Based on the number of presentations (plenary and breakout), forgiveness (research and practice) is the hot topic. Seems everyon wants to talk about forgiveness. Probably a good idea because so much of counseling has to do with needing to forgive and be forgiven.
Two interesting points from last night’s plenary on couple therapy by Jen Ripley (Regent U.)
1. Couples who show adequate influence/acceptance have healthier marriages. When husbands indicate a willingness to be influenced by their wives feelings and opinions, couples do better. When husbands or wives are unwilling to accept the flaws of their spouse (e.g., their lateness habits), they remain perpetually unhappy leading to negative future prospects for the marriage.
2. Some of the domestic violence research suggests therapists need to differentiate between common couple violence and terrorism/control violence. The first is more treatable in counseling while the latter is not. The first has been observed in 20% of the couples in the prior year. This kind has no injury but there is mutual pushing and shoving. Both are bad, but the first kind may be addressed in couples counseling without increasing the danger.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 