A Mind-body Approach
This presentation will NOT be recorded for playback review.
Couples therapy is challenging because there are two people who are in distress, each wanting more from their partner and to be understood. A common denominator in treating couples is verbal communication, which relies on what is available cognitively to the couple. However, sources of tension and disconnection are often outside of their awareness, limiting the effectiveness of the treatment. When couples become emotionally charged or shut down it’s because they’re feeling threatened, by something inside of themselves or something between them and their partner.
This presentation focuses on how to use the natural workings of the autonomic nervous system to help couples engage more effectively with each other. Key components are the structure of a session, strategies for nervous system regulation, tracking the body for signs of nervous system activation and intervening effectively. This somatic-based approach enables couples to identify the true sources of distress, repair ruptures, communicate more effectively and solve problems, and sets the conditions for memory reconsolidation to take place.
https://nefesh.org/workshops/RepairingRuptures3/viewFREE WEBINAR
Repairing Ruptures in Couples Therapy:
A Mind-body Approach
Previously Recorded
Presenter: Deborah J Fox, MSW, LICSW
Course Length: 3 Hours
Learning Objectives:
- Describe a structure of a couples therapy session that can support nervous system regulation.
- Explain why it is important for partners to have enough ventral vagal state of nervous system regulation present in a session.
- List a sequence of questions that can be used for therapeutic exploration, using the “language of the body.”
This workshop Offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.
This presentation will NOT be recorded for playback review.
Couples therapy is challenging because there are two people who are in distress, each wanting more from their partner and to be understood. A common denominator in treating couples is verbal communication, which relies on what is available cognitively to the couple. However, sources of tension and disconnection are often outside of their awareness, limiting the effectiveness of the treatment. When couples become emotionally charged or shut down it’s because they’re feeling threatened, by something inside of themselves or something between them and their partner.
This presentation focuses on how to use the natural workings of the autonomic nervous system to help couples engage more effectively with each other. Key components are the structure of a session, strategies for nervous system regulation, tracking the body for signs of nervous system activation and intervening effectively. This somatic-based approach enables couples to identify the true sources of distress, repair ruptures, communicate more effectively and solve problems, and sets the conditions for memory reconsolidation to take place.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe a structure of a couples therapy session that can support nervous system regulation.
- Explain why it is important for partners to have enough ventral vagal state of nervous system regulation present in a session.
- List a sequence of questions that can be used for therapeutic exploration, using the “language of the body.”
Agenda:
Didactic presentation (80 min):
The autonomic nervous system as the basis for understanding the dynamics of a couple
The biology of safety and danger: the three principles of the Polyvagal Theory of Emotion (Stephen Porges)
The structure of a session from a nervous system perspective
How to track the body for signs of nervous system activation into fight/flight or emotional shutdown
Strategies for regulating nervous system activation
Using the language of the body for therapeutic inquiry
Memory reconsolidation
Case examples
Experiential exercise (15 min)
Break (15 min)
Demonstration of tracking language of the body (20 min)
Experiential exercise - breakout rooms in dyads; debrief (35 min)
Q &A. (15 min)
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.
- 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.