Marketing and Integrity
Last month, Pete and Ellyn joined Casey Truffo to present a teleseminar called, “What Keeps Smart, Savvy Therapists from implementing good marketing ideas comfortably and effectively?” After the seminar, Pete wrote some follow up thoughts on marketing and integrity. We thought his analysis was relevant enough to share with you. Further reflections about marketing for […]
Feeling Better vs Getting Better
Let’s think about feeling better vs getting better. Do you focus on helping your clients feel better or get better? A huge problem with highly distressed partners is that we can’t give them what they want right away. What distressed partners really want when they come to therapy is to feel better. They understandably want […]
The Science-Art-Research Controversy and Your Practice
Many of you know that Pete and I have devoted our careers to continually searching for more effective ways to help couples develop loving relationships. We challenge partners to move beyond their ineffective coping strategies, to manage their emotional reactivity, and to pursue the dreams that brought them together. We also facilitate couples in navigating […]
Self-Reflection in Chronically Angry Couples
This month I’m writing about the chronically angry couple. These couples often wait too long to go to therapy or may have tried therapy with a therapist who did not provide enough structure for them. At the beginning, these couples need structure and they need for the therapist to be especially clear about the direction […]
Reflections on the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference
I am writing this month’s newsletter as I fly home from The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference in Anaheim. 8,000 therapists from 58 countries attended the meeting. It was rich with opportunities for learning, networking and especially for hearing many revered gurus present their work. Albert Ellis at 92 was still going strong and as crusty […]
Attachment Theory in Couples Therapy
For three weeks in November, I served as a faculty member of a wonderful on-line forum on Attachment Theory and Couples Therapy. We had an enlightening dialogue about both the research and clinical application of attachment theory concepts to couples therapy. In the process, I discovered the Couple Attachment Interview. I was introduced to it […]
Help! My Partner Must Be Passive Aggressive!
In our last newsletter I mentioned why a passive aggressive person is so hard to live with and the major cause of this frustrating behavior: they break agreements without warning and have quicker excuses than a four year old caught with a hand in the cookie jar. The passive aggressive person will break agreements and […]
Personal Growth – When Is It Enough?
Mary thinks she’d be happy if she could just change her weight, her looks and her job. Sean believes that he’s an okay person except for certain personality traits, such as anxiety, impatience and his quick temper. Yolanda’s shelves are bulging with self-improvement books; she’s read them all but she still hates herself. Who among […]
Hope for “Empty Nesters”
QUESTION: This year my husband and I became empty nesters, and we are not adjusting well. I find that I am missing our daughter every day, and moping around waiting for her to come home. My husband has thrown himself into his work. We don’t fight, but we are more roommates than spouses. Some of […]
Stepping Stones to Intimacy: A Positive Outlook On Problems
If you believe problems and disillusionment are inevitable, you’re right. Curiously, it is not the problems that create so much distress. Your relationship satisfaction will actually depend upon these things as you experience different stages of intimacy:♥ How you think about your difficulties♥ How you manage your feelings♥ Where you focus your attention♥ How you […]
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