Liberating a Couple's Creative Energy with Encounter-Centered Couples Therapy

Join Hedy Schleifer as she presents the basic theoretical framework and principles of Encounter-centered Couples Therapy (EcCT). She will describe the method she evolved for unraveling the “survival knot" in the developmental-growth journey of a couple. The "survival knot" is the principal "stuck place" for couples. It often remains unconscious but has the potential to be an essential agenda that is deeply embedded in the couple’s presenting problem. The “survival knot” is what many couples experience as their impasse issue, where one person's anguished desperation meets the other person's dogged resistance, and vice versa. 

The theory on which the “survival knot” is based stems from the assumption that couples know each other's "war story" at a subconscious level. The crucible of their power struggle centers around the unconscious developmental themes with which they wrestle. The growth potential of the relationship lies in shedding light on the developmental themes that fuel their reactive dynamic as well as their relational nightmare. Unraveling the “survival knot” allows new creative energy to flow between the couple for the purpose of designing a relationship of choice, rather than one of reactivity and compulsion.   

In this two-hour continuing education web conference, Hedy will share strategies from Encounter-centered Couples Therapy she has develop for unraveling the "survival knot” in countless couples around the world. She will describe how she created this relational diagnosis by decoding the complex distinction between the adaptive, reactive couple’s "survival dance" and the attuned, empathic connection between two intentional partners in relationship. Therapists will learn the roadmap for entering this most treacherous territory of a couple's relationship, while receiving a clear step-by-step structure to guide couples with confidence and expertise. 

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

1. Summarize strategies to unravel the "survival knot" and assist couples with common impasse issues.
2. Explain the basic theoretical framework of Encounter-centered Couples Therapy.
3. Describe the major guiding principles of Encounter-centered Couples Therapy.
4. Utilize Encounter-centered Couples Therapy strategies to assist couples in making productive steps toward healthy and creative connections.
5. Identify unconscious developmental themes that have the potential to fuel reactive dynamics in couples.

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

Event Reviews from Members

Hedy brought a love and compassion-infused presentation of couples therapy to all of us across the country.  Her message was deeply relevant, profoundly wise, wonderfully accessible, and transformative.  Not only is my professional mindset impacted by her wisdom, but my personal life as well.  I highly recommend all therapists avail themselves of her knowledge and expertise.  Such a fabulous and impactful course, Goodtherapy.org! - Joanna Singh, LMSW 

Very well done. She lives and breathes the material, thus presents it in a concentrated, beautiful way. - Andrea Shaw, PhD, MFT 

Loved the hopefulness of her perspective and its focus on deeper resonance for couples. - Jaci Schoen, MS, LMFT - Irvine, CA

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Two CE credits 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.

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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Highlights