Couples Therapy Peer Consultation Group: Patterns in Interpersonal Interactions

Wednesdays Bimonthly
January 11-June 28, 2023; 12-1:30pm ET
15 CEs | Live On Zoom

Facilitator: Jeremiah Gibson, LMFT, CST

The Couples Therapy Peer Consultation Group: Patterns in Interpersonal Interactions is a bimonthly, 15 CE event that will meet in ten 90min segments. Karl Tomm’s book Patterns in Interpersonal Interactions is a seminal textbook for understanding how to effectively work with couple dynamics, rather than doing individual therapy in the presence of one’s partner. Each group meeting will be a combination of reviewing Tomm’s process (approximately 45min) and sharing one case consultation from a group member (approximately 45min). Each group meeting coincides with a chapter from Tomm’s book:

  • January 11: Introduction: Origins of the PIPs and HIPs Framework
  • January 25: Introducing the IPscope
  • February 8: Conceptualizing Interactional Patterns
    (February 22—No Group — February Vacation)
  • March 8: Teaching and Learning Relational Practice
  • March 22: A Life History of a PIP
  • April 12: Can I Give You a TIP? Inviting Healing Conversations in Practice
  • April 26: Braiding Socio-Cultural Interpersonal Patterns into Therapy
  • May 10: Gendered PIPs and HIPs and Societal Discourses
  • May 24: Sensing, Understanding, and Moving Beyond Intercultural PIPs
  • June 14: Researching Interpersonal Patterns/Next Steps

Learning will happen from a combination of two short reviews of the material—one presentation where the group facilitator will summarize the content, and one from the group as they make reflections on the content from the week. Participants will be expected to buy the book and read the chapter prior to each group; participants who fail to do this may be asked to leave the group. Participants will also learn how to implement the skills discussed in the book through case studies, role plays, and reflecting team elements.

Continuing education units will be awarded to those who attend all ten sessions. If folks need to miss one session, they will be asked to write a 2-3 page summary about the content from the chapter and how they plan on implementing this information with an identified couple.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be better able to:

  1. Assess for 3 interactional patterns in couples/dyadic therapy using the IPScope
  2. Identify 3 ways gender, race/class, and educational socializations impact interactional patterns
  3. Describe 3 strategies for guiding a couple through a problematic interactional pattern into a healing interactional pattern
  4. List 10 assessment questions that help determine how stages of relationships impact interactional patterns
  5. Describe 5 characteristics of successful couples therapists through case studies and role plays

Schedule (all times in ET):

12-12:15pm: Reviewing three main ideas from the chapter (lecture)
12:15-12:30pm: Reflections about what was learned from the chapter
12:30-12:45pm: Introduction of case study
12:45-1pm: Role play of case study, using reflecting team format
1-1:15pm: Identifying practical applications from case study onto therapeutic work of participant
1:15-1:30pm: Summary of the day

Pricing:
FREE for Members 
$80 for Non-Members
CEs Available for Purchase: $150 for Members, $180 for Non-Members
Become an NEAFAST Member!

Sign Up for the peer group Here!

Jeremiah Gibson, LMFT, CST is the Executive Director of the New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST), a professional association dedicated to the expansion of quality training and education in family and relational therapy in Massachusetts. He is a certified sex therapist through the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), and works with couples at the South Shore Sexual Health Center in Quincy, MA, where he is also on the faculty for their year-long training program for sex therapy. 


This activity is pending 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.

This activity is pending certification by the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LICSW professional continuing education.

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: Please email us at [email protected] if you are unable to make it. We will give a full reimbursement for cancels prior to December 28, 2022.