Module 1 Setting up Couples session

• Introduction to the course and expectations
• Aims and outcomes
• Ethics and boundaries with couples
• Safety in the room and rules of the sessions
• Couples’ initial consultation and the couple’s assessment 
• The first session – how to start: What do I/we want, why do I/we need it, what do I/we have – the goals of the therapy
• Using Socratic, systematic and circular questioning
• Dysfunctional Family Rules 

Module 2 Relationships 

• What is a healthy relationship 
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Types of couples and relationship styles 
• Extensions to relationships 
• Different types of couples  
• Life cycle and stages of relationships 

Module 3 Roles in relationships

• Withdrawer and Pursuers 
• Attachment styles and what impacts them within a relationship
• Parent Adult Child in a relationship and how to work with it 
• Drivers
• Working with the Low mood cycle in a relationship
• Recap on negative thought bias and bringing that into the sessions

Module 4 Conflict reactions

• Argument Cycle 
• Four Horseman of the Apocalypse 
• Three fighting styles 
• Drama Triangle 
• Relationship impactors Things that change a relationship
•  Affairs
•  Bereavement/Grief/Loss 
•  Illness (physical and mental) 
•  Menopause 
•  Children
• Flash backs to triggers 

MODULE 5 Recentring and grounding 

• Stopping cycles 
• Event Feeling Belief Truth (EFBT) 
• Love and apology language work 
• Stability building

Module 6 Endings

• How to end couples counselling 
• Couples breaking up in sessions 
• The counsellor’s response on Couples Counselling 

Course Framework, this course covers the following modalities and frameworks

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Solution Focused Therapy 
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy 
• Gottman Method
• Transactional Analysis
• Person Centred 
• Emotional Focused Therapy
• Systematic Family Therapy
• Polyvagal Theory
• Family Systems

Course Requirements

• Working through Therapist Corner, actions and activities throughout modules
• Counsellor led discussions on factors that impact couples
• Working through case studies on best practise based on course aims
• Reading articles and books from recommended reading list
• Watching various YouTube videos and programmes on relevant couples counselling topics with discussion
• Supported couples’ 18 placement hours post course. (not compulsory but highly recommended and added to your certificate)  

Recommended book, articles and YouTube lists

Books

• I want this to work - Elizabeth Earnshaw - Help with day-to-day problems, long standing conflicts, flexibility and accessibility in connection with each other.
• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work – Dr John Gottman and Nan Silver - Classic guidance and insights from the guru of couples.
• Come as you are – Emily Nayoski - Women’s sexuality understanding and reading
• Attached – Amir Lavine - Popular and insightful book introducing attachment styles.
• Hold me tight – Sue Johnson - Intimacy and emotional focused book. 
• Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy for Dummies – Brent Bradley & James Furrow - Don’t be fooled, a good clear and functional book about EFT
• Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy - A good selection of different approaches that covers basic sexual communication issues that couples can face
• Small Talk, Richard and Roxanne Pink - Help with understanding impacts of ADHD core beliefs
• Why Has Nobody Told Me This before – Dr Julie Smith - Everyday tools and knowledge that can be utilised for single people and couples

YouTube Clips

• Four Horseman of the Apocalypse
• How to argue

Online sites/articles

• DBT Tools - Home - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Tools
• Drama Triangle - Drama Triangle Explained: How to Recognize and Escape It - AP (attachmentproject.com)
• Attachment Styles - Attachment Styles in Adult Relationships - Complete Guide (attachmentproject.com)
• Working with the Wheel of Emotions - The Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use It (positivepsychology.com)