Personality Disorders and Couples Counseling: Clinical Considerations & Ethical Practice

Full Day Webinar
October 11th, 2026
10:00 AM - 4:45 PM EST
The cost of one day is $99.99, an individual class is $59.99
To register for the FULL DAY SEMINAR click "BUY IT NOW." To register for just one class, click on the Class link below.
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Class 1
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET
Pathology and Partnership: When Personality Disorders Meet Couples Counseling
This presentation begins by defining personality disorders (PDs) as enduring, maladaptive patterns of behavior and inner experience that impair relationships, with a focus on Cluster B disorders like Narcissistic (NPD) and Borderline (BPD) Personality Disorders due to their prevalence in couples counseling. We'll explore how PDs manifest as an "Emotional Ponzi Scheme House of Cards," where fragile defenses (e.g., grandiosity in NPD, splitting in BPD) create volatile dynamics, such as idealization-devaluation cycles or boundary violations, that destabilize partnerships. Drawing from sources like Landucci & Foley (2014), we'll highlight common pairings (e.g., NPD+BPD, NPD+OCPD) and their unique challenges, including emotional volatility, poor insight, and countertransference risks for therapists. The introduction will emphasize the importance of recognizing these patterns early to tailor interventions effectively. The second part outlines evidence-based interventions for couples with PDs, integrating eclectic strategies from Livesley's (2005) phased approach, safety, containment, regulation, exploration, and integration, with specific techniques like boundary setting (Hafeez), DBT skills (Fruzzetti & Fruzzetti, 2003), and Gottman's relational methods. We'll discuss how therapists can serve as a "mirroring self-object" (Landucci & Foley) to validate injuries while fostering empathy and collaboration, illustrated through fictional case studies: "Laura and David" (NPD+BPD) navigating rage and abandonment fears, and "Alice and Eugene" (NPD+OCPD) balancing drama and control. The presentation concludes with practical tips, establishing a holding environment, managing countertransference, and setting common goals, supported by sources like Lachkar (1998), to equip clinicians with tools to stabilize these complex relationships.

(Trainer: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, DHL is a seasoned psychotherapist specializing in high-conflict couples and families, as well as male sexual health. He maintains a private practice with offices in Brooklyn, Queens and Boca Raton.)

3 Hours

Class 2
1:45 PM - 4:45 PM EST
Do the Right Thing! An Ethics Training
Ethical challenges in therapy are multifaceted, often presenting complex crossroads. This interactive course, aimed at enhancing ethical competencies in therapeutic settings, utilizes the Code of Ethics as a foundational guide. Participants will engage in a deep dive into ethical principles, focusing on their application in both telehealth and face-to-face scenarios. The course emphasizes the development of a robust ethical framework, enabling practitioners to critically analyze and navigate ethical dilemmas. Through a blend of theory and practice, including group discussions and case studies, clinicians will refine their decision-making skills, establish firm professional boundaries, and learn to apply ethical decision-making models effectively in their practice.

(Trainer: Alesha Perkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia and North Carolina and a Certified Case Manager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Master of Social Work from the University of Central Florida.

Alesha has over 20 years of experience in social work with a vast knowledge of medical social work, case management, and mental health/substance abuse counseling. She has created and facilitated numerous training courses for mental health and medical professionals. She is an advocate for eliminating mental health disparities and provides education in minority communities to promote mental health awareness. Alesha currently works for a health insurance provider as a Manager of Behavioral Health Clinical Teams. In addition, she has a part-time private practice, provides clinical supervision, and is an instructor for Perkins Medical Services which is family owned and has been in business for over 20 years providing quality medical and mental health trainings.)

3 Hours