WHAT IS PACT?
PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) is a powerful and effective model for couples therapy. PACT was developed by Stan Tatkin, using cutting-edge research in three areas.
The first area is neuroscience, the study of the human brain. Understanding how the brain works provides a physiological basis for understanding how people act and react within relationships. In other words, some areas of your brain are wired to reduce threat and danger and seek security, while others are geared to establish mutuality and loving connection. PACT applies neuroscience to help couples understand what they are doing and why when it comes to the brain.
The second area is attachment theory, which explains the biological need to bond with others. Experiences in early relationships create a blueprint that informs the sense of safety and security you bring to adult relationships. Insecurities carried through life can wreak havoc for a couple if these issues are not resolved.
The third area is the biology of human arousal—meaning the moment-to-moment ability to manage one’s energy, alertness, and readiness to engage.
The initial PACT sessions are three hours long, allowing me to hear your presenting problem and get to know you better as a couple. Subsequent PACT sessions are two hours long and may run anywhere from 3-6 hours if requested. Longer times allow for the in-depth nature of PACT therapy. PACT tends to require fewer sessions than other forms of Couple Therapy. Some of the focus in sessions will be on moment-to-moment shifts in face, body, and voice and asking you to pay close attention to these as a couple while also creating experiences in a session similar to those troubling your relationship. With this, I can help you work through your problems in real-time during the session.
PACT utilizes the use of rolling chairs to work on proximity, eye contact and reading faces/body by being able to face one another. This is the setup in my office.
