Name
United in the Storm: Nurturing the Couple Relationship Amid Tic-Related Stress 
Date & Time
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Kenneth W. Phelps, Ph.D., LMFT
Description

Tourette Syndrome (TS) affects not only the individual, but the couple relationship that surrounds them. Whether partners are raising a child with tics or one member of the couple has TS themselves, many describe the experience as both deeply meaningful and emotionally taxing. This presentation explores how couples can remain resilient, connected, and secure amid chronic stressors, fluctuating symptom severity, and the challenges of either caregiving or symptom management. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Gottman Method Couple Therapy, the presenter will guide attendees through practical strategies that reduce unhelpful relational cycles, strengthen communication, and promote emotional attunement. Topics include identifying patterns that escalate reactivity, speaking from primary rather than secondary emotions, understanding each partner’s internal map, responding to bids for connection, and addressing relational ruptures characterized by criticism, defensiveness, contempt, or stonewalling. The session also highlights how repairing and deepening the couple bond enhances the broader family system, supporting children’s relational development and improving closeness for adults navigating TS in their own lives. 

Session Type
Lecture