psychobiological approach to Couples therapy (PACT)
The Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) was created by Dr. Stan Tatkin because he saw a need for couples to better understand attachment, regulation and automatic responses.
While PACT is an intervention typically used with couples, sessions can be done with any two people who are in relationship with each other including co-workers, friends and family members.
John Hughes, one of our Co-Founders, completed a multi-year intensive training program in California with Dr. Stan Tatkin and is the only Level II PACT Certified Clinician in the Chicago area.
What to expect with pact?
In a typical PACT session clients will work interactively with the clinician and each other to better understand what happens in the moment when they are in conflict. The basis of PACT is that partners and couples are often repeating patterns in communication and arguments because they are missing critical information about how each of them behaves and regulates. Through expirmentation, intervention and in the moment adjustments clients increase knowledge of attachment styles, regulation strategies and automatic responses.
Because PACT is a unique modality which focuses more on the here and now than on past experiences, sessions tend to be longer than an hour but typically fewer sessions are required than in more traditional couples work.
You can read more about PACT here on the PACT Institute website. If you would like to know more about PACT at the Chicago Center for Relational Health or would like to work with John Hughes you can reach out to him here