Course Fee: $459 (Canadian currency)
A fully comprehensive Coaching Practitioner Certification program.
The Certificate in Relationship Coaching is ideal for coaches who are working with clients who want to enrich their relationship, or work on specific relationship concerns. There is an emphasis on attachment styles as this will affect how secure we feel, and our ability to communicate and share with one another. You’ll explore the kinds of things that keep couples stuck; how to help couples respond and communicate well; how to work with raw pain that couples carry with them; how to help couples build a rewarding sexual bond; and how to help them work through betrayal and breakups. However, the main goal is developing a love that will last – and giving clients tools to become more skilled at developing a bond that is genuine and deep.
You are free to commence at a time that suits your schedule and given six months to complete the course. Full tutor support is provided by a coaching mentor. Upon satisfactory completion of the course a certificate will be mailed out to you.
SYLLABUS
Module 1: Introduction to Couple Coaching
Topics Studied
- Understanding attachment theory
- Attachment styles in intimate relationships
- Exploring your beliefs about, and attitudes towards, attachment relationships
- The basic need to feel loved and valued
- The five love languages
- Self-awareness questionnaire
- Essential coaching skills
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
- Describe the three main attachment styles.
- Apply Bowlby’s work on attachment bonds to intimate adult relationships.
- List essential coaching skills.
Module 2: Introducing Emotion-Focused Therapy
Topics Studied
- Why connecting with our partner matters
- Introducing the demon dialogues
- Prioritizing emotional connection, responsiveness and intimacy
- The key components of EFT: accessibility, responsiveness and engagement
- Exploring your attachment to your partner
- Abuse in relationships
- Escaping a violent relationship: Safety planning
- Focussing on sexual assault
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
- Discuss the importance of prioritizing emotional connection, responsiveness and intimacy.
- Summarize the key components of Emotion-Focused Therapy.
- Outline the importance of safety planning when escaping from a violent relationship.
Module 3: The 7 Conversations of Emotion-Focused Therapy
Topics Studied
- Conversation 1: Recognizing the demon dialogues
- Conversation 2: Finding the raw spots
- Conversation 3: Revisiting a rocky moment
- Conversation 4: Hold me tight – Engaging and connecting
- Conversation 5: Forgiving injuries
- Conversation 6: Bonding through sex and touch
- Conversation 7: Keeping your love alive
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
- Explain what is meant by ‘demon dialogues’ in Emotion-Focused therapy.
- Outline the steps that can lead to forgiveness of injuries in intimate relationships.
- Propose ways of keeping our love alive.
Module 4: Sex and Intimacy
Topics Studied
- The key components of fulfilling sex
- Expectations, assumptions and beliefs about sex
- How to develop a more rewarding love life
- Further insights on the role of thoughts and feelings
- What if our desires are out of synch?
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
- Describe the key components of fulfilling sex.
- Outline the role that expectations, assumptions and beliefs play in our intimate relationships.
- Suggest how couples can develop a more rewarding sex life.
Module 5: Common Relationship Issues
Topics Studied
- The power of expectation
- Money
- Time and the work-life balance
- Relationships with the extended family
- Challenges with being in a blended family
- Gottman and problem-solving approaches in intimate relationships
- Developing conflict resolution skills
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
- Discuss the power of expectation
- Apply Gottman’s problem-solving approaches to dealing with problems in intimate relationships.
- Predict some challenges that may confront blended families.
Module 6: Affairs, Break-Ups and Divorce
Topics Studied
- Pornography: Does it matter?
- What is cybersex
- Emotional affairs
- Affairs under the microscope
- How to recover from an affair
- A parting of the ways
- Guidelines for dealing with a major break up
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
- Discuss issues related to pornography and cybersex.
- Explain what is meant by an emotional affair.
- Relate what’s involved in recovering from a break up.
Suggested reading for the course (to be purchased by the student)
Johnson, S.M. (2013). Love sense: The revolutionary new science of romantic relationships. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Duration of the course
The course consists of six knowledge and practice-based learning modules (comprehensive course notes), supplemented with suggested background reading, reflection activities and submission of tutor-marked assignments. There is one marked assignment per module. Courses are offered on a part-time basis and are designed to be completed within six months. Many students prefer to complete their studies in a shorter time frame.