• Expanding Family Therapy to the Family Business Ecosystem
  Presented by: Brian J. Distelberg, Preston Peterson

• Financial Hardship, Cognitive Dissonance, and EMDR: A Model for Treatment
  Presented by: Kevin Allemagne

• The Influence of a Money Management Course on Couples' Relationship Quality
  Presented by: Kevin John Zimmerman

Abstracts

Expanding Family Therapy to the Family Business Ecosystem

Presented by: Brian J. Distelberg, Preston Peterson

Family Businesses (FB) can provide a unique opportunity for practicing family therapists. This presentation will provide an overview of the existing FB literature as well as identify overlaps between the FB literature and the family therapy literature.  The presentation will also summarize the findings of two studies which specifically focus on adaptability, cohesion and family structure.  Participants will learn how these concepts interact and influence the functionality of FB systems as well as influence crucial decisions made by FB leaders. The concepts and findings from these studies are directly applicable existing family therapy practices as well as consulting practices.  

Financial Hardship, Cognitive Dissonance, and EMDR: A Model for Treatment

Presented by: Kevin Allemagne

Financial problems are one of the most commonly identified difficulties couples report to therapists.  Apreciation for social institutions, such as economy, impacting families on micro levels have long been an essential tenet of systems theory.  This proposal discusses the importance of recognizing theoretical selection, especially in terms of self-identity and concept, in the overall process of therapy.  An examination of how cognitive dissonance develops during times of hardship, and how this may impede therapeutic process is illustrated.  The use of EMDR techniques combined with systemic interventions provides one technique more fully resolving cognitive dissonance: likely increasing the effectiveness of therapy.

The Influence of a Money Management Course on Couples' Relationship Quality

Presented by: Kevin John Zimmerman

This study sought to understand the influence of a 13-week financial management course, Financial Peace University, on couples' relationship quality. Two research questions guided the study: (a) Do couples who attend the course report an improvement in their relationship quality? (b) How does degree of involvement in the course relate to change in relationship quality? Results indicate a statistically significant improvement in relationship quality over time. Higher involvement in the course was found to be associated with higher relationship quality. Implications for those who might enroll in the course, for family therapists, and for financial counselors are explored.