Therapeutic Conversations Conference 23
October 8th, 2025
Sacramento, California
Practice. Politics. Purpose.
~ A World Class Narrative Therapy Affair ~
Photo: Danielle O'Connor Akiyama
SAFE. SEEN. UNDERSTOOD.
FREE PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
October 8th, 2025:
1 PM - 4 PM
Relationships are Relational: Narrative Therapy informed Relational Interviewing (NIRI)
with Conflicted Couple Relationships:
Stephen Madigan (Canada)
Award-winning couple and family therapist, bestselling author,
and director of training with the Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy.
Popular frameworks of couple therapy are often guided by ideas of internal state psychology and individualism. Where couple conflict brought to therapy is decontextualized and privatized within the individuals of the couple relationship. Therapy is focused on healing each individual's deficit “core self", “attachment style" etc., and expert advice is given on personal communication, love languages, active listening, and date nights.
The practice of Narrative Therapy informed Relational Interviewing (NIRI) invites couple therapists to consider a deliberate political, philosophical, and non-individualist practice shift towards an ecology of interlocking ideas and narrative practices towards considerations of:
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Relationships contextual and relational interconnectedness.
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Conflicts embedded within cultural and contextual complexities.
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Social rituals, governing norms, and dominant beliefs.
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Structural inequalities, power relations.
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Relational responsibilities, obligations, and expectations.
The workshop demonstrates a series of step-by-step NIRI videos of Stephen working with couples in Canada, Norway, and the USA.
Responding to Systemic Violence against Trans and
Gender-Expansive Communities:
Moderator: Rock Nylund (USA)
Clinical Training Director, Gender Health Centre
Dr. Malakai Coté: Executive Director, Gender Health CenterAri Lozano: Director of Mental Health, Gender Health CenterCharlie Hutchinson: Counseling Program Manager, Gender Health Center
The panel features clinicians from the Gender Health Center exploring how therapists can advocate for transgender and gender-expansive clients amid escalating anti-trans legislation and systemic oppression. Panelists will highlight community and therapeutic practices that center on dignity and collective organizing. The discussion highlights therapists’ roles in affirming trans identities and fostering agency and solidarity in today’s politically charged climate. Expect brilliant discussion on how to:
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Identify the impacts of systemic violence and anti-trans legislation on transgender and gender-expansive individuals.
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Explore narrative therapy and community-rooted practices that affirm trans identities, foster agency, and create community and solidarity.
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Examine the role of therapists as advocates in resisting systemic oppression and supporting trans liberation within and beyond the therapy room.