When: Friday, April 20, 2018
Where: 40 Center Street, Northampton, MA
Instructors: Nancy Knudsen, LMFT and Katherine Waddell, LMFT
Differentiation of Self and Attachment Theory both offer a window into how to understand the very human struggle as clients’ attempt to balance out a desire to be close and connected to others, yet have an independent and strong self of self.
This workshop spent the morning exploring these key concepts and how they each explain couples’ best attempts at orienting and managing themselves in their relationships.
The afternoon presentation guided clinicians to start thinking developmentally about couples, using both differentiation and attachment theory, and taught six developmental assists that support differentiation and risk taking in building stronger, more vulnerable and more loving kinds of interactions. Participants learned through a combination of lecture and role plays with audience members. There was also discussion of the importance of the therapists’ own differentiation in utilizing these interventions. The work presented is based on the concepts and work of Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson, founders of the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy.
Nancy Knudsen, LMFT is a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Northampton, MA with over 30 years experience in the field. She has used a family systems orientation over the years to work with individuals, couples, and families on a wide range of issues.
Katherine Waddell, LMFT is a Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Couples Center of the Pioneer Valley located in Northampton, MA. Having worked with couples for over 20 years, Katherine teaches and trains therapists, offering workshops and supervision in the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy (Ellyn Bader/Peter Pearson) across the USA.
