Encounter-centered Couples Therapy: The Amends Journey After an Affair

In the aftermath of an affair, how does a therapist help a couple restore and strengthen their relational bond? What is an effective way to help a couple avoid the trap of “perpetrator” and “victim” and enable them to make authentic amends? To achieve these goals, therapists must help create a relational and emotional ambience in which the mutual expression and acceptance of deep regret and genuine forgiveness can occur.

In this two-hour continuing education web conference, Encounter-centered Couples Therapy (EcCT) founder, Hedy Schleifer, will explore the realm of the "encounter" for a couple who is in the throes of emotional pain and confusion after an affair. The realm of the encounter combines the words of each partner's individual story with the body's vast potential for emotional and spiritual expression. Attendees will enhance their clinical skills of holding space for the individuals as they enter a new connection as a couple.

Hedy will delve into the EcCT Amends Journey, a ritual that helps couples heal the rupture of an affair and create a relational space of compassion and forgiveness. EcCT teaches couples to become "bilingual" by learning and internalizing the vocabulary of their partner so each other’s narrative becomes fully understood. Attendees will develop a clearer vision of how to achieve a more relaxed and responsive therapeutic stance with couples after an affair. 

Hedy will decode the complex distinction between the reactive, adaptive survival dance, and the intentional dance of life in connection, with a special focus on the disconnection and the re-connection after an affair. Attendees will discover that EcCt is an original approach for helping couples heal from the recent wounds of an affair, as well as old wounds from their own childhoods, to generate newer and stronger bonds in the post-affair relationship.

This intermediate instructional level web conference is designed to help clinicians:

1. Recognize the distinction between the fragmented approach based on the victim-perpetrator paradigm and the process of dissolving the victim-perpetrator "trap.”
2. Describe at least two of the relational theories that are the underpinnings of Encounter-centered Couples Therapy.
3. Apply a step-by-step pragmatic, therapeutic structure to support couples in healing. 
4. Utilize practical techniques for assisting couples in growing their attention span, focus, concentration, and engaged presence to each other.
5. Explain the concepts of the brain-bridge and limbic resonance as elements of increased internal regulation and finer attunement for the couple.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.

Event Reviews from Members

Excellent for couples connecting at a higher level. - Jan Nolan, LCSW-C

Beautifully presented from a place of deep compassion and understanding. - Joanna Singh, LMSW

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy.org is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services. 

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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