
Central Coast–CAMFT
Presents:
Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice
Presenter: James Gavin Bridges PhD, LMFT, CFLE
Fri., Oct. 24th 9:30-11:30am PST
Zoom (2 CEs)
* Training will be recorded and available after October 24th to registered participants who are unable to join live*
Overview of Presentation:
This presentation provides audience members with helpful concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice. It goes over relational terms used by the community, important distinction between commonly used language, and encourages therapists to remain curious about clients’ language even after doing their own homework. The presentation will introduce clinicians to key tasks in therapy when working with non-monogamous client systems.
Clinicians will also learn which relational therapy approaches and interventions can be used with non-monogamous clients as they work on relationship structure formation, agreement making, and recovery from relational ruptures. Audience members can expect to learn skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous (i.e., opening up). Throughout the presentation, audience members can also expect to work on self-reflection as they contemplate providing therapeutic help to clients in non-monogamous relationship structures.
Presentation Goals:
- Understand concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice.
- Understand key tasks in therapy when working with non-monogamous client systems.
- Identify narratives and biases related to socialization in a mono-normative society
- Describe relational therapy approaches/interventions that can be used with non-monogamous clients.
- Apply skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous.
Measurable objectives:
a. Participants will be able to identify at least 6 key principles of what presenting problems brings non-monogamous clients into therapy.
b. Participants will be able to name 3 communication interventions that can be used with agreement making for non-monogamous relationship systems.
c. Participants will be able to identify 5 different theories of marriage and family therapy that can be used when working with non-monogamous systems.
d. Participants will be able to state the 4 main principles of structuring agreement conversations effectively.
Bio: Jimmy Bridges (he/they), PhD, LMFT, CFLE Jimmy is a licensed couple and family therapist in Massachusetts and Vermont, a certified family life educator through NCFR, an AAMFT approved supervisor and clinical fellow, and part-time faculty at National University in the MFT masters and doctoral programs. He received his doctoral and master’s degrees in Couple and Family Therapy from Kansas State University. He also received two graduate certificates in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies and Social Justice Education from Kansas State University. His clinical specialization is working with queer and non-monogamous clients. He has presented in university settings, conferences, regional organizations, and online platforms on non-monogamy and couples therapy models. Jimmy has worked in community mental health, group practice, and currently works in private practice with their nesting partner, who is also a therapist.
Grievance:
While the Central Coast Chapter of CAMFT makes every effort to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there may be occasional issues with regard to presentations/workshops which will require intervention and/or action on the part of the board. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.
When a participant files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken:
- The participant(s) will be asked to put concerns in writing (this can be in electronic form, such as an email).
- If the grievance concerns a presenter, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put their comments in written format. The Board will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual.
- If the grievance concerns a presentation/workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the Board will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the Board will:
- provide a credit for a subsequent presentation/workshop or
- provide a partial or full refund of the presentation/workshop fee
Refund policy: registrants must cancel their registration within 10 days of the event to receive a refund minus a $5 administrative fee. Exceptions can be made for 48-hour notices in case of an emergency. If you need to cancel, please contact Event Chair, Kim Richards: richardskimlmft@gmail.com.
Special Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any of our events, please contact Event Chair Kim Richards within 10 days of the upcoming event at 805.458.8063 or email Kim Richards at richardskimlmft@gmail.com.