 63rd
Annual Conference
Thursday, February
23
Morning Workshops
10:00 A.M.-1:15
P.M.
Workshop
16
The
Reptilian Brain in Distressed Couples: Creating a Safe Environment
for Change
Chair:
Don Ferguson,
Ph.D., CGP,
Psychologist, Dean
Medical Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Emotional and
physiological “flooding” in distressed couples endangers their
introduction to therapy. Participants will discuss an induction
into therapy which first focuses on the reduction of intensity and
lowering fight-or-flight arousal. The appropriate initiation of
treatment is primarily educational and therefore may be accomplished
with a couple, or in group or workshop formats. Specific case
studies of both chaotically angry as well as estranged, silent
couples will be discussed.
Didactic-demonstration-sharing of work experiences-experiential
Learning
Objectives:
The attendee will
be able to:
1. Assess most
immediate needs of couples requesting treatment.
2. Provide an
explanation of the fight-or-flight response and its bearing on
couples’ interactions, in individual or group formats.
3. Develop a
structured treatment approach for reducing tension between a
combative or distant, withdrawn couple.
Course References:
1. Feld, B. (2003)
Phases of Couples Group Therapy: A consideration of
therapeutic
action. Group, 27(1), 5-19.
2. Jacobson, N.,
Gottman, J., Waltz, J., Rushe, R., & Babcock, J. (1994). Affect,
Verbal Content, and Psychophysiology in the Arguments of Couples
with a Violent Husband. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology,
62(5), 982-988.
3. Tomm, K.
(1987). Part I-Strategizing as a Fourth Guideline for the Therapist.
Family Practice, 26, 3-13.
4. Ferguson, D.
(2006).
Reptiles in Love: How to Stop Stupid
Fights and EvolveToward
Intimacy.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. |
