The sixth annual meeting of the Association for Filial and Relationship Enhancement® Methods (AFREM) will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 in Bethesda, MD from 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. The main agenda item will be the election of four new people to the AFREM Board. In addition, there will be a President's report and a Treasurer's report. Please see below for more details.

The annual meeting is open to all interested parties.

In conjunction with AFREM's annual meeting, the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement® (NIRE) and AFREM are co-sponsoring three special workshops on Saturday April 12 and Sunday April 13. In addition, there will be a one-day advanced workshop in RE methods on Friday, April 11.

Friday will feature a full-day workshop entitled "Using Advanced Relationship Enhancement Techniques to Deepen Dialogues and Deal with Couples' Impasses and Crises."

Saturday will include two half-day workshops. The first, entitled "Relationship Enhancement: An Emotionally-focused Approach," will examine the importance, impact and regulation of emotion as central elements of the RE process. The second workshop, entitled: "The House and the Hammer: How Generalization of RE/Filial Skills in Our Lives Makes the Core Difference in Our Work," will explore the role of generalization in both the RE therapist's and program leader's effective use of RE and in people's generalization of the RE skills into their lives on an on-going basis.

Sunday will feature a half-day workshop on "Promoting Filial Therapy Training with Head Start, Foster and Adoption, and Other Social Service Agencies" in order to discuss and develop more effective ways of presenting the benefits of Filial Therapy to various service providers. The methods discussed could in principle be used to present Filial Therapy to parents as well.

The net proceeds from these workshops will be divided equally between AFREM and NIRE.

Presenter: Rob Scuka , Ph.D. Friday, April 11, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 6 CE credits

The core work in Relationship Enhancement Therapy, following the teaching of the RE skills, is done in the form of dialogues between the couple or family members. The primary goal of dialoguing is for the people involved to go as deep as possible into the issue at hand in order to facilitate enhanced mutual understanding and a deepened sense of connection. When relevant, the second goal of dialoguing is to work towards a practical solution or agreement that leaves both (or all) parties involved feeling satisfied with the outcome because each person's concerns and desires have been sufficiently well incorporated into the solution or agreement.

The advanced RE techniques of Coaching, Becoming, Laundering, Doublebecoming and Troubleshooting can both facilitate the deepening of these dialogues and enable the therapist to address dialogue impasses or relationship crises effectively when they arise. This workshop will combine (a) a review of the advanced RE techniques, (b) a presentation and discussion of a video of an extended couple's dialogue to illustrate how a dialogue can be facilitated to go deeper, and (c) opportunities for role-played practice to use one or more of the advanced techniques in the context of a couple's or a parent-child dialogue.

Learning Objectives. Through this workshop participants will be able to:

1. Have a clearer understanding of when and how to use the various advanced RE techniques
2. More effectively coach couple's or parent-child dialogues
3. Employ the various advanced RE techniques with increased confidence when faced with impasses in a dialogue or a crisis in a relationship

Rob Scuka, Ph.D., M.S.W., is Executive Director of the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement and author of Relationship Enhancement Therapy: Healing Through Deep Empathy and Intimate Dialogue (Routledge, 2005).

Presenter: Barry Ginsberg, Ph.D. Saturday, April 12, 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 3 CE credits

During the 1980's, the importance of emotion in relationship functioning and therapy took a dramatic turn. This shift in emphasis on the role and restructuring of emotion was strongly influenced by the work of Les Greenberg and, later, Susan Johnson. They also incorporated concepts of attachment theory, originated by John Bowlby, into their development of Emotional Focused Therapy, which has grown to become one of the most prominent approaches in couple and family therapy. More recently, brain and neurological research has transformed our understanding of emotion, empathy and attachment in relationships, including the role of the mirror neuron system as the primary center for empathy and the importance of emotional regulation in attachment.

Back in the 1960s, Louise and Bernard Guerney recognized the importance of emotion in human functioning from their training in and use of client-centered therapy. Emotional understanding, acknowledgment and empathy were essential components in their creation of Filial Therapy and Relationship Enhancement. In this workshop, participants will learn about the parallels between Relationship Enhancement and other emotion focused approaches. Emphasis will be given to how structuring and shaping patterns of communication to include acceptance and emotional understanding interrupts negative interactional cycles, improves emotional regulation, and improves the quality of attachment relationships.

