Certificate in Working With Couples

Dates for In-person, face to face modules in London and Bristol

Dates for online modules

Certificate in Working with Couples

Modular Couples Therapy Training for Therapists and Counsellors

The Certificate in Working with Couples is a comprehensive, modular couples therapy training designed for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, and helping professionals who want to develop confidence and competence in working with couples. This integrative training is delivered by an experienced faculty including Bernd Leygraf, Nicola Jones, Zofia Zyborska, Murray Blackett, Jean Miller and Juliet Grayson. The programme is designed and overseen by Juliet Grayson, UKCP Registered Psychosexual Therapist.  It has been running continuously since 2002 (with updates and tweaks) and is widely recognised as a well-established UK couples therapy training.

The Six Modules: Their Titles

  • Communication and Difference
  • Sex, Arousal and Ageing
  • The Fundamentals of Working With Couples
  • Meeting Their Partner’s Needs: Exploring How People Get Their Needs Met in Relationships
  • Couples in Conflict
  • Dealing with Affairs

CPD Accreditation and Professional Recognition

Each module is accredited for 14 hours CPD by the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists (NCIP).  This makes the course suitable for therapists seeking recognised CPD hours in couples counselling and psychotherapy.  Having completed the six modules you can advertise yourself as a Couples Therapist. NCIP accreditation is recognised by:

  • UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)


Free CPD Webinar: Working with Couples – Why Bother?

You can watch a free prerecorded webinar presented by Juliet Grayson exploring the realities, challenges, and rewards of working with couples in therapy.

  • Duration: 1 hour
  • CPD Certificate available
  • Includes material drawn from all six modules
  • The webinar is hosted on Thinkific. You will need to create a free account
  • Access it via: https://jandw.thinkific.com/  Look for Working with Couples – Why Bother? 
  • To watch for free, create a free account and use the code free_wwc (saving £3).

Structure of the Couples Therapy Training

  • Six standalone modules
  • Each module consists of 15 hours over three days
  • All modules are delivered online
  • We have two modules left that will be delivered in person in Ealing, West London
  • Modules can be taken in any order
  • You may attend one module, multiple modules, or all six
  • There is no set order for attending these workshops. You are free to take the modules in any sequence that suits your availability and preferences.
  • Some participants complete the full programme within one year, while others spread it over several years to suit their diary and finances

Who Is This Couples Therapy Training For?

This training is suitable for:

  • Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Psychologists and Coaches who mainly work one-to-one and want to begin working with couples
  • Practitioners already working with couples who want to deepen or refresh their skills
  • Experienced couples therapists seeking new perspectives and integrative models
  • Counsellors who want a stronger understanding of relationships, even if they do not plan to work with couples directly, as most of their one-to-one clients will be in relationships

Benefits of the Certificate in Working with Couples

Participants commonly report that this training helps them to:

  • Work confidently and ethically with couples
  • Support individual clients with relationship difficulties
  • Understand relational dynamics through a systemic lens
  • Develop practical strategies that support intimacy, repair, and connection
  • Improve their own intimate relationships and friendships
  • Attract a wider range of clients thus increasing their income
  • Some therapists describe the course as transformative, both personally and professionally.

Course Dates, Delivery, and Fees

  • All six modules run several times each year
  • Modules are delivered online by a member of the training faculty
  • You choose which modules to attend and when
  • For dates coming up see https://therapyandcounselling.co.uk/
  • Look below the course name, you want the ones that say ‘This module is part of the Certificate in Working with Couples’ 

Fees per module:

  • £209 very early booking if booked more than 2 months ahead
  • £229 early booking if booked more than one month ahead
  • £259 full price within the final month

Certificate of Attendance

  • After each module you will receive a Certificate of Attendance once you have completed the feedback form
  • Participants who complete all six modules can apply to recieve the full certificate
  • The full certificate can either be sent via email for you to print yourself, or you can apply for version that is signed by Juliet Grayson, for you to put onto your wall.
  • See   Certificate in Couples Therapy.

