Dr. Stan Tatkin, co-founder of the PACT Institute, discusses the importance of secure functioning in relationships and the principles of mutual care and the couple bubble. He emphasizes the need for couples to create a shared vision and set of social contracts to protect and support each other. Dr. Tatkin also highlights the challenges of modern dating and the importance of building secure functioning relationships from the start. He concludes by discussing the ongoing research being conducted by the PACT Institute to provide evidence-based support for their approach.
Dr. Tatkin and his wife, Tracey Boldemann-Tatkin, PhD, created the PACT Institute in 2010 to train mental
health professionals to successfully integrate a psychobiological approach in their clinical practices. They appreciate his depth of understanding – of both the scientific research and the human condition – and how he integrates that wisdom to form the foundation
of the comprehensive principles and methodologies he teaches. The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists CA honored Stan with the Educator of the Year award in 2014.
Dr. Tatkin helps couples create healthy attachments and secure-functioning relationships based on fairness,
justice, and sensitivity. In addition to his robust clinical practice in Calabasas, California, Dr. Tatkin and Tracey lead couples through Wired For Love Couple Retreats -- both online and in person across the United States and Europe.
Dr. Tatkin is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of
Family Medicine. He is on the board of directors of Lifespan Learning Institute and serves as a founding member on Relationships First, a nonprofit organization founded by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt.
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Stan Tatkin and the PACT Institute
02:00 Understanding PACT and its Polytheoretical Approach
04:54 The Motivation Behind Creating a New Perspective in Couples Therapy
08:44 The Impact of John Gottman and Sue Johnson on Couples Therapy
09:42 The Role of Brain Science and Psychobiology in Couples Therapy
11:32 Applying Brain Science and Psychobiology to Communication and Conflict Resolution
13:25 The Importance of Knowledge and Psychoeducation in Couples Therapy
15:22 The Interplay Between the Brain and Couples Therapy
20:16 Revising 'Wired for Love' and the Changing Landscape of Relationships
23:14 Common Relationship Pitfalls and Mistakes to Avoid
27:38 Creating a Shared Vision and Accommodating Differences in Relationships
35:16 The Importance of Mutual Care and the Couple Bubble
44:51 Applying PACT Principles to Modern Dating and Relationships
50:14 Building Secure Functioning Relationships from the Start
52:36 Key Relationship Advice from Dr. Stan Tatkin
55:03 Ongoing Research by the PACT Institute