A Relational Frame for Substance Use Disorders: Couples and Romantic Relationships [In-Person]

 Earn 3 CE Contact Hours

Substance use disorders can profoundly impact romantic partnerships, reinforcing rigid dynamics where connection is lost and conflict escalates. Couples often find themselves turning against each other rather than confronting the substance use together. In this workshop, we will explore how clinicians can support couples in restoring connection, rebuilding trust, and developing a shared stance toward recovery. Using the Ackerman Relational Approach, we will offer concrete interventions to help clinicians navigate the challenges of intimacy, blame, and isolation that frequently arise in relationships affected by addiction.

Learning Objectives:

• Help clinicians identify and disrupt rigid relationship patterns that are reinforced by substance use
• Explore techniques to externalize the addiction and support couples in developing a united front in treatment
• Provide tools to rebuild intimacy and strengthen relational resilience in the context of recovery

Meet Genoveva Garcia and Frank Wells:

Genoveva Garcia, LCSW is a bilingual psychotherapist in New York City. Genoveva received her master’s degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She holds a Psychology Degree from Mexico, (Licenciada en Psycología) by the Instituto Tecnológico y Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO). Genoveva is a graduate of the Ackerman Institute and currently serves as faculty at the Institute. She is the Associate Director of the Latinx Youth and Family Immigration Project. In addition to these roles, she maintains a private practice in New York City. Genoveva’s personal experience as an immigrant from Mexico and her journey as a family systems trained psychotherapist inform her commitment to working with diverse communities using a relational, culturally sensitive, and socially-just framework.

Frank Wells, LCSW, is a teaching faculty member at the Ackerman Institute. A graduate of New York University School of Social Work, Frank has previously worked as a therapist in child welfare and outpatient mental health settings. He is currently working as a family therapist in the substance abuse field at the Freedom Institute in Midtown Manhattan where he runs support groups for spouses as well as parents of family members struggling with substance use in addition to his family and couples work. Through Freedom Institute, Frank has conducted professional trainings regarding the approaches and functions of family therapy within substance abuse treatment. Frank also maintains a private practice in New York City seeing individuals, couples and families.

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