Family Therapy Roundtable Symposium

Concurrent Sessions 10

Ana L. Jaramillo-Sierra, Karen Ripoll-Nuñez, Michelle Busk, Amber Vennum, Chelsey Torgerson, Eric Goodcase, Denzel Jones, D. Scott Sibley, Brie Turns, Noah Gagner, Ashley Landers, Nathan Hardy, Yaliu He, Allen Sabey, Rebecca Cobb, Jody Russon, Quintin Hunt, Lana Kim, Jennifer Lambert-Shute, Martha Laughlin, Tabitha McCoy, Katelyn Coburn, Ellory Bishop, Kimberly Mulkey, Paul Peterson, Margaret Keiley, Raven Pyle, Lindsay Stepancich, Damir Utrzan, Lauren Ruhlmann

4:30 PM
5:45 PM
Location
Salon 3
Session #
345
Session Type
Roundtable
Session Focus
  • Research
  • Practice
Organized By
  • Family Therapy

About the Session

  • 345-02 - Encontremos Soluciones Juntos: An Adaptation of DVFCT to the Colombian Context
    By Ana L. Jaramillo-Sierra, Karen Ripoll-Nuñez
  • 345-03 - Healing School Systems through Trauma-Informed Practices: A Call to Action for Marriage and Family Therapists
    By Michelle Busk, Amber Vennum, Chelsey Torgerson, Eric Goodcase, Denzel Jones
  • 345-04 - Generating New stories of Commitment: Sliding vs. Deciding
    By D. Scott Sibley, Brie Turns
  • 345-05 - Social justice practices and research within family therapy
    By Noah Gagner, Ashley Landers
  • 345-06 - Integrative Systemic Therapy: A Framework for Clinical Training and Practice
    By Nathan Hardy, Yaliu He, Allen Sabey
  • 345-07 - The Gottman Method and Bowen’s Theory: An Integrative Approach to Couples Therapy
    By Rebecca Cobb
  • 345-08 - Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents
    By Jody Russon, Quintin Hunt
  • 345-09 - Hearing the Story Beyond the Words: An Immersive Training Experience in Therapeutic Listening
    By Lana Kim, Jennifer Lambert-Shute, Martha Laughlin, Tabitha McCoy, Katelyn Coburn, Ellory Bishop, Kimberly Mulkey, Paul Peterson
  • 345-10 - Permanant Change in Habitual Patterns in Therapy
    By Margaret Keiley, Raven Pyle, Lindsay Stepancich
  • 345-11 - Forced Displacement and Human Trafficking: Practice and Policy Implications
    By Damir Utrzan, Lauren Ruhlmann

Abstract(s)

Encontremos Soluciones Juntos: An Adaptation of DVFCT to the Colombian Context

By Ana L. Jaramillo-Sierra, Karen Ripoll-Nuñez

We adapted the Domestic Violence Focused Couples Therapy (DVFCT) program for its use with Colombian couples. We examined therapists’ perspectives about needed adaptations and pilot participants’ perceptions about the program. We conducted a thematic analysis of transcripts of supervision sessions and interviews with participants.   Our preliminary findings indicate that the DVFCT program can be implemented with Colombian couples considering program-model and contextual adaptations. Participants valued opportunities for communication, the interactive nature of sessions, and the emphasis on positives.  Participants perceived changes in their relationships in terms of reduced psychological aggression and increased communication.

Objectives

1. To describe the adaptation process of the DVFCT program to the Colombian context. 2. To describe methods of data collection and analysis used to identify perspectives of therapists and clients about the program. 3. To discuss findings and implications from the adaptation of the treatment program.

Healing School Systems through Trauma-Informed Practices: A Call to Action for Marriage and Family Therapists

By Michelle Busk, Amber Vennum, Chelsey Torgerson, Eric Goodcase, Denzel Jones

As schools recognize the impact adverse childhood experiences have on children’s learning and behavior, marriage and family therapists are uniquely qualified to help schools create positive school climates and provide systemic, comprehensive mental health services to children and adolescents using our expertise in systemic change. Public schools provide access to mental health services to children and families whose mental health needs would otherwise go unserved and unmet. In our roundtable, we intend to discuss the ways MFTs can facilitate the paradigm shift toward safe, supportive and trauma-informed public schools.

Objectives

Provide participants with 1) an overview of how the specialized skills of MFTs fit within current educational priorities, 2) the variety of ways MFT’s can systemically impact kids, families, schools, and the relationships between them, and 3) resources for MFTs interested in expanding their systemic impact through school partnerships.

Generating New stories of Commitment: Sliding vs. Deciding

By D. Scott Sibley, Brie Turns

Researchers have identified commitment as one of the most important elements of success in romantic relationships. One of the most influential models of commitment in romantic relationships is the Sliding versus Deciding model. This workshop will introduce participants to an innovative intervention that intertwines Sliding versus Deciding and narrative therapy.

Objectives

1. Identify and list the key differences between Sliding versus Deciding in romantic relationships and how this can be applied to couple therapy cases. 2. Describe how various contextual factors can impact individuals in couple relationships and lead to either sliding or deciding decision-making. 3. Demonstrate and implement the five steps of a narrative therapy intervention using the Sliding versus Deciding framework when working with couples.

Social justice practices and research within family therapy

By Noah Gagner, Ashley Landers

Across the geopolitical landscape, we as citizens and family therapists are met directly with the effects of global civil wars, mass immigration, acts of racism, and political rhetoric (Combs & Freedman, 2012). As family therapists, we are drawn to this profession in part to address and collaborate with communities to effectively combat these injustices. However, these events continue to negatively impact our clients, as well as the well-being of us as clinicians, as we often find our services remedial. This roundtable discussion will explore how family therapists can re-engage with social justice for the well-being of families we serve.

