CERTIFICATE IN COUPLES COUNSELLING

Whether you are looking to add couples work to your professional portfolio or deepen and refine your existing practice, this course offers a rich and engaging learning experience.

Training Overview

This course explores the fundamental principles of couples' work through our interactive, experiential training. This training comprehensively addresses key principles in couples' work. Topics include the definition of a relationship, the nature of attraction, and the role of idealization. Participants will explore individual contributions to relationships, focusing on the internal couple and recurring patterns in relationship dynamics. The curriculum covers the functions and mechanisms of desire and sex, as well as attachment theory and patterns. Additionally, the program delves into the complexities of separation and divorce, working online and various other relevant topics. 

Participants can expect a thorough exploration of couples' work principles.

2026 – 2027 Certificate in Couples Counselling Timetable

Weekend 1: 12/13/September 2026 (10am – 4pm)

Key principles of working with couples

• Why do we choose who we choose – and what is a relationship? Exploring the nature of attraction, phantasy and idealisation
• The relationship as the client: developing a couple focus and ‘couple state of mind’
• What does each partner bring into the couple? Relationship ‘blueprints’, intergenerational patterns and how the past influences the present
• Couple fit and how to work with conflict and repeated patterns of difficult relationship dynamics

Weekend 2: 10/11 October 2026 (10am – 4pm)

Functions and meanings of desire and sex

• What happens when the sexual relationship breaks down? Differences in expectations, levels of desire
• Development of sexual identity and the changing landscape of cultural and societal influences
• Fertility issues and loss; exploring physical, emotional and external challenges to sexual relating
• Common sexual dysfunctions and causes; predisposing, precipitating and maintaining factors;  identifying when to refer onwards
• Working with betrayal and shame; the influence of pornography and compulsive sexual behaviour

Weekend 3 ONLINE: 07/08 November 2026 (10am – 4pm) 

Attachment as a spatial theory: attachment patterns, couple systems and role of therapist

• Internal working models; influence on couple choice and impact on the couple relationship
• Couple systems and identifying and working with attachments patterns and defensive cycles
• The therapist as attachment figure; exploring the impact of breaks; addressing challenges to containment; reflecting on differences between online and in-person couple work
• Affairs: a ‘heart attack for the relationship?’ Working with protest and triangulation
• The potential for collusion and secrets in the consulting room and how to address

Weekend 4: 05/06 December 2026 (10am – 4pm)

Why have they come? Assessment and identifying the work ahead

• Contracting and early transference: the challenges of establishing and maintaining the therapeutic alliance between two clients simultaneously
• The overt and the covert presenting problem; ‘why now?’ for choosing couple therapy; relationship life stages and the influence of critical incidents
• ‘S/he’s the problem!’ Exploring the role of depression, mental health and the ‘allocated patient’
• Assessing and managing risk (potential abuse; child protection issues); helping couples understand, address and change damaging behaviours; sustaining positive change.

Weekend 5: 09/10 January 2027 (10am – 4pm)

Endings and beginnings

• Types and meanings of endings; discourses around ending
• A ‘good enough’ relationship and when to end therapy; supporting couples with relapse prevention strategies 
• Separation and the different types of divorce; the impact on children; working with disappointment, blame and loss in the consulting room
• New relationships: the potential for repeated patterns; the impact of blended families