Is this Abuse?

 Earn 5 CE Contact Hours

Working with couples is both rewarding and clinically complex. Research suggests that a significant portion of couples presenting for therapy exhibit patterns of coercion, aggression, or controlling behavior that may meet criteria for abuse. In this workshop, Dr. Jason Whiting, professor and marriage and family therapist, examines various types of abuse and violence, including the social, interpersonal, and physiological factors that sustain them.

The training will include a discussion of healthy and unhealthy relational practices, drawn from Dr. Whiting’s research, to help therapists distinguish between normative conflict and controlling or abusive dynamics. Participants will strengthen their ability to assess risk, identify harmful interactional patterns, and intervene in ways that promote safety, accountability, and relational repair when appropriate.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the contextual and ethical issues common to the development of types of abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV).
• Learn to distinguish between patterns of violence and abuse.
• Learn strategies to assess for abuse and understand treatment options.
• Recognize the clinical challenges of working with unhealthy dynamics, and how to implement self-care.
• Understand the key practices in relationships that influence healthy and unhealthy couple outcomes.

Who Should Attend:

Mental health professionals, therapists, counselors, and social workers who work with couples and families and want to strengthen their skills in identifying coercive and abusive dynamics, assessing risk, and responding ethically and effectively to intimate partner violence and controlling behaviors in clinical practice.

Meet Dr. Whiting:

Dr. Jason Whiting is a professor at Brigham Young University whose research focuses on strengthening relationships and preventing abuse. He directs a project on healthy and unhealthy patterns, and is the author of many books and scholarly articles on relationships. He teaches courses on addictions, abuse, and qualitative inquiry.