Description

When couples enter the therapy office, they sting with pain and despair. They look to you, the clinician, to referee chronic conflicts, fix their partners, and rebuild burned bridges. Our practical, emotion-focused, and highly effective approach is based on Dr. John Gottman’s 40 years of compelling research with over 3,000 couples. Join the worldwide network of more than 50,000 mental health professionals who have completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

This inspiring learning experience will give you new insights into treatment for couples who struggle. In this self-paced online course, you will discover a research-based method for helping couples manage conflict, deepen friendship and intimacy, and share their life purpose and dreams.

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this training, you will be able to:

1. Summarize the research that allows us to predict future relationship stability
2. Describe the seven levels of the Sound Relationship House theory
3. Conduct a couple’s therapy assessment using elements of the couple’s narrative, the Oral History
4. Interview, written questionnaires, observations of conflict and individual interviews
5. Describe two interventions to help strengthen a couple’s conflict management
6. Describe two interventions to enhance a couple’s friendship system
7. Describe two interventions to explore a couple’s system of shared meaning
8. Explain why physiological self-soothing is essential for a healthy relationship
9. Create a therapeutic contract with a couple, discuss and decide on goals and include a summary of the couples strengths and areas that need improvement
10. Describe the Philosophy of Therapy and including assumptions, overview of techniques and goals of therapy
11. Describe the Rapoport Intervention and when to use it
12. Describe the process of therapy, including the structure of a session

Details

You will learn in this whirlwind two-day workshop:

• How to help understand couples’ struggles using new research-based assessments and effective interventions.
• Research-based strategies and tools to help couples successfully manage conflict.
• Skills that empower couples to dialogue about their worst gridlocked issues by uncovering their underlying dreams, history, and values
• Techniques to help couples presenting with multiple co-morbidities including: incest, the effects of poverty, PTSD and infidelity.
• Methods to help couples process their fights and heal their hurts.
• Techniques for couples to deepen their intimacy and minimize relapse.
• Methods to help couples feel a renewed sense of caring and partnership through emotional connection.
   

You’ll view a video of Dr. John Gottman’s research with couples and see extensive films from the Gottmans’ clinical office demonstrating their use of Gottman Method therapy with their clients.

You’ll also receive a 352-page PDF manual online featuring new relationship assessment questionnaires and clinical interventions that you’ll be able to use immediately with your clients.

You will receive a 63-page PDF of lecture slides for your reference.

Clinicians who take this workshop will be equipped with new methods and tools to help couples break the cycle of criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling. Through demonstrations and films from the clinical office, you’ll see how to apply the research-based principles and interventions of Gottman Method Couples Therapy to strengthen:

• The Friendship System – the building block for intimacy, passion, and good sex
• The Conflict System – the basis for helping couples manage solvable problems and understand and manage unresolvable differences.
• The Shared Meaning System – the existential foundation of the relationship that helps couples create shared purpose in building a life together.

Mike Fidler has a Master of Social Work degree & is a Registered Social Worker. He has certificates from the University of Toronto in custody access mediation, Psychosocial Factors in Rehabilitation & Addiction Studies, and has an Advanced Family Therapy training certificate from the George Hull Family & Children’s Centre. Mike is a certified Substance Abuse Professional under NAFTA. Mike completed his advanced training using John Gottman Marital Assessment & Intervention Techniques through the Gottman Institute in Seattle, Washington & is a certified Gottman couple’s therapist. Mike has advanced training in emotional focused couple’s therapy with Susan Johnson & Les Greenberg respectively. He has his advanced level training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy as an attachment & trauma therapist for children and youth with Daniel Hughes.

Mike is certified by the Gottman Institute to train couples’ therapists in Level one introductory Gottman methods theory, Level two advanced training in Gottman clinical methods & Level three practicum. He is a consultant in the therapist certification track. Mike is a certified Art & Science of Love workshop leader.         

As a Certified Advanced Trainer Mike has spent nearly 20 years being trained by John and Julie Gottman during yearly retreats.

He worked at the Haldimand Norfolk Children’s Aid Society for 12 years as a child abuse specialist, taught provincially & nationally for over 6 years for the Institute for the Prevention of Child Abuse, has been in private clinical practice for over 30 years and managed Mike Fidler & Associates Inc. from 1989-2019.

Mike has volunteered for over 20 years as a marriage preparation trainer & is an international couple’s workshop leader delivering The Art & Science of Love Couple’s Workshop in Simcoe Ontario & abroad. Mike is a specialist in couple’s therapy within his semi retired clinical practice since 2019. Mike has more than 10,000 hours as a couple’s therapist. As a Gottman certified Advanced Trainer he continues a robust teaching practice.

