Certificate in Working With Couples

A Modular Workshop for Working with Couples, run by Juliet Grayson,  Nicola Jones, Bernd Leygraf, Peter Gregory and Zofia Zyborska.

Each module is approved for 14 hours CPD by NCIP-  National Council Of Integrative Psychotherapists.  

WATCH A PRERECORDED WEBINAR: Working With Couples: Why Bother?
You can watch Juliet Grayson talking about some of the isses of working with couples, including some of the content from each of the 6 modules.  The video is 1 hour.  You can claim a CPD certificate for watching it.  Go to https://jandw.thinkific.com/.  You will need to create a free account first of all.  The, to watch this webinar for free,  use the code  free_wwc to watch it (saving yourself £3) 

To read feedback from participants click here

This is a description of Juliet’s modular workshop.  There are six modules.  Each module lasts for two days if face to face,  or three shorter days if online. If you attend all the modules you will receive a Certificate In Couples Therapy.  However, whilst some people will attend this as a whole course, participants are also welcome to attend just for one module, or two modules.  We have been running these courses (with minor tweaks and changes over the years to keep them up to date), since about 2002, and they were first accredited in about 2006!  

For course dates coming up: click here.  Each module costs £209 (if you get the very early booking discount), £229 with an early booking discount, or £249 full price.  These are available online across 3 days.

The Certificate in Couples Therapy Course is designed for people who usually work one to one, and want to work with couples…or those who are doing some work with couples and would like to update their skills.  We have had great feedback from people who have been couples therapists for years, who attended our workshops, and found them enlightening and beneficial. At the other end of the spectrum, counsellors sometimes come who have no intention working with couples, they attend these courses for their own learning about relationships (as they say, their clients are all in relationships – so these courses really help them with their clients…..and they are in relationships themselves too!!!).

All six modules are run several times each year, by one or all of the trainers: Juliet Grayson,  Nicola Jones and Julie Newberry, Bernd Leygraf, Kim Wallis, Peter Gregory and Zofia Zyborska. The six modules can be taken in any order, and you do not need to take them all. Some people take 4 or 5 years to complete all 6 modules. You decide what you want to book based on your personal needs, diary and finances. Each module is endorsed by NCIP-  National Council Of Integrative Psychotherapists.   for 14 hours CPD .

Certificate in Couples Therapy: The Six Modules

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NB The Fundamentals module does NOT have to be taken first.  The modules can be taken in any sequence

A. The Fundamentals of Working With Couples for Therapists/Health Professionals who Usually Work One to One.  

B. Communication and Difference

C. Sex and Ageing

D. Meeting Their Partner’s Needs

E. Couples and Conflict

F. Dealing with Affairs

The Fundamentals of Working With Couples
for Therapists, Coaches and Health Professionals who Usually Work One-to- One

Two days when in person face to face, three days when online, the first day is all about relationships and on the second day we discuss sex and different sexual dysfunctions, and how they can be treated.

By the end of the course you will have explored:

  • What to expect when working with couples
  • The first session
  • Decentring: a method for working with couples
  • How to start the couple communicating
  • How to help the couple negotiate
  • Framework for understanding relationships dynamics
  • Patterns of intimacy
  • Dealing with sexual issues such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, loss of desire, and vaginismus.

Communication and Difference
Understanding different styles of thinking & different ways of approaching things

Based on the de-centring model of Dr Michael Crowe and Jane Ridley; and on meta-programmes from Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

This course also uses video of a therapist working with a couple.

By the end of the workshop you will have:

  • Seen a video of a couple in role-play using decentring and communication skills
  • Practiced listening for values, and helping a couple to discover shared values
  • Learnt about 5 different thinking styles (meta-programmes) that people use
  • Understood how meta-programme differences are a significant source of conflict
  • Learn what your personal meta-programme preferences are
  • Learn about language patterns that make communication easier
  • Practiced working with these issues in a role play situation

Meeting Their Partner’s Needs
Exploring How People Get Their Needs Met In Relationships


Based on work by Anthony Robbins and Harville Hendrix

Delegates will be asked to fill in a questionnaire to help explore their own attachment style

This course also uses video of a therapist working with a couple

By the end of the workshop you will have :

  • Understood the 6 needs according to Human Needs Psychology
  • Looked at where you are with regards to these needs
  • Thought about the stages of a relationship
  • Have watched and discussed some video of Anthony Robbins working
  • Discussed the ‘imago’ concepts of Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt
  • Explored developmental stages (attachment theory), and couple dynamics
  • Practiced working with these issues as a therapist

NB Juliet runs a separate day called Parent Infant Attachment and the Impact on Relationships. This has different content and is complementary to ‘Meeting Their Partner’s Needs’ which is more about the Developmental Stages than the early Attachment Issues.

Dealing with Affairs
Based on work by Rona Subotnik, Gloria Harris, Kate Epstein and the work of David Schnarch

By the end of the workshop you will have:

  • Understood the prevalence of affairs, and different types of affair
  • Explored some of the reasons why they happen
  • Thought about common reactions to an affair
  • Looked at distorted and defeatist beliefs
  • Explored what is required in saying sorry and forgiveness
  • Helped a (role play) client confront their fears
  • Explored how the process of differentiation affects affairs, integrity and blame

Couples and Conflict
Based on work by Susan Quillam and David Schnarch

By the end of the course you will have:

  • Examined conflict, and difference styles that couples use
  • Thought about the benefits of arguing, and couples who avoid conflict
  • Explored Sue Parker Halls thoughts about the difference between anger and rage, including hot & cold rage
  • Briefly discussed the stress response: fight flight freeze and appease
  • Explored strategies for resolving conflict
  • Though about some issues for the therapist working with domestic violence
  • Experienced using a ‘couple pot’ for exploring issues of rage
  • Explored some of John Gottmans’ ideas about the Masters of Marriage and the Masters of Disaster

Sex, Arousal and Ageing

By the end of this course you will have

  • Understood the basics of human sexual functioning
  • Explored the process of female arousal
  • Familiarised yourself with sexual terminology, and what words you are comfortable with using
  • Thought about life from the perspective of a person with different sexual preferences
  • Looked at childhood development and messages – with regard to sex
  • Learnt about the ageing process with regards to sexual functioning
  • Practiced role play situations discussing sex, sexuality or ageing
  • Thought about an integrated approach to sexual problems (including medical causation)

PRECOURSE WORK AND HOMEWORK

As a part of the workshops, there will also be an additional pre course work or homework to be done in your own time, during the workshop.  Please allow time for this. Here is a list of what is required for each module.

  • Couples in Conflict: Pre course work: Watch 27 mins video before the workshop. No other homework.
  • Communication and Difference: Fill in questionnaire at the end of day 1 approx. 20 minutes. No other homework.
  • Dealing with Affairs: Pre course work: Questionnaire 10 mins.  Also watch video: 22 minutes.  No other homework.    
  • Fundamentals of Working with Couples: Pre course work: Fill in questionnaire 15 mins. No other homework.
  • Meeting Their Partner’s Needs: At end of day 1 watch video 60 minutes. At the end of day 2 fill in questionnaire 20 minutes.  No other homework.
  • Sex Arousal and Ageing. Pre course Work: 20-30 minute exercise No other homework.

To see all the available dates that these workshops for the Certificate in Counselling Couples are being run please go to https://therapyandcounselling.co.uk/

To see Juliet Grayson’s book about her experience of working with couples: Landscapes of the Heart: The working world of a sex and relationship therapist, please click here