• Course Detail

    Treating Couples: Surmounting Challenges

    Couples therapy presents complexity unlike any other form of therapy, and today's therapists treating couples need to address increasingly difficult situations. Effective couples therapy requires clinicians to understand and address many relational challenges in an intimate context that can sometimes invite defensiveness and repetition of problematic patterns. In addition, the persistent stress of our socio-political-cultural contexts has been a strain on couples and therapists alike. 

    This course will focus on doing effective relational work in the midst of specific challenges, including working with couples in significant conflict; helping couples with marginalized BIPOC and LGBTQIA identities maintain stable and cohesive relationships; healing from infidelity; addressing the needs of gay male couples; as well as working with neurodiversity and different attachment needs in couples treatment. We will also discuss the therapeutic position of a couples therapist using concepts from Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Developmental Model, and other integrative models.  

    We continue the popular series format this year to delve deeper each week and allow ample time for audience questions. Clinicians will gain key strategies to help advance their treatment skills and improve their effectiveness with couples.

    Who Should Attend

    • Primary Care Physicians
    • Psychologists
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Family Therapist
    • Other

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:Review how neurotype impacts clinical practice with neurodiverse couples.

    • Review how neurotype impacts clinical practice with neurodiverse couples.
    • Organize a coherent treatment plan when one partner continues obsessing after infidelity, recognizing what obsessing accomplishes and what it does not.
    • Articulate key interventions that help clients to regulate key emotional responses and reduce reactivity.
    • Conduct an assessment of the couples’ relational health using two frames related to systemic trauma.
    • Identify specific norms for treating male couples compared to other populations, and address intersectionality issues that may arise.

    ABMS/ACGME Competencies

    This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

    • Patient Care and Procedural Skills
    • Interpersonal and Communication Skills
    • Professionalism

    IOM Competencies

    This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

    • Provide Patient-Centered Care
    • Employ Evidence-Based Practice
    Course Directors

    Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW
    Jill Harkaway, EdD
    Karen Kuc, MPH

     

  • Agenda

    Thursday, October 24, 2024

    12:00- 12:50 PM
    Working with Neurodiverse Couples
    Grace Myhill, MSW

    12:50-1:30 PM
    Discussion / Q&A
    Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW; Grace Myhill, MSW

    Thursday, October 31, 2024

    12:00- 12:50 PM
    Obsessing After Infidelity
    Ellyn Bader, PhD

    12:50-1:30 PM
    Discussion / Q&A
    Ellyn Bader, PhD; Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW

    Thursday, November 7, 2024

    12:00- 12:50 PM
    Going Into the Fire: Using EFT with Anger and Highly Escalated Couples
    George Faller, LMFT

    12:50-1:30 PM
    Discussion / Q&A
    George Faller, LMFT; Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW

    Thursday, November 14, 2024

    12:00- 12:50 PM
    Building Liberatory Connections: Working with Systemic Trauma in Couples Therapy
    Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP

    12:50-1:30 PM
    Discussion / Q&A
    Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP; Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW

    Thursday, November 21, 2024

    12:00- 12:50 PM
    Working with Male Couples
    Rick Miller, LICSW

    12:50-1:30 PM
    Discussion / Q&A
    Rick Miller, LICSW; Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW
  • Faculty
    Elizabeth Brenner, LICSW (Course Director)

    Director, Therapy Training Boston
    Supervisor, Couples and Family Therapy Program, Cambridge Health Alliance
    Teaching Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
    Private Practice, Watertown, MA

    Jill Harkaway, EdD (Course Director Emerita)

    Senior Faculty and Consultant, Couples and Family Therapy, Cambridge Health Alliance
    Assistant Professor in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
    Co-Director, Couples Therapy Project
    Private Practice, Newton MA

    Karen Kuc, MPH (Course Director) 

    Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
    Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

    Ellyn Bader, PhD

    Co-founder, The Couples Institute

    George Faller, LMFT

    President, New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy
    Director of Training, Greenwich Center for Hope & Renewal
    Board Member, Porter Cason Institute at Tulane University

    Rick Miller, LICSW

    Author, Business Consultant, Public Speaker, Teacher, and Psychotherapist in private practice

    Grace Myhill, MSW

    Director of the Neurodiverse Couples Institute, Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)
    Director of Couples and Partner's Services, Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)
    Neurodiverse Relationship Coach in private practice

    Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP

    Founder, BIPOC Relational Healing Institute
    Psychotherapist and facilitator in private practice

  • CE Information

    In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

    Physicians

    The Harvard Medical School designates this live virtual activity for a maximum of 7.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  

    Psychologists

    Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 7.50 continuing education credits.  

    Social Workers

    This program has been approved for a total of 7.5 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program Authorization Number D92656-3. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 7.5 contact hours.

    Counselors

    Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 7.50 continuing education hours, and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 7.50 credits.  

    Marriage/Family Therapists

    This activity has been certified by New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions, for LMFT professional continuing education, Certificate #PC-042324, for a total of 7.5 contact hours.

    Physician Assistants

    The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

    Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

    For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

    Canadian Accreditation

    The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

    European Accreditation

    The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found here: https://www.uems.eu/areas-of-expertise/cme-cpd/eaccme

    Please note: For psychologists, social workers, family therapists, and counselors, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. In addition, this course has been approved as a live virtual series and we cannot issue certificates for only watching the recordings; participants must be present for all of the live sessions. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email cme@challiance.org

    Disclosure Policy

    In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

    Disclaimer

    CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgement before making clinical decisions of any kind.

    Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

  • Fees

    Tuition for Treating Couples: Surmounting Challenges is listed below. You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. Electronic syllabus and access to recordings for 30 days after the course are included.

    At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration. Refunds, less an administrative fee of $75, will be issued for all cancellations received at least two weeks prior to the start of the course. Refund requests must be made in our secure online system or by email. “No shows” are subject to the full course fee.

    Course Tuition

    Course Registration - Treating Couples: Surmounting Challenges

    Physician (MD/DO)

    $275 / ($245 if registered by Wednesday, September 25, 2024)


    All Other Health Professionals

    $215 / ($190 if registered by Wednesday, September 25, 2024)

    Tuition includes electronic syllabus.

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