About this course

Learning Objectives

• Articulate a definition of Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) from the client’s individual perspective, incorporating their personal belief and value systems.
• Demonstrate the use of common, non-blaming language in mock or real clinical conversations with both betrayers and partners that promotes trust, validates partner pain, and upholds betrayer accountability.
• Identify and apply at least two clinical tools or interventions designed to support both partners and betrayers, with the goal of gradually rebalancing relational power dynamics during the recovery process.

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Laney Knowlton, PhD, LMFT-S, CSAT, CPTT, CCPS, CMAT, IAT, CST, ACCRS-S

  creator of the Connected Recovery™ model

  Laney Knowlton, PhD, LMFT-S, CSAT, CPTT, CCPS, CMAT, IAT, CST, ACCRS-S, has worked in the mental health field since 2009, specializing in PSB and Betrayal Trauma. She has a Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology. Her therapeutic work includes individual, couple, and group counseling, along with intensive work and therapeutic workshops, with individuals and couples struggling with PSB and/or betrayal trauma. She has presented at multiple professional conferences ranging from local to international levels, including ACA, AAMFT, SASH, IITAP, and TAMFT, and regularly guest lectures at various universities.

  She created the Connected Recovery™ model of therapy, which walks individuals and relationships through recovering from betrayal trauma, connecting the fields of Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB) up to and including Sex/Love Addiction, Betrayal Trauma, relational counseling through an Emotionally-Focused Therapy lens, and Sex Therapy. She has published four books on her model, including a full-length book that walks through discovering truth and creating emotional safety for yourself and within your relationships, and three books centered on disclosing PSB within relationships. She volunteered with law enforcement for six years, initially with the Dallas Prostitute Diversion Initiative, then as a presenter at the Dallas John School. She currently owns and runs the Connected Recovery™ certification program, co-owns NorthStar Relational Consulting, and owns a private practice (Knowlton Counseling) in Highland Village, TX.

Disclosure

References

• Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
• Johnson, S. M. (2008). Hold me tight: Seven conversations for a lifetime of love. Little, Brown.
• Johnson, S. M. (2009). Attachment theory and emotionally focused therapy for individuals and couples: Bridging science and practice. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 13(2), 146–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868309346953
• Levine, D. (2022). Neuroscience of emotion, cognition, and decision making: A review. ESMED Medical Review Archives, 10(3), 125–134. https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/download/2869/193546185
• Nagoski, E. (2021). Come as you are: Revised and updated: The surprising new science that will transform your sex life. Simon & Schuster.
• Pietrzykowski, T., & Smilowska, K. (2021). The reality of informed consent: empirical studies on patient comprehension—systematic review. Trials, 22, 1-8.
• Stavrova, O., Pronk, T., & Denissen, J. (2023). Estranged and unhappy? examining the dynamics of personal and relationship well-being surrounding infidelity. Psychological Science, 34(2), 143–169. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976221116892
• Rokach, A., & Chan, S. (2023). Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5)
• Warach, B., & Josephs, L. (2021). The aftershocks of infidelity: A review of infidelity-based attachment trauma. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 36(1), 68–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2019.1577961