Learning Objectives. Through this workshop participants will:

1. Understand the importance of emotion as the motivating force in all human functioning
2. Recognize how emotional arousal, regulation and dysregulation influences the quality of relationships
3. Recognize how dysfunctional patterns (habits) can be changed by managing couple and family communication
4. Grasp how the structuring and shaping of new patterns of communication to incorporate empathy and acceptance can improve attachment, intimacy and the overall quality of significant relationships

Barry Ginsberg, Ph.D., is Director of the Center of Relationship Enhancement in Doylestown, PA and is author of Relationship Enhancement Family Therapy and 50 Wonderful Ways to Be a Single-Parent Family.

Presenters: Maryhelen Snyder, Ph.D. and Mary Ortwein, M.S., LMFT Saturday, April 12, 2:15 - 5:30 p.m. 3 CE credits

RE and Filial work are committed to the "house" of loving relationships. The "hammer" (i.e. the RE and Filial method which includes the structure and the skills) is designed for the purpose of mastering and enhancing loving relationships. Furthermore, the "hammer" of the RE family of therapies is not focused primarily on what needs fixing. It is focused on making sure that the "house" of love and unconditional regard is always the focus of attention in the daily practice of listening, speaking, and problem solving.

In this three hour presentation Mel and Mary will experientially guide participants to explore how their own Generalization of Filial and RE Skills have influenced their ability to use Filial and RE in their work--how their construction of their own "houses" have influenced their ability to be a "hammer" to help others. Relevant theoretical constructs of a model which focuses on building relationship and research on what makes effective generalization will be presented, centering around three queries:
(1) What were the foundations of your "house," that is, what did you have a passion for before you discovered RE/Filial?
(2) How did RE/Filial expand and support that passion? How did it help you develop your own capacities?
(3) How do you bring those enhanced capacities to your work now? How do you see Sullivan's "reciprocal circles of positive interaction" working as you evolve as a professional and as a person?
The presentation will include participant exploration of these questions within the RE dialogue format.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

1. Identify and describe two ways that RE/Filial relationship constructs have developed their personal and professional capacities
2. Apply principles of educational model theory to integration of RE/Filial beyond therapy or classroom to everyday life for themselves and their clients
3. Apply principles of generalization research to integration of RE/Filial beyond therapy or classroom to everyday life for themselves and their clients

Maryhelen Snyder, Ph.D., is a psychologist in Virginia and former Director of the New Mexico Institute of Relationship Enhancement, and has authored numerous professional articles on Relationship Enhancement Therapy and the intersection of other models with RE.

Mary Ortwein, M.S., is Executive Director of IDEALS and author (with Bernard Guerney, Jr.) of Mastering the Magic of Love: An Easy Reading Relationship Enhancement Program for Couples and author of Mastering the Magic of Play: A Training Manual for Parents in Play Therapy.

Barbara J. Higgins, MSEd, NCC, LMHC, Nancy H. Cochran, MA, CAS, LMHC and Jeff L. Cochran, Ph.D., NCC. Sunday, April 13, 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 3 CE credits

Filial Therapy shows great promise as an effective way to provide direct services within a variety of organizations serving young children, their families, and other care givers. Filial Therapy is unique in its ability to simultaneously address the needs of children, families, teachers and care givers as it addresses the child's difficulties in the context of the relationship the child has with significant people in the child's life.

This presentation is focused on how to communicate the many positive benefits of Filial Therapy to lay audiences. The format will be that of a "presentation within a presentation," and the concept of marketing a Filial Therapy training program to organizations such as Head Start, Child Protective Service (CPS), Foster/Adoptive and other social service agencies will be discussed, with a mock presentation that will be shown as an example. The uniqueness of Filial Therapy will be clarified through case studies, parent testimonials, and actual Filial Therapy sessions.

A discussion with audience participants will follow the presentation, with a focus on how to better share the many positive benefits of a Filial Therapy training program with various organizations and agencies in need of services for children and families.

Learning Objectives. Through this workshop participants will be able to:

1. Describe Filial Family Therapy (FFT) in brief, yet clear and comprehensive language to enhance understanding amongst administration, staff, and para-professionals who would most benefit from FFT training and education
2. Incorporate FFT case examples, and video examples to inspire interested agencies who are seeking more creative methods for enhancing family relationships and parent-child bonding among even the most difficult to reach clients
3. Generate and assess concepts and strategies for marketing FFT to various social service agencies such as Headstart, CPS, and Foster/Adoptive Care.

Barbara J. Higgins, MSEd, NCC, LMHC was trained in Filial Family Therapy by Louise Guerney and in RE by Bernard Guerney and is currently the Mental Health Coordinator for Action for a Better Community (ABC), Inc.'s Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Rochester, NY. Barb is laying the groundwork for eventually incorporating the filial family therapy model into the ABC HS programs. Since 2003, she has been an adjunct faculty member of the SUNY College at Brockport's Counselor Education Program.

