COUPLES THERAPY TRAINING

“

Doing couples therapy is like flying a helicopter in a storm

— Dr. Sue Johnson

COUPLES THERAPY

CAN BE A

HEAVY BURDEN

Relationships are the cornerstone of emotional well-being, which is why providing a meaningful space for partners to find connection can be very rewarding. And yet, when you have multiple experiences colliding at once, a couples therapist/coach can easily get thrown off course. No wonder research shows that over 50 percent of couples therapists report experiencing higher levels of emotional fatigue and burnout compared to individual therapy providers. Between unrealistic expectations, opposing perspectives, emotional intensity, historical traumas, differing levels of motivation, couples therapists can quickly get lost and run out of steam. 

The lack of clear frameworks, roadmaps, tailored interventions and supervisory guidance can lead to overwhelm and isolation. 

EMPOWER YOURSELF TODAY WITH THE

3 Important Questions to
Ask in Your Intake Paperwork 

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RECURING

FRUSTARTIONS

COUPLES THERAPISTS

& COACHES REPORT

Engaging passive clients who put the onus on the therapist to lead the sessions.

Lack of client self-awareness about their contributions to their stuckness.

Becoming overwhelmed by the steps prescribed in an approach.

Partners who expect the therapist to “fix” their significant other. 

Lack of progress perceived by the therapist or clients.

Frequency and intensity of conflict escalation in sessions. 

Difficulties motivating one or both partners to implement change.

There are many renowned couples therapy modalities and trainings. They often fall along the lines of attachment-based or differentiation-based approaches, which can leave therapists confused as to which one to learn from and even divided in diametrically opposing camps. Each side has sound theoretical foundations along with specific ways of helping couples. However, like all models of therapy, they have limitations that can frustrate therapists and relationship coach.

Therapists and relationship coaches may train extensively in one couples therapy model or take a variety of couples counseling workshops. A new tool or technique works but eventually dull out and becomes ineffective. Couples therapists and relationship coaches often report feeling deeply frustrated, lost, and scrambling when having to work with the unique challenges of working with couples’ dynamics. Sounds familiar?

YOU ARE

NOT

ALONE

“

A key frustration for me in couples therapy is when partners come expecting a quick fix. They underestimate how deep the wounds are and how much work it takes to rebuild trust and connection.

— Esther Perel

I am a certified Emotionally Focused Couples therapist through ICEEFT as well as an advanced practitioner of the Developmental Model through The Couples Institute. Additionally, for nearly a decade, I have trained at the Institute for Relational Intimacy to provide sex therapy and guidance on ethical non-monogamy/polyamory. 

Over the years, I have dedicated my practice to clarifying the strengths and limitations of attachment and differentiation-based models, along with their commonalities and inherent differences to offer an approach that brings it all together.

Knowing when to leverage these modalities’ capabilities is at the heart of the couples therapy training I am launching Spring 2025.

Join me to learn the Integrated Growth Approach that seamlessly blends attachment and differentiation. This is a complimentary approach meant to support and empower therapists and coaches who work or want to work with couples. Even if you feel strongly about a theoretical orientation or model, you will learn thoughtful ways to integrate enhancing strategies.

INTEGRATED

GROWTH

APPROACH

Having specialized in couples therapy for over a decade, I have spent countless hours thoughtfully analyzing and eventually integrating the best of what attachment and differentiation-based models have to offer. My goal and passion is to empower couples therapists and relationship coaches to help their clients experience tangible personal growth while fostering the relationship they aspire to have.

Whether you are looking to expand the scope of your practice to include couples counseling and coaching or you are an experienced couples therapist stuck in frustrating dynamics with your clients, I am here to help you become confident in your conceptualization and interventions when working with couples by integrating the best of attachment and differentiation couples therapy models. 

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3 Important Questions to Include in Your Intake Forms

  • The Integrated Growth Approach is a complimentary training for therapists and coaches who work with couples. It was born out of many years of my personal extensive training in attachment and differentiation-based couples therapy models.

