Short Course: From Protest to Reassurance: Transforming Dynamically Motivated Conflicts to Intimacy and Security in the Couple ~ March 22nd, 2025

Dr. Wannon will present a psychodynamic model that will help the Couple therapist conceptualize and treat the repetitive conflicts presented by the couple. The model will incorporate concepts from personality development, Object Relations and Self-Psychology. Techniques such as Empathic Dialogue, Languaging the Couple’s Collusion, and Facilitating Deep Affective Immersion between the Couple, will be explained as ways to move the couple from repetitive and destructive conflicts, to deeper and more secure intimacy. Essential to this process is the ability of the Couple therapist to conceptualize the Transference Protests present in the Couple, and to allow the conscious exploration and grieving of these themes, thus allowing for the intimacy and connection the Couple craves.  Clinical examples consisting of couples representing a diversity of racial, cultural and sexual orientations will be used to consider how sociocultural dynamics also influence intrapsychic and developmental experiences for the Couple, and for the individuals within the Couple.

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

1. Conceptualize the psychodynamic understanding of conflict as Protest in the pursuit of personality growth.
2. Explain how repetitive conflicts can be conceptualized as “Protest, in the pursuit of Personality Growth.”
3. Identify therapeutic techniques that can transform these repetitive conflicts and discord, into intimacy and security between the members of the couple.

Limited space is available. Registration will be capped at 20 with a waitlist. Registration closes at noon on March 20th or when full.

About our Speaker:

Michael Wannon, PhD received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester in 1989, after which he completed a two-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the University of Rochester’s Counseling & Psychiatric Services. He then worked as a Staff Psychologist at the University of Rochester, and as a Senior Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Strong Memorial Hospital. When he moved back to the DC area, Dr. Wannon worked as an Associate Director of Clinical Services in the Counseling Center, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychology at Catholic University. Since 1996, he has been in full-time private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In addition to seeing patients in his practice, Dr. Wannon is an active teacher and supervisor of clinicians seeking advance training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Couples Therapy. He is a faculty member of the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, where he Chairs the Couples Training Program and teach in the Psychotherapy Training Program.

References:

Ringstrom, P. (2018). Relational psychoanalytic perspective on couples psychotherapy. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 38(5), 399-408. 
 https://doi.org/10.1080/07351690.2018.1469914

Leone, C. (2021). The application of contemporary self psychology to couple psychotherapy. Couple and Family Psychoanalysis,11(2), 170-186. https://doi.org/10.4324/97810032650023-15

Scheinkman, M. (2019). Intimacies: An integrative multicultural framework for couple therapy. Family Process, 58(3), 550-568.  https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12444

Cost and Registration:

$90 ICP+P Members
$50 ICP+P 1st +2nd Year Members, Emerging Professionals, MITs and Graduate Student Members, and Fellows
$50 Unaffiliated Students and Fellows
$120 Non-Members
$75 International Attendees (Outside US)

A refund for cancellation is available up to 10 days before the start date.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Continuing education credit: 3.0 CE credits available for full attendance. The Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (ICP+P) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ICP+P maintains responsibility for this program and its content. ICP+P is approved by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners to offer Category I continuing education credit. As our CE program receives oversight from a licensed social worker, the CE credits we award are highly likely to be recognized by licensing boards in Virginia and the District of Columbia. These continuing education credits meet the ANCC standards for nurses. Marriage and family therapists licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia may submit these CE credits to their licensing boards. (Marriage and family therapists in other jurisdictions and licensed counselors should inquire with their local Boards regarding continuing education credit.) Attendees from the above professional groups will earn 3.0 CE credits for attending the CE activity. Full attendance is required to receive the designated CE credit. ICP+P is accredited by MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ICP+P designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

* Michael Wannon, PhD, as presenter, and the planners have informed us that they do not have a conflict of interest and have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests pertaining to this educational activity. Any references to “off-label” (non-FDA approved) use of medication, products or devices will be explicitly disclosed in the presentation.

CE Credit is granted to participants with documented attendance at the short course. Credit will not be granted to registrants who are more than 15 minutes late or depart more than 15 minutes early from a session.