Parallel Realities
Secrecy, Trust & Control in Families Affected by Substance Use
William F. Northey, Jr., PhD, LMFT, CFTTM
October 9, 2026 | 10:45 AM–Noon
AAMFT Systemic Therapy Conference
Virtual
About This Training
Families affected by substance use can become caught in recurring patterns of secrecy, mistrust, monitoring, and attempted control. This workshop uses a systemic framework to examine how these patterns develop and how clinicians can shift the focus from determining who is “right” toward understanding the interactional processes maintaining the problem.
Learning Objectives
- Identify systemic interaction patterns, including the Secrecy–Trust–Control Loop, that maintain high-conflict co-parenting in the context of substance use and other hidden behaviors.
- Differentiate between safety-based risks and trust-based instability to inform appropriate levels of structure and intervention in co-parenting arrangements.
- Implement behaviorally anchored, accountability-focused co-parenting strategies that promote predictability, reduce conflict, and support child well-being.
Presentation Materials & Resources
Presentation materials, handouts, references, and additional resources will be available here for participants.
Workshop PowerPoint Slides — Download PDF
