Save the Date!

The CTAMFT 2015 Annual Conference is coming soon!

Save the date for CTAMFT’s 2015 Annual Spring Conference, which is scheduled for  April 30 – May 1, 2015, at the Trumbull Marriott. Our theme for 2015 is  “The Couple Experience: Therapy Comes Alive” featuring Terry Real.

Our keynote on Friday May 1, 2015 is couples therapist Terry Real, who will be bringing therapy to life with video and live demonstrations with couples.

Back by popular demand, Bob Madden will be joining us once again to present legal and ethical issues related to couples therapy.

We will also have the usual opportunities for networking, posters and research.

So save the date and we look forward to seeing you there! More information is coming soon!

Letter from the President

Exciting Annual Conference News

Dorothy Timmermann, LMFT, CTAMFT Board President

2012 CTAMFT Annual Conference

Registration is now open for the CTAMFT Annual Conference planned for April 19-20, 2012 at the Mystic Marriott. We have expanded the conference and are excited to share with you the details including the addition of a NEW Career Fair, and a Regional Networking Event for Clinical Members called “Innovations that Work” to be held on Thursday evening. Our venue this year is a beautiful destination and we hope that attendees will consider spending a night or two to enjoy time together, special spa offerings, well deserved personal time or even some family time following the conference. Discounted rooms are available for both Thursday and Friday evenings, details can be found with registration information on our website.

Friday’s Conference features our Second Annual Poster Session, the NEW Career Fair, and a wonderful line-up of Speakers Presentations offering up to 7 Continuing Education Credits to Full-Day Attendees. We are also offering a Half-Day Ticket to those who wish to attend only an Afternoon Workshop, Poster Session and Career Fair.

Speaker presentations for the day include: “It Takes One To Tango: Doing Couples Therapy with Individuals” by Michele Wiener-Davis who is our keynote presenter. Dr. Krista Wells will provide a “Therapist Self-Care” presentation following our Luncheon. Afternoon Workshop offerings include: Dr. Tammy Nelson presenting: “Sex & Intimacy; Treating Couples with Desire Discrepancy and Sexual Dysfunction,” Dr. Rosalyn Dischiavo presenting: “From Work to Play: Reinforcing the Partner Bond by Re-Framing Pleasure,” and Michele Weiner-Davis presenting: “Affairs: A Step by Step Approach for Healing from Infidelity.” Poster presentations will cover a wide array of exciting and innovative topics to be determined.

We hope that you will join us this year for what is sure to be a pleasurable and engaging time!

The Role of Desire and Intimacy in Couples Therapy

Tammy Nelson, PhD

holding-hands

Couples who are satisfied with their sex lives are happier than those who aren’t and are more likely to stay together. Sexually satisfied couples report that they feel more connected and have a more intimate relationship in all areas. Married couples who aren’t having good sex tend to express more frustration with their partner and are more discouraged about the future.

And yet most therapists don’t focus on intimacy and increasing the erotic connection in couples work. Clinicians assume that if they work on the day to day frustrations and increase communication skills that this will lead naturally to a more rewarding sexual life. But good companionship doesn’t necessarily lead to good sex. In fact, it works the other way around.

For more information on helping couples to increase their erotic connection and improve their overall intimacy and well being, go to my website or buy my book Getting the Sex You Want, and learn practical ways to increase desire and intimacy in any relationship.

Dr. Tammy Nelson is a sex and relationship expert and the author of What’s Eating You?, Getting the Sex You Want and the upcoming The New Monogamy due out in 2012. She will be speaking at the CTAMFT Annual Conference on April 20, 2012, on “Intimacy & Desire.”