Spring Workshop:Out of the Woods: Using Modern Analytic and Other Techniques to Help Couples Find their Way

Out of the Woods:

Using Modern Analytic and Other Techniques to Help Couples Find their Way

Donna Rich, LCSW

 Couples often face challenges as their intimacy deepens, partly because they experience emotions they struggle to express or process. In moments of conflict, a cascade of intense reactions and feelings can emerge in an instant. Having a therapist present during these conflicts can allow for the couple to slow down, creating space to unpack and understand the complex emotions at play with the therapist.

Modern Analysis offers useful techniques to help therapists uncover emotions hidden within clients’ words and subtle behaviors—such as a shaking foot or a furrowed brow. Spotnitz and other theorists also explain how to help clients experience and channel aggression so it is helpful to them and provides an opportunity for growth. This  workshop will present the methods Donna uses based on Modern Analysis and other theories.   We will explore these ideas and others Donna has developed in order to equip therapists with tools to help clients expand their emotional awareness, fostering deeper understanding and connection between partners.

About the Presenter

Donna Rich, LCSW, is an Austin therapist in private practice, specializing in couples, individual, and group therapy. Since 1999, she has led therapy groups in diverse settings, including psychiatric hospitals, college campuses, the Veterans Administration, and nursing homes. 

She currently co-leads Modern Analytically informed process groups with Scott Phillips. An active member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA), Donna also served for 3 years as Events Co-Chair for the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society (AGPS) and has presented at the AGPA “Connect” National Conference on building successful co-leading relationships.   

Donna thrives when helping clients discover how expanding their emotional range can lead to deeper, more fulfilling relationships. 

Workshop Objectives

The participant will be able to:

1: Identify two signals from couples’ conversation and body language that indicate the presence of emotions to explore.

2: Learn the purpose of pursuing the unconscious communication in a couples’ interaction. 

3: List one strategy that empowers a couples therapist to work on communication.

3 CEUs available for Social Workers, LPCs, LMFTs, and Psychologists