In Sickness and In Health: The Physical Consequences of Emotional Abuse in Marriage (Without CE’s) Tuesday, July 13, 2021

In Sickness and In Health: The Physical Consequences of Emotional Abuse in Marriage 

Tuesday, July 13, 2021   

6:00 – 8:00 PM ET   

Webinar Presenter 

David Hawkins, M.B.A., M.S.W., M.A., Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who has brought healing and restoration to thousands of marriages and individuals since he began his work in 1976. Dr. Hawkins is passionate about helping couples heal marriage wounds and rediscover deeper connection and intimacy. Over the past 10 years, Dr. Hawkins has become a leader in the field of treatment for narcissism and emotional abuse in the context of relationships. He has developed programs for the treatment of narcissistic men and the women who love them. Dr. Hawkins is a speaker and trainer for the American Association of Christian Counselors and writes for Crosswalk.com, CBN.org, and Believe.com. He has made regular appearances on Moody Radio and Faith Radio and is a best-selling author of more than 30 books. Dr. Hawkins has two grown sons, is happily married to Christie Hawkins, and lives on Bainbridge Island outside of Seattle, Washington. 

Summary 

Our minds and bodies are connected. Such a truth seems obvious, perhaps even simplistic, yet too many professionals forget this fact. Too many mental health clinicians focus on treating the mind, forgetting to ask questions about the body. Thus, we are in danger of enabling a very destructive process instead of participating in powerful interventions. This Webinar will explore how an unhealthy marriage often leads to an unhealthy body and how the body keeps the score for the health of the marriage. We will explore how chronic narcissistic and emotional abuse often lead to a variety of psychosomatic illnesses, with the body and physical symptoms reflecting the health of the marriage. Additionally, we will address psychosomatic illness and its relationship to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, its connection to chronic stress in marriage, and action steps we should be taking to help those struggling to cope. We will examine stress from a new perspective—that chronic stress (C-PTSD) is horribly debilitating. Also, we will look at what happens in a marriage fraught with chronic narcissistic and emotional abuse, as well as the emotional exhaustion and cost to women of over-functioning and coping, adapting, and accommodating a stressful marriage. Specific steps will be discussed that clinicians can take to assist women suffering from psychosomatic illness so they can take responsibility for their healing. Finally, we will consider how to assist women in finding appropriate emotional and physical help and how to create healthy boundaries that can lead to their physical healing. 

Learning Objectives 

Participants will: 

1. Identify traits of narcissistic and emotional abuse, as well as typical physiological symptoms associated with this abuse 
2. Analyze various psychosomatic illnesses often associated with narcissistic and emotional abuse 
3. Discuss the relationship between chronic marital stress and psychosomatic illness 
4. Describe best practices for treating those suffering from narcissistic and emotional abuse and assisting them in finding appropriate physical care, setting healthy boundaries, and taking ultimate responsibility for their healing 

Continuing Education  

Approved for 2.0 APA and 2.0 IBCC CE Credits 

The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due for good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. For more information on Light University Continuing Education programs, please visit https://www.lightuniversity.com/continuing-education-statements/.