Weathering Relationships: Making Up or Moving On

In this course, Dr. Michael Acton, author, lecturer, clinician, and founder of MPAmind.com, underscores his frequent role as trainer of mental health professionals in how to be gatekeepers for domestic violence, keeping clients safe. In identifying whether any forms of abuse are occurring, or did occur, in a relationship that is/was “blurry” or difficult, Dr. Acton notes with compassion how this can complicate the client’s safety. He also observes that few clinicians are trained in how to help clients weather a relational breakup, and so offers strategies from ritualising the loss to ways of expressing the intense emotions generated by a breakup. Coming onto the “other side” of a breakup as a “survivor” is difficult, also; here Acton offers tips for helping the client come back into a strong and peaceful place.