You can purchase my E-book entitled SELF HELP FOR COUPLES for $10. by going to the Catalog section of my web site. This is a condensed version of a longer book I hope to publish in 2010
Couples Counseling During Difficult Times
The world is much different than it was 20 years ago, and marriages reflect many of these changes. Utilizing interesting case examples from a University counseling center, a private practice, and a hospital’s outpatient psychiatric clinic, a variety of effective couples counseling techniques during stressful times will be explored. A special emphasis will be given to conflict negotiation skills, acceptance and mindfulness techniques, in addition to some meaningful ways of helping couples re-establish emotional intimacy. Unique cultural and cohort considerations will be highlighted, as well as more universal issues, common presenting problems, and frequent roadblocks to therapy.
Marital Therapy During Difficult Times
Primary goals of this workshop include refreshing participants’ marital therapy skills, promoting confidence in their related abilities, and teaching them some new couples counseling techniques for use in their practice. Dr. Ken Waldman recently retired from the University of Houston’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) where he served as Director for the past 10 years. He has over 30 years experience conducting couples counseling and has previously taught graduate courses in marriage and family therapy. He will share several interesting case examples from his university and private practice clients. For over nine years, Dr. Karen Waldman has provided a significant amount of marital therapy with older veterans and their spouses at the V.A. Medical Center in Houston. Case examples highlighting important cohort variables will be shared. During this interactive workshop, a variety of effective couples counseling techniques will be introduced and explored, including some adapted from Imago Therapy and short-term solution-focused therapy. Major principles of successful marriage will be presented. A special emphasis will be given to conflict negotiation skills and fair-fighting rules. Problems unique to childhood trauma, domestic violence, sexual dysfunction, remarriage, step-parenting, infidelity, infertility, and gay/lesbian relationships will also be addressed briefly. In addition, several meaningful ways of helping couples re-establish emotional closeness will be discussed (e.g., showing partners how to use power struggles to enhance intimacy). A few unique cultural considerations will be highlighted, as well as more universal issues, common presenting problems, and frequent roadblocks to therapy. Participants will have opportunities to share some of their own “success stories” and to request feedback from others about a particularly difficult coup le in their caseload.
