San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group

02/19/2026

Have you ever wondered why research consistently shows that specific therapeutic techniques don’t necessarily lead to better outcomes?
Or why the DSM often doesn’t guide treatment as effectively as we might hope?
And if it’s not the theory being used, what actually explains why some therapists are more effective than others?

Control-Mastery Theory, the product of decades of careful research, offers compelling answers to these questions. This powerful framework explains how and why therapy works across techniques, clinicians, and patient populations. Many consider it one of the most direct paths to becoming a more effective therapist.

Join SFPRG for this live, interactive online seminar and learn the foundations of applying Control-Mastery Theory in your clinical work.
🗓 Friday, February 20, 2026
⏰ 9:00am–12:00pm PST
💻 Live Online Seminar via Zoom

Instructor:
Trevor M. Ahrendt, PsyD

Whether you're new to Control-Mastery Theory or looking to strengthen your clinical impact, this introductory course will provide practical tools you can begin using right away.

Reserve your spot and take the next step toward becoming the therapist you aspire to be. https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com/introcourse

02/10/2026

📣 Big News from SFPRG

The San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group has been officially recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved continuing education provider for licensed psychologists.

✔️ Provider Number: PSY-0315

This approval recognizes SFPRG’s dedication to offering:
• Research-based clinical education
• Thoughtful, case-focused learning
• Training that supports real-world therapeutic work

We’re honored to reach this milestone and excited to continue supporting clinicians with meaningful, high-quality continuing education.

👉 Learn more about upcoming trainings at https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com/upcoming-courses

02/03/2026

Roses are red, violets are blue,
If your patient struggles with po*******hy, we can help you!

Po*******hy is one of the hardest presenting concerns to treat well.

Your patients, and the people in their lives, have strong feelings about it. The field offers contradictory guidance. Addiction frameworks don't always fit. Moral frameworks obscure clinical judgment. Therapists feel on the back foot talking frankly about s*x, and the subcultures around po*******hy can be disorienting to even seasoned clinicians. Most critically, most approaches only talk about treating po*******hy without tailoring the treatment to the specific person.

The result? Clinicians often feel uncertain, underprepared, or trapped between oversimplified approaches that don't match the complexity of what's sitting across from them.

Our upcoming class, Is P**n a Problem?, offers a different way forward.

This course teaches a patient-centered clinical approach to po*******hy and erotic material, one grounded in thoughtful assessment rather than predetermined frameworks.

You'll learn:

- How to determine when po*******hy use is clinically relevant and when it isn't
- When addiction models help your work, and when they get in the way
- How to let patients' beliefs, goals, and sensitivities guide what's therapeutically effective
- How to move from assessment to individualized treatment planning
- This isn't about learning the "right" stance on po*******hy.
It's about developing the clinical skill to work responsively with each patient who brings it up.

Personalization as a clinical method, not a marketing phrase.

If po*******hy shows up in your clinical work and leaves you feeling unsure how to proceed, this training is designed to help you meet it with clarity rather than confusion.

Join us for Is P**n a Problem? and strengthen your ability to assess, conceptualize, and treat po*******hy-related concerns in a way that is thoughtful, individualized, and clinically grounded.

📅 February 13 | ⏰ 1:00 PM
🎓 CE/CME credit available

Learn more and register at www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com/is-porn-a-problem

01/22/2026

Understanding fantasies as pathways, not just pathologies.

Sexual fantasies can be some of the most clinically rich material in the room, often reflecting deeply held beliefs about safety, desire, shame, power, and closeness.

In this live, CE-eligible workshop, Dr. Michael Bader offers a research-informed, respectful framework for understanding the psychological functions of s*xual fantasies

The Meaning & Therapeutic Use of Sexual Fantasies
Friday, Jan 30
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT

There’s still time to register. We’d love to have you join us!

More Info: https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com/meaning-and-therapeutic-use-of-s*xual-fantasies

01/16/2026

Sexual fantasies aren’t just private thoughts: they can be powerful guides in therapy. Through the lens of Control-Mastery Theory (CMT), exploring a client’s fantasies helps therapists spot and challenge deep-seated pathogenic beliefs, such as “I’m undeserving of love” or “My desires are shameful.”

CMT views fantasies as windows into a client’s internal world. By understanding themes, emotions, and conflicts within these fantasies, clinicians can tailor interventions that actively help clients test and disconfirm limiting beliefs. The result? Real progress toward freedom, self-acceptance, and authentic connection.

