Couples counselling and relationship enhancement

Timetable

The course consists of four full-day workshops conducted over two weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) in April and May 2025. Each workshop runs from 9 AM to 4 PM, with breaks.

Address:
Campus Szamarzewo (Szamarzewskiego 89). Precise information regarding the room number and building will be provided before the semester starts.

Module aim (aims)

• To provide knowledge about the nature, scope, and format of couples counseling and relationship enhancement interventions in various professional contexts (e.g., clinical, educational, social work).
• To develop skills and knowledge for analyzing and enhancing relationship strengths.
• To develop skills and knowledge around the use of interventions to reduce conflict and support healthy relationships.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

• A basic understanding of counseling theory and skills is desirable (pre-course reading can be used to obtain this understanding)
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Capacity for honest and non-defensive self-reflection
• Capacity to engage in group work activities and classroom discussion

Syllabus

Workshop 1:   The scope and nature of couples counseling
Identifying similarities and differences (in terms of process and therapist skills) between individual therapy and couples counseling. Developing a couple-oriented 'view' of the counseling process.Suitability for couples counseling and management of ethical issues.

Workshop 2:   Assessment of relationship strengths and areas of relationship difficulties
Intake, screening, and assessment. Helping a couple to identify and articulate their difficulties. The principles of the assessment process and identifying a therapeutic focus. 

Workshop 3:   Conflict and communication
Identifying and intervening in conflict cycles. Identifying and changing problematic behaviors and thought processes that generate conflict. Prevention and management of conflict. Effective communication strategies

Workshop 4:   Sex, emotional intimacy and dealing with specific difficulties in couples work
Supporting couples to increase their sense of emotional and physical intimacy. Addressing common sexual difficulties. Relationship enhancement strategies.

The course is conducted in a workshop format (i.e., interactive). Students are required to participate in class activities, read obligatory readings, and complete individual reflective activities.

The learning outcomes are assessed by the completion of a workbook, which contains reflective activities and summaries of aspects of the theory and practice of couples counseling.

Reading list

Wachtel, E. (2019) The heart of couple therapy. Routledge.
Gottman, J. & Silver, N. (1999) The seven principles for making marriage work. Crown publishers.