and a Board Certified Trainer. She has developed therapy techniques that integrate AEDP, EFT, drama therapy and somatic therapy to work with the all-pervasive shame and trauma that underlie eating disorders, addictions and toxic family dynamics. Sheila has served as adjunct faculty at JFK University and the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her expertise, teaching, and writing contributions have been featured in numerous publications, including six books. Sheila offers therapy through her private practice in Berkeley and also offers consultation to therapists over Skype.

Bret Lyon, Ph.D., SEP

Bret Lyon, PhD has been a teacher of Somatic and Emotional Mindfulness for over 25 years. He co-leads Healing Shame workshops for therapists in many cities in the U.S. and Canada, as well as online. He has spoken on Healing Shame to every chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds doctorates in both Psychology and Drama and is certified in Focusing and Somatic Experiencing. He has trained extensively in Reichian Breathwork with Al Bauman, who worked directly with Wilhelm Reich. He has twice attended the EFT Externship with Sue Johnson, as well as training in AEDP with Diana Fosha and Coherence Therapy with Bruce Ecker. Bret has a private practice in Berkeley, CA.

SESSION 2

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm

An Exerience is Worth a Thousand Words: Hakomi-Based Couples Therapy

General Course Description:

Couples therapy can be challenging because attachment patterns happen fast, underneath the conscious level and show up in a non-verbal way. Mindfulness and experiential exercises (called “experiments”) are powerful tools for revealing and studying couples’ unconscious patterns. They are effective because they get beneath the words and the mind defenses and provide a visceral experience of change. At the end of therapy clients often mention these experiments as the most memorable parts of the process.

In this workshop we will apply techniques from Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy to working with couples. Therapists from any background will gain practical tools for overcoming impasse and conflict, by bypassing ‘content’ and getting to the underlying patterns.

PRESENTER

Gal Szekely, LMFT

Gal Szekely is a somatic therapist, teacher and supervisor. His work is infused by Mindfulness, Heartfulness and Embodiment. Gal and his wife, Liron, are the founders of The Couples Center, a relationship counseling center in the bay area. Together they lead Love Made Simple, a weekend couples workshop that teaches practical tools based on mindfulness, neuroscience and somatic exercises. Gal is a Hakomi teacher, an adjunct faculty at CIIS University and a teacher of PsychoEnergetic touch. He holds a master’s in Counseling Psychology and a master’s in Social Psychology and his work is also influenced by a background in the business world and as a management consultant.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF WHICH DAYS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND!

Note that CEU’s are available for $10 extra per day.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Sunday, October 13th, 2019

SESSION 1

9:00 – 12:30 PM

Therapeutic Transformations in the Treatment of Trauma with AEDP for Couples

General Course Description:

PRESENTER

David Mars, LMFT, Ph.D.

David Mars David Mars, M.F.T., Ph.D., is the developer of AEDP For Couples. He has specialized in the somatically focused treatment of couples and groups for four decades.  He is an innovator in developing process-oriented, somatically focused couple treatment. David has trained, supervised and consulted with Dr. Diana Fosha, the originator of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy since 2005. David develops and presents training seminars and workshops nationally and internationally that focus on the AEDP for Couples model. He is the lead supervisor of AEDP for Couples Core Trainings.  He is one of the founders of AEDP West. David is also on the adjunct faculty of the California Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco where he infused AEDP into his teaching of courses on the Clinical Relationship.  He is the author of many articles and papers on AEDP for Couples, which are available at cfttsite.com/CAMFT3.

SESSION 2

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Working with Trauma in Couples Therapy from a Psychoanalytic Perspective

General Course Description:

In this talk, Dr. Longerbeam will look at trauma in couple therapy through a psychoanalytic and neuro-scientific lens. She will define terms commonly used in psychoanalytic couple therapy theory and provide suggestions of how the theory gets operationalized in treatment interventions.

PRESENTER

Sheila Longerbeam, MFT., Psy.D.

Sheila Longerbeam, MFT, Psy. D., is a psychologist in private practice in Oakland. She trained at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC) and The Psychoanalytic Couple Psychotherapy Group (PCPG). She had also trained in the Developmental Model with the Couples Institute and the Gottman Method of Couples therapy. She is currently a faculty member at PINC, The Psychotherapy Institute and the San Francisco Marriage and Couples Center. She loves helping therapists feel empowered in their work with couples.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF WHICH DAYS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND!

Note that CEU’s are available for $10 extra per day.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Please note that all payments are final. There will be no refunds.

*Participants must attend the entire chosen day to earn CEU credit. 8 CEUs are offered Friday; 6 CEUs are offered both Saturday and Sunday. CEUs are provided by The Couples Center. The Couples Center is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education credit to MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and LCSWs. CE approval agency: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). CAMFT provider number 144125.

For CEU policies, click here.