Treating Relationships With Only One Person

About the Course

It is not unusual to have a client ask for individual therapy with the primary presenting problem being their intimate relationship. This can happen for any number of reasons, but one of the most common is resistance to treatment by the client’s partner. In this course, we will discuss some of the issues clinicians face when attempting to address primary relationship distress with only half the couple in treatment, including reasons to do so, ethical considerations, and strategies to involve the missing partner. We will also discuss specific techniques for supporting our clients in improving their relationships.

1.5 hours CE. Recorded video format (non-interactive)

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Course Overview

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 1.5 hours 

CE CREDITS: 1.50 continuing education/contact hours for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE: Mental Health Practitioners

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Intermediate

PREREQUISITE(S): None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Closed captioning of audio components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com. 

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: To obtain your CE certificate, learners must complete a pre-test (not scored), progress through all course segments, complete a participant evaluation, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a post-test. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within 3 attempts. If unable to do so, the learner will need to re-review the course segments.

FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL SUPPORT STATEMENT: This course has no commercial support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  This course has no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support. Psych Hub's conflict of interest statement is found in the footer of the training center.

GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICIES: Grievance and refund policies are found in the footer of the training center.

PARTICIPATION COSTS:  The cost to participate in this CE activity is included in the subscription registration fee.

COURSE CREATION DATE:  4/19/2023

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate the ethical and legal concerns in conducting relationship therapy with only one member of the couple
  • Demonstrate understanding of three strategies to motivate the reluctant partner to begin relationship treatment
  • Articulate a conceptual foundation for the treatment of relationship concerns with only one partner
  • Demonstrate understanding of at least four specific intervention strategies when focusing on relationship issues with one partner

Course Outline

  1. Overview
    1. Resistance to couples therapy with non-presenting partner
    2. Clinical reasoning for doing marital therapy with one person
    3. Ethical considerations
      1. Challenges in transitioning to couples once individual treatment has begun
      2. Partner management
  2. Better with Two
    1. Strategies to motivate reluctant, non-presenting partner
  3. Conceptual Foundation
  4. Specific Strategies

CE Information


American Psychological Association (APA)
Psych Hub is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Psych Hub, #1750, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 clinical continuing education credits.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Psych Hub is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CAMFT Approval #1000074. Course meets the qualifications for 1.50 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Psych Hub has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7051. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Psych Hub is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education hours.

New York State Education Department - Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSED-LMHC)
Psych Hub, 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 mental health counselors. #MHC-0257. New York State licensed mental health counselors completing this course receive 1.50 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Marriage & Family Therapists (NYSED-MFT)
Psych Hub, 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-0109. New York State marriage and family therapists completing this course receive 1.50 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Psychology (NYSED-PSY)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0208. New York State licensed psychologists completing this course receive 1.50 contact hours.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSED-SW)
Psych Hub, LLC 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 #SW-0699. New York State social workers completing this course receive 1.50 contact hours.

Experts


Heather M. Berberet, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Berberet is a California licensed psychologist specializing in working with people around traumatic events or childhoods and helping couples improve their relationships, and working with members of the LGBTQ+ community. She has completed advanced training and/or research related to the treatment of trauma and PTSD and couple/marital therapy.