Presenters: Lisa Blum, PsyD and Silvina Irwin, PhD
Course Description: Have you experienced the dilemma of helping couples achieve greater emotional connection through EFT, and yet found that this does not always translate directly into greater sexual desire, contact and flexibility between the partners?
This workshop will present a frame for understanding that dilemma, and offer approaches for more fully integrating sexual concerns into our EFT work, with the goal of helping couples take new risks with each other so that they can share a more vibrant sexual connection. This workshop will include:
- how to decipher the map of a couple’s sexual cycle;
- how to do thorough assessment of each partner’s sexual history, taking into the account the context of the client’s intersecting identities;
- understanding sexual responses and freezes within an attachment frame;
- interventions that help create a secure base of “safe touch”;
- how to identify and work with our own natural therapist blocks to processing sexually explicit and intimate material with our clients.
When: February 2 (Friday) and 5 (Monday) 2024
Time: 10am – 5pm EST / 7am – 2pm PST
Location: Virtual program
CE Units: 12.5 (you must attend both full days in order to receive credit. No partial credit can be given)
Course Level: Intermediate (externship or equivalent required)
Learning Modalities: Attendees learn through lecture, reviewing videotaped clinical material, simulations, interactive exercises and discussion.
Cost:
Early Bird Special: $520 CAD ($384.74 USD*) — Until November 1st
Regular rate: $550 CAD ($406.94 USD*)
Student and Equity ** rate: $490 CAD ($362.54 USD*) (limited to 3 participants)
Supervisors Rate $330 CAD (244.16 USD*)
All rates are tax included.
* Cost is based on Canadian dollars (CAD). Cost in US dollars (USD) will vary slightly from day to day due to variations in the exchange rate.
** The equity rate was developed by the EFT Quebec Bilingual Community as a way to embrace diversity through efforts to counter the impacts of systemic, often unconscious, racism. It is intended for therapists who have a financial need and who either identify with a marginalized group (historically or institutionally, such as but not limited to the Black or First Nations community, for example) or who work with a population historically or currently affected by discrimination. The goal is to make our events more accessible to a broader range of participants, encouraging the participation of people with diverse backgrounds who might otherwise face barriers to access in their EFT journey.
To register, please go to the Please click on the button below or go to the web site for
Communauté bilingue EFT Québec | EFT Quebec Bilingual Community
Clicking on this button will take you away from this web site and to the registration page administered by EFT Quebec Bilingual Community
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
After attending this workshop participants will be able to
- Conceptualize and describe the dynamics of a couple’s sexual relationship from an attachment frame.
- Analyze and describe the distress in a couple’s sexual relationship from an attachment frame and be able to outline a couple’s negative sexual cycle.
- Identify the importance and rationale for separate and individual sexual history assessments.
- Describe good process and relevant content and framework for conducting a thorough sexual history assessment.
- Identify 2 or more models of sexual engagement and response, including the Dual Control Model of Sexuality.
- Practice how to apply an understanding of the Dual Control Model of Sexuality to provide appropriate client psycho-education and assessment of barriers to sexual intimacy.
- Outline interventions to help couples who are not currently sexual to restart “safe touch.”
- Identify the main purpose, goals, and recommended manner of teaching about of Sensate Focus and other mindful touch interventions.
- List markers within the clinical process that indicate good timing to introduce touch exercises.
- Outline an approach to debrief and process with a couple their sexual touch exercises for maximum effectiveness.
- Self-reflect and articulate one’s own learned values and potential biases about human sexuality, and specify areas where continued education and/or learning is appropriate.
- Demonstrate increased self-awareness of possible blocks to one’s own comfort and flexibility in processing sexual content in couples therapy and possible actions to lower those blocks.
SCHEDULE
Day 1: Friday
9:45 – 10:00 am Sign in
10:00 – 11:45 am Introductions and Overview
Setting the Frame –
Includes exercise (45 min) on Messages/Values (6 min to write; 12 min to review + small groups (15 min) to debrief; large group reports outs and discuss
Positive sexuality and intersectionality
11:45-12:00 Break
12:00 – 12:45 pm Models of Sexuality
Introducing the Dual Control Model
Q&A
12:45 – 1:30 Lunch Break
1:30 – 3:45 Sex and Attachment
How do you talk about Sex?
