64th Annual Conference

Thursday, March 8

Morning Workshops

10:00 A.M.-1:15 P.M.

Workshop 16

The Reptilian Brain in Distressed Couples: Creating a Safe Environment

Chair:    

Donald Ferguson, Ph.D., CGP, Psychologist, Dean Health Systems, 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 and 10-week introductory group will be discussed.
didactic, sharing of work experiences, demonstration, 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 Develop a structured treatment approach for reducing tension between a combative or distant, withdrawn couple.
4. Examine possible group programming for couples. 

Course References:

1. Feld, B. (2003). Phases of Couples Group Therapy:  A consideration of therapeutic action. Group. 27(1), 5-19.
2. Ferguson, D. (2006). Reptiles in Love: Ending destructive fights and evolving toward more loving relationships. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.
3. Gottman, J. and Silver, N.  (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.  Crown Publishers: New York.
4. 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.