What Clinicians need to know about Divorce
This innovative training takes the Psychobiologic Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) into new territory by exploring how its principles can be applied not just to fostering healthier relationships, but also to guiding couples through the process of separation and divorce. While PACT traditionally aims to achieve “secure functioning” in relationships, this course offers therapists a framework for helping couples maintain these principles even as they uncouple.
The course integrates Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) to illuminate the natural tensions and contradictions present in all relationships, such as autonomy vs. connection, openness vs. closeness, and predictability vs. novelty. Participants will gain theoretical insights and practical tools for bridging therapy and divorce mediation, equipping them to help couples navigate the complexities of uncoupling while fostering emotional health and secure functioning.
https://nefesh.org/workshops/CouplingAND/viewFREE WEBINAR
Coupling AND UNcoupling:
What Clinicians need to know about Divorce
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 6:00 PM EST
Presenter: Joy A. Dryer, Ph.D.
Course Length: 3 Hours
Learning Objectives:
- Name 3 assessment tools and how each helps the PACT therapist assess if both partners are committed to working on improving their relationship, OR if one or both is really headed out the door/ is considering uncoupling. [ECR-R, DAS, WAI]
- Describe 3 secure functioning criteria that the PACT therapist uses to help the couple decide whether to work on staying IN the relationship, or to work on separating/ uncoupling. [Team Shared Purpose, Theory of Mind, Mutual Regulation]
- Identify the 3 separation processes that couples can choose among. [Mediation, Collab. Divorce, Litigation].
This workshop Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
This innovative training takes the Psychobiologic Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) into new territory by exploring how its principles can be applied not just to fostering healthier relationships, but also to guiding couples through the process of separation and divorce. While PACT traditionally aims to achieve “secure functioning” in relationships, this course offers therapists a framework for helping couples maintain these principles even as they uncouple.
The course integrates Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) to illuminate the natural tensions and contradictions present in all relationships, such as autonomy vs. connection, openness vs. closeness, and predictability vs. novelty. Participants will gain theoretical insights and practical tools for bridging therapy and divorce mediation, equipping them to help couples navigate the complexities of uncoupling while fostering emotional health and secure functioning.
Learning Objectives:
- Name 3 assessment tools and how each helps the PACT therapist assess if both partners are committed to working on improving their relationship, OR if one or both is really headed out the door/ is considering uncoupling. [ECR-R, DAS, WAI]
- Describe 3 secure functioning criteria that the PACT therapist uses to help the couple decide whether to work on staying IN the relationship, or to work on separating/ uncoupling. [Team Shared Purpose, Theory of Mind, Mutual Regulation]
- Identify the 3 separation processes that couples can choose among. [Mediation, Collab. Divorce, Litigation].
Agenda:
AGENDA:
INTRO: What is PACT? what is RDT? How these theories integrate to help couples decide to stay or to separate? (20 min)
ASSESSING: three main types of tensions that arise in relationships:
- Autonomy vs. connection: The tension between wanting independence / separation and wanting to be close to others/ intimacy.
- Openness vs. closeness: The tension between wanting to share personal information/ express oneself and wanting to set boundaries/ be private.
- Predictability vs. novelty: The tension between wanting stability and wanting change and excitement
- Show video of Couple #1 (10 min.) and Q & A & discuss above criteria (30)
DECIDING: Secure functioning principles: Shared purpose, Theory of Mind, Mutual Regulation
Show video of Couple #2 (10 min.) and Q & A & discuss above criteria (30)
REFERRING (separation options): How to keep the Third Space of contradiction and loss
Show video of Couple #3 (10 min.) and Q & A & discuss above criteria (30)
Review & Summation. (20 min)
Final Q & A & discussion (20)
This presentation is open to:
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
- Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.