Outlining the Sexual Cycle, Pt 1
Includes video of session (12 min + discussion)
Large group debrief (20 min)
3:45 – 4:00 Break
4:00 – 5:00 Taking a Sexual History
Checkout: one thing taking away to put into practice immediately
Day 2: Monday –TBD
PRESENTERS
Silvina Irwin, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, and ICEEFT Certified Trainer and Supervisor in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. Under the mentorship of Dr. Sue Johnson, founder of EFT for Couples, Silvina offers trainings in LA and other select US and International areas. She is co-founder of the EFT Resource Center in Pasadena, CA, which provides EFT psychotherapy services to the community and offers training and supervision to therapists in Emotionally Focused Therapy. In her psychotherapy practice, Dr. Irwin specializes in working with survivors of trauma and relationship distress. In addition, Dr. Irwin has developed and facilitated workshops for couples who want to deepen and enrich their sexual connection. Dr. Irwin also leads consultation groups with her close colleague Dr. Lisa Blum for mental health professionals all over the country who are refining their skills in integrating sexuality into their couples’ therapy work. Dr. Irwin also offers master classes on working with trauma in couples therapy, and workshops on Vicarious Trauma of therapists, first responders, and the legal and medical community. To learn more about Dr. Irwin, please visit www.drsilvinairwin.com or www.EFTResourceCenter.com.
Lisa Blum, Psy.D. (California License: PSY#19790) is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in promoting healthy couple and family relationships through an attachment lens. Dr. Blum is an ICEEFT-Certified Therapist and Supervisor in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), one of the few research-validated therapies for helping couples and families strengthen relationships and build stronger connections. Dr. Blum is co-founder of the EFT Resource Center in Pasadena, CA, which provides EFT psychotherapy services to the community and offers training and supervision to therapists in Emotionally Focused Therapy. Dr. Blum’s work includes individual, couples, and family therapy, and supervision, training, and public speaking on family, marital, and parenting issues. Dr. Blum works with both LGBTQ, queer, and straight couples, and with adults forming families in new and creative ways.
Since the beginning of her career, Dr. Blum has been involved in teaching, research, and practice in the field of sexuality, and co-facilitates weekend workshops for couples who want to deepen and enrich their sexual connection. In addition, Dr. Blum and her close colleague Dr. Silvina Irwin lead consultation groups for mental health professionals who are refining their skills in integrating sexuality into their couples’ therapy work. To learn more about Dr. Blum, please visit www.drlisablum.com, and www.EFTResourceCenter.com.
Dr. Blum’s previous experience includes: Supervising Psychologist at the Institute for Girls’ Development in Pasadena; Supervising Psychologist for Children’s Hospital¬-Los Angeles; Staff Researcher at the UCLA Center for Adolescent Health Promotion; and Director of Education for the HiTOPS Teen Health Center in Princeton, NJ. Dr. Blum holds Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from Rutgers University and a Bachelors degree in Psychology with honors from Cornell University.
This CE program is presented in partnership with the EFT Resource Center in Pasadena, CA and the EFT Quebec Bilingual Community/Communauté bilingue EFT Québec.
CE APPROVALS
Illuminated Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Illuminated Education maintains the responsibility for this program and its content.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts APA approval for CE activities for MFTs, LCSWs, LPPCs and/or LEPs.
Outside of California, please check with your licensing board to see whether APA approval is accepted for CE credit in your state. Please call Dr. Cooper if you have further questions (626-744-9472).
REFUNDS: Refunds (fee minus a 15% administrative fee) are available until 2 weeks before the beginning of the program.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SPECIAL REQUESTS: The program will be presented in English. A simultaneous translation into French will be available on a separate audio channel on Zoom. For other special requests or accommodations, please contact Jessica Kokin or Fannie Carrier Emond at the EFT Quebec Bilingual Community ( eftquebec@gmail.com ).
CONTACT INFORMATION For questions about the content and logistics of the program please contact Jessica Kokin or Fannie Carrier Emond at the EFT Quebec Bilingual Community ( eftquebec@gmail.com ). For questions about Continuing Education credit, please call Dr. Chris Cooper (626-744-9472) or email at cdcooperphd@earthlink.net. If you email, please put the name of the program in the subject line.