Advancing the Art & Science of Psychotherapy

""Law and Ethics- "Unraveling Entangling Alliances: Guidance for Navigating Dual Relationships and Conflicts of Interest" 
Bradley J. Muldrow, Esq., CAMFT staff attorney
1.5 CEs

Dual relationships and conflicts of interest are among the most complex and complicated ethical issues therapists encounter in practice. This workshop will provide therapists with the information they need to recognize and appropriately respond to these ethical challenges. 

Participants will learn how to recognize and appropriately respond to dual/multiple relationships and conflicts of interest. Participants will understand the potential dangers that dual/multiple relationships and conflicts of interest pose to therapeutic relationships as well as the circumstances under which it may be appropriate to continue treatment despite dual/multiple relationships and conflicts of interest. 

"Lessons in Connectedness, Racial Capitalism, Implicit Bias, and Colorism"
Dr. Miguel E. Gallardo PsyD
10:45 am - 12:15 pm
(1.5 CEs)
As the nation is currently facing challenges that are creating more darkness and divisiveness, our ability to engage in thoughtful and meaningful discourse on cultural issues remains ever present.  Remembering our shared humanity and connectedness, in spite of our current challenges, has never been more paramount.  This webinar addresses the impact of racial capitalism, racial colorblindness, implicit bias, and colorism on our (in)ability to create meaningful changes.  It is hoped that attendees gain an understanding how to work towards more antiracist-intersectional practices, both personally and professionally

Research in affective neuroscience and attachment from 1960 to 2020 points out answers to open compassion, understanding and inspiration for therapists. Studies focusing on in utero, infancy, toddlerhood through adolescence bring compelling revelations about the perilous developmental journey of being male.

Edited and captioned video of individual psychotherapy sessions with men will show breakthroughs that develop alternate neural networks and new ways of responding. Methods of Transformative Therapy will be shown so therapists can open doorways to pioneering expressions of men of courage and kindness in relation to self and others. Theory, practice and experience will be well integrated.

The workshop will comprise of the trainer and participants sharing "therapeutic train wrecks" that they survived and learned from. Participants will be encouraged to reveal clinical/therapeutic mistakes : misdiagnoses, cultural blindness, problematic counter-transference, ignorance, skill deficits, stereotyping, anxiety, confusion, and more that led to negative client reactions, explosions, and termination. This will serve to both educate and reassure therapists of the humbling imperfect process of therapy, but incredibly formative for professional growth. What was learned from the mistakes- the train wrecks, and how walking away from clinical disasters or disappointments prompted growth and depth... and better clinical practice subsequently.

This presentation is based on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research demonstrating significant racial and socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes resulting from differential exposure to toxic stress. The impact of contextual issues will be addressed on who experiences multiple life stressors, the divergent physiological and psychological impact of these stressors, and the significant differences in access to Stress Busters to mitigate this impact. The presenters will be utilizing a cultural humility framework of openness and curiosity throughout the presentation.

According a 2019 report by the U.S. Census Bureau, Millennials are waiting until later in life to get married. This delay allows them to have more time to experiment and explore sexual behaviors. Millennial clients are also more open to and accepting of consensual non-monogamy than any other previous generation. These same millennials grew up embracing the idea of seeking therapy to navigate setting up healthy boundaries in their relationships. As more and more couples are considering whether an open relationship, or even polyamory, is right for them, they are often met with therapists who have questioning attitudes about working with this population.

This course seeks to help introduce clinicians to the many ethical non-monogamy options their clients may be considering. This course will help clinicians to better understand how to support these clients’ making the best choices for their relationships and the boundary-setting goals for therapy. This course will also help clinicians to manage their discomfort and reconnect with the goal of allowing clients to make their own decisions about what is best for their own lives without passing judgment or conveying skepticism.

Relationships are similar to organisms in the sense that they are dynamic and influenced by the socio environmental sphere they inhabit. We live in a world that is in a constant state of flux. Every day, we experience major global events that shape our worldviews and impact our daily lives and social interactions.

The impact is often reflected in the quality and quantity of our dyadic interactions with our significant others. The most recent evidence of such an impact was clearly illustrated in how the pandemic and political schism affected relationship vulnerability and increased the potential for infidelity behaviors.