John Gottman, Esther Perel and William Doherty – New Frontiers in Couples Therapy

The Crisis of Trust in Today’s CouplesJoin two of couples therapy’s leading researchers and practitioners in exploring how the latest research evidence can guide us in both understanding shifting relationship patterns and designing effective couples interventions. They’ll consider issues like:

• What the empirical evidence tells us about the keys to relationship satisfaction, the role of conflict resolution in successful marriages and the biology of intimacy
• How to understand such varied phenomena as the hook-up culture, polyamory, the dynamics of infidelity, and the changing attitudes of millennial couples regarding divorce and commitment

John Gottman, Ph.D and Julie Schwartz Gottman, Ph.D.

The New Rules of Love: How Couples Are Reinventing MarriageExplore the cultural shifts that are shaping relationships today and master new approaches for working effectively with contemporary couples. You’ll learn:

• How different generations view couplehood, divorce, and traditional marriage
• Strategies to help couples bring more spontaneity, playfulness, and eroticism into their relationship
• Why creating multiple attachments is a key ingredient in successful marriages

Esther Perel, M.A., L.M.F.T.

Divorce and Commitment in the Age of the Consumer MarriageDiscover how to guide couples through the decision-making process of divorce in a way that deepens their understanding of themselves and the meaning of relationship. We’ll explore:

• Honoring the needs of both partners and work effectively with couples where one partner is “leaning out” of the relationship
• Navigating “the moral crucible moments” with couples on the brink of splitting up
• The special dynamics of Millennial couples who are themselves children of divorce

William Doherty is a professor and director of the Citizen Professional Center at the University of Minnesota. His books include Take Back Your Marriage and Family Therapy, with Susan McDaniel.

William Doherty, Ph.D.

A Brave New World: The Age of the Millennial CoupleIncorporate new research findings and a deeper understanding of how cultural trends, demographics, and current economic realities impact contemporary relationships. We’ll examine:

• Demographic shifts that will increasingly shape the experience of aging Boomer couples
• The new technology of mate selection and how the paradox of choice is impacting relationship satisfaction
• Understanding key characteristics of younger clients, including decreased capacity for empathy and lower tolerance for frustration

Pat Love, Ed.D.

Gender Roles in Marriage: How They’ve ChangedExplore the practical clinical implication shifts in gender roles among Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial couples. We’ll examine issues, including:

• Changing attitudes toward traditional notions of masculinity and femininity
• How gender equality in younger couples has led to new tensions around diminished sexual desire
• Strategies for dealing with grandiosity in both men and women.

Terry Real, L.I.C.S.W.

The Monogamy ContinuumLearn guidelines for helping couples understand, define, and negotiate the personal boundaries of fidelity and betrayal. We’ll explore how to:

• Negotiate clear rules for porn, use of social media, and nonsexual but intimate relationships
• Understand the issues that can arise when working with nontraditional couples, such as those in open and polyamorous relationships
• Help clients end affairs with mutual respect and integrity