Special populations

Couples with; addiction related issues, affairs, & high conflict

Gottman Level I Outline

Two days: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Day One

THE RESEARCH:

What Makes Relationships Succeed or Fail?

o   What is different about Gottman Method Couples Therapy?

o   What is dysfunctional about relationships when they are ailing?

o   The “Masters” and the “Disasters” of relationships. Exploding some common myths.

o   Negative and Positive sentiment overrides

o   Friendship, Intimacy, Positive Affect Systems

o   The Shared Meaning System

o   From a checklist to The Sound Relationship House Theory

HOW TO ASSESS A RELATIONSHIP

Using The Sound Relationship House Theory to assess a relationship’s strengths and areas that need improvement.

THE ASSESSMENT SESSIONS

Session 1:

o   Couple’s Narrative

o   Oral history interview

o   Conflict evaluation

o   Discuss the Shared Meaning System

o   Preparing the couple for Individual Sessions

o   Written questionnaires

Session 2:

o   Individual interviews

Session 3:

o   Therapeutic Contract – Discussing and Deciding about Goals

o   Summary of strengths and areas that need improvement

o   Treatment planning

o   Demonstration film

DAY TWO

INTRODUCTION TO INTERVENTION:

o   Philosophy of the therapy – Six assumptions

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

o   Rapoport Intervention and demonstration film

o   Ending the Four Horsemen

o   Dealing with Flooding and demonstration film

o   Dreams within Conflict Intervention and demonstration film

o   Building the Basic Skills

o   Softened Startup

o   Accepting Influence

o   Repair and De-escalation

o   Physiological Soothing

o   Compromise

o   Aftermath of a Fight or Regrettable Incident and demonstration film

BUILDING FRIENDSHIP AND SHARED MEANING

o   Build Love Maps and demonstration film

o   Turn Towards: The Stress-Reducing Conversation and demonstration film

o   Build Rituals of Connection and demonstration film. What is different about Gottman Method Couples Therapy?

o   Create Shared Meaning and demonstration film

PROCESS OF THE THERAPY

SUMMARY

WHAT’S NEXT – ADDITIONAL TRAINING

CE Credits - Canada

Most Canadian Professionals requiring CE credit will find the CEs available to the USA professionals are transferable.  Check with your professional body to ensure transferability.  You will have a copy of your sign-in sheet for those professional bodies requiring confirmation of attendance. The On-Demand course that comes with the live presentation package has CE Credit with the completion of a quiz.

“The College of Psychologists of Ontario does not accredit or endorse any providers of continuing education or professional development programming.

All registrants of the College are expected to exercise their judgment when completing activities towards the fulfillment of the mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program requirements. If a course, seminar, or other interdisciplinary event has enhanced their knowledge and skill as it relates to their professional practice of psychology, they are permitted to include it toward the requirements.

If registrants are not awarded with a formal CE certificate from a program provider, they may document their participation by the number of hours completed and will be expected to retain supporting documentation.” Quality Assurance <qualityassurance@cpo.on.ca>

“For activities which occur outside of the province of Québec (formation hors-Québec), whether in person or online, we ask participants (psychologists and holders of a psychotherapy license) to make sure the activity they want to add to their continuing education file is relevant to psychotherapy. Thus, no accreditation is needed on your part. Accreditation is required if the activity is happening in Québec.

We ask participants to provide us with the following supporting documents when they add a formation hors-Québec to their file:

• Certificate of participation indicating at least the activity title, date and duration, name of organization and trainer, and
• Payment receipt, and
• Activity description, advertisement or flyer.” Julien Ayotte

CE Credits - USA

NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after completing and passing the online post-test evaluation).

Continuing Education Information:

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval. For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact cepesi@pesi.com or 800-844-8260.

Addiction Counselors:

This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

California Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (CCAPP):

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the CCAPP-EI, Provider #: OS-03-036-1021. This self-study activity meets the qualifications for 11.0 CEH’s (continuing education hours).

California Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (CADTP):

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the CADTP, Provider #: 201. This Category H activity meets the qualifications for 11.0 CEU’s (continuing education hours).

Oklahoma Alcohol & Drug Counselors:

PESI, Inc. is an Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors approved provider #20190032. This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.

Counselors:

This intermediate self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

Florida Social Mental Health Counselors:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 11.0 continuing education credits.

Montana Counselors:

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health no longer pre-approves any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which contribute to their competence and directly relate to their scope of practice as defined in board statute (MAR 24-219-32). Licensees must keep CE documentation for three years in case of an audit. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of instruction.

Nevada Counselors:

PESI, Inc. is an approved CEU provider with the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. This self-study activity qualifies for 11.0 contact hours. Approved Provider # NVCEP2006.

New York Counselors:

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0033. This self-study activity will qualify for 13.0 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.

Pennsylvania Counselors:

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors accepts many national association CE approvals, several of which PESI offers. For a full list, please see your State Board regulations at https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/. This intermediate self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.

