Working With ADHD-Impacted Relationships Through The Emotionally Focussed Therapy Lens

May 13 & 14, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, CA

*Also available via livestream*

Presented by:

Presented by: Alexine Thompson-de Benoit, LMFT, EFT Trainer and Certified EFT Supervisor and Therapist;

Ben Kneubühler, LMFT, certified EFT Therapist 

DESCRIPTION:

ADHD is a condition that affects the executive functioning part of the brain, which manages our working memory, ability to focus, to plan, to stay organized, finish what we started, and regulates our emotions. For ADHD affected individuals, those functions can be challenged in many areas of life, including their primary relationship. Research shows that individuals impacted by ADHD have less satisfying relationships overall.

It is not uncommon for individuals with ADHD to be undiagnosed until later in adulthood, and by then, their relationship has been deeply affected. Their partners often complain that their ADHD partners are not paying attention to them, are disorganized, inconsistent, emotionally unstable, and often unreliable. These partners often feel forgotten and unimportant and end up carrying a big part of the load, while complaining, blaming and criticizing their ADHD partner. This negative cycle of blame-defend deeply affects the relationship.

Realizing that ADHD plays a big role in the EFT relational dynamic is crucial to 1) transforming negative emotions into empathy, and 2) developing EFT and ADHD strategies as a couple to better manage its impact and stay united against it.

In this two-day event, we will look at the manifestations of ADHD and how that impacts emotions and the love relationship. We will learn to track the ADHD-impacted cycle without pathologizing, and look for the often surprising primary emotions that can be so well hidden by ADHD partners.

Clips will be shown of ADHD and non-ADHD partners sharing their felt experiences of the relationship, along with the EFT therapist working with tracking the cycle, reflecting, validating and assembling emotions.

We will look at how to work with ADHD in EFT through all three stages, and what additional interventions are necessary to help a couple not only cope, but take risks and grow more deeply connected around ADHD.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify 4 key symptoms of ADHD based on the way the ADHD brain functions

2. Identify and discuss 3 ways symptoms of ADHD impact daily functioning

3. Discuss and explain the manifestations of ADHD in the couple’s negative cycle and its

impact on romantic relationships and the EFT negative cycle

4. Identify and describe at least two ways to bring up the possible ADHD diagnosis and

what to do next (refer out for evaluation and individual treatment)

5. Apply appropriate EFT skills to track the interactional cycle while taking ADHD’s

impact into account

6. Identify two techniques to help partners externalize the problem and understand the

role ADHD has in their negative cycle

7. Describe and discuss primary and secondary emotions typical in couples impacted by

ADHD

8.Discuss and demonstrate how to work towards de-escalation while weaving psycho-

education and normalizing information into EFT interventions

9. Apply appropriate EFT and ADHD skills to the evidence of ADHD in the session

(short attention span, fidgeting, lack of short-term memory) and adapt the model to the

specific needs of each partner.

10. Identify two ways to work with underlying shame and anxiety in Stage Two of EFT

11. Integrate grieving and acceptance with both partners and help them celebrate what is,

vs. obsess over what isn’t

12. Create a more secure connection with ADHD methods and interventions that will

support the EFT work and allow for changes in sessions to be consolidated and trusted.

PRESENTERS:

Alexine Thompson-de Benoit is a clinical psychologist in Switzerland and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the EFT trainer for Switzerland and has had a special interest for ADHD for a number of years, as she’s learned to recognize the signs of an ADHD impacted relationship in more and more couples. She is passionate about helping such couples develop compassion for each other and realize they are both victims of this diagnosis, by following the powerful EFT map.

Ben Kneubühler is a psychotherapist, sexologist and certified EFT therapist in Switzerland. Beside working with couples, he has been running group therapy and coaching for ADHD clients for many years. His passion is nurtured by the manifold capabilities ADHD people bring to our world with their Being Different.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This training is appropriate for mental health practitioners who work with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy.

REQUIREMENTS:

***Participants must be familiar with and abide by professional and legal confidentiality requirements regarding all client information shared in the training.  Confidentiality: You must agree to keep confidential the personal identifying information of case material shared in the training. By registering for this training, you agree to not record any part of this training in any format (audio, video or visual).  personal written notes of non-confidential material are permitted.

COST:
Regular Fee is $475; Early Bird Fee is $425 (By March 1) Pre-license Fee is $375; Students, DEI/BIPOC/LGBTQ Scholarships is $175.

Continuing Education (CE) credit is available for an additional $25 on any ticket type.  

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

This course meets the qualifications for 12 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences;

Psychologists: NCCEFT is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists.  NCCEFT maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 

NCCEFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.  NCCEFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. Provider # 93337

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Those who attend this workshop in full, complete the course evaluation (via GoogleDocs sent by email) and for virtual attendance, attest to full attendance, will receive CE credits. A certificate of completion will be provided via email, within three days after completed evaluation is submitted. Please note that credit will only be granted to those who attend the entire workshop.  

ACCOMMODATIONS:

NCCEFT meets all applicable local, state and federal standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)). We hold events only at professional venues that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42, U.S.C. 12101-12213 (2008)

ADA NEEDS: We will be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please contact us at NCCEFT.programs@gmail.com  at least two weeks prior to the seminar date.

NCCEFT PROGRAM GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICY: 

The Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. NCCEFT will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.  The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the CPA PAS CE Program Director in consultation with the Board of Directors (Steering Committee).

While NCCEFT works to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues which will require intervention and/or action on the part of NCCEFT. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such complaints.

When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken:

1. If the complaint concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the complaint will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The CE Program Director will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the aggrieved individual.

2. If the complaint concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the CE Program Director will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action during a workshop or conference, the CE Program Director or his/her representative will:

a. attempt to rectify the situation, and/or

b. provide a credit for a subsequent presentation, in the event of a program having an attendance fee or

c. provide a partial or full refund of the registration fee, in the event of a program having an attendance fee.

Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the aggrieved individual.

3. If the grievance concerns the business practices of the NCCEFT CE program in a specific regard, the CE Program Director or Administrator will attempt to arbitrate.

REFUND AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:

In the event that a program presentation has an attendance fee, CANCELLATIONS are subject to a $50.00 processing fee and must be received 14 days prior to be eligible for a refund.