    Having synthesized how these often competing theoretical orientations support the couple therapy process, the Integrated Growth Approach elegantly blends the strengths of attachment and differentiation.

    You will learn how to empower yourself as the couples therapist and relationship coach from the moment you read your clients’ intake forms. You’ll be equipped to conceptualize your cases by holding both attachment and differentiation frameworks. You’ll have a clear roadmap to masterfully promote growth in your couple while helping them connect to their vulnerabilities.

YOU MAY HAVE SOME LINGERING

QUESTIONS

  • You’ll learn through a combination of pre-recorded lessons and live 90min meetings. At the end of the 8 week training, you’ll have the option to join a small group consultation that will meet bi-monthly for on-going consultation on your couples therapy cases and hone in your skills

    • How to conceptualize your case through attachment and differentiation lenses.

    • How to track couples’ negative cycle and form a clear understanding of their systemic dynamics.

    • How to maximize your paperwork.

    • How to create an empowering assessment process.

    • How to help partners take responsibility for their respective parts.

    • How to utilize attachment based approaches to help clients begin their childhood adaptations.

    • How to sequence your sessions so that you create momentum.

    • How to work with highly escalated couples.

    • How to activate conflict avoidant couples.

    • How to dismantle ambivalence by one or both partners.

    • How to identify and work through self-of-therapist/countertransference.

    • How to grow your couples therapy practice.

    • ….and so much more!

  • The Integrated Growth Approach is a complimentary approach to bolster your existing couples therapy orientation. You will gain practical tools and work ways to work through (even preempt) stuck places working with couples.

    Naturally learning something new can be initially challenging, but that’s part of growth. However, within the first few modules and live meetings, you will feel a renewed sense of empowerment and clarity in your work with couples. Because I have extensive training in various couples therapy modalities, I can “speak your language” and help translate how you can apply the new learnings into your existing framework.

    Whether I’m helping you better track the couple’s negative cycle, deepen their underlying vulnerabilities or challenge your clients to promote individual growth, you will have tangible next steps uniquely tailored to your practice.

  • Yes you will. Once you’ve completed the training that includes live meetings to answer questions and clarify concepts, you will have the option to join a small consultation group of peers where we will work through any challenges you’re experiencing with couples therapy. Beside my feedback and help, you will have community support from fellow participants.

  • Yes I do! A direct consultation with me offers you the time and space to unpack a specific case in complete privacy. I will help you conceptualize the couples’ dynamics and the partners’ individual contributions. From there we can highlight how they need to be challenged and what your role is to help create momentum. We can delve deeper into the unique ways you are stuck with your couple or a certain type of case presentation. You’ll walk away with clear tools and next steps to apply at your next session.

  • I am primarily specialized in the area of couples therapy and have trained with some of the most influential figures in the field. My first couples counseling home was Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, developed by the late Dr. Sue Johnson. I trained directly with George Faller, LMFT who supervised me to become a certified EFT therapist and supervisor-candidate. Over the course of many years, I was a leading facilitator for many EFT trainings and couples workshops, working alongside George. Naturally I am deeply connected to an experiential attachment-based approach to help uncover partners' deepest longings and create secure relationships. 

    However, despite my commitment to the EFT model and its underpinning principles, I realized that I wanted to explore how other approaches guided the couples therapy process. My journey took me into a deep-dive into differentiation-based modalities. Most specifically, the work of Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson, the creators of the Developmental Model. As I became an advanced practitioner of their model that focused on accountability and personal-growth as part of relational health, I also trained in Terry Real’s Relational Life Therapy, completed Level 1 at the Gottman Institute and explored how Internal Family Systems translated into couples counseling.

    I have extensive training in sex therapy and ethical non-monogamy/polyamory; I’ve been learnings from and consulting with Martha Kauppi, LMFT, CST for nearly a decade.

    Lastly, I am a certified discernment counselor through Dr. Bill Doherty’s Doherty Institute.

ARTICLES ABOUT COUPLES THERAPY