It’s The Most Triggering Time of The Year: Helping Couples, Families, and Individuals Manage Alcohol & Substance Misuse During The Holidays

For some, the holiday season may represent the first spent without a beloved one present; for others, it may be the last. For still others, the chains of ghosts of holidays past (including family dynamics and stressors) may rattle and become awakened in our conscious or unconscious. Loneliness and pain can abound in many forms.

In addition, struggles with alcohol and/or other substances do not “take a break” for the holidays- in fact, the attempts to cope and soothe that substance misuse often inspires to accomplish, are often more necessary and prominent than ever during this time of year. Through education, introspective exercises, and evidence-based strategies and techniques, this workshop focuses on empowering couples, families, and individuals to understand and manage substance misuse during the holidays, and to prioritize their health, relationships, and themselves – quite possibly the best gift anyone can receive.

Course Objectives

1. To create a supportive learning environment geared toward learning, growth, and healing
2. To introduce the Invitation To Change (ITC) Approach, an accessible set of understandings and practices that inspire hope and empower couples, families, and individuals to remain engaged and effective in helping struggling loved ones (and themselves)
3. To facilitate psychoeducation and introspective exercises in order to help understand and work with self and loved ones’ motivations for substance use
4. To empower participants to learn and integrate evidence-based approaches, strategies, and techniques (including communication skills) in order to effectively help loved ones and the self successfully navigate substance use during the holidays

This workshop is part of the Program in Couple Therapy Series.

Workshop Information

Date

Thursday, December 4th 2025

Time

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location

Online

CEs

2CEs

Fee

$100

Instructor

Marg Rombone, PhD

Dr. Rombone is the Director of the Postgraduate Program in Couples Therapy at the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University. She is a Clinical Psychologist in New York City and specializes in working with couples and individual adults. Dr. Rombone has taught and supervised at the graduate and postgraduate level for 20 years. An Addiction Specialist, she worked as a Clinical Director in the Division on Substance Abuse at Columbia University Medical Center/NYSPI. After graduating from New York University and then Columbia University with high distinction, Dr. Rombone received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University. Subsequent to this, she completed many years of postdoctoral training in couples, individual, and group therapy. She holds a postdoctoral degree in forensic psychology and a second postdoctoral degree in couples therapy.

Credentialing Information

Adelphi University is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Adelphi University maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Adelphi University, Derner School of Psychology, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0024 and by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0607 and by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0185; for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0083; and for licensed psychoanalysts #P-0058.

Disclaimer Statement

This continuing education seminar, seminar instructor/s, and the Postgraduate Programs as the seminar’s sponsor, receive no commercial support for the content of instruction (e.g., research grants funding research findings etc.), or benefit for endorsement of products (e.g., books, training, drugs, etc.) that are known to present a conflict of interest.

Cancellation Policy

Full refunds are issued for cancellations made up to 7 working days before the event. Cancellations of less than 7 days for any reason, or no-shows are not refunded. Credit towards a future event/workshop are issued for cancellations less than 7 days and up to 24 hours before the event. No credit is issued for cancellations less than 24 hours before the events or no-shows.