The AAMFT Podcast

Peter Fraenkel is internationally recognized clinical psychologist, writer, and presenter who specializes in last chance couples therapy. In this episode, he discusses his origins in the field and how he uses an integrated systems approach to work with couples on the brink of divorce. He shares techniques for an action-oriented, empirical approach using principles that help couples generate new thoughts and feelings about each other.

This week’s episode features chairs of AAMFT’s Topical Interest Networks to discuss emerging trends in their topic area and the benefits of being a member of the group.Dr. Christopher Belous, chair of the Couples and Intimate Relationships topical interest network, is an associate professor and the clinical director of the family therapy program at Purdue University Northwest. He discusses the value that the network offers members through trainings, research, consultation groups, and the belonging found as part of this network.Jackie Williams-Reade is chair of the Family Therapists in Healthcare network and professor at Loma Linda University. She talks about the integration of healthcare into mental health and how the TIN is addressing needs for MFTs who work in healthcare settings- both experienced and new to the field.Learn more at www.aamft.org/TIN

Linda Hershman has been in practice for more than twenty years and is a frequent presenter, educating public and practitioners on healthy divorce. As divorce trends towards older demographics, Linda breaks down the risk factors, demographics, emotional/economic fears, and the impact on adult children that accompany gray divorce. She discusses how therapy can help family systems navigate the decisions and aftereffects of gray divorce.

Norm Epstein and Don Baucom are the creators of the cognitive behavioral couples therapy model. In this episode, they recount their individual backgrounds as well as how they met and began collaborating. The discuss the emotional component of CBT and the critical understanding that it is not just a set of techniques, but requires a thoughtful and authentic therapist to relate to the couple. Norm shares his vision to adapt CBT for diverse cultures, and Don points to future projects of developing a comprehensive, integrated model of healthy couple relationships.

Bill O’Hanlon is a speaker and author, known for his work in developing Solution-Oriented Therapy. In this episode, he discusses the model as providing systemic, non-blame context to influence positive change in the present maintenance and future shift of problems. He talks about Milton Erickson’s impact on him, and the difference between the solution-focused and solution-oriented approaches. Finally, Bill shares his next project and performs a song he wrote.

Jay Lebow is a Clinical Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University known for his contributions to the field of MFT and his work with high-conflict divorce. In this episode, he talks about assessment, offering communication structure and rules for couples while navigating messy divorce, and the importance of establishing a safe environment for all parties to move forward. Understanding the legal system, and self of therapist characteristics needed to manage the high conflict interface are also discussed.

John and Julie Gottman are the co-founders of The Gottman Institute, a research-based approach to relationships and marital stability. The world-renowned Gottman Method combines John’s research with the application of Julie’s clinical work with couples. In this episode, they share the origins of the method, stories from their decades of work, and personal anecdotes from their marriage and professional collaboration.

Dr. Andy Christensen is a professor of psychology at UCLA and the co-developer of integrated couples behavior therapy (ICBT). He has spent his career researching the effectiveness of evidence-based treatment for couples in distress. In this episode, Dr. Christensen discusses acceptance and tolerance techniques, the empirical support for the model, and a new online ICBT program for couples.

Jackie Williams-Reade is an associate professor at Loma Linda University and a therapist, researcher, trainer, and speaker. In this episode, she discusses integrating spirituality into practice, defining religion versus spirituality, and normalizing these conversations in the classroom to become more comfortable with them in the therapy room. She talks through helping a client build spiritual resources when your own are low and recommends training and resources for integrating spirituality and a biopsychosocial-spiritual lens into your practice.

Stefanie Frank, JD, former legal counsel for AAMFT, discusses common questions, gray areas, and ethical dilemmas about interfacing with the legal system as a systemic family therapist. She covers a wide berth of topics including best practices for expert witnesses, responding to subpoenas, HIPAA compliance, notetaking, and privilege, and termination as part of ethical practice.