Bob Buchicchio will share with you what he has learned from 36 years of working with couples in his counseling practice. Bob provides training to professionals on how to manage and treat couple separations. Separation Management is specifically designed to be applied to partners with different levels of investment and commitment to their relationships. Professionals that work with these couples are often frustrated with more traditional approaches. Bob will demonstrate how separation is not just a first step to divorce but an opportunity to learn and make changes.

Throughout his professional career, Bob Buchicchio has provided training both to professionals, individuals and couples directly and in a variety of organizations and businesses in the following areas:

• Couples Skills – conflict and anger management, communication skills and building intimacy.
• Managing and Treating Couples' Separations – A continuing education course designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family counselors, substance abuse counselors, clergy, mediators etc.., on how to apply the ten steps of Separation Management to individuals and couples in their caseloads. See brochure excerpts from Bob's most recent workshop. Also see Videos/DVDs/CDs.
• Stress Management – A workshop on how to understand and manage stress and learn to relax. This workshop has been provided for entire organizations as well as small businesses, e.g. State of Vermont Environmental Board; National Life Insurance Co.

Educational Videos/DVDs/CD

Bob has developed a series of videos based on actual types of couple situations. These include: "The Affair"; "Romance Lost" and "Shutdown Spouse". These videos demonstrate real life couple situations and are incorporated into Bob's trainings.

Bob has also developed individual and couple self-help videos (some of which are still in production) around these couple situations. These self-help videos are highly instructional and educational and are an excellent supplement to his book on Taking Space. See DVDs/CDs for more information and ordering.

Training, workshops and speaking designed for you and your organization

Bob will design a training or workshop to meet your specific needs, half day, one or two days, etc. The longer the training, the more participants would be able to share, practice and receive feedback regarding their work/situations.

Bob will speak to any interested groups and organizations regarding the above topics, i.e. lunches, dinners, conferences etc.

Workshop: Managing and Treating Couples Separations

Excerpts from workshop brochure

SEPARATION MANAGEMENT: A 10 STEP PROBLEM-SOLVING GUIDE FOR EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS DURING RELATIONSHIP SEPARATIONS

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Six Continuing Education Credits

Workshop Description

It is estimated that the majority of troubled couples separate at least once, usually many times, in the course of their marriages. It is further estimated that in half the separations, the spouse eventually returns home." (Robert S. Weiss, Marital Separation) For many couples, separations are not always a first step to divorce. Many troubled partners and couples seek counseling during these crises either when going through an actual separation or when one partner threatens to or is asked to leave. During separations conflict runs high, and there is often increased energy focused on self-survival and the relationship. The opportunities for insight, growth and development increase during this troublesome time. Helping individuals and couples manage these conflicts and structure separations does pose many challenges for the counselor. Often the couple's counselor takes on multiple roles such as: conflict-crises mediator, negotiator, manager, teacher-trainer, problem solver and supporter as well as providing the deeper work for the individuals and the relationship as the couple's psychotherapist. Separation Management is not about helping partners divorce. Rather it is about helping individuals and couples establish a structure to contain and manage conflict so the deeper work of individual development and decision-making about the future of a relationship can take place. Separation Management is a 10 Step Problem-Solving Guide that can be applied directly to individuals and couples in varying degrees of separation and commitment. The steps and tools of Separation Management can be shared directly with couples or used as guide for counselors to follow while working with individuals and couples in outpatient counseling or groups.

Training Objectives

1. Learn to understand and view couple's separations (physical and psychological) as a normal and necessary developmental process throughout the life cycle of a relationship.
2. Learn to re-frame separations so energy can be maximized for growth and development during these times.
3. Learn to use the Couples Investment/Commitment Continuum for assessing varying degrees of individual motivation and plan specific strategies for treatment interventions.
4. Learn to use principles and the 10 Step Problem Solving Process of Separation Management.
5. Learn to define and expand the concept and types of separations couples can design including: In-house, brief, trial, psychological, therapeutic, etc.
6. Learn to apply Steps of Separation Management to specific couples situations, including affairs, through video presentations and case discussions.
7. Learn to develop and offer coping strategies for individuals to break impasses in couples' dynamics.
8. Consider the ethical issues regarding counseling partners alone and/or as a couple and how to handle sensitive information shared by either partner.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

6 CE credits have been approved by: Vt. NASW for Licensed Clinical Social Workers; VPA for Licensed Psychologists/PhD/Masters; Vt. Board of Allied Mental Health Professionals for Vt. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, and Vt. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board for LADAC's.

Who Should Attend

Clinical social workers, psychologists, mental health counselors, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, marriage/family therapists, alcohol and substance abuse counselors, clergy, mediators and others working with troubled relationships.

What participants say . . .

Comments from professional mental health workshop participants' evaluations:

"Videos were terrific! Bob was quite good – very relaxed and engaged with the process".

"The workshop was useful to me personally and professionally."

"Thanks for your thoughtful presentation – it reflects originality and experience."

"I have really enjoyed the workshop. I am not a therapist – I am a divorce mediator. The information provided will be very helpful in my work."

"Excellent videos. Terrific Bob, this was time well spent. I will be able to use this model in my practice with individual adults as the model seems useful in working not only in couple's therapy, but also with individuals who are generally in a couple relationship of some construct. …communication skills, the importance of individuation and differentiation for self and self in relation. The model is understandable for me and one in which clients too can walk away and use new tools for self and self in relation."

"I've enjoyed learning about a thoughtful procedure, process, etc. for dealing with this often difficult area of couples treatment."

"Great videos, great acting, practical info. The speaking style kept my attention – very useful overall."

"Good audience participation and engaging others in the day."

"This was a wonderful workshop. It validates a lot of what I do with couples and gave me concrete ideas for improving my work."

"Thanks so much! Good presentation! Good luck with your book, look forward to it's publication."

"Very helpful and clear."