Couples Therapy Models and Theoretical Frameworks

The Certificate in Working with Couples is an integrative couples therapy training, drawing on multiple clinically established approaches.  The modules support systemic thinking, emotional regulation, communication skills, and relational repair.The modules cover theory by:

  • Bowenian Family Systems Therapy later applied to couples work by David Schnarch
  • Crowe and Ridley’s Behavioural-Systems Approach
  • Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
  • Attachment Theory
  • The Gottman Method for Couples Therapy
  • Imago Couples Therapy developed by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt
  • Conscious Relating Model created by Juliet Grayson
  • And many other models in individual modules

Feedback From Participants

Feedback from participants: Click Here

“Thank you for the incredibly inspiring and galvanising training over the weekend. That was my second module and just like last time I’ve already found myself bringing in some of the learning in my work with individuals this week. Bernd, your energy and whole approach emanates a contagious strength and faith in the power of people and in the work itself – I’m very grateful to you for that.”  Rosie Dee PGDip MBACP  

“A really comprehensive, interesting and diverse certificate training, with a range of different professinoal covering many different aspects – a solid foundation in couples therapy! ” Sam, Counsellor: Sam has completed the 6 modules

“I have learned so much that will help my work with not only couples but individuals.” Cheryl Young CBT Therapist: Cheryl has completed the 6 modules

“This Certificate is a well presented programme which is challenging, exacting and highly informative, delivered by experienced presenters.  It is interactive, with opportunities for discussion, and role-play, and also a most enjoyable experience.”  Janet, Counsellor.  Janet has completed all six modules

See reviews like this on Trustpilot click here 

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Certificate in Couples Therapy:
The Six Modules
CONTENT Of EACH MODULE

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
  • Differentiation and emotional fusion
  • 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
  • Learn about sexual arousal circuit and low sexual desire

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:

  • Understood how we each create our own reality, our ‘map of the world’
  • Watched and analysed a video of a couple 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 can be 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 with comments by Chloe Madanes
  • Discussed the ‘imago’ concepts of Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt 
  • Learned about ‘maximisers’ and ‘minimisers’
  • 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
  • Considered the ‘therapist’s job’ when working with this topic
  • Looked at distorted and defeatist beliefs
  • Explored what is required in saying sorry and forgiveness
  • Explored how the process of differentiation affects affairs, integrity and blame
  • Practiced working with these issues as a therapist

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

By the end of the course you will have:

  • Examined conflict, and different styles that couples use
  • Thought about the benefits of arguing, and couples who avoid conflict
  • Explored Sue Parker Halls model about anger and rage, including hot & cold rage
  • Explored strategies for resolving conflict
  • Thought about some issues for the therapist working with domestic violence
  • Experienced using a ‘couple pot’ for exploring issues of rage
  • Explored John Gottman’s ‘Masters of Marriage’ and the ‘Masters of Disaster’
  • Learnt about Grayson’s Five Star Model of Conscious Relating

Sex, Arousal and Ageing

By the end of this course you will have

  • Thought about sexual drive, desire, arousal and orgasm
  • Looked at anatomy of cis men, cis women, people who are intersex and transgender
  • Considered the sexual excitation centre (turn-ons) and the sexual inhibition centre (turn offs)
  • Understood how context affects sexual functioning
  • Looked at childhood development and sexual scripts
  • Learnt about the ageing process with regards to sexual functioning
  • Considered what is within the scope of a couples therapist, and what issues would need referring to a psychosexual therapist
  • Practiced role play situations discussing sex, sexuality or ageing

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. Homework on night 1 or 2: 30 mins -watch 2 x 15 minute videos
  • 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. Watch a 20 minute video before the workshop.
  • 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: none. There is a film we recommend you watch called Hope Springs with Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones.  There is homework at the end of Day 2 (approx 1 hour filling in forms).  

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