Resolving Sexual Difficulties with the Crucible® Approach

Presented by Ruth Morehouse, Ph. D. and Susan Regas, Ph. D.

November 7-9, 2008, Culver City, CA

Co-Sponsored by the Marriage and Family Health Center and Advanced Couple and Family Seminars

The purpose of this workshop is to provide information about interviewing, evaluating and conducting therapy with individuals and couples experiencing sexual difficulties. The focus will be on sexual problems that are primarily caused by emotional or systemic factors as well as understanding the psychological factors in medically caused sexual difficulties. The use of The Crucible® Approach, with its emphasis on the process of differentiation will be woven throughout different aspects of gathering information, assessment and treatment of a variety of common sexual concerns. This workshop is designed to provide an effective and exciting blend of theory, active learning experiences and case application.

This workshop may be timely for you if:
  • You're a mental health professional who wants to develop more comfort, knowledge and skill when addressing sexual problems in your clients;
  • You're already a sex therapist but want to learn about a different model for treating sexual difficulties;
  • You're a medical professional wanting to extend your effectiveness in treating sexual dysfunctions;
  • You're a therapist familiar with the work of David Schnarch and looking for a refresher or further training in the Sexual Crucible® Approach.
The Crucible® Approach is an integrated approach to sex, intimacy and relationships. This model is based on differentiation-the ability to maintain yourself while maintaining relationships with others. The Crucible Approach differs from conventional sex therapy. Rather than emphasizing sensate focus exercises or improving communication skills, the Crucible Approach works with clients' spontaneous sexual behavior as a window into people and their relationship. Clients learn how to use sexual problems to facilitate their personal growth. You can learn more by going here.


Learning Objectives:

This workshop is designed to help you:

  1. Conceptualize Individuals and Couples from Crucible Differentiation Framework

    • Recognize the role of differentiation in sexual relationships
    • Develop hypotheses using the Crucible Framework

  2. Apply the Crucible Framework to Individuals and Couples

    • Practice talking to clients about sex
    • Create an expectation of explicitness with clients
    • Work with reluctant and embarrassed clients regarding sex
    • Establish a balanced alliance with both partners
    • Structure treatment to enhance differentiation and maximize success
    • Use the Approach with diverse couples in terms of ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation

  3. Utilize the Crucible Approach with various Sexual Difficulties:
      • Female arousal issues / erectile dysfunctions
      • Orgasmic problems
      • Rapid ejaculation
      • Sexual pain disorders
      • Low desire in women / men
    • Assess emotional and systemic factors involved in sexual difficulties
    • Help clients reach adequate sexual stimulation
    • Recognize physical/medical causes of sexual problems
    • Explain the emotional factors impacting medically caused dysfunctions

  4. Observe the Role of the Therapist's Own Level of Differentiation in Treating Sexual Problems

Workshop Format:

If you're looking for a professional workshop that goes beyond just lecture, this program is for you. Intellectually challenging, informative presentations will be interspersed with down-to-earth practical application and opportunities to learn through active involvement. The presenters are strongly committed to providing an active learning environment that is encouraging and facilitates incremental learning. Teaching tools will include: brief demonstrations from presenters; practice in intervening skills with sexual topics; creating and fine-tuning interventions and deconstructing interventions and cases; small group discussions; and questions and answer sessions. This course will be taught at the intermediate level and is designed for experienced mental health and medical professionals.


Workshop Presenters:

Dr. Ruth Morehouse Dr. Ruth Morehouse is a licensed psychologist and is also certified as a sex therapist (Diplomate Status) through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. She is also Co-Director, along with her husband, Dr. David Schnarch, of the Marriage and Family Health Center of Evergreen, Colorado, a world renowned relationship institute widely acclaimed for cutting- edge advances in personal development, couples and sex therapy and the home of the Passionate Marriage® and Crucible® Approaches. Based on these Approaches, Dr. Morehouse has given workshops for women, couples and mental health professionals for 20 years. She is an inspiring, zesty speaker whose presentations are conceptually exciting while still providing practical application and down to earth examples.