Nancy H. Cochran, MA, CAS, LMHC is an adjunct assistant professor for the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at the University of Tennessee. A main focus of her work in providing Filial Therapy training has been her work with foster and adoptive families. Nancy has published numerous articles regarding outcomes and applications of therapeutic relationships and is coauthor of The Heart of Counseling: A Guide to Developing Therapeutic Relationships (Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2006).

Jeff L. Cochran, Ph.D., NCC, LMHC is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at the University of Tennessee and Coordinator of its Mental Health Counseling Program. He has published numerous articles, often focused on counseling services for behaviorally and emotionally troubled children, play therapy, and person-centered approaches. He is coauthor of The Heart of Counseling: A Guide to Developing Therapeutic Relationships (Thomson Brooks/Cole).

Location: The AFREM annual meeting and workshops will be held at the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement® (NIRE) conference suite on the Roof level of the Topaz House at 4400 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD. The Topaz House is located six miles from the White House and Georgetown. NIRE is less than three blocks from the Bethesda metro stop.

Parking: Parking on Friday may be available at the Topaz House's underground garage on a first come first served basis. There is a public parking lot at East-West Highway and Waverly Street, a block and a half from the Topaz House. Be certain to bring plenty of quarters for the public parking lot. Parking on Saturday and Sunday should be easier at Topaz House, and is free at the public parking lot on those days.

Schedule: The Friday workshop will last from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and will have two 15 minute and a one and one-half hour lunch break. Each Saturday and Sunday workshop will be held for 3 hours. There will be one 15 minute break during each workshop. The AFREM Annual Meeting will be held during a working lunch on Saturday.

Refreshments: Starting at 8:40 a.m., and available all day, each day, there will be a sidebar with fruit, coffee and tea, soda, and snacks.

CE Credits: IDEALS/NIRE is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. IDEALS/NIRE maintains responsibility for each program and its content. IDEALS/NIRE also is approved by NBCC and the Maryland State Board of Social Workers to offer Continuing Education. NIRE also is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider NIRE 95-009. IDEALS/NIRE maintains responsibility for each program. The full day workshop will earn attendees 6 CE credits. Each half-day workshop will earn attendees 3 CE credits.

A Certificate will be issued to you attesting to your completion of each workshop attended and documenting the CE credits you have earned.

Cost: The fee for full-day workshop is $110. The fee for each 3-hour workshop is $55.

The fee for currently enrolled, full-time graduate students is $40 for the full-day workshop on Friday and $20.00 for each 3-hour workshop.

Lunch: Lunch each day is the responsibility of each participant, though arrangements will be made to provide lunch for the Saturday AFREM Annual Meeting for those who choose that option. The cost will be $10.00 per person. Please see the registration form for details at www.nire.org.

Optional Saturday Dinner (Dutch Treat): Many participants at past AFREM annual meeting workshops have enjoyed each other's company over dinner at a restaurant in Bethesda on Saturday night. We will do the same this year, on Saturday, April12, at 6:30 p.m. While prepayment is not necessary, it would be helpful for planning purposes if you would indicate on the registration form that you would like to attend the dinner so that we can make appropriate arrangements and reserve table space for our group. Some participants may also choose to go out to dinner on Friday evening, but that will not be a formally organized event.

Travel: For those coming by air: NIRE is 15 miles from Washington National, 22 miles from Baltimore-Washington, and 18 miles from Dulles Airports. For those coming by car: NIRE is two miles south of the Connecticut Avenue exit or the Wisconsin Avenue exit of the Beltway (I-495). Municipal parking is very close and is free on Saturday and Sunday. Be certain to bring plenty of quarters to feed the meter for parking on Friday. All registrants will be sent a map detailing how to reach NIRE.

Accommodations: Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Bethesda Court Hotel. To secure the discounted rate, please call 1-800-874-0050 and ask for the NIRE rate, which for 2008 is $129 per night Thursday through Sunday, plus a $12.00 per night fee for parking. This discounted rate is available until the hotel reaches a certain point of capacity for the respective dates, so you are advised to make reservations as early as possible. Information about alternative accommodations can be provided when you register.

For Further Information about arrangements, call Mrs. Laura Landi, at 301-986-1479.

Registration: To register, please call NIRE at 301-986-1479, send your Registration Form by fax to 301-680-3756, or mail your Registration Form and check to IDEALS/NIRE, Administrative Office, 2500 Blake Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904-2056.

AFREM Special Workshops Registration Form

We look forward to seeing you there!