Insights from the AAMFT Annual Conference: Lessons for Israeli Therapists

Exploring Workshops on Military Families, Political Polarization, and More

Last week, I reviewed the annual conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), focusing on content reflecting changes in American society. In the second part of the review, I want to highlight workshops that offer valuable lessons for Israeli therapists. These topics are relevant to our lives, and I hope Israeli therapists will consider them for professional seminars in Israel.

Working with Military Families

The most notable lecture was "Working with Military Families: Culture, Combat Trauma, and Treatment." Holly Kelly and James McCauley presented family therapists with various perspectives on military life ("military culture"), reviewed the history of integrating the mental health system, and mapped the systemic view of military veterans. In the United States, there are about 1.3 million soldiers in regular service with about 1.6 million relatives, a staggering figure making almost every American soldier a "single soldier." Despite these numbers, the proportion of American families affected by military culture or post-trauma is low compared to Israel, where nearly every family is touched by military service. We urgently need similar training in Israel to address military post-trauma rates effectively.

Navigating Political Polarization

Another American workshop that would be beneficial in Israel offers therapists tools to handle political polarization in the treatment room. The workshop teaches therapists how to navigate self-disclosure in this context ("You must be against Bibi, eh?") and conduct political conversations within the clinic.

Addressing Sex and Spirituality

American therapists often feel uncomfortable discussing sex and spirituality. While many Israeli marriage therapists may be comfortable discussing sex, spiritual questions remain sensitive. The American Association's workshop examined why therapists avoid spiritual and ethical issues in the clinic. Given Israel's diverse spiritual spectrum, such a workshop would be invaluable here.

Impact of Personal Media Use

In the lecture "Personal Media Use and the Mental Health Community," Jennifer Black focused on the negative relationship between people and their smartphones, which can lead to anxiety and depression. This issue affects both adults and children, highlighting the need for awareness and strategies to mitigate these effects. I would love to participate in a workshop on this topic to learn more.

Ethical Frameworks in Small Communities

The lecture "What a Piece to Meet You Here" by Sheila Addison and Noel Kelson proposed an ethical framework for small communities where caregivers live close to their patients. Dual relationships raise various ethical questions about boundaries, friendships, loyalty, and discretion, and we can learn much from others' experiences.

Gray Divorce: Separation in Old Age

Linda Hershman's lecture "Gray Divorce: Separation in Old Age" addressed the increasing divorce rate among those aged 50 and older in the United States. Older couples often break up for different reasons than younger couples and face unique challenges. While I don't have statistics for Israel, the trend of increasing gray divorces suggests a need for training therapists on these issues.

Israeli Symposium on Psychedelic Substances

To ensure you don't feel all interesting events happen overseas, I'm excited to share news about the annual symposium of the Israeli Association for Biological Psychiatry, held on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, at the Open University in Ra'anana. The symposium's title is "Psychedelic Substances: A New and Renewed Front in Psychiatric Treatment," chaired by Dr. Raz Gross and Dr. Yoav Domani. I'm honored to lead the panel "Contemporary Directions and Looking to the Future" at this fascinating conference.

If you're wondering how psychedelia relates to a couples and family therapy blog, it shows you're new to the neighborhood. Participation in the conference is open to the general public, subject to registration on the organization's website, isbp.org.il. See you there!