Couples Counselling

Preview

How can counselling help couples build stronger, longer-lasting relationships? How can it support couples in distress? And how can we better understand intimate relationships in our personal lives?

Systemic therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that examines and addresses the interrelationships and dynamics within a family or social system to facilitate positive change and understanding. In this introductory course, you will learn about the core concepts, theories and skills used in Systemic Family Therapy for couples.

Systemic therapy is rooted in the belief that individuals cannot be fully understood in isolation; rather, they are best comprehended within the context of their relationships and the larger systems they are a part of. The core theory of systemic therapy emphasises that issues in a couple's relationship are often a result of broader systemic factors and communication patterns. It encourages a holistic view of the relationship, exploring how each partner's actions and reactions impact the other and how family and societal dynamics contribute to their challenges.

Systemic therapy seeks to promote healthier communication, address destructive patterns, and create positive change by involving all parties in the counselling process. This approach can lead to a deeper understanding of the interconnections within the relationship, ultimately fostering more effective problem-solving and improved overall dynamics.

Throughout the course, you will delve into the theoretical foundations, practical techniques, and underlying principles of couples counselling. You will learn:

• Gain a deep understanding of the foundations of couples counselling, its origins, and the core factors that contribute to successful relationships.
• Explore relationship theories and the systemic nature of partnerships, delving into the dynamics that underlie couples' interactions and behaviours.
• Understand essential counselling skills, including active listening, building therapeutic alliances, and maintaining confidentiality in a couples counselling context.
• Learn about the practical aspects of conducting couples counselling, from initial assessments to understanding the presenting problems and formulating effective therapeutic strategies.
• Understand therapeutic techniques, including neutrality, circular questioning, reframing, and more, to address various challenges in couples counselling effectively.
• Discover how counsellors navigate complex issues such as mental health, domestic abuse, and separation and divorce within couples counselling.
• Explore the sensitive topic of sex within relationships and the skills used to facilitate open and constructive discussions about this crucial aspect of partnership.
• Understand the profound impact of culture on counselling, and how cultural competencies allow us to engage with diverse couples effectively.
• Learn about creating and interpreting genograms, a visual tool that provides insight into family histories and relationships.

The course is thoughtfully designed, featuring video lectures, downloadable resources, quizzes, practical exercises, and a comprehensive course handbook. On completing the course, you will earn a certificate accredited by the International Association of Therapists. If you wish to become a registered member of the BACP you will require further training.

While a background in counselling, such as person-centred, may be useful, we will cover core counselling theory in this course, so no background in counselling is required.

Who isn’t this course for:

We take a wide and inclusive view of relationships, including the LGBT community, so anyone with a highly traditional view of marriage may not be comfortable with the course material.

This course will not focus on sexual dysfunction, so if you are looking to support couples who are having sexual-specific problems, other courses may be better suited.

About Level 2

Level 2 is an introductory level qualification suitable for all. They typically do not require prior experience and will take 6-12 weeks to complete based on studying one module per week. See the course description for information specific to this course.

Reviews

"Chris covers all the basics of couples counselling in this course, it is thorough and contains a great deal of useful information. Thank you!" Louise Hillier

"I found the course reasonably well-paced. Some of the quiz questions are very sensible and well-thought-out, and it is clear the presenter both knows and enjoys his profession." LDSPhoenix

"This Course was very insightful and putting me well on my way to become the Counsellor I want to be and know I could be." Brenda Nortje

Meet your instructor

Chris Worfolk

Chris is a psychologist and teacher. He holds an MSc in Psychology (Conversion) from Leeds Beckett University and is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society.

Chris is the author of multiple books including Do More, Worry Less. He ie the founder the of mental health charity Anxiety Leeds and is co-owner of the Leeds Anxiety Clinic.

Registration

This course is available via our on-demand platform. You can learn at your own pace but you will have access to your tutor if you have any questions or need additional support. Have some questions before joining the course? Reach out via the contact us page.