South Carolina Counselors:

This self-study program has been approved for 11.0 continuing education hours by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Provider #4540.

Texas Counselors:

This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors no longer approves programs or providers. PESI activities meet the continuing education requirements as listed in Title 22 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 681, Subchapter J, Section 681.142 Acceptable Continuing Education. Please retain the certificate of completion that you receive and use as proof of completion when required.

Marriage & Family Therapists:

This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

Florida Marriage & Family Therapists:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 11.0 continuing education credits.

Illinois Marriage & Family Therapists:

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. Provider #: 168-000156. Full attendance at this self-study activity qualifies for 11.0 credits.

Montana Marriage & Family Therapists:

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health no longer pre-approves any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which contribute to their competence and directly relate to their scope of practice as defined in board statute (MAR 24-219-32). Licensees must keep CE documentation for three years in case of an audit. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of instruction.

Nevada Marriage & Family Therapists:

PESI, Inc. is an approved CEU provider with the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. This self-study activity qualifies for 11.0 contact hours. Approved Provider # NVCEP2006.

New York Marriage & Family Therapists:

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. #MFT-0024. This self-study activity will qualify for 13.0 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.

Pennsylvania Marriage & Family Therapists:

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors accepts many national association CE approvals, several of which PESI offers. For a full list, please see your State Board regulations at https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/. This Intermediate self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.

South Carolina Marriage & Family Therapists:

This self-study program has been approved for 11.0 continuing education hours by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Provider #4540.

Texas Marriage & Family Therapists:

This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists no longer approves programs or providers. PESI activities meet the continuing education requirements as listed in Title 22 of the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 801, Subchapter K, Section 801.264 Types of Acceptable Continuing Education. Please retain the certificate of completion that you receive and use as proof of completion when required.

Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Clinical Nurse Specialists:

This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

California Nurses:

PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #:17118 for 11.0 self-study contact hours. You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

Florida Nurses:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 11.0 self-study contact hours.

Iowa Nurses:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Provider #: 346. Nurses successfully completing these self-study materials will earn 11.0 self-study contact hours. Copies of the evaluation may be sent to the IBON. You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

Psychologists:

This self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline and the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity. Contact us for more information on your state board or organization specific filing requirements. American Psychological Association credits are not available.

Florida Psychologists:

PESI, Inc., is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Psychology. Provider Number 50-399. This product qualifies for 11.0 self-study continuing education credits. Please make sure to bring your license number to the seminar so that we can report your attendance to CE Brokers.

Ohio Psychologists:

PESI, Inc. is approved by the Ohio Psychological Association, Provider #263896894, to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content. PESI is offering this self-study activity for 11.0 Standard hours of continuing education credit.

Illinois Psychologists:

PESI, Inc is an approved provider with the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. License #: 268.000102. Full attendance at this course qualifies for 11.0 self-study contact hours.

Indiana Psychologists:

PESI, Inc is an approved provider with the Indiana Board of Psychology. Certificate #: 98000998A – Category I. PESI maintains full responsibility for this program and its contents. Full attendance at this self-study course qualifies for 11.0 contact hours.

Kentucky Psychologists:

PESI, Inc. is approved by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology to offer continuing education for psychologists. PESI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This self-study activity will qualify for 11.0 contact hours.

Social Workers:

This intermediate self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

Colorado Social Workers:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Provider #1413. This course has been approved for 11.0 continuing education hours.

Florida Social Workers:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 11.0 continuing education credits.

Illinois Social Workers:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. License #: 159-000154. Successful completion of this self-study activity qualifies for 11.0 contact hours.

Kansas Social Workers:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Provider #14-006. This self-study course has been approved for 11.0 continuing education hours.

Minnesota Social Workers:

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Minnesota, Board of Social Work. Provider #: CEP-140. This self-study course has been approved for 11.0 continuing education hours. A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of a post-test.

Montana Social Workers:

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health no longer pre-approves any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which contribute to their competence and directly relate to their scope of practice as defined in board statute (MAR 24-219-32). Licensees must keep CE documentation for three years in case of an audit. This intermediate level self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of instruction.

New York Social Workers:

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0008. This self-study activity will qualify for 13.0 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. Expires: December 31, 2020.

Pennsylvania Social Workers:

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors accepts many national association CE approvals, several of which PESI offers. For a full list, please see your State Board regulations at https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/. This intermediate self-study activity consists of 11.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction.

Other Professions:

This self-study activity qualifies for 11.0 clock hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Disclaimer:

**Information obtained in this course should be used within your scope of practice. **It is your ethical responsibility to report accurate hours to your licensing board.  **All self-study participants must complete and pass (80% or better) a post-test/evaluation prior to receiving a certificate of completion. If you require a copy of the test/evaluation for CE purposes, please print at the time you take the test.

