The New Jersey Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, in collaboration with The Seton Hall University Marriage and Family Therapy program is pleased to announce its “Healthy Families, Healthy Choices” 2017 Conference. A full day of workshop selections and opportunities to mix with your colleagues awaits you! Start your professional day with your choice of one of two morning workshops and four packages for afternoon sessions.

Workshop Presentations

Over the Borderline: Treating Clients With BPD

3 Hrs. AM

Brett J. Novick, MS, LMFT, CSSW

Often, as a Marriage and Family Therapist, we are left to do a post-mortem autopsy on a relationship in the throes of its death. Relationships are besieged by fidelity, substance abuse and general relational issues and, once they have reached a point of “no return,” many couples turn to us--hoping that we will be the messenger of bad news or provide a magic pill. 

The proverbial message of “don’t shoot the messenger” is hence placed in the hands of the MFT who must assess a situation in which there are no winners. The only hope is softening the blow to the couple in which one has already made a choice and awaits the MFT to “force their hand.”

This presentation, encourages us to provide a remote control rewind to the individuals before they seek marriage.  It asks individuals to do a premarital scan before and a deeper dive before making the very serious commitment to marriage.  The workshop’s intent is to help provide an “inoculation,” of sorts, in which persons can look into a deeper manner prior to making relational decisions.

Using the analogy of purchasing a vehicle as a forum for making a spousal choice, this workshop will be based upon the book written by this author that deals with the same subject. The workshop is lighthearted, while being heavy in practical application.

Multi Contextual Family Therapy

3 Hrs. AM

Joel Levine LMFT

Contextual Therapy Definition:  Boszormenyi-Nagy is best known for developing the Contextual approach to family therapy and individual psychotherapy. It is a comprehensive model which integrates individual psychological, interpersonal, existential, systemic, and intergenerational dimensions of individual and family life and development.

Helping practitioners understand the Multicontextual Frame is essential. In this workshop participants will learn both vertical and horizontal stressors as well as point of entry. Participants will learn specific techniques to help bridge these gaps.

Racism and European-American Privilege                                       3 Hrs. PM
James Verser

This workshop will present a brief historical background of slavery and the development of the concept of “race.” A systemic explanation of privilege, especially white privilege, will be offered.  This will be followed by small group discussions in which participants will be asked to explore their own privilege including:

• how one expresses that privilege
• how one responds to that privilege being expressed in one’s presence
• how these ideas might impact how therapy is conducted 

At the end of the workshop, there will be an open discussion about problems with the word “privilege” and whether or not the term “European-American Privilege” might be preferable to “white privilege.”

Don’t Buy a Lemon

3 Hrs. PM

Brett J. Novick, MS, LMFT, CSSW

Relationships are besieged by infidelity, substance abuse and general relational issues and, once they have reached a point of “no return,” many couples turn to us--hoping that we will be the messenger of bad news or provide a magic pill. This presentation encourages us to provide a remote control rewind to individuals before they seek marriage.  It asks individuals to do a premarital scan and a deeper dive before making the very serious commitment to marriage.  The workshop’s intent is to help provide an “inoculation,” of sorts, in which participants can look in a deeper manner prior to making relational decisions.

Using the analogy of purchasing a vehicle as a forum for making a spousal choice, this workshop will be based upon the book “Don’t Buy a Lemon” written by Novick, that deals with the same subject. The workshop is lighthearted, while being heavy in practical application.

Bowen Family Systems Theory: Healing Process for Sexual Abuse Survivors Alexandra Colvin

2 Hrs. PM

The goal of Bowenian Family Systems Theory (BFST) as applied to Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) includes differentiation of self, detriangulation and lowering emotional reactivity. How to accomplish these three goals will be addressed in the workshop through the following four points of reference:

1. Evidenced-based treatment of the Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) – including a brief literature review on the efficacy of the BFST treatment
2. Prevention programs and protection laws for victims of child sexual abuse
3. Reflection of the BFST
4. References pertinent to this topic

Cultural Competency                                                                             1 Hr. PM Joel Levine LMFT

Cultural Competency is a respectful dialogue that we enter into with clients who have varied cultural histories. We do so by increasing our self-awareness and identifying both our privileged and subjugated selves. We’re then better prepared to bridge the gap between the client’s cultural background and our own cultural background.

Identifying Struggles & Strengths: 
Working with Black Heterosexual Couples                                 1 Hr. PM
Christiana Awosan  Ph.D, LMFT

The diminishing rate of marriage and the proliferation of individuals who are unmarried, are greatly altering the makeup of pair-bonding in the general heterosexual population. These circumstances however, are more pronounced among heterosexual Blacks in the United States.

Compared to other racial groups in the US, Blacks tend to have a much lower marriage rate, higher divorce and separation rates and a higher rates of singleness. The decline in Black marriages and the increased rate of never-marrieds among this population have great implications on the mental, emotional and relational well-being and functioning of Black male-female relationships. This is also true of Black families and communities. Effective therapeutic strategies are needed to address the complexity of Black coupling and ways to strengthen them.

In this workshop, participants will be led on an exploration of the cultural contexts, unique difficulties and strengths that Black men and women face in their efforts to nurture marriage and long-term committed relationships. Specific attention will be devoted to:

• Ways in which internalized racial stereotypes generate destructive relational and communication patterns
• We will use a trauma informed, multicultural relational perspective approach to treatment.
• Clinical strategies on ways to strengthen relational bonds and help Black men and women communicate effectively will be provided.
• Relevant Self of the Therapist issues that may facilitate or impede effective clinical engagement and treatment will be discussed.

Be Effective With Difficult Couples                                                 2 Hrs. PM
Meredith Keller & Debby Deroian

Have you ever had a couple yelling and cursing or go quiet and resistant while in your office? Many therapists dread working with couples. Participants will learn the purpose conflict serves in intimate relationships. Guidelines necessary to accelerate the work while keeping everyone safe will be given. An important benefit will be that you’ll feel more calm and effective with both conflictual and resistant couples.

Pricing 

Register quickly here online or, by mailing in your registration and check. Dates for discounts are as below. 

Note: Afternoon sessions are grouped into packages. To assist you when you register, click here to download and/or print the Workshop Selection Guide                  

Category	Postmarked Before 10/1/17	Postmarked After 10/1/17
Non-Member	$170	$195
Pre-Clinical Fellow Member	$90	$115
PCF Volunteers	$75
Full-time Student	$70	$95
Student Volunteers	$20
Retired Members	$80	$105
NJAMFT Active Board Member	$50

NO CONFIRMATION CARD WILL BE SENT (Make Checks payable to NJAMFT)
6 Continuing Education Units approved for LMFTs, LPCs, LCADCs) 

Limited number of scholarships available for Student and PCF volunteers

Registration fee includes Continental Breakfast and Awards Luncheon. Cancellations must be made in writing and mailed to address below. Absolutely no refunds (Credits Only) 

Register Now!