Sponsored Workshops

American Psychological Association (APA)

1. Sexual Satisfaction, Dysfunction, and Differentiation
   
   www.apa.org
   Presented by David Schnarch, PhD and Susan Regas, PhD
   August 14, 2008 10:00AM - 11:50AM
   Facility: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
   Room: Meeting Room 209
   Sponsoring Division 29 - Psychotherapy
   
   Sexuality and intimacy are important parts of adult relationships. Sexual problems and dissatisfactions play major roles in emotionally committed relationships, and ultimately effect family stability. However, measures of sexual relationship satisfaction that address sexual satisfaction, sexual desire and sexual functioning are virtually non-existent, particularly psychometrically sound ones applicable to both men and women and people of all sexual orientations. This hinders researchers exploring the complex interaction of sexual problems, sexual dissatisfactions, and personal development issues that occur in virtually all relationships. It also hampers development of empirically-based couple therapy and sex therapy.
   
   To fill this gap, the authors developed a new measure of sexual satisfaction. This 54-item instrument, the Crucible® Sexual Inventory (CSI), was pilot tested in three different samples consisting of more than 3,000 total subjects. Results indicate excellent psychometric characteristics including high reliability, construct validity, well-developed subscales, and predicted cross-correlations with other psychological instruments. This presentation announces the availability of this new measure of sexual relationship satisfaction to clinicians and researchers.
   
   
2. The Importance of Conflict in Intimate Relationships
   
   www.apa.org
   Presented by David Schnarch, PhD
   August 15, 2008 2:00PM - 3:50PM
   Facility: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
   Room: Meeting Room 253B
   Sponsoring Division 43 - Family Psychology
   
   Conflict is arguably the most negatively perceived and poorly handled area of emotionally committed relationships, whether by couples or therapists. Couples often minimize their conflicts at the outset of treatment, interpreting them as signs of incompatibility or falling out of love. Similarly, clinicians generally try to minimize conflict to develop stable treatment alliances, and establish a sense of safety and security in the couple's relationship. Some therapists perceive intense conflict as an impediment to bonding, a threat to a secure "holding environment," or indicative of an attachment failure, because it increases one or both partners' anxieties. Couples and therapists try to minimize or reduce conflict through increased communication, compromise and negotiation, and promoting forgiveness.
   
   Differentiation-based couple's therapy approaches, like the Crucible Approach, take a different attitude and intervention strategy towards couples' conflicts. The Crucible Approach proposes conflict is inherent and inevitable, built into the fabric of emotionally committed relationships. It is not a sign of something "going wrong," In fact; it often reflects everything is going right: Conflict is normal, important, and necessary because this results from of the natural processes of differentiation playing out in love relationships.

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)

American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT)

1. Core Concepts of the Crucible® Approach: Research & Clinical Application


Sponsored by AAMFT
www.aamft.org
Presented by David Schnarch, PhD and Susan Regas, PhD
October 31, 2008 10:45AM - 12:45PM
Facility: Memphis Convention Center

This workshop introduces the Crucible Approach's unique view of differentiation from empirical and clinical perspectives. A new, reliable and valid measure of differentiation, the Crucible Differentiation Scale (CDS), will be reported for the first time. The CDS and video clips of case material will help participants utilize the Crucible lens of differentiation. Technical skills will be taught as a natural expression of the Crucible Paradigm.


2. Sexual Satisfaction, Dysfunction, and Differentiation
   
   Sponsored by AAMFT
   www.aamft.org
   Presented by David Schnarch, PhD and Susan Regas, PhD
   October 31, 2008 2:45PM - 4:45PM
   Facility: Memphis Convention Center
   
   The new Crucible Sexual Inventory (CSI) measures sexual satisfaction, desire and functioning in both men and women of all sexual orientations. This workshop will present the CSI and its excellent psychometric properties. Research with the CSI supports the core link between sexual satisfaction, functioning and differentiation posited by the Crucible® approach. Clinical implication will be explored.
   
   
3. Resurrecting Sex: Crucible Approach® and Treatment of Sexual Difficulties
   
   Sponsored by AAMFT
   www.aamft.org
   Presented by Ruth Morehouse, PhD
   November 1, 2008 10:45AM - 12:45PM
   Facility: Memphis Convention Center
   
   This workshop provides a unifying model of sex, intimacy, psychological maturation and systemic interaction underlying common sexual problems. Learn effective tools for determining physical, emotional and systemic causes of sexual dysfunction. Discussion of Crucible® therapy will emphasize sex as a window into who clients really are, and developing skill of working with clients around sexual issues.
   
   
4. Differentiation, Ethics, and Integrity: The Therapist's Crucible
   
   Sponsored by AAMFT
   www.aamft.org
   Presented by David Schnarch, PhD
   November 1, 2008 2:15PM - 4:15PM
   Facility: Memphis Convention Center
   
   Issues of ethics, integrity and personal differentiation surface for therapists in vast and complex ways. The Crucible® Approach proposes that the therapist's differentiation plays a critical role in all aspects of therapy, including treatment outcome. This workshop will examine: (1) practical ways that the therapist's differentiation controls how ethical dilemmas are handled; and (2) how it co-creates ethical issues to begin with.
   
   
5. Differentiation and Culture as Drive Wheels of Relationships
   
   Sponsored by AAMFT
   www.aamft.org
   Presented by Ruth Morehouse, PhD and Susan Regas, PhD
   November 2, 2008 09:00AM -12:00PM
   Facility: Memphis Convention Center
   
   The Crucible Approach proposes that the process of differentiation transcends culture. But where does culture, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexual orientation fit into the theory and practice of this approach? This workshop will look at these important and sensitive issues from a variety of perspectives, including research findings, clinical experience doing treatment, and personal experience learning and applying this approach.

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"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.