Description:

In the old way of thinking, couples were depicted as a communication system that could be improved with relational skills or as interacting psychopathologies needing treatment by a mental health professional. In the new way of thinking, couples are a system of mutually reinforcing interactions that create anxiety or safety, wounding or healing. They also are the source of culture and the fulcrum of social transformation. What happens in the couple happens in the culture; what happens in the culture happens in the couple. This lecture will show how the shift from a pathological unit to healing agency occurred; discuss the features of an optimal relationship, and describe the therapeutic process. We will also introduce a global movement, Relationships First, with a mission to show scientifically the essential relationship between healthy couples and a healthy society and to establish “relationship” as a primary cultural value.

Educational Objectives:

1. Discuss the historical shift of role of couples in culture.
2. Describe the core features of an optimal relationship.
3. Document the positive impact of healthy couples on society.
4. Initiate a dialogical conversation with a couple.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*