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Faculty

Mark Edwards

MS, MFC 36908
Psychotherapist
Mark Edwards, MFT

Mark Edwards MS, MFC is a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in San Rafael since 2000. He brings more than 25 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

In addition to his private practice, Mark has worked across multiple settings: in London, UK as part of a residential therapeutic community; in the SF Bay Area in treatment programs for those with substance use challenges, public elementary and high school settings, in several non-profit mental health clinics and as part of the Marin County Forensic Interview Team. Mark has been a graduate instructor and supervisor at Sonoma State University since 2007, teaching psychopathology, counseling theory, lifespan development, family therapy, and practicum classes. Mark also worked as Assistant Clinical Director at the Community Institute for Psychotherapy where he continues to teach and supervise both licensed and pre-licensed therapists.

Mark is uniquely aware of the issue of honesty and deception in both psychotherapy and clinical training and will address both of these areas in this presentation.

2026 Sessions

Lying on the couch - Understanding Deception in the Therapeutic Relationship

<b>Session Description</b>: Deception in psychotherapy is far more common than many clinicians realize, yet it remains one of the least discussed aspects of therapeutic practice. Research suggests that clients withhold information or provide false details in approximately 70-90% of therapeutic encounters, ranging from minor omissions to significant fabrications about symptoms, behaviors, or life circumstances.<br>This presentation addresses the complex phenomenon of client deception through both theoretical and practical lenses. We will explore the underlying motivations that drive clients to lie - including shame, fear of judgment, desire to please, or self-protection—and examine how these deceptions can both hinder and, paradoxically, sometimes reveal important therapeutic material.<br>Drawing from attachment theory, psychodynamic principles, and contemporary research on therapeutic relationships, we will discuss how to recognize subtle signs of deception while maintaining the delicate balance between clinical curiosity and therapeutic trust. Participants will learn strategies for creating safety that reduces the likelihood of deception, as well as skillful interventions for addressing dishonesty when it emerges.<br>Rather than viewing client lies as obstacles to overcome, this presentation reframes deception as meaningful communication that can deepen our understanding of client psychology and strengthen the therapeutic alliance when handled with skill and compassion.<br/><br/><b>

Presenter

Saturday, August 08 10:45–12:15 PM
Room 555AB
Counseling Theory/Practice
Faculty

Mark Edwards

MS, MFC 36908
Psychotherapist
Mark Edwards, MFT

Mark Edwards MS, MFC is a Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in San Rafael since 2000. He brings more than 25 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

In addition to his private practice, Mark has worked across multiple settings: in London, UK as part of a residential therapeutic community; in the SF Bay Area in treatment programs for those with substance use challenges, public elementary and high school settings, in several non-profit mental health clinics and as part of the Marin County Forensic Interview Team. Mark has been a graduate instructor and supervisor at Sonoma State University since 2007, teaching psychopathology, counseling theory, lifespan development, family therapy, and practicum classes. Mark also worked as Assistant Clinical Director at the Community Institute for Psychotherapy where he continues to teach and supervise both licensed and pre-licensed therapists.

Mark is uniquely aware of the issue of honesty and deception in both psychotherapy and clinical training and will address both of these areas in this presentation.
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