Dr. Susan Regas
Dr. Susan Regas is a Professor and Coordinator of Family and Couple Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in Los Angeles. At the University, she trains doctoral students in the area of family, couple and sex therapy, supervision and research. David Schnarch and Susan Regas have co-authored the Crucible ® Differentiation Scale and the Crucible ® Sexual Inventory and other studies looking at the effectiveness of the Crucible ® Approach. Susan is also a licensed clinical psychologist. She has a private practice in Pasadena, California where she does couple and family therapy along with supervision of therapists. She is married and has three children.


Location Details:

Radisson LA Westside Hotel, Culver City, California
  • Located in Culver City, a Los Angeles suburb, just 3 miles north of the Los Angeles International Airport
  • Less than 3 miles to Southern California beaches
  • Minutes to Marina Del Rey, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and Redondo Beach
  • Walking distance to shops and restaurants
  • All major California attractions are easily accessible
  • Reservations: Call 310-348-4569 or by Email sguerreo@radissonlawestside.com
Ask for the group rate: Marriage and Family Health Center, Single/Double Rate: $125 per night plus taxes

To learn more about the Hotel, visit their website, http://www.radisson.com/culvercityca. For additional information, call our office at 303-670-2630 or send us email.

Radisson LA Westside Hotel
6161 W. Centinela Avenue
Culver City, CA 90230
310-348-4509


How to Register for the Workshop:

Register on-line here. Or you may register by phone at (303)670-2630 or email us and mail a check to Marriage and Family Health Center, 2922 Evergreen Parkway Suite 310, Evergreen, Colorado 80439.

Workshop Hours:
  • Friday, November 7 - 9am to 5pm
  • Saturday, November 8 - 9am to 5pm
  • Sunday, November 9 - 9am to 5pm

Registration Fees (includes 2 lunches):
Early (received by September 7, 2008) $440.00
Regular (received after September 7, 2008) $490.00

A limited number of registrations for Full-Time Graduate Students with proof of current enrollment: $300.00

Continuing Education Credits: This program is being co-sponsored by the Marriage and Family Health Center and Advanced Couple and Family Therapy Seminars. Advanced Couple and Family Therapy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association to Sponsor Continuing Education for Psychologists. Advanced Couple and Family Therapy Seminars Maintains Responsibility for This Program And Its Content. This workshop earns 20.5 CE's for Licensed Psychologists.

The Marriage and Family Health Center (MFHC) is an approved provider by the California BBS (#PCE 399) (MFT and LCSW) and this workshop earns 19.0 CE's. MFHC is also recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to offer continuing ed (#5870), and this workshop earns 19.0 CE's. We adhere to NBCC Continuing Education guidelines. MFHC is also an approved provider of the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (TEXAS SW), and this workshop earns 19.0 CE's.

MFHC is an approved provider for the CA MCEP (MAR086), and this specific therapist workshop is currently under review. Application for CEs from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) has also been submitted.

Check for status of CE approval for other boards. CE credit offered only for professional workshops.

CE Credits $15.00 per certificate requested. If you need CE credits, you must take responsibility for checking to see if we have approval for your agency or licensing board. We have participants coming from all over the United States and outside the United States. Thus, we cannot guarantee CE credits for every State or Agency. Many professional organizations will accept the CE Credits from parallel organizations, but it is your responsibility to confirm status with your professional organization. The variations of the exact amount of CE hours depend on each Agency's policy regarding breaks.

Cancellation policy: Written request only. When cancellation is received by 9/21/08 full refund minus $75; received by 10/14/08 - 50% refund; thereafter 25% refund, no refund after start of Workshop.



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All materials, and contents of this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyright 1991-2008 by David Schnarch, Ph. D. All rights reserved. Intellectual property laws also apply. No reproduction for any reason is permitted.

"Sexual Crucible®", "Crucible®", "Crucible Approach™", "Passionate Marriage®", "Passionate Couples™", "Resurrecting Sex™", "Intimate Proposals™", and "Harnessing the natural processes of differentiation in emotionally committed relationships™" are trademarks and service marks of David Schnarch, Ph. D.













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