Somatic Interventions in Couples Therapy

CPD

Handouts

Speaker

Deborah Fox, MSW Related seminars and products

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Deborah J Fox, MSW, is a certified imago relationship therapist and certified sex therapist in private practice in Washington, DC.  She offers individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, as well as clinical consultation. Deborah conducts seminars and consultation groups on couples therapy and sex therapy. She has presented on these subjects at the Washington School of Psychiatry, the Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Workers, the Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute and at the 2018 international Imago Relationship Therapy conference. She has studied Somatic Experiencing and wrote the chapter, "The Mind Body Connection: Sex, Couples and Somatic Therapy" in Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy, by Tammy Nelson, Phd. She is passionate about taking couples therapy to a deeper emotional level and enabling greater intimacy and satisfaction. 

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Deborah Fox maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Deborah Fox has no non-financial relationships.

Objectives

1. Apply three techniques designed to engage the parasympathetic nervous system at the beginning of a session that facilitates establishing a safe atmosphere between partners.
2. Distinguish three early signs of activation that indicate one or both partners are feeling threatened and be able to use strategies to intervene effectively such that the therapeutic work can continue.
3. Integrate three interventions that utilize a focus on body sensations to further the therapeutic process when working with couples in session.

Outline

• Polyvagal theory, implicit memory, neuroception and
• Applying these critical concepts in therapy sessions with couples

• Why this is critical for the efficacy of the therapeutic process 
• Techniques for settling the nervous system

• Structuring a conversation to facilitate maximum parasympathetic system engagement 
• The value of mirroring in keeping the parasympathetic system engaged
• Tracking the body for subtle signs of nervous system activation – what to look for and strategies to employ
• Learning the language of body and how to use it as a resource for therapeutic inquiry

Target Audience

• Counsellors
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Psychotherapists
• Other Mental Health Professionals

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