Old wounds and resentments toward the family of origin can negatively affect adults in their current functioning, including in couple and parenting relationships. In this workshop, Dr. Fishbane will explore ways to facilitate healing and dialogue in distressed adult intergenerational relationships, and the positive impact such work can have on clients’ functioning in their own life as well as on legacies passed on to future generations. Utilizing a resilience-based view and a relational-intergenerational approach, topics to be addressed include intergenerational transmission of trauma and legacies, family loyalties, resentment and blame, cutoffs, differentiation, power, boundaries, guilt, repair, and forgiveness. The neurobiology underlying reactivity between adults and their parents will be explored, along with interventions to facilitate emotion regulation, relational empowerment, and compassion. We will consider new thinking about relational ethics to help clients reach for their best self in family relationships. Dr. Fishbane will focus on helping adult clients “grow up” their view of parents, and their relationships with them. The workshop will address the larger sociocultural context in which families are embedded, exploring stressors and resources that impact intergenerational relationships for better or worse. Theory and techniques will be offered to facilitate intergenerational repair where possible, focusing on ways to honor and care for parents while protecting and caring for one’s self. The format will include lecture, case examples, experiential exercises, and small group discussion. The emphasis will be on practical skills for clinicians to facilitate healing intergenerational wounds.

Hosted by Therapy Training Boston online for 6 CEs. For more info, visit Therapy Training Boston's website.