AEDP Provides Powerful Elements to Transformative Couples Therapy® (TCT)
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a remarkable research-tested method for treating individuals who present with a wide range of symptoms of distress left over from insecure or traumatic conditions in infancy and childhood.
Transformative Couples Therapy® training (TCT) has many aspects in common with AEDP training. TCT is a powerful method for treating couples. Based on informal long-term follow-up with many couples for as long as ten years after treatment, TCT shows signs of being remarkably effective and lasting.
For the past nineteen months Transformative Couples Therapy® has been in preparation to be tested in a clinical research project on the effects of TCT. This research is in affiliation with James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University. The design of the TCT Research Project is modeled after AEDP’s landmark study (Iwakabe et al, 2020)
David Mars, the developer of TCT, was a senior faculty member of the AEDP Institute for eleven years, where he helped teach AEDP Immersion Courses, Essential Skills and AEDP Core Training. In many ways TCT training for therapists follows along similar lines as AEDP training. For example, TCT combines teaching left-brain theory and practice with experiential and transformational processes for therapists in training. AEDP for Couples (AEDPfC) was a natural emergence from David’s many years of offering psychotherapy training courses through the AEDP Institute and before that era as well. Dr. Mars has combined his passion for treating trauma within the context of couple work with his unique somatic and meditative focus. AEDP for Couples was a temporary name for TCT during the AEDP years as Senior Faculty.
is tct certification available?
Yes, there is a simple pathway that leads to certification in Transformative Couples Therapy ®. The essential requirement for TCT Certification is the demonstration of competency in TCT as shown in two video recorded sessions. The Multi-Channel webinar or Video on Demand offer avenues to learn the TCT method. TCT Core Training typically follows Multi-Channel or Experiential Training (link to new page on Exp Course).
When participants to receive consultation and group supervision of recorded couples therapy sessions, the fine-tuning of TCT work follows naturally. The process of recording sessions with couples has been made nearly effortless, since these days so many therapists are working via Zoom online.
Are the four states of AEDP part of TCT?
Yes, States One, Two, Three and Four are all part of TCT, however we have redefined each of the four states in terms of couple dynamics, rather than focusing on the context of treating individuals. We also add the Seven Channels of Experience to broaden how the transformative process is facilitated to allow room for more avoidantly attached couple members to bridge to their more emotionally focused partners. There are many differences between TCT and AEDP, but both methods are a highly compatible for therapists as beneficial cross-pollination.
Why is somatically-based, mindful meditative practice a part of TCT?
First, the somatic attunement required to closely track and attune to two people at a time in sessions goes far beyond the skill required to track one individual. Cultivating body-based mindfulness based on the Seven Channels of Experience is essential to accomplish this. Secondly, affect regulation is more challenging in couple work than with a single individual and requires more capacity for the therapist to practice self-grounding and reflection, based on compassionate attunement in order to transfer skills of co-regulation to couple members.