66th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 20

All-Day Workshops

10:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. & 2:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Workshop 35a

Neurobiology and Marriage: A Group Program

Chair:                

Donald Ferguson, Ph.D., CGP, Staff Psychologist, Dean Health System, Blanchardville, Wisconsin

“Flooding” in distressed couples endangers their introduction to therapy.  Participants will examine an educational group which first focuses on the reduction of physiological arousal.  The initiation of treatment is educational but prepares participants for a process group experience.  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. Educate couples about the biological underpinnings of their marital distress.

2. Organize and promote an educational group for couples.

3. Prepare couples (and colleagues) for increased risk taking in building intimacy.

Course References:

1. Atkinson, Brent Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the Science of Intimate Relationships.  Norton: New York, 2005.

2. Feld, Barbara  Phases of couples group therapy:  A consideration of therapeutic action. Group, 27(1), 5-19, 2003.

3. Ferguson, Don Reptiles in Love: Ending Destructive Fights and Evolving Toward More Loving Relationships.  Jossey-Bass:San Francisco, 2006.