Uncovering the Roots of Couples Conflicts: It's rarely "a problem in communication."

To achieve lasting change, treatment must reveal the relationship dynamics that trigger and maintain the couples difficulty understanding each other. This workshop will offer two practical theoretical models that reveal the basis of a couple’s presenting problems: Genograms and the Family-Life-Cycle. Together, they provide an intersecting developmental framework to guide assessment and treatment.

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

Workshop Information

Date

January 14, 21, 28 & February 2, 2026

Time

7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Location

Online

CEUs

8 CE Contact Hours

Fee

$800

Speaker

Patricia Dowds, PhD

Patricia Dowds Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and the Director of the Family Therapy Institute of Suffolk. Dr. Dowds worked with Salvador Minuchin for twenty years and was the Executive Director of the Minuchin Center for the Family, N.Y.C. She has certificates in Substance Abuse Treatment, Family Therapy, Family Therapy Supervision and Divorce Mediation. She has maintained an active clinical practice for over 35 years.

Michael D. Zentman, PhD

Dr. Michael Zentman is the former director of the Adelphi Postgraduate Program in Couple Therapy and an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Adelphi University Postgraduate Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Dr. Zentman has presented workshops and seminars on a variety of subjects including the treatment of chaotic couples, the integration of psychoanalytic and systemic couples theory, and managing infidelity in marital treatment. His publications include articles and chapters on couples therapy and the impact of the holocaust on the practice of psychoanalysis.

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.