PCFINE Year I Syllabus with Educational Objectives

Key Psychoanalytic and Systemic Concepts in Working with Couples
Gerald Stechler, Ph.D.

To be able to describe three concepts linking psychoanalysis and family systems theories that
clarify couple interactions
To be able to explain the difference between an alliance and an allegiance in doing couple
therapy
To be able to identify one or more central self-perpetuating interaction cycles in a couple

Attachment Theory and Intimate Relationships: Models and Tools for Couple Therapy
Steven Krugman, Ph.D.

To be able to identify the major adult attachment styles seen in couples
To be able to demonstrate an understanding of the practical applications for working with
couples to identify their attachment styles

Evaluation and Formulation
Justin Newmark, Ph.D.

To be able to collect data about patients’ psychological histories in order to evaluate the current
difficulty and diagnose psychological disorders
To be able to identify the key problematic behaviors and symptoms impairing the couple’s
functioning
To be able to discuss various approaches for working with the couple’s identified problems and
making an initial choice of where to intervene

Exploring Clinical Options: Therapeutic Choice Points
Arnie Cohen, Ph.D.

To be able to describe the process of polarization of views in couple conflicts
To be able to identify several interpersonal defenses in couple therapy
To be identify factors that strengthen the therapeutic alliance and use them with both members of the couple

Transference and Countertransference in Couple Therapy
Sally I Bowie, LICSW

To be able to compare uses of transference and countertransference phenomena in individual
psychotherapy and couple therapy
To be able to identify two countertransference issues that arise in couple therapy
To be able to identify and utilize transference data to formulate effective therapeutic
interventions

Affect Regulation
Carolynn Maltas, Ph.D.

To be able to track non-verbal communication and describe its impact on interaction
To be able to identify one or more strategies to calm partners going into states of hyperarousal
To be able to identify and describe therapist behaviors that affect the couple’s autonomic arousal and can contribute to maintaining an optimal level of arousal during the therapy hour

Therapeutic Action
Arthur Klein, Ph.D.

To be able to describe the interventions of “deepening and augmentation” in couple therapy
To be able to create a hierarchy of commonly encountered couple problems
To be able to describe treatment strategies useful in maintaining therapeutic alliance

Potholes and Pitfalls: Predictable and Unpredictable Challenges in Couple Therapy
Diane Englund, LICSW

To be able to describe common challenges presented in couple therapy
To be able to demonstrate effective strategies for managing these challenges
To be able to explain how to predict and avoid common errors in doing couple therapy

“All You Need is Love”: The Couple Relationship over Time
Eleanor Counselman, Ed.D.

To be able to describe several constituents of a healthy couple relationship
To be able to assess patterns of intimacy and distance regulation
To be able to recognize that certain couple problems are related to particular stages of relationship to development and offer psychoeducational input when appropriate

Sexuality and Intimacy: Treatment Issues
Judith Leavitt, Ph.D.

To be able to describe and demonstrate how to collect information about a couple’s sexual history
To be able to identify at least two predictable pitfalls which can occur in taking a sexual history
To be able to prepare participants to design an intervention that will increase physical intimacy of their clients

From the Intrapsychic to the Interpersonal: Defensive Processes in Couple Therapy
Joe Shay, Ph.D.

To be able to explain the manifestations of the defense of projective identification in couple
therapy
To be able to prepare participants to intervene more successfully when projective identification
is present
To be able to demonstrate strategies for dealing with common countertransference reactions in
the presence of projective identification

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Couple Therapy but Were Afraid to Ask
Joe Shay, Ph.D.