Objectives

1.Participants will recognize and understand current conceptualizations of social justice and its relationship with family therapy. 2.Participants will discuss current areas of social injustice and the role of family therapists in addressing inequities. 3.Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion to bring forth local and community knowledge regarding social justice practices.

Integrative Systemic Therapy: A Framework for Clinical Training and Practice

By Nathan Hardy, Yaliu He, Allen Sabey

There is a growing trend toward integrative practice in the field of couple and family therapy (CFT). Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) was developed to guide therapists in synthesizing the potpourri of knowledge about family systems and their problems, and the models and techniques that have emerged to address them. IST can significantly enhance training in CFT as it helps trainees navigate large amounts of clinical information and keep their own therapy focused yet flexible enough to create meaningful change. This roundtable will stimulate discussion about the need for integration, the basic IST approach, and strategies for training clinicians in IST.

Objectives

To describe the core components of integrative systemic therapy. To discuss the benefits and challenges of integrating across treatment models. To implement meta-theoretical concepts into participants clinical practice, teaching, and supervision

The Gottman Method and Bowen’s Theory: An Integrative Approach to Couples Therapy

By Rebecca Cobb

Recent literature highlights discrepancies between Gottman and Gottman's (2015) model for conducting couples therapy and Bowen's family systems theory. This understanding is an unfortunate misrepresentation of two of the most foundational works within the field of marriage and family therapy. This presentation will clarify the components of Bowen's theory that have been misunderstood and distorted. Further, it will demonstrate the inherent compatibility of the Gottman Method with Bowen's family systems theory. A conceptual integration of both frameworks will be presented. Implications for conducting effective couples therapy utilizing this integrated theoretical conceptualization will be offered.

Objectives

1. To clarity the concept of differentiation. 2. To demonstrate a conceptual integration of Gottman’s Sound Relationship House with Bowen’s family systems theory. 3. To identify ways in which an integrated model of Gottman and Bowen’s work may be utilized in couples therapy.

Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents

By Jody Russon, Quintin Hunt

Suicide is a serious, growing, and multidimensional public health problem in the United States. It is particularly serious among youth populations. Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is an empirically-supported intervention for depressed and suicidal adolescents. ABFT aims to repair the attachment relationship and establish a secure caregiver-child bond. In this workshop, presenters will use lecture, case studies, video tape review, and discussion to provide an overview of the clinical strategies and research support for ABFT. Race, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, SES, and ability inform the context of ABFT clinical practice and will be discussed in the workshop.

Objectives

1. Explain the general theoretical foundation of ABFT 2. Discuss the empirical support for ABFT 3. Discuss the purpose of the five treatment tasks and core interventions to deepen emotion

Hearing the Story Beyond the Words: An Immersive Training Experience in Therapeutic Listening

By Lana Kim, Jennifer Lambert-Shute, Martha Laughlin, Tabitha McCoy, Katelyn Coburn, Ellory Bishop, Kimberly Mulkey, Paul Peterson

Listening is at the heart of therapy, and learning to listen involves hearing more than just the words. However, MFT training often focuses on teaching theories, concepts, interventions, and skills. So, how do we help trainees develop the nuanced paralinguistic skills of tuning into and intuiting others’ experiences and realities? How do we help them learn this process? This presentation will discuss the experiences of trainees and supervisors in one MFT graduate program as they engage in an immersive experience around therapeutic listening.

Objectives

1. Participants will explore the role of paralinguistic skills in therapeutic practice. 2. Participants will be able to describe ways in which one may learn to listen beyond words 3. Participants will identify learning contexts that facilitate therapist development of therapeutic intuition and attunement.

Permanant Change in Habitual Patterns in Therapy

By Margaret Keiley, Raven Pyle, Lindsay Stepancich

The treatment we present focuses on permanatly changing the habitual attachment and arousal patterns tha tkeep clients (individuals, couples, families) locked in dysfunctional interactional cycls. We will describe the theoretical basis and illustrate the intercational means by which this treatment assesses, intervenes, interrupts, and alters habitual interctions. We will roleplay attendees' difficult cases to illustrate how this treatment works to effectively change cycles and behavior.

Objectives

1. Participants will learn about the physiological and developmental basis of habitual forms of behavior for their clients and themselves. 2. Participants will learn the MAP that we use in this attachment and arousal therapy to assess and then reframe clients’ abilities to regulate arousal and interact with each other. 3. Participants will learn how to interrupt habitual forms of interaction when clients are highly aroused and change these interactions, perhaps more permanently.

Forced Displacement and Human Trafficking: Practice and Policy Implications

By Damir Utrzan, Lauren Ruhlmann

The sociopolitical landscape around the world is drastically changing. Violence forced 24 people from their homes each minute last year, yielding 14.3 million refugees, 1.8 million asylum-seekers, and over 20 million victims of human trafficking. The intersection of unique risk factors and increasingly restrictive immigration policies proliferate these populations’ existing vulnerabilities to physical and psychological trauma. This four-part workshop will provide an overview of international and national immigration policies, address the prevalence and intersection of forced displacement and human trafficking, highlight the complex needs of these populations, and discuss implications for family scientists across professional contexts.

Objectives

(1) Demonstrate the connection between the global migration crisis and human trafficking in the United States. (2) Analyze impact of migration and human trafficking policies from a family systems perspective. (3) To identify methods of integrating human rights advocacy into clinical practice.

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Conference Session