Curious how this works in practice? Join our case conferences and trainings at Personalized Psychotherapy Institute to deepen your skills and transform your clinical impact.

Learn more: https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com

01/11/2026

⏰ Happening in 4 Days - Registration Closing Soon

When Trust Is the Treatment
📅 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
🎓 CE & CME Eligible
Live Virtual Workshop

When patients disengage, criticize therapy, or seem unable to stay in treatment, the issue is often not resistance, it’s trust.

Grounded in Control-Mastery Theory, this session will help you:

-Reframe ruptures and disengagement as clinically intelligible moments

-Understand how pathogenic beliefs are activated in the therapeutic relationship

-Use the therapist’s consistent, empathic stance as a corrective emotional experience

Restore momentum when treatment feels stalled or fragile
⚠️ Registration required. Payment in full in advance
💡 SFPRG members: log in for potential discounted registration.
👉 Register now - this workshop begins in just four days.

https://sfprg.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=209469&item_id=2808596

01/08/2026

Upcoming SFPRG Educational Offerings | January–February 2026

The San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group (SFPRG) invites clinicians and mental health professionals to participate in three upcoming educational programs grounded in clinical theory, empirical research, and applied practice.

🧠 When Trust Is the Treatment
📅 January 14, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST
This course examines the central role of trust in psychotherapy, particularly in the treatment of patients with attachment-related disturbances. Emphasis is placed on the therapist-patient relationship as a foundational mechanism of therapeutic change.

🧠 The Meaning and Therapeutic Use of Sexual Fantasies
📅 January 30, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST
Presented by Dr. Bader, this workshop explores the psychological dynamics of s*xual fantasy and its clinical relevance, with particular attention to how fantasies may illuminate and help disconfirm pathogenic beliefs within the therapeutic process.

🧠 Becoming a More Effective Therapist
📅 February 20, 2026 | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST
This course introduces the empirically derived Plan Formulation Method (also known as Control-Mastery Case Formulation) and its application to clinical work, with a focus on strengthening therapeutic effectiveness across cases.

🔗 Registration and full course details:
https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com

These offerings are designed for clinicians seeking advanced training rooted in theory, research, and clinical application.

The Personalized Psychotherapy InstitutePsychotherapy That Works for Everyone Upcoming Events When Trust is the Treatment January 14, 202610:00 AM - 12:00 PM PSTFor patients with attachment wounds, psychotherapy involves an inherent tension. The process relies on the patient’s capacity to develop ...

10/27/2025

What can s*xual fantasies reveal about healing?

On November 7, 2025, join us for a fascinating workshop with Dr. Michael Bader, who will share how fantasies can help patients move beyond limiting beliefs and inform richer therapeutic work. With 30+ years of clinical experience and widely acclaimed books on s*xuality, Dr. Bader brings deep insight and practical guidance
More details here: https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com/

10/26/2025

Join us on November 7, 2025 for:

The Meaning and Therapeutic Use of Sexual Fantasies
with Michael Bader, DMH

Drawing on work with Joseph Weiss and the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group, Dr. Bader offers a fresh look at the psychological dynamics behind s*xual excitement and how it can inform therapeutic practice.

Don’t miss this insightful workshop!

www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com

SFPRG is a nonprofit membership organization of mental health professionals that supports research, education, and training on the subject of how and why psychotherapy works.

10/26/2025

We’re so excited to begin our 24-week CMT Intensive on Monday!
This course brings together clinicians and researchers to explore how Control-Mastery Theory can shape powerful, responsive therapeutic work.
Over 24 weeks, participants will learn the fundamentals of CMT, how to apply it in clinical settings, and how to develop effective case formulations tailored to each patient’s needs.
The program includes live case conferences, multiple expert instructors, and an engaging, collegial environment designed to support both learning and connection.
Join us as we start this journey into the heart of therapeutic mastery.
🔗 https://www.personalizedpsychotherapy.com/masp

10/24/2025

Starting Monday: our 24-week Control-Mastery Theory Intensive begins!

Designed for clinicians who want to deepen their understanding of CMT, this course covers core theory, clinical application, and effective case formulation — with guidance from instructors experienced in both research and practice.

Includes weekly case conferences for rich discussion and collaborative learning.

There’s still time to register — we’d love to have you join us!