NEAFAST Annual Conference

2024 State of Therapy: Modern Coupling

DATE: November 1, 2024; 9:00am-4:30 pm ET
6 CEs | Live In-Person
Bentley University Conference Center

Couples seek us out as systemic therapists to address a range of presenting problems and contextual factors that are impacting the couple system. The State of Therapy 2024: Modern Coupling, will address some of the most common challenges facing today’s couples therapists including the impact of trauma on the couple, infidelity, and the challenges couples face in early recovery.

Attendees of the State of Therapy will be able to attend the workshop of their choice for the final presentation of the day, exploring the impact of neurodiversity on the couple system or sexuality in aging couples.

9:30-10:45 a.m.- Incorporating Polyvagal Theory into Couples Therapy: When traumatic experiences get in the way of Communication with Grace Chen, PhD, LMFT

11:00-12:15 p.m.- Rebuilding Trust: Navigating the Journey of Healing After Infidelity with Niko Wilson, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, NCC

12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15-2:30 p.m.- Treating Couples in Early Recovery from Addiction with Katherine Waddell, LMFT

2:45-4:00 p.m.- Golden Connections: Understanding and Enhancing Sexual Health in Aging Couples with Nathalie Huitema, PhD 

Autism and Couples Therapy: A Solution Focused Approach with M.L. Parker, PhD, LMFT; Sarah Hernandez Putnam, B.A. and Margaret Walsh, B.A. 

Each workshop will follow this format: 

- 20 minute Ted Talk-like presentation that introduces the topic

-One or two discussion questions that will be discussed in small breakout groups

-A large group discussion of themes that stood out from the breakout group

-Additional questions and answers

 The State of Therapy Conference includes the opportunity to learn from, network, and collaborate with other family and systemic therapists. The following fees will give you 6 CEs, lunch, and the opportunity to network with the brightest, most talented relational therapists in New England:

 Non-Members: $200 Early bird rate: $190 until October 1, 2024

Members: $180 Early bird rate: $170 until October 1, 2024

Students: $40 (Through the Emily Mitchell Scholarship Fund, includes one year membership)

Become an NEAFAST Member! 

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Grace Chen, PhD, LMFT is an EMDRIA-certified EMDR Therapist and Approved Consultant with a background in counseling and family therapy. She started her career in Taiwan, working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse and victims of partner violence. Recognizing the importance of the family system and cultural influences, she pursued further training in Couple and Family Therapy in the US. She earned her PhD from Michigan State University, specializing in Couples and Family Therapy. Grace has extensive experience in community mental health settings and established her private practice in Andover in 2015, where she focuses on EMDR therapy to treat clients with Complex PTSD and Relational Trauma.

Dr. Niko Wilson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Nationally Certified Counselor, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, and Core Faculty and Director of the Couples and Family Therapy emphasis, in the Counseling Department at William James College. She has been practicing in a variety of settings since 2013 and presently owns a private practice named Atlas Counseling & Consulting. Niko specializes in trauma-informed, relational work with individuals, couples, and families. Niko completed her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Central Florida and has written a book chapter on affair recovery in a couples counseling text.

Katherine Waddell, LMFT, has been a couples therapy expert and trainer in couples therapy for decades. She is currently a senior trainer, assisting Dr. Ellyn Bader at the Couples Institute since 2016 in training therapists worldwide, and she is also the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Couples Center of the Pioneer Valley, founded in 2012, a group practice in Southern New England that is based on Ellyn Bader’s Developmental Model of Couples Therapy. Katherine delights in providing clinical consultation, teaching and training to couples therapists and organizations locally and nationally. She specializes in Discernment Counseling with couples on the brink of divorce, Addictions and Recovery, Affair Recovery,  and is an avid practitioner of EMDR, bringing aspects of the Adaptive Information Processing Model into her couples work as couples struggle with trauma. One of her favorite things to do is to assist therapists in developing their practices, and in learning the Developmental Model in manageable chunks, helping therapists new to the model incorporate it into their own unique strengths and styles. 

Dr. Nathalie Huitema, who holds a Ph.D. in human sexuality, is a trained psychologist specializing in older adults. She serves as a registered clinical sexologist, sex therapist, and sex educator, and advises dissertations in the Human Sexuality department at the California Institute of Integral Studies. As a sex educator, she has developed diverse training programs for long-term care, showcased her expertise as a guest speaker at national and international conferences, and authored numerous journal articles and book chapters. With over 15 years of experience in long-term care, her internationally focused work centers on sexuality, aging, and consent, reflecting her commitment to advancing understanding and awareness in these areas.

Dr. Michele Parker has been an MFT faculty member and AAMFT Approved Supervisor for nearly 15 years. Her clinical and research specialization includes working with neurodiverse couples. As advanced MFT graduate students, the presenters have an established history of co-facilitating and guiding professional presentations as a research team. Each of the presenters have experience conducting and presenting clinical research on marginalized and underrepresented populations in their respective areas of expertise.

This activity is approved certification by the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST) on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT professional continuing education.

This activity is pending certification by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMHC professional continuing education.

Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted. Please contact us at [email protected] for the status of social work CE accreditation.

Please note: It is the participant’s responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

This program is being offered independent of any commercial support or conflict of interest. Clinicians with any level of experience are welcome to participate.

Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds on this event.