Power, Anger, Trust & Communication

Therapists see unresolved power issues all the time–for example, when clients are passive-aggressive, break agreements, or withhold sex. Chronic anger often results, which makes trust difficult to maintain. In such an environment, couples refuse to compromise, partners lie or keep secrets, and relationships lack the good will necessary for self-soothing. This workshop examines how power, anger, and trust issues interact in couples’ systems–and how this can make communication impossible or even counter-productive. Topics include:

• Configurations of power/anger/trust
• How clients express power dynamics
• Distancer-pursuer couples
• Agreements–keeping, breaking, discussing
• Why sexuality involves power dynamics
• Working with raging couples
• Empowering wounded clients
• Therapists’ myths about communication
• How therapists collude with victims
• Transference & countertransference