About this course

Learning Objectives

• Utilize an intake form that clarifies what the treatment will need to address and also suggests how straight-forward or difficult the case will be to treat.
• Explain two factors that from the outset of treatment enhance the therapeutic alliance.
• Demonstrate a "talk together" diagnostic technique for information-gathering about the couple's conflicts and at the same time their dialogue patterns.
• List a couple therapist's three "hats," that is, the three therapist roles that together yield effective treatment.
• Name at least one use for each of the following four therapy techniques: Interruptions, Bookends, “Close your eyes,” and Best Possible Light.
• Write a disclosure form explaining the therapist's policies regarding confidentiality and also regarding the number of therapists involved in the couple's treatment.

Learning Levels

• Therapists in training.
• Experienced individual therapy practitioners who want to add couple therapy to their offerings.
• Intermediate and experienced couple therapists who want to expand their toolkit and their conceptual clarify.

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Susan Heitler

  Dr. Heitler

  Dr. Heitler first opened her private practice as a clinical psychologist almost 50 years ago. From her Denver office, in addition to treating both individual and couple therapy clients, Dr. Heitler has written 6 books, journal articles, plus over 300 psychologytoday.com blogposts that have garnered over 26 million reads.

  In response to her innovative perspectives, Dr. Heitler has been invited to speak on her treatment methods in most states of the US plus on almost every continent including Europe, Australia, China, India, and throughout the Middle East. In Lebanon she was chosen as the keynote speaker for the first-ever gathering of the Arab Psychological Association.

  Dr. Heitler's contributions have focused particularly on the importance of win-win conflict resolution skills for sustaining individual and also couple and family emotional health.

  Dr. Heitler's writings have earned high praise, starting with her first major book, From Conflict to Resolution, a book reviewed in the British Journal of Psychiatry as "a modern refreshing book . . . A highly commendable read for all therapists, particularly those striving to practice in what they hope is an integrative way" and by a practicing therapist in Alabama as "the best clinical psychology book I have ever read."

Disclosure

References

• Wachtel, E. (2016). The heart of couple therapy. New York: Guilford Press.
• Heitler, S., (1990). From conflict to resolution: Skills and strategies for individual, couple, and family therapy. Chapter 10: Overview of the therapeutic journey. New York: Norton.
• Bradbury, T. N., & Bodenmann, G. (2020). Interventions for couples. Annual review of clinical psychology, 16, 99-123. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-071519-020546
• Darwiche, J., Carneiro, C., Vaudan, C., Imesch, C., Eira Nunes, C., Favez, N., & de Roten, Y. (2022). Parents in couple therapy: An intervention targeting marital and coparenting relationships. Family process, 61(2), 490-506. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12773
• Lebow, J. L. & Snyder, D. K. (2023) Clinical handbook of couple therapy, 6th edition. NY: Guilford.
• Markman, H. J., Hawkins, A. J., Stanley, S. M., Halford, W. K., & Rhoades, G. (2022). Helping couples achieve relationship success: A decade of progress in couple relationship education research and practice, 2010–2019. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48(1), 251-282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12565
• Nielsen, A. C. (2020). Couple therapy integrated: A commentary on couple impasses—three therapeutic approaches. Clinical Social Work Journal, 48(3), 313-318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00767-8
• Ripley, J., Solfelt, L., Ord, A., Garthe, R. C., Worthington Jr, E. L., & Channing, T. (2021). Short-and long-term outcomes of hope focused couple therapy. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000286
• Wachtel, P. L. (2018). Pathways to progress for integrative psychotherapy: Perspectives on practice and research. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 28(2), 202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000089
• Worthington Jr, E. L., Ripley, J. S., Chen, Z. J., Kent, V. M., & Loewer, E. (2023). Spiritually integrated couple therapy. DOI: . https://doi.org/10.1037/0000338-018
• Halford, W. K., Pepping, C. A., & Petch, J. (2016). The gap between couple therapy research efficacy and practice effectiveness. Journal of marital and family therapy, 42(1), 32-44.
• Fraenkel, P. (2019). Love in action: An integrative approach to last chance couple therapy. Family Process, 58(3), 569-594.
• Halford, W. K., & Pepping, C. A. (2019). What every therapist needs to know about couple therapy. Behaviour Change, 36(3), 121-142.
• Margola, D., Donato, S., Accordini, M., Emery, R. E., & Snyder, D. K. (2018). Dyadic coping in couple therapy process: An exploratory study. Family process, 57(2), 324-341.