FAQ

What is an On-Demand course?

On-Demand courses are self-paced online courses you can access any time from any computer or mobile device with a current browser and a reliable internet connection. Courses include streaming video lectures and downloadable PDFs of manuals and supplemental content. There are no required assignments or scheduled events, and there is no interaction with faculty or other students.

On-Demand courses that are eligible for self-study CE credits include online quizzes, as well as certificates you can download once you have viewed all the content and passed the quiz. These courses do not expire. You can take as long as you need to pass, and you still have access once you have completed the course.

What kind of computer skills do I need?

In order to be successful with online learning, you must have basic computer or mobile device and internet skills. You should be able to use a browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, and keep it updated to the most recent version. You will need to be able to create an account at gottman.com, complete the purchase process, and visit your account again to launch your courses. You will need to understand how to click buttons, use video controls, such as pause and play, and download and open PDF files.

How do I access the course content once I have purchased a course?

Log in at gottman.com and visit your My Account page to see a list of your online courses. Each course will include a button to launch the course viewer. The viewer button takes you to a page that contains all the course content, including links to take your CE quizzes and download certificates.

What is required in order to earn CE credit?

In order to receive CE credit, you must view all the course videos and complete the quiz with an 80% score or higher. Once you have successfully completed the course and passed the quiz, you can download your CE certificate. CEs are provided by PESI, an approved continuing education provider for many national and state agencies.

Do online courses come with the printed manuals?

No. Online courses that include manuals come with a downloadable PDF manual. When you purchase an online course that has a printed manual available for purchase, you can add the manual to your order for an additional fee. If you would like a printed manual but did not select it during purchase, you can order it later from our online store.

Do I need the printed manual?

We highly recommend you purchase the printed manual for online courses. Every printed manual includes a binder with tabs for each chapter, so it’s easy to flip through the materials as you watch the videos. Manuals are an important reference during and after the courses as you learn to apply the methods.

Can I share my login with colleagues so we can learn as a group?

No. Logins may only be used by the individual who purchased the course. If you would like to learn as a group, please ask the other members to purchase the course.

Can I share the manual and handout PDFs with colleagues?

No. All files included with the course may only be used by the individual who purchased the course.

Can I purchase Online Learning products for someone else?

No. Purchases are associated with user accounts and linked to CE credits and certificates. You can allow someone to use your credit card to purchase, but they need to be logged into their own account so it can be associated with their credits for the course.

Dates:

June 2 & 3, 2025

Location:

Riversyde, 83 Sydenham St, Simcoe, ON N3Y 1R8, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Cost:

Registration Options (all rates are per person)

1. Registration Rate: $750.00 CAD (+GST), $562.50 USD (+GST)
2. Early Bird Registration, Valid until April 1, 2025: $699.00 CAD (+GST), $524.25 USD (+GST)
3. Bring a colleague for a discount of $100 to a maximum of 2 colleagues. Once the colleague(s) are identified, registered and paid, your fee will then be charged and adjusted to reflect the discount.
4. Student Registration Rate: $635.00 CAD (+GST), $478.25 USD (+GST). Proof of enrollment is required.
5. Combined Level 1 & 2 Rate: $1,500.00 CAD (+GST), $1,125.00 USD (+GST).

~ GST will be added to all prices, USD payments by Cheque.

Group rates may be available for early registration only. Please email positiverelationship2@gmail.com for details 

Refund Policy: Refund (less $100 administrative fee) when canceling 30 days prior to the workshop. After this date, credit will be given to attend a future workshop.

Attendance (Limited to): 40

Payment: CAD funds by cheque or e-transfer, USD funds by check (only) mailed To: Patricia Fidler, 1558 Charlotteville Rd. 8, On, Canada N3Y 4K5

Other Information: Please Identify any physical needs.

Contact: Sandra Callaghan positiverelationship2@gmail.com

Registration: contact Sandra Callaghan positiverelationship2@gmail.com

Other Links: Hotels, Bed and Breakfast, Cottages, Car rental

Best Western

Travelodge Simcoe

Culverdene House 10 minutes south of Simcoe Hwy 24

Clonmel Castle 150 Prospect St. Port Dover NOA 1N1

Maple Cottages New Lakeshore Road Port Dover

Other Information

Hertz Car Rental 275 Queensway West, Simcoe, ON N3Y 2M9, +15194263060

Brantford Enterprise Car Rental 14 Easton Rd, Brantford, ON N3P 1J5 +15197593100

Contact:

Sandra Callaghan positiverelationship2@gmail.com for more information and registration.

Registration:

Sandra will notify you of receipt of registration.  Once payment is received you will have confirmation of your spot from Sandra. positiverelationship2@gmail.com