Alumnae/i Association 2008-2009 Schedule
Buffet Supper and Networking: 5:30-6:30 pm
Presentation: 6:30-8:30 pm

Please RSVP to Shelley Uva at 212-879-4900, ext 130 or suva@ackerman.org.

Friday, January 23, 2009
Fiona True, LMSW
Lisa Lavelle, LCSW
Dee Watts Jones, PhD

Case Consultations with Ackerman Faculty

Join three prominent members of Ackerman's Faculty as they analyze some of the most challenging cases in your private practice or group work. Ackerman alumnae/i will have the opportunity to send in a written case for review.

Cases will be considered on a first come basis, so please send in your written case by January 12th. You will be notified in advance if your case is chosen, so that you can present your case questions in-person to the Ackerman faculty panel for analysis that evening. Lively discussion, answers to your questions, and intellectual dialogue is promised.

Please submit a TYPED, ONE-PAGE case consultation for review to suva@ackerman.org. Please be sure to include your name, day phone, case description and specific questions for panel.

Friday, March 6, 2009
Richard Johnson, PhD, LCSW

Family Therapy with One Person: Coaching Individual Clients Toward Change in Family Relationships

Although coaching clients about managing difficult family relationships is a part of most therapy, the techniques for this work are not widely understood. This talk will describe a method of coaching originated by Murray Bowen and elaborated by Monica McGoldrick and Betty Carter. In this work, clients are helped to observe and understand the relationship patterns in their original family, explore their own role in these patterns, and move planfully toward changing their part in the family dance. Cultural differences in family relationship patterns are considered, as are the impact on family relationships of socio-economic factors and the experiences of marginalized groups. Videotapes will illustrate family relational dilemmas and uses of the coaching process. Case illustrations from the presenter’s practice will be included. Dialogue is invited.

Friday, May 1, 2009
Martha Edwards, PhD

An Integrated Approach to Working with Couples

Working with couples is complex. Does the therapist focus on the individual issues that each partner brings to the relationship or focus on their interaction patterns? Some times the therapist emphasizes affect while at other times explores the cognitive meaning that partners give to their own and each other’s behaviors. At even other times, the therapist assigns tasks to shift the patterns of interaction. We will focus on the treatment of couples, using case examples to explore these issues and illustrate an integrated way of working with couples.