A RELATIONAL APPROACH TO COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPY
Philip Ringstrom, Ph.D.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
TIME: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Innis Town Hall Theatre, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Ave., Toronto, ON, M5S 2J5
[callout font_size=”13px” style=”cherry”]CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! – Earlybird rates end March 10, 2017[/callout]
ABOUT THE DAY
This daylong conference will take up the topic of Dr. Philip Ringstrom’s new book A Relational Psychoanalytic Approach to Couples Treatment. This original work is premised on three organizing themes: self-actualization in a long term committed relationship, mutual recognition of the partners and the relationship having a mind of its own. These themes are addressed theoretically supporting a model of practice that is articulated in six steps. Each partner’s dissociated self-states are focused upon by making these states conscious. The therapist helps expose each partner’s unique conflicts. This enables the therapist to facilitate their intersubjective engagement since, after all, that which has not been negotiated within, cannot be negotiated between the two partners. A final question that hovers over all of the chapters stems from Stephen Mitchell’s volume Can Love Last? This question takes up the fate of sexual romance in long term relationships, where in the quest for attachment security often has a dulling effect on romantic mystery and sexuality. The illusory domain of the romantic, passionate mysterious aspects of love are seen in dialectical tension with the comparably illusory attachment (security focused aspects of love), a point that Stephen Mitchell introduced and that then gave rise to a plethora of elaborating arguments, also explored in his book and this conference.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1)Participants will learn how unveiling each partner’s bi-dimensional modes of transference (e.g. the developmental versus repetitive dimension) helps the therapist attune to each partner in a manner that draws them powerfully into the treatment. This also helps them uncover the vicious circles entanglements in which the partners find themselves when their longings and wishes trigger one another’s repetitive transference disappointments.
2)Participants will learn how supporting an epistemological stance of “perspectival realism” can facilitate the creation of “mutual recognition” of the couple’s subjective minds versus their “mutual negation” of them.
3)Participants will learn how the exploration of key developmental concerns, such as attachment styles, affect tolerance, implicit versus explicit communication, trauma, gender and culture facilitate a deepening of understanding of each partner’s subjective take on reality.
4)Participants will learn about the inevitable role enactments play in couple’s psychotherapy, as well as the therapists involvement in them.
5)Participants will learn about the crucial role of each partner’s multiple self-states and how dissociation plays a crucial role in them.
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
10 a.m. Introduction of Speaker (Dr. Kobrick)
10 – 11 Presentation (Dr. Ringstrom)
11 -12 Discussion with Audience
12 – 2:00 Lunch (on your own)
2:00 – 4:00 Presentation and continued audience discussion (Dr. Ringstrom)
4:00 Closing Remarks (Dr. Kobrick)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Philip Ringstrom, Ph.D., Psy.D. is a Senior Training and Supervising Analyst, Faculty Member at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, in Los Angeles, California. He is a Member of the Editorial Boards of both the International Journal on Psychoanalytic Self Psychology and Psychoanalytic Dialogues, and Psychoanalytic Perspectives. He is also a member of the International Council of Self-Psychologists, and a founding member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. He has published over 50 journal articles and has presented at conferences all over the world.
This event is an accredited group learning activity (section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA). The specific opinions and content of this event are not necessarily those of the CPA, and are the responsibility of the organizer(s) alone.
[callout font_size=”13px” style=”cherry”]CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! – Earlybird rates end March 10, 2017[/callout]