Strengthening Relationships Presentation Series

The Employee Assistance Program is proud to announce our Strengthening Relationships Presentation Series. Join us monthly on zoom as speakers share their professional expertise on helping people strengthen their relationships, with a range of topics and strategies for intimate relationships, friendships, families, and coworkers. See a list of our planned speakers and presentations below. Full schedule for November 2023-June 2024 to come! Sign up now on UT Learn.

September“Saying No: The Art and Science of Setting Boundaries" presented by Sarah Porter, PhD, a licensed psychologist and founder of a workplace training and consulting practice on Wednesday 9/27 at 11:00 a.m. This presentation which will focus on when and how to successfully set boundaries at work. You will walk away with a simple decision-making framework and multiple techniques you can use to diplomatically field requests from supervisors and coworkers alike.

October“Building Neurodivergent Affirming Spaces: Love, Work, and Friendship” presented by Kyler Shumway, Psy.D. President and Chief Clinical Officer of Deep Eddy Psychotherapy on Friday 10/13 at 10am. Neurodiversity is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be shared. In this talk, we will explore how to create inclusive and supportive environments for people with diverse nervous systems. Whether you are a people manager, friend, family member, or loved one, you can make our world a better place by helping others belong.

November: “Navigating the aftermath of betrayal: The Gottman Approach to Trust Recovery” presented by Vagdevi Meunier, Psy.D. a licensed clinical psychologist , Certified Master Gottman Therapist, and Founder/Executive Director of the Center for Relationships on Tuesday, November 7th at 12pm. The Gottman Method is based on the Sound Relationship House model that was developed by Drs. John & Julie Gottman after 40+ years of systematic research into what makes relationships healthy or dysfunctional. Betrayal impacts the weight-bearing walls of your Sound Relationship House and can make your world feel like it’s crumbling. In this webinar we will address the three stages of recovery from betrayal: Atone, Attune, and Attach and address the key tasks and outcomes that predict successful repair and restoration of safety and trust in a relationship.

December: “Navigating Parent-Child Conflict: The power of reconnection and repair” presented by Kat Scherer, Ph.D. a licensed clinical psychologist and educator on Friday, December 15th at Noon. Conflict and challenges are an inherent part of the parent-child relationship - and developmental experts tell us they are necessary for personal and social growth. Even the most thoughtful and well-intentioned parent will experience discord and disruption. Preparing for such problems and facilitating repair will help children develop confidence and relational resilience.