We Heal in Relationship: the Role of Connection in the Therapeutic Process

Therapy is becoming increasingly medicalized within Western dominant culture. At the same time, we are witnessing increased interest in somatic approaches to healing and more information on mental health is freely available to the general public on social media. It can be incredibly challenging for new and experienced therapists alike to navigate the pressure of providing “evidence-based interventions” to meet insurance requirements, while also staying up-to-date with new modalities and managing clients’ expectations, which are often based on colonial, capitalist and white supremacists frameworks. We might find ourselves asking for more interventions and tools in the hope they will help us feel more “effective” in the current challenging landscape within which we operate.

In this landscape, what does Narrative Therapy (NT) offer to providers, clients and our communities? In this workshop, we will explore how NT can provide us with vital tools to engage our clients in joining us as collaborative partners in their healing journeys and help us refocus on what we know is essential in this process: the therapeutic relationship. As well as going back to highlighting the importance of the therapeutic relationship, and how to nurture it, we will challenge the pathologizing paradigm that is inevitable within a medical context and practice how to engage with clients when they bring this paradigm into the therapy room.

You are invited to bring your curiosity, questions, skepticism, and a willingness to engage with both paradox and discernment as we explore why going back to foundational constructs, such as “joining”, “curiosity”, “externalizing”, and “exceptions to the problem”, might be more effective than we might be able to recognize in the current therapeutic terrain. Let’s re-member together the vital and healing role of connection within and outside the therapy room.

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By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Evaluate how current systems of power, privilege and oppression influence the therapeutic landscape;
2. Understand the importance of therapeutic rapport;
3. Identify key skills necessary to establishing and maintaining therapeutic rapport;
4. List areas of change, growth and development within their therapeutic practice in order to better serve their clients through a Narrative Therapy approach.

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Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, SEP, CST, CST-S, LMFT (they/he/lui) is an award-winning author, family therapist, WPATH certified gender specialist, AASECT certified sex therapist, Narrative Therapy certified provider, Somatic ExperiencingⓇ practitioner, and clinical supervisor.

Alex is currently President of the Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) and Past Chair of the Trans and Queer interest network of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). They were the recipient of the 2023 AASECT Humanitarian Award, the 2019 MAMFT Distinguished Service Award, the 2013 Twin Cities Deaf Pride Community Organization Award, the 2012 Breaking the Silence Award at the University of Minnesota, and the 2000 Best Dissertation Award from the British Educational Research Association.

Alex has researched, presented and published extensively on gender, disability, sexuality, relationships, and HIV. They are a trans masculine, nonbinary, bi queer, neurodivergent, disabled, Italian immigrant who has been living on Dakota and Anishinaabe territories, currently known as Minnesota (US) since 2008.

Alex is the author of "Gender Trauma: healing cultural, social, and historical gendered trauma", which was awarded the Nautilus award (gold category) in 2022 and the AASECT Book Award for Sexuality Professionals in 2023. They are the co-author of the books "How to Understand Your Gender: a practical guide for exploring who you are", “Life Isn’t Binary”, “Hell Yeah Self-Care: a Trauma-Informed Workbook”, “How To Understand Your Sexuality: a practical guide for exploring who you are” and the upcoming “How to Understand Your Relationships”, with Meg-John Barker, and editor of the upcoming “Trans and Disabled” anthology.

They also host the podcast Gender Stories. You can find out more about them at www.alexiantaffi.com or follow them on Instagram @xtaffi and @genderstories

Registration allows for participation online and/or access to the recording for three weeks following the workshop. The registration process and price are the same for all options.

First register here, then email [email protected] to let us know you would like access to the recording. A few days after the event, you will be emailed with the link to the recording and workshop materials/ instructions.

This program is approved for 3.5 CEs according to the licenses below. Following the workshop, live participants will email their completed evaluation to Caspersen, LLC. Participants who view the workshop as a recording will email their evaluation and the recording post-test to Caspersen Inc. CE's will then be emailed to participants.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: This activity consists of 3.5 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Approved by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

SOCIAL WORKERS: Caspersen, LLC. Provider #:1324, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), www.aswb.org through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. Caspersen, LLC. maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 9/17/2023-9/17/2026. The Minnesota Board of Social Work approves ASWB sponsored CEs. In other states, Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits. Social workers participating in this course will receive 3.5 (Clinical) continuing education clock hours in participating in this beginner/intermediate course.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS: This activity consists of 3.5 hours of continuing education instruction. Approved by the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, this certificate of completion and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements. Some states such as California accept our ASWB CE provider status.

PSYCHOLOGISTS: Caspersen, LLC is an approved CE sponsor for the Minnesota Board of Psychology. Caspersen maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program awards 3.5 credits to participating professionals. Full attendance is required. No partial credit will be offered for partial attendance.

OTHER PROFESSIONS: This activity qualifies for 3.5 hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Individuals can request accommodations by contacting John Stillman at [email protected].

Please refer to Caspersen's website: caspersentrainingcenter.com for current grievance policy. If you have questions or concerns, contact John Stillman at [email protected].

Event Venue

Online