From Hesitant to Confident: Getting Started in Couples Therapy

Getting Started in Couples Therapy: A One-Day Experiential Workshop for Clinicians New to This Work

Course DescriptionThis full-day, experiential workshop is designed for social workers and other mental health professionals who are new to couples therapy and want a practical, inclusive foundation to begin this work with clarity and confidence.

Couples therapy requires more than just applying individual therapy techniques to two people. It calls for a shift in mindset—from an individual lens to a two-person relational system. This workshop supports that shift by offering a structured, accessible approach grounded in the Developmental Model and informed by the Gottman Method.

You’ll learn how to:

• Structure and lead early sessions with confidence
• Ask culturally responsive questions to uncover conflict patterns and attachment dynamics
• Integrate differentiation, attachment theory, and neuroscience into your clinical lens
• Recognize and address individual issues (like trauma, anxiety, addiction) as they show up in the relationship
• Step into the leadership role that couples therapy requires

We’ll combine brief lectures, live role plays, case discussions, and clinical observation. When available, short video examples will also be used. The training emphasizes cultural humility, inclusiveness, and social context—core values of the social work profession.

You’ll leave with:

• Practical tools to use right away
• A stronger understanding of the structure and mindset needed for effective couples work
• A roadmap for building confidence as a relational therapist

Ideal for clinicians who are ready to grow in a new area of practice with guidance rooted in theory and grounded in real-world application.

Info: Getting Started in Couples Therapy: A One-Day Experiential Workshop for Clinicians New to This Work

Course Description
This full-day, experiential workshop is designed for social workers and other mental health professionals who are new to couples therapy and want a practical, inclusive foundation to begin this work with clarity and confidence.

Couples therapy requires more than just applying individual therapy techniques to two people. It calls for a shift in mindset—from an individual lens to a two-person relational system. This workshop supports that shift by offering a structured, accessible approach grounded in the Developmental Model and informed by the Gottman Method.

You’ll learn how to:

Structure and lead early sessions with confidence
Ask culturally responsive questions to uncover conflict patterns and attachment dynamics
Integrate differentiation, attachment theory, and neuroscience into your clinical lens
Recognize and address individual issues.

Host or Publisher Timothy C. Donovan, LCSW-C, Bmore couples center