This course will provide an overview of couples therapy as a treatment, including but not limited to differences between couples therapy and individual therapy, assessment within couples therapy, common interventions and treatment modalities for couples therapy, and how to navigate challenges that may arise through couples therapy. In addition, this course will also provide an overview of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, which is one of the prominent interventions used that is evidence based.

Presenter:

• Mikhila Wildey, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Mikhila Wildey is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Grand Valley State University, where she teaches courses in Adult Psychopathology, Behavior Modification, and clinical practicum. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Michigan State University and completed her predoctoral internship at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, where she subsequently worked full time as a therapist before joining the faculty at GVSU.

In 2019, Dr. Wildey founded Resilient Relationships, a private practice devoted exclusively to couples therapy. She works with a deliberately limited number of couples each week, drawing on Emotionally Focused Therapy and other evidence-based approaches, with particular attention to building lasting emotional safety between partners. She is one of very few practitioners in Michigan who is simultaneously a licensed clinical psychologist, active researcher, and dedicated couples therapist.

Dr. Wildey's research focuses on romantic relationships and interpersonal processes, including the role of personality and psychopathology in relationship quality and functioning. She mentors undergraduate researchers at GVSU and received a university teaching award in 2023 in recognition of her contributions to the classroom

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this continuing education training, participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate individual from couples therapy, identify appropriate referrals, and conduct a basic initial assessment for couples work.
2. Explain the foundations, assumptions, and commonly asked questions about couples therapy, including evidence-based treatment approaches.
3. Describe the Emotionally Focused Therapy model, its theoretical framework, and the clinical techniques and skills used in practice.

Continuing Education Credits:

• Attendees can obtain 4 social work CECH upon completing the training, payment, quiz, and evaluation.
• A downloadable CECH certificate will be available upon completion of all requirements.
• Participants must attend the entire event to receive credit.

Cost: $50 dollars

Attendees can obtain 4 social work CECH’s upon completion of the training, payment receipt and passing of the post-training quiz. A CECH certificate will be available for download upon completion of the aforementioned items.

RSVP Information:

All attendees must RSVP for this training.

**Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.**