Building Attunement and Gender Equality: Strengthening Relational Processes for Couples 

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Building Attunement and Gender Equality: Strengthening Relational Processes for Couples
Presenter: Dr. Naveen Jonathan
Description:
Recent trends suggest that individuals, whether in cross-sex or same-sex relationships, seek partners that are egalitarian regarding gender roles. In recent research, studies indicate that the effect of gender on relational attunement may help explain why gender equality contributes to relationship success.
This presentation will explore how gender equality promotes concepts such as attunement, mutuality, carrying equal weight, intentionality, continual communication, partnership, mutual understanding and joint decision-making-which are important to laying the foundation for relationship success and mutual attunement in the couple relationship. The presentation will also illustrate that when gender-oriented power imbalances emerge, thwarted attunement and mis-attunement can occur, thereby creating relational discord and relationship dissatisfaction.
Through discussion and case examples, the presentation will highlight the practical skills required by clinicians who address these issues.
Learning Objectives:
Those attending this lecture will learn:
• How gender and gender roles can play a mediating factor in loving relationships
• The concept of attunement and its importance to couples in relationship
• Practical techniques to help couples develop or strengthen attunement in their relationship
Bio:
Naveen Jonathan, PhD, LMFT, is a clinical assistant professor of marriage and family therapy at the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences at Chapman University in Orange, California. He also is the clinical director at the Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy also located on Chapman’s campus.
Naveen is the current president for the California Division of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Naveen has also served on the AAMFT National Board and as chair of its National Elections Council. He is a member of the leadership team of the AAMFT-California Division Orange County Networking District.
Naveen’s research interests and publications cover topics relating to multicultural communities, LGBT populations, couples issues pertaining to gender equality, power and attunement along with divorce and its effects on the family. Naveen also is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in Santa Ana, California.