Date: Friday, June 7th, 2024
Time: 12 - 1:30PM (EST)
Where: Zoom

Presented by: Julie Marquis, MSc., RP.

*Live participants are eligible to earn 1.5 CEU*

Session Description:

This session will explore how trauma shows up in attachment patterns in families. We will start with a brief overview of attachment, how these attachment styles develop and how they present as patterns in individuals and relationships. We will then explore what trauma is, the symptoms of trauma, and how these symptoms present in individuals. We will explore how these trauma symptoms impact the dynamics in their relationships within the family unit. We will then dive into what intergenerational trauma is, how to start to recognize intergenerational trauma, and how these patterns can show up in attachment patterns within the family. We will finish with the idea of changing the cycle. How to begin to shift the cycle of trauma and heal the attachment wounds and patterns within the family unit. 

Speaker Bio

Julie is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, she has been practicing in the mental health field for 18 years in various capacities. She graduated from the University of Toronto with her Bachelors and the University of Liverpool with her Masters in Applied Psychology. She currently runs her own group practice in the Greater Toronto Area that focuses on trauma work with children through to adults working with people individually and within their family unit. She also has a consulting company that focuses on coaching therapists in growing their own businesses, providing training, workshops and consultation to various organizations on mental health, leadership, communication and managing teams. Lastly, Julie has worked internationally with various NGOs on providing training on trauma informed care for vulnerable populations.  

Recorded on: Friday, February 2nd, 2024
Time: 12 - 1:30PM (EST)
Where: Zoom

Presented by: Dr. Karen Gail Lewis

* Only live participants are eligible to earn 1.5 CEU*

Session Description:

People with brothers and/or sisters actually have two sets of siblings: The first are the original, flesh and blood siblings.  The second are the left-over perceptions, feelings, and resentments from childhood that, like ghosts, are invisible and never age - even as the original siblings do age and change. 

These ghosts show up in adulthood, effecting people’s love, friendship, and work relationships, and often their work achievements. Therefore, it’s helpful to have a theoretical framework for understanding and using the significance of the “ghosts” in your clinical work.  This can then be incorporated into therapists’ current therapy modality.

This workshop will help participants understand how the early childhood relationship can be considered a laboratory, or “first marriage,” for adult love relationships.  Then, through the process of “sibling transference,” your clients may recreate their early relationships -- falling back on what is familiar, from their first marriage. 

In addition, participants will learn to assess for a sibling connection with your individual clients, how to help your clients make the sibling connection to their presenting problem.

The hidden resource of siblings is particularly helpful in dealing with intractable problems.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Karen Gail Lewis has been a marriage and family therapist for over 50 years and is an author of numerous books and professional articles on marriage, gender communication, single women, group therapy, and adult siblings.  Her newest book is Sibling Therapy: The Ghosts from Childhood That Haunt Your Clients’ Love and Work.  For years she has presented at national and local AAMFT conferences as well as at other organizations -- nationally and internationally.  She has been on the board of AAMFT and the editorial board for five family therapy journals. 

Time: 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm (EST)
Optional Networking with the Board: 3-30PM (EST)
Where: Zoom

There will be opportunities for Theoretical Understanding, Applications and Skillful Practice, Networking Opportunities, a Q & A and much more...

*Only live participants are eligible to earn 4.0 CEU*

Conference Description:

Families need our help more than ever! In a time of increased distress and challenge, family therapy can be an invaluable resource to promote healing and recovery.  Family relationships can be especially powerful in providing safety, support, guidance, and care, yet many family systems are strained and disconnected.

This session will begin with an overview of family systems theory, highlighting the foundational elements of systems theory in establishing a therapeutic relationship.  Specifically, systems theory offers a structure to understand context, communication, culture, and change that can ground and organize the therapy practice.

Following this overview, systems theory will be applied in through the lens of three therapeutic approaches:  Behavioral, Emotional, and Multigenerational. Systems theory offers a unique and highly effective way of integrating these three perspectives, creating a collaborative approach to systems change.

Finally, case material will be used to illustrate the application of this integrative approach. Break-out rooms and exercises will be used to allow participants to engage directly with the material.  The ultimate goal of the session is to provide a conceptual structure and practical tools to support the work of contemporary family therapists.

About Our Speaker: Shelly Smith-Acuña PhD

Shelly Smith-Acuña, Ph.D., is a professor the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) at the University of Denver (DU), where she has been on faculty for 31 years and was Dean for 10 years. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Loyola University of Chicago, completed an internship at Northwestern Hospital, and received post-doctoral training at the Family Institute at Northwestern University.

Dr.  Smith-Acuña’s areas of research and teaching include couple and family therapy, with a particular emphasis on gender, culture, and multigenerational issues. Her scholarship focuses on the application of psychological systems theory to improve the human condition, as seen in her book, Systems Theory in Action. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Councils of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) and the Colorado Psychological Association (CPA). She also maintains a private practice, working with couples, families, and individuals with relationship issues.