Certificate in Couples / Relationship Therapy from a relational perspective

With Rachel Cook TSTA

Course Outline

There are an increasing number of people seeking relationship therapy and this 6-day Certificate course in Relational Couples Therapy aims to develop your knowledge, confidence and practical skills in working effectively with couples and relationships. It is aimed at qualified practitioners and trainees who have some experience of working therapeutically with individuals but little or no experience of couples’ therapy.

We will explore the different difficulties faced by couples, and a range of techniques and theories that can help them from an integrative, relational perspective. Transactional Analysis theories will be offered as helpful tools for understanding and interrupting unhelpful dynamics, although no previous knowledge of TA is necessary.

How we will learn

My teaching style is collaborative, interactive, relational and co-creative. I will use clinical vignettes and encourage you to bring examples of your own couples work for supervision if you are already working with couples. As well as theoretical teaching, we will experiment with creative tasks you can give your couples, have whole group and small group discussions, fishbowl supervisions, and triad role-plays. This is a vital opportunity for you to practice managing (in a safe and non-judgmental environment) the different dynamics of working with two clients in the room at the same time.

Topics covered

• What to expect when working with couples/relationships
• How your own experience of couples/relationships impacts you as a couples therapist
• Making contact: the first sessions, assessment, contracting, case formulation
• Working safely and ethically and managing risk
• Common presenting issues
• Development of the couple relationship and the difficulties of different stages
• Improving communication and managing conflict
• Meeting each other’s needs: sex, difference, infidelity, co-regulation
• Different philosophies, skills and personal styles of the couples therapist
• Working relationally with couples: the transferential and co-creative relationship
• When couples therapy gets stuck and the limits to couples’ therapy
• When couples therapy ends in separation
• Ending couples therapy

About Rachel

Rachel Cook is a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst and a Senior Lecturer and Primary Tutor for the MSc in TA Psychotherapy at Metanoia Institute, London. She has also been Primary Tutor for the MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy at Metanoia and has been an educator for nearly 30 years. She is passionate about relational training, supervision and clinical work, and continues to have a busy private practice in Hampshire, UK. Her speciality is in working with relationships of all kinds: individuals with relationship problems (with others or self), couples, families, and groups, and she strives to use her humanity, humour, integrity and authentic self in her work. Rachel trained in Relational TA at Metanoia and especially enjoys being alongside trainees through their training and examination preparation, inspiring them to work ethically and professionally from a relational perspective. She is a published academic author, is on the Editorial Board of the Transactional Analysis Journal, and is a professional member of the UKCP’s Professional Conduct Committee.

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