High Conflict Case Management: The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Why Relationship Matters, and Management Strategies
September 9, 2013
McKinley Irvin 2013 Series on Family Law
Tacoma, Washington
Program Materials
McKinley Irvin Powerpoint
2 Styles Worksheet
McKinley Irvin Listening Article and Bibliography (with case study)
McKinley Irvin Tips Sheets (with Interpersonal Neurobiology Informed Counseling Elements, Self-Protective Strategies summary and Elements of Listening and Understanding)
Equipoise
Resource links referred to in the program -for professionals
- High Conflict Institute (Bill Eddy’s website has many good articles for both the professional and client)
- www.patcrittenden.com (Materials for most modern child-adult attachment theory, including attachment strategy circumplex, articles and Powerpoint presentations. Crittenden also has several good lectures and interviews on YouTube.)
- Review of Adult Attachment Interview and Critteden’s attachment model (From the International Association for the Study of Attachment website)
- A Brief Overview of Adult Attachment Theory and Research (Accessible article reviewing adult attachment. This has an “old school” perspective of Shaver and Main, and uses older but classic attachment terms. Crittenden’s model takes off from this perspective and adds additional functional concepts.)
- Attachment CLE info page (For more information and links regarding attachment in family law)
- Left-brain right-brain RSA lecture by Iain McGilchrist (Accessible and short presentation on neocortex hemisphere theory. He has longer lectures at www.thersa.org and YouTube.)
- Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child (Site with interesting information and article on the science of child development and attachment. Articles include The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain)
- Parenting Behaviors Associated With Risk for Offspring Personality Disorder During Adulthood (Cite-able article for personality theory perspective on the effect of personality disordered parenting on children.
- How your nervous system sabotages your ability to relate (Transcribed interview of Dr. Stephen Porges. Accessible article on the neurobiology of danger/safety – relationship)
- Dr. Porges lecture on neurophysiology of safety/danger, relationship and “compassion” (Not for the faint of heart. The neurobiology of what drives conflict was only touched on in the seminar. This lecture thoroughly covers a complex topic in a short time.)
Resource links referred to in the program -for clients
- High Conflict Institute (great articles for clients to start working through, including easy summaries of high conflict personality styles and tips, such as the Hostile Emails article for responding with BIFF, Brief, Informative, Firm, Friendly)
- Still face experiment video (Ed Tronick, nice demonstration for clients of the power of attuned vs. non-attuned communication with infants)
- Neuroimage of healthy and damaged child brain (Nice image to share with clients to demonstrate the effects of parental neglect)
Program summary
High conflict clients, and high conflict opposing pro se parties, present unique challenges and opportunities for the family law lawyer. This seminar will review a top 10 list of client counseling techniques informed by psychological and neurobiological science. Then we will dive deeply into the most important technique. We will explore how it is informed by Interpersonal Neurobiology components of attachment theory, personality theory, neocortex hemisphere theory (righ-left brain), and neurobiological science. This technique will be highlighted with a case example. Time will be allotted for audience questions. A tip sheet, bibliography, and client counseling resources will be provided.
Mark Baumann is an attorney, mediator and judge pro tem specializing in high conflict family law. He litigates in Clallam County and mediates and counsels for cases across Puget Sound. He has practiced law for 25 years, obtained formal mediation training from Pepperdine University in 2008, is an associate of and speaker for Bill Eddy’s High Conflict Institute, and this year completed the graduate certificate program in Interpersonal Neurobiology at Portland State University. Mr. Baumann is on the WSBA ADR section executive committee and is chair of the Low Bono WSBA Section Formation Committee. His website is www.markbaumann.com. His email is [email protected], and his phone number is 360-452-8688.