Suzanne McCarthy, Psy.D., instructor

NOTE DATE CHANGE TO OCTOBER 22, 2012 from 3 - 5 pm

Theoretical and clinical overview of the use of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy with couples facing the challenge of chronic or life threatening illness. This program takes the participant through the three stage model of EFT, current supportive research and clinical demonstration via the use of video taped sessions and case examples.  Participants will learn the basic model and EFT interventions as applied and expanded for use with couples coping with a life threatening or chronic illness.  Program will focus on illness themes and typical couple dynamics and demonstrate experiential interventions to address these. EFT is a short term, empirically validated form of couples therapy that has been shown to move 70 – 75% of couples from distress to recovery and 90% to significant improvements.

Upon completion of the program the participant will be able to:

• Identify the three stages of Emotionally Focused Couples therapy and concomitant interventions
• Explain the common challenges that illness creates within a couple system and be able to address them
• Demonstrate a clinical understanding of how to apply EFT interventions with couples

Program Code: HP45
2 CE Credits
Location: at MSPP, Newton

Suzanne McCarthy, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist and certified EFT therapist and supervisor practicing in the Boston area. She graduated with a specialty in health psychology and her dissertation studied the narratives of couples facing cancer and their impact on the couple’s ability to cope with this life crisis. She is a founding partner of the New England Center for Couples and Families and teaches EFT to psychiatric residents as a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty.