October 6 · Live training starts in

—days

—hours

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FREE 6-HOUR LIVE ONLINE TRAINING · OCTOBER 6

When a couple says “You’re our last hope”
what do you do next?

For the first time, join Terry Real for a free six-hour introduction to Relational Life Therapy. Drawing on 40+ years of couples work, he’ll introduce his three-phase approach to helping partners change entrenched patterns, work through old hurts and rebuild connection.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 · Live on Zoom

10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET | 3–9 p.m. UK (BST)

TERRY REAL · AS SEEN IN

Join Terry live—for free

Tuesday, October 6, 202610 a.m.–4 p.m. ET3–9 p.m. UK (BST) · Live on Zoom

For the first time, RLI is offering a six-hour live online training for free.

YOUR TEACHER

Terry Real

40+ years

of work with couples

Creator of RLT

Relational Life Therapy

New York Times

bestselling author of Us

ON TERRY AND HIS WORK

“One of the most sought after couples therapists in the world.”

Mel Robbins · Host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

From blame and old hurts
to a different way of relating.

FIRST, THE FOUNDATION

Why relationships belong at the center of the work.

RLT starts with the idea that helping people improve their relationships can change their lives. Terry will introduce how patriarchy and individualism shape the ways we relate—and what it means to bring a relational approach into therapy.

Then explore the three phases: helping partners see the pattern, working with the wounds behind it, and building new relationship skills.

PHASE I · WAKING UP THE CLIENT

01
Name the pattern.

Help both partners see what keeps happening.

See how Terry helps each partner recognize their part in the couple’s pattern, so they can share an understanding of what needs to change.

Teaching + a recorded clinical demonstration

PHASE II · TRAUMA WORK

02
Address the wounds.

Work with the hurt beneath the pattern.

Watch how Terry works with earlier relational wounds that keep the pattern in place, bringing the partner into the healing work.

Teaching + a recorded clinical demonstration

PHASE III · SKILL BUILDING

03
Build new skills.

Equip couples to relate differently.

Explore practical ways to help partners ask for what they need, listen without becoming defensive, and repair after conflict. The focus is on what they can do differently with each other.

Teaching + a recorded clinical demonstration

Terry Real, creator of Relational Life Therapy — **Terry Real**
Creator of Relational Life Therapy

IDEAS YOU CAN CONNECT TO YOUR WORK

What does this look like
in a difficult session?

When the argument takes over.

Explore how to help clients notice their reactivity and pause before repeating the same fight.

In RLT: relational mindfulness.

When an old hurt drives today’s reaction.

See how Terry distinguishes an old protective response from the choices a person can make now.

In RLT: the Adaptive Child and Wise Adult.

When speaking up turns into another battle.

Discover an approach to helping clients stand up for themselves while staying connected to their partner.

In RLT: relational empowerment.

Relational mindfulness

Recognizing reactivity and pausing before it takes over.

Wise Adult & Adaptive Child

Distinguishing a present-day choice from an old protective response.

Relational empowerment

Standing up for yourself while staying connected to your partner.

Terry will also introduce the cultural context of RLT: how patriarchy and individualism shape our relationships. This is an introduction to the approach, with room to consider what it could add to your practice.

THE PRACTITIONER PERSPECTIVE

What practitioners find in RLT

For practitioners who want to feel more capable with difficult couples—and more themselves in the room.

These practitioners describe previous RLT training—not this upcoming free event.

Karen Ellis Croley

Registered Psychotherapist
RLT Level 1 participant

“The atmosphere in the room relaxed, my own anxiety eased, and both partners felt more comfortable with me and with each other.”

Bruce Nayowith

RLT Level 1 participant

“RLT provides some ways of perceiving stuck dysfunctional patterns and to communicate them to clients in a useful, precise and accessible way.”

Brenda Forster

Clinical Counsellor, M.Ed., R.C.C.
RLT training and practicums

“Now I have a road map and I know how to begin to make sense of what’s going on in a relationship.”

Feeling more at ease with both partners

“The very day I finished my last Level 1 class, I walked into a couples session feeling anxious, but I named what I was observing the way Terry models it, and my clients sighed in relief — they felt truly heard and seen. The atmosphere in the room relaxed, my own anxiety eased, and both partners felt more comfortable with me and with each other.”

Karen Ellis Croley · Registered Psychotherapist · RLT Level 1

Fresh value after 15 years in practice

“I most enjoyed the training videos. I found Terry’s approach to be warm, humble, and concise, and the material both expansive and wise. I’ve been practicing for 15 years and found it so affirming to hear power differentials addressed in a way that calls both parties in, rather than casting one out.”

Cheli Lange · RLT Level 1

More confidence with challenging clients

“I felt more empowered to work with some of my grandiose clients and to step out of what I now realize was enabling nurturing to loving firm boundaries. It has already been very helpful and I’ve seen some positives effects with these clients.”

Aurisha Smolarski · RLT Level 1

New energy for the work

“I never thought I could enjoy training in couples work this much but I am completely overwhelmed and full of admiration for the degree of passion and energy Terry Real has for this work.”

Flo Atkins · RLT Level 1

Enjoying couples work again

“I used to abhor seeing couples — now I truly enjoy it, and I’m pursuing certification in this methodology.”

Megan Secrest · RLT Decoded

For the couples you’re thinking about.

ON TERRY AND HIS WORK

“When I need advice, I call Terry Real. His decades of clinical experience, research, and wisdom are invaluable to my patients, colleagues, and friends.”

Esther Perel Psychotherapist and bestselling author

HOW YOU’LL LEARN

Live teaching. Demonstrations.
Live Q&A.

Learn directly from Terry, watch RLT in recorded sessions with real couples, and bring your questions to the live Q&A.

Your day with Terry

Tuesday, October 6 · 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET · 3–9 p.m. UK (BST)

TO BEGIN

Introduction to RLT

Terry’s background, the beliefs behind relational therapy, and how patriarchy and individualism shape relationships.

THEN, THROUGH EACH OF THE THREE PHASES

PHASE I

Waking up the client

Live teaching
Couples demonstration
Live Q&A*

PHASE II

Trauma work

Live teaching
Couples demonstration
Live Q&A*

PHASE III

Skill building

Live teaching
Couples demonstration
Live Q&A*

Demonstrations are recorded. Terry may show the session before or after teaching. *Phase-specific Q&A as time allows.

TO FINISH

A longer live Q&A with Terry

Bring questions from your practice. Submit them through the chat during the day.

BREAKS INCLUDED

Lunch + shorter breaks

Time to step away and recharge within the six-hour event. Exact break times will be confirmed.

You’ll receive the slides in a workbook format before the training, ready for your notes.

A look at the day

OPENING

The relational perspective

Terry introduces his background and the cultural forces that shape our relationships.

PHASE I

Waking Up the Client

Teaching and a recorded clinical demonstration.

PHASE II

Trauma Work

Teaching and a recorded clinical demonstration.

PHASE III

Skill Building

Teaching and a recorded clinical demonstration.

CLOSING

Live Q&A

Questions from the practitioners attending live.

TIME TO LEARN. ROOM TO PAUSE.

Lunch and shorter breaks included

Each phase pairs teaching with a demonstration. Terry may show the work first or teach first. Phase-specific Q&A will be included where time allows, with a longer Q&A at the end.

The six-hour event includes lunch and shorter breaks. Exact break times will be confirmed before the event.

Bring your questions.
We’ll bring the workbook.

You’ll receive the slides in a workbook format before the training, ready for your notes. Submit questions through the chat.

Teaching, observation and discussion—no participant roleplays or exercises.

Tuesday, October 6 · 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET · 3–9 p.m. UK (BST) · Live on Zoom

A FEW PRACTICAL DETAILS

Your questions, answered

Who is this training for?

Therapists, professional coaches and other mental-health professionals interested in relationship work. If you already see couples and want to explore what RLT could add to your practice, this day is designed to give you a substantial introduction. It is introductory education, not certification; apply any learning within your professional scope and training.

Do I need previous RLT training?

No. Terry will introduce the approach from the beginning. You can attend whether you’ve read his books, heard him speak, or are encountering RLT for the first time.

What is included for free?

The live online training with Terry, the demonstration clips shown during the event, live Q&A and the workbook-format slides sent beforehand. Free registration does not include a replay or online-course access.

Will there be recordings?

Yes, recordings are available through the optional $47 upgrade. Register for free and you’ll be taken straight to the upgrade page. If you choose it, the training recordings will be added to your course within 48 hours after the event, with lifetime access. Recordings are not included with free registration.

Can I receive continuing education credits?

Five CE credits are available to eligible U.S. therapists through the optional $47 upgrade. Register for free and you’ll be taken straight to the upgrade page. You must meet the live-attendance requirements and complete the CE evaluation; there is no exam. Check the eligibility details there for your profession and licensing requirements before purchasing.

When and where does it take place?

Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time (3–9 p.m. UK time, BST), live online on Zoom. Your registration confirmation email will include your Zoom link and calendar information. The training ends at 4 p.m. ET (9 p.m. UK time).

Will there be a lunch break?

Yes. Lunch and shorter breaks are included. The detailed schedule will be confirmed before the event.

Can I ask Terry questions?

Yes. Submit questions through the chat for the team to bring to Terry. There will be a longer closing Q&A, with additional phase-specific questions where time allows. We may not be able to get to every question.

For the couples
you’re thinking about.

Spend six hours with Terry exploring how to help partners name the pattern, address the wounds behind it and build new relationship skills.

Free live online training · Tuesday, October 6, 2026
10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET · 3–9 p.m. UK (BST)

Relational Life Institute · Free live online training with Terry Real

The Relational Life

RLT Decoded: Real Sessions, Real Decisions

LIVE Workshop Continuing Ed Details

Facilitated by Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S

This course is approved for continuing education hours as described below.

NBCC (National Board of Certified Counsellors)

16 CE hours for Intermediate Mental Health Professionals

ACEP No. 7495

Relational Life Institute (RLI) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7495. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Relational Life Institute (RLI) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Target Audience

Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level

The course content is appropriate for Intermediate level clinicians.

Format:

Live Online

Course Description

RLT Decoded: Real Sessions, Real Decisions is an 8-week live online training for practitioners working with couples. Participants observe the complete arc of Relational Life Therapy (RLT) conducted by Terry Real, LICSW, with one couple across a two-day intensive. Each class includes approximately 50–60 minutes of unedited therapy footage, followed by live clinical teaching and Q&A with Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S, RLI Director of Training. Desirae deconstructs the clinical choices, timing, and reasoning behind each intervention — providing participants with a direct framework for applying RLT in their own practice. Topics include: RLT intake and contracting, love avoidance, inner child work, Family of Origin mapping, multigenerational trauma, and race and cultural context in couples therapy.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Identify the two clinical types of love avoidance and their different origins.
Explain the sequencing of inner child visualization work conducted with one partner in the presence of the other.
Articulate how to introduce race, cultural context, and sexual identity as clinical material in couples therapy.
Understand the difference between minority stress adaptation and Adaptive Child responses.
Explain the clinical indicators for judicious self-disclosure in RLT couples therapy, including criteria for depth of disclosure and return of focus to the client.
Identify LGBTQ+-affirming clinical considerations in couples therapy, including how to recognize heteronormative assumptions.
Recognize how multigenerational transmission of shame influences clients’ reactive behaviors in their intimate relationships.
Explain the concept of False Empowerment in childhood and how it impacts clients’ present-day relationships.
Describe the difference between experiential and non-experiential inner child work, and when to apply each.
Identify blatant/latent power dynamics within couples.
Explain how to create a contract with your couples at the beginning of the work to establish safety and readiness.
Identify two relational skills to teach clients to help them deepen their connection between and after the work has completed.
Describe how to identify the deeper, repeating pattern between a couple that underlies the presenting problem.
Explain the 3 parts of the psyche in Relational Life Therapy and the function of each in a client’s present-day relationships.
Describe the three Family Roles clients play and how they reveal themselves in adult relationships.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:

Coach conflict-avoidant couples to embrace health conflict, negotiate, and ask for what they want.

Help highly-defended clients reconnect to their emotions.

Conduct inner child work in the presence of the partner – identifying when experiential or non-experiential work is indicated.

Identify the deeper, repeating pattern that clients need to address that underlies their presenting problems.

Registration URL

relationallife.com/rlt-decoded/#join

Continuing Ed Credits Available: 16 NBCC credit hours ($40 additional fee)

CE Certificate Requirements:

Satisfactory Course Completion
Paid fee for certificate

Participants must have paid for this course, completed a course Evaluation, and attended all 8 classes in their entirety in order to receive a certificate.
No partial credit is available.
Failure to complete and submit these materials will result in forfeiture of CE credit for the entire course. No exceptions can be made. Partial credit is not available.

It is the participant’s responsibility to check if their Board, state, organization is approved for these Continuing Ed credit hours. There is no partial credit. No refunds will be given on CE purchases for failure to check state approval.

Cost

One-Time Payment

$395

Pay Monthly

3 x $145

$435 in total

Commercial Support Disclaimer

There is no conflict of interest for this program.

Accommodations

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Cancellation Policy

You may request a refund up to 48 hours after the first live class. (Deadline for refunds: May 21, 2026.)

Please contact support@terryreal.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

Instructor’s Bios:

Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor with nearly two decades of experience, specializing in relationship counseling. Serving the San Antonio community since 2006, she works exclusively with couples in romantic relationships, folks in non-traditional romantic relationship structures (ethical nonmonogamy), and adults seeking to improve family dynamics. Desirae became a Certified Relational Life Therapist in 2018 trained directly by Terry Real, the founder of Relational Life Therapy (RLT). She joined the faculty of the Relational Life Institute in 2022 and now serves as Director of Training & Certification, overseeing the global certification program. She has been the owner of Ysasi Counseling since 2014 and in the fall of 2024, Desirae opened Relational Life Texas, a virtual therapy group practice focused on RLT, providing relationship therapy across Texas.

Please Note:

Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

Contact information:

ACEP Administrator & Operations Director for Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan follows: 291 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459;

617-861-3030 support@terryreal.com www.relationallife.com

CEU REQUIREMENTS:

The Relational Life

Getting a Second Session:

How To Run a First Session that Motivates Couples to Return

LIVE Workshop Continuing Ed Details

Facilitated by Terry Real, LICSW

NBCC (National Board of Certified Counsellors)

2 CE hours for Intermediate Mental Health Professionals

Target Audience

Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level

The course content is appropriate for Intermediate level clinicians.

Course Description
This training introduces therapists and coaches to one of the eight core diagnostic lenses used in Relational Life Therapy (RLT): The More The More. Participants will learn how to quickly identify the repeating relational patterns their clients are caught in, and how to present it back to them clearly and without blame – often within the first session.

Through lectures, real footage of real couples therapy, and Q&A with Terry Real, participants will gain a practical framework for bringing direction and purpose to early sessions, and a clear metric for tracking whether their work is creating real behavioral change.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Identify each partner’s “relational stance” during relational stress and conflict.
Articulate a couple’s repeating pattern – The More The More.
Explain how to use The More, The More to track the effectiveness of treatment.
Interpret how preconditions are addressed in RLT.
Compare the two types of boundaries.
Demonstrate strategies for latent people.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:

Registration URL:relationallife.com/second-session

Continuing Ed Credits Available: 2 NBCC credit hours ($40 additional fee)

CE Certificate Requirements:

Satisfactory Course Completion
Pay $40 fee
Participants must have paid for this course, completed a course Evaluation, and passed the test (80% or higher grade) showing the material has been learned in order to receive a certificate.
No partial credit is available.
Failure to complete and submit these materials will result in forfeiture of CE credit for the entire course. No exceptions can be made. Partial credit is not available.
Instructions are included in your RLT Course Library for this course.

Cost

This course is $47.00

Commercial Support Disclaimer

There is no conflict of interest for this program.

Cancellation Policy

You may request a refund up to 48 hours after purchase.

Please contact support@terryreal.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

Accommodations

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Instructor’s Bios:

Terry Real, LICSW: Terry Real is the bestselling author of I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression, the straight-talking How Can I Get Through to You? Reconnecting Men and Women, The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work and most recently Us: Getting Past You & Me to Build a More Loving Relationship just debuted in June 2022. Terry founded the Relational Life Institute, offering workshops for couples, individuals, and parents as well as a professional training program for clinicians. Terry’s work, with its rigorous commonsense approach, speaks to both men and women. A proponent of “full-throttle marriage,” Terry has been called “the most innovative voice in thinking about and treating men and their relationships in the world today.”

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

Contact information: ACEP Administrator & Operations Director for Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan follows: 291 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459;

617-861-3030 support@terryreal.com www.relationallife.com

CEU REQUIREMENTS:

The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:

The RLT Intensive Model: A Framework For Breakthrough Couples Therapy

Format: Five LIVE Online Sessions on Zoom, facilitated by Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S; and Dr. Priscilla Short, CPsychol

Continuing Education credits offered: 7.5 credit hours for 5 Classes. Full attendance required. There is no partial credit.There is a $40 fee for a certificate.

Requirements for CE Certificate: At the end of this course, you’ll receive an email inviting you to request your Continuing Education certificate.
The certificate is free of charge. To qualify, you must:

Attend the entire course (no partial credit is available)
Pay the $40 fee
Pass an assessment quiz demonstrating your understanding of the material
Attendance will be recorded to verify completion.

Course Content: Couples Intensives offer a powerful, accelerated pathway for relational healing—but only when they are held with clarity, structure, and skilled relational authority. This advanced professional training is designed to support relationship therapists and coaches in leading Couples Intensives grounded explicitly in the Relational Life Therapy (RLT) model.

Across five live, 90-minute modules, participants will learn how to thoughtfully assess readiness for Intensive work (both client and clinician), design and structure Intensives using the three phases of RLT, and intervene effectively in high-stakes relational moments. Emphasis will be placed on therapist stance, pacing, accountability, and the Wise Adult leadership required to hold couples through deep emotional work without losing clarity or care.

Through didactic teaching, case vignettes, and live dialogue-based Q&A, this course will walk participants through the full arc of an RLT Couples Intensive—from initial assessment and Phase 1 joining, through Inner Child work, into sustained Wise Adult integration and post-Intensive follow-up. Practical considerations such as fee-setting, structuring Intensive days, post-Intensive care, and clinician self-care will also be addressed to support both impact and sustainability.

This course is designed specifically for relationship professionals who are trained in or actively using Relational Life Therapy and who wish to offer Intensive therapy experiences for couples or other romantic relationship structures. The content will focus exclusively on Couples Intensives through the RLT lens and will not address Intensive work with individuals, families, or non-romantic relationship systems.

Participants should expect an advanced-level training that assumes familiarity with core RLT concepts and invites deeper clinical discernment, relational accountability, and professional responsibility in this powerful modality.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Assess readiness for offering RLT Couples Intensives
Evaluate clinician preparedness, ethical considerations, and client appropriateness for Intensive work, including when an Intensive is indicated—and when it is not—through an RLT lens.
Design and structure a Couples Intensive grounded in the RLT model
Apply the three phases of Relational Life Therapy—Joining Through the Truth, Inner Child work, and Skill-Building—to create a coherent, intentional Intensive experience.
Manage and lead Intensives with relational authority and clarity
Effectively move through Phase 1 by establishing connection, accountability, and truth-telling by accurately identifying relational patterns, confronting losing strategies, and aligning both partners around shared goals for the Intensive.
Demonstrate deep Inner Child work and Wise Adult integration in an Intensive format
Intervene effectively in Phases 2 and 3 by working with relational wounds, working with the Adaptive Child, repairing marital ruptures, teaching relational skills to use from the Wise Adult part of the self, and supporting partners in sustained intimate connection .
Measure practical and ethical considerations to support impact and sustainability
Determine appropriate fees, structure Intensive days, plan post-Intensive follow-up care, and engage in clinician self-care practices to reduce burnout and support long-term effectiveness.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:

Structure a course of intensive treatment for a couple incorporating all three 3 phases of the Relational Life Therapy model.
Identify which clients are suitable for intensive work and how to assess their readiness and appropriateness of the model.
How to pace intensives to ensure the sustainability of the work for both clients and practitioners.

Target Audience: Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level: The course content is appropriate for Intermediate level clinicians.

Cost: $495 in full; or 3 payments of $175 each

Course Dates & Hours:

Each class will meet from 12pm to 1:30pm Eastern Time on these dates:

March 17, 2026

March 24, 2026

March 31, 2026

April 7, 2026

April 14, 2026

TO REGISTER: Please visit this site for registration:

Cancellation Policy: You may request a refund up to 2 days after the first live session.

Please contact support@terryreal.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Please contact our Support team if you have any questions support@terryreal.com

Instructor’s Bios:

Dr. Priscilla Short, CPsychol

Priscilla is a counselling psychologist, EMDR therapist, and RLT-certified relationship

therapist with a deep passion for helping couples navigate their most challenging moments

by learning how to live more relationally. Drawing on years of experience and a

commitment to the Relational Life Therapy (RLT) model, Priscilla brings creativity and

flexibility to her work, tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs of each couple she

works with.

Known for her warmth and insight, Priscilla balances the structure of the RLT framework

with innovative strategies to uncover and resolve relational patterns, helping couples build

stronger, more authentic connections. Her work reflects a belief in the power of openness,

accountability, and compassion as pathways to transformation.

In her breakout seminar Priscilla is excited to share her experience and expertise on working

intensively with couples, providing practical insights and inspiration for therapists to deepen

their impact in this rewarding area of practice.

CONFLICT of Interest: There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support for this event.

Grievance Procedure:

the Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan, via phone, email, or mail. If the grievance cannot be resolved, the complainant will be advised to contact the appropriate Ethics Committee or Licensing Board. The Operations Director will keep all grievances and their resolutions confidential in locked files.

A copy of this Grievance Procedure is available upon request.

Contact information: ACEP Administrator & Operations Director for Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan follows: 291 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459; 617-861-3030 support@terryreal.com

www.relationallife.com

CE REQUIREMENTS:

The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:

When Weekly Therapy Isn’t Enough: Discover The Art of RLT Intensives for Breakthrough Couples Therapy

ACEP No. 7495

FORMAT: A LIVE Online Workshop facilitated by Desirae Ysasi LPC-S; and Dr. Priscilla Short, CPsychol

Course Dates & Hours: March 3, 2026 from 12pm to 1:30pm Eastern Time

Continuing Ed credits offered: 1 CE credit hour

To receive a certificate, you must attend the full course. There is no partial credit, attendance will be taken.

Course Content:

In this 90-minute training, participants will learn the benefits of RLT Couples Intensives in couples therapy. They will explore both the art and structure of the RLT Intensive model, including how to assess the appropriateness of intensive work for their clients and the pacing required to deliver strong outcomes.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Explain 2 reasons why RLT Couples Intensives can be more effective than weekly therapy for couples in high-conflict circumstances.
Describe how the 3 Phases of Relational Life Therapy translate to a Couples Intensive format.
Explain 2 types of clients who would be appropriate for intensive work.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn:

What RLT Couples Intensives are, including how the 3 phases of RLT are applied to guide couples through the full arc of treatment.
How to assess readiness for intensive work – for both the client and the practitioner.

Target Audience: Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level: The course content is appropriate for Beginner level clinicians.

Cost: $0

Cancellation Policy: You may request a refund up to 48 hours after purchase. Please contact support@terryreal.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us.

Please contact our Support team if you have any questions support@terryreal.com

Instructors’ Bios:

Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor with nearly two decades of experience, specializing in relationship counseling. Serving the San Antonio community since 2006, she works exclusively with couples in romantic relationships, folks in non-traditional romantic relationship structures (ethical nonmonogamy), and adults seeking to improve family dynamics. Desirae became a Certified Relational Life Therapist in 2018 trained directly by Terry Real, the founder of Relational Life Therapy (RLT). She joined the faculty of the Relational Life Institute in 2022 and now serves as Director of Training & Certification, overseeing the global certification program. She has been the owner of Ysasi Counseling since 2014 and in the fall of 2024, Desirae opened Relational Life Texas, a virtual therapy group practice focused on RLT, providing relationship therapy across Texas.

Dr. Priscilla Short, CPsychol

Priscilla is a counselling psychologist, EMDR therapist, and RLT-certified relationship

therapist with a deep passion for helping couples navigate their most challenging moments

by learning how to live more relationally. Drawing on years of experience and a

commitment to the Relational Life Therapy (RLT) model, Priscilla brings creativity and

flexibility to her work, tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs of each couple she

works with.

Known for her warmth and insight, Priscilla balances the structure of the RLT framework

with innovative strategies to uncover and resolve relational patterns, helping couples build

stronger, more authentic connections. Her work reflects a belief in the power of openness,

accountability, and compassion as pathways to transformation.

In her breakout seminar Priscilla is excited to share her experience and expertise on working

intensively with couples, providing practical insights and inspiration for therapists to deepen

their impact in this rewarding area of practice.

CONFLICT of Interest: There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support for this event.

Grievance Procedure:

If a student believes they have been discriminated against, they can submit a written complaint that includes their name, address, phone number, location, date, and a detailed description of the issue. If a student with a disability disagrees with the accommodation provided or has any other grievances, they can schedule a meeting to discuss and attempt to find a solution together. If the student is still not satisfied with the accommodation after further discussion, they can contact the Operations Director for the Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan, via phone, email, or mail. If the grievance cannot be resolved, the complainant will be advised to contact the appropriate Ethics Committee or Licensing Board. The Operations Director will keep all grievances and their resolutions confidential in locked files. A copy of this Grievance Procedure is available upon request.

Contact information: ACEP Administrator & Operations Director for Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan follows: 291 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459; 617-861-3030 support@terryreal.com

CE REQUIREMENTS:

The Relational Life Therapy Level 1 Training

Homestudy Course Continuing Ed Details

Facilitated by Terry Real, LICSW

This home study course is approved for continuing education hours as described below.

NBCC (National Board of Certified Counsellors)

10 CE hours for Beginner Mental Health Professionals

ACEP No. 7495

Target Audience

Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFTs, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level

The course content is appropriate for beginner level clinicians.

Course Description

Terry Real presents RLI’s introductory training course, Relational Life Therapy Level 1.

Over five recorded classes you’ll be introduced to the powerful principals behind Relational Life Therapy (RLT) as taught by Terry Real. RLT Level 1 is designed to give you an in-depth introduction to the theory and practice of the RLT model.

During this course, students will discover the differences between RLT and traditional psychodynamic therapy. Also considered are the stances of “one-down shame” and “one-up grandiosity” in couples; according to RLT, true intimacy can only happen when partners are “same-as” with each other. RLT is about action and lasting results, helping people to make major changes to the negative parts of their character, and the critical role and stance of the therapist is described. Presented also are the concepts of Relational Mindfulness, Joining Through The Truth, and psychological patriarchy.

RLT Level 1 is the first step toward RLT certification and will prepare you for the Level 2 & 3 trainings to deepen your understanding of Relational Life Therapy.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Compare the RLT phases and how RLT differs from traditional therapy.
Describe the role and approach of the practitioner in RLT.
Diagnose the RLT view of power imbalances in couples, of psychological patriarchy, and how these are addressed through therapy.
Summarize Relational Mindfulness and the “fight, flight, fix” responses.
Describe the role and approach of the therapist in RLT.
Explain the two types of leverage.
Discuss the concept of appropriate discrepancy and how it works with neuroplasticity.
List the 8 diagnostic lenses in RLT.
Interpret how preconditions are addressed in RLT.
Compare the two types of boundaries.
Demonstrate strategies for empowering latent clients.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:

Illustrate that true intimacy can only happen when partners are “same-as” – neither one-up nor one-down.
Discuss how RLT practitioners will confront and teach their clients how to live relationally.
Hypothesize how RLT practitioners use judicious self-disclosure, sharing stories of they use these same skills in their own relationships.

Continuing Ed Credits Available: 7.5 NBCC credit hours ($40 additional fee)

CE Certificate Requirements:

Satisfactory Course Completion
Participants must have paid for this course, completed a course Evaluation, and passed the test (80% or higher grade) showing the material has been learned in order to receive a certificate.
No partial credit is available.
Failure to complete and submit these materials will result in forfeiture of CE credit for the entire course. No exceptions can be made. Partial credit is not available.
Instructions are included in your RLT Course Library for Homestudy Level 1 at https://learn.relationallife.com/
If you have questions please contact support@terryreal.com for guidance.

Cost

This course is $397.00 for a single payment or three payments of $137.00

Commercial Support Disclaimer

There is no conflict of interest for this program.

Cancellation Policy

You may request a refund up to 2 days after purchase.

Please contact support@terryreal.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

Accommodations

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Instructor’s Bios:

Julie Rudiger, LCSW has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the last 30 years. In 2002, Julie opened her private practice, where she has helped hundreds of individuals and couples over the last two decades. Her professional journey took a transformative turn in 2008 when she began training with Terry Real, the founder of Relational Life Therapy (RLT). Julie has since used RLT to guide clients in discovering self-esteem, healing early wounds, and fostering deeper, more authentic relationships. A faculty member at the Relational Life Institute since 2022, Julie now trains other therapists and leads community workshops, including Men’s Groups and Relationship Skills Bootcamps. Additionally, she is trained in EMDR, ACT, DBT, Gestalt, and the Enneagram.

Kate Harris, Ph.D.: Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Kate is a Clinical Psychologist and a certified Martha Beck, North Star Coach. In 2015, Kate watched Terry Real work live with 5 couples and was instantly committed to becoming an RLT therapist. Kate believes that RLT honors “the worth and dignity of all people” and it aligns clearly with her own personal values. After attending a Relationship Bootcamp workshop, she and her husband learned first-hand the tools Terry teaches and they continue to use them today to deepen their 32-year relationship. Kate became RLT Certified in 2018 and is a valued teacher.

Anna Sterk, LMFT

Anna began training in RLT with Terry Real in 2012 and has been providing therapy, Essential Skills Bootcamps, consultation, and supervision through the RLT model for years; Anna was thrilled to have the opportunity to teach and train practitioners as faculty with the Relational Life Institute (RLI) beginning in 2022. Anna’s style as a therapist, teacher, and supervisor is to balance compassion and collaboration with direct feedback. Anna’s roots are in systems theory and cultural studies, which was a natural fit for the RLT model, and supports her goal of teaching the skills to navigate long term relationships and support relational living for both clients and students alike. As RLI Faculty, Anna teaches the Practicum courses and Small Group Mentoring for RLT certification students, along with special topic courses.

BONUS Material Instructors (CE hours not included in bonus content)

Dr. Gabor Maté:

Dr. Gabor Maté is a physician who specialized in family practice, palliative care, and addiction medicine. A renowned speaker, physician, and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, childhood trauma, stress, and mind/body connection. He is called a “people whisperer” for his gift of seeing deep inside anyone. His life’s work is dedicated to liberating people from their childhood trauma so that they can make a choice of how to live in the present moment.

Carol Gilligan, Ph.D., of New York, NY has been recognized by many institutions and organizations for her efforts in the area of women’s advancement and moral psychology. She studied literature at Swarthmore College as an undergrad, and she graduated from Radcliffe in 1960 with a master’s in psychology. She continued to Harvard, where she received her Ph.D. in psychology in 1964. Three years later, Gilligan took a teaching position at Harvard where she worked alongside Erik Erikson and Lawrence Kohlberg. While Gilligan worked as a research assistant along Kohlberg, known for his theory of moral development, she began focusing on the moral dilemmas and development of young girls. In addition to the Grawemeyer Award for Education, Gilligan has also received the Heinz Award for Human Condition and was named one of the most influential people of the year by TIME Magazine in 1996. She has also published works of fiction and developed a full-length play based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter.

Contact information: ACEP Administrator & Operations Director for Relational Life Institute (RLI), Lisa Sullivan follows: 291 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459; 617-861-3030 lisa@relationallife.com; www.relationallife.com

CE REQUIREMENTS:

AWAITING Conference CE REQUIREMNTS

The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:

An Introduction to Relational Life Therapy

ACEP No. 7495

Format: A one-day LIVE training facilitated by Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S, RLI Director of Faculty

Location: Regent’s University London, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NS, United Kingdom

Continuing Education credits offered: 5.5 credit hours.

At the completion of this course, all participants will be invited by email to purchase the 5.5 CE credits for a $40 fee. To receive a certificate, you must attend the full course. There is no partial credit, attendance will be taken.

Content: If you’re new to the Relational Life Therapy (RLT) model – or just want to revisit the foundations ahead of your training with 2-Day Training with Terry Real. Join RLI’s Director of Training Desirae Ysasi for a pre-workshop training the day before Terry Real’s course begin.

You’ll explore the theory behind RLT, along with some of the effective tools and strategies that move couples toward meaningful change.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Recognize the 5 guiding principles of RLT in clinical practice.
Identify the 3 parts of the self in RLT and their roles in relationship dynamics.
Interpret the key differences between RLT and traditional couples’ therapy.
Summarize the 3 Phases of RLT and the goals and therapeutic intentions of each.

Target Audience: Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level: The course content is appropriate for Beginner level clinicians.

Cost:

Oct 27^th one-day training with Desirae ONLY: £170 early bird until July 1 (then £195)

Oct 28-29^th two-day training with Terry ONLY: £375 early bird until July 1 (then £425)

BOTH events (3 full days of training): £545 early bird until July 1 (then £620)

Course Dates & Hours: Monday, October 27, 2025, from 9am to 4pm

TO REGISTER: Please visit: https://relationallife.com/london-2025-trainings

Cancellation Policy:

We know sometimes plans can change so you’re protected by a 100% money-back guarantee until September 26, 2025. Please contact us at support@terryreal.com before September 26, 2025, and we will refund you. Any cancellations after this date will not be eligible for refunds.

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Please contact our Support team if you have any questions support@terryreal.com

Instructor’s Bio:

CONFLICT of Interest: There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support for this event.

Grievance Procedure:

A copy of this Grievance Procedure is available upon request.

CE REQUIREMENTS:

The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:

The RLT Level 1 Training Course

ACEP No. 7495

FORMAT: Five LIVE Online Sessions on Zoom, facilitated by Bonny Slim, LMFT and Terry Real, LICSW

Continuing Education credits offered: 10 credit hours for 5 Classes. Full attendance required.

Attend the entire course (no partial credit is available)
Pass an assessment quiz demonstrating your understanding of the material

Attendance will be recorded to verify completion.

Course Content:

Over five live classes you’ll be introduced to the powerful principals behind Relational Life Therapy (RLT). RLT Level 1 is designed to give you an in-depth introduction to the theory and practice of the RLT model.

Discover the differences between RLT and traditional psychodynamic therapy. Also considered are the stances of “one-down shame” and “one-up grandiosity” in couples; according to RLT, true intimacy can only happen when partners are “same-as” with each other. RLT is about action and swift results, helping people to make major changes to the negative parts of their character, and the critical role and stance of the therapist is described. Presented also are the concepts of Relational Mindfulness, Joining Through the Truth, and psychological patriarchy.

RLT Level 1 is the first step toward RLT certification and will prepare you for the Level 2 & 3 trainings.

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:

Compare the RLT phases and how RLT differs from traditional therapy.
Describe the role and approach of the therapists in RLT.
Diagnose the RLT view of power imbalances in couples, of psychological patriarchy, and how these are addressed through therapy.
Summarize Relational Mindfulness and the “fight, flight, fix” responses.
Illustrate the role and approach of the therapist in RLT.
Describe the role and approach of the therapist in RLT.
Identify different types of leverage.
Discuss the concept of appropriate discrepancy and how it works with Neuroplasticity.
List the Seven lenses.
Interpret how preconditions are addressed in RLT.
Compare the two types of boundaries.
Demonstrate strategies for latent people.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:

Illustrate that true intimacy can only happen when partners are “same as” —neither one-up nor one-down.
Discuss how RLT Therapists and Coaches will confront and teach their clients how to live truly relationally.
Hypothesize how RLT Therapists and Coaches use judicious self-disclosure, sharing stories of they use these same skills in their own relationships.

Target Audience: Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors

Course Content Level: The course content is appropriate for Beginner level clinicians.

Cost: $395 in full; or 3 payments of $137 each

Course Dates & Hours:

Each class will meet from 12pm to 2pm Eastern Time on these dates:

Session 1 – January 22, 2026
Session 2 – January 29, 2026
Session 3 – February 5, 2026
Session 4 – February 12, 2026
Session 5 – February 19, 2026

TO REGISTER: Please visit this site for registration:

https://relationallife.com/level-1-training

Cancellation Policy: You may request a refund up to 2 days after the first live session.

Please contact support@terryreal.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

If you need special accommodations or have questions, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Please contact our Support team if you have any questions support@terryreal.com

Instructors’ Bios:

Bonny Slim, LMFT: Bonny started training in RLT in 2012 and has participated in most of the courses that Terry has offered since then. Through co-facilitating several Relational Bootcamps, she discovered how transformative the group experience can be. Bonny teaches several Practicum Trainings each year and anticipates the impact that the practicum groups have for participants will be enormously valuable. Her favorite aspect of RLT is the awareness that practicing relational skills in our own lives is essential to be able to authentically share/teach these skills to others.

CONFLICT of Interest: There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support for this event.

Grievance Procedure:

A copy of this Grievance Procedure is available upon request.

When a couple says “You’re our last hope” what do you do next?

Join Terry live—for free

Terry Real

40+ years

Creator of RLT

New York Times

“One of the most sought after couples therapists in the world.”

From blame and old hurts to a different way of relating.

Why relationships belong at the center of the work.

01Name the pattern.

Help both partners see what keeps happening.

02Address the wounds.

Work with the hurt beneath the pattern.

03Build new skills.

Equip couples to relate differently.

What does this look like in a difficult session?

When the argument takes over.

When an old hurt drives today’s reaction.

When speaking up turns into another battle.

Relational mindfulness

Wise Adult & Adaptive Child

Relational empowerment

What practitioners find in RLT

Karen Ellis Croley

Bruce Nayowith

Brenda Forster

Feeling more at ease with both partners

Fresh value after 15 years in practice

More confidence with challenging clients

New energy for the work

Enjoying couples work again

For the couples you’re thinking about.

Live teaching. Demonstrations.Live Q&A.

Your day with Terry

Introduction to RLT

Waking up the client

Trauma work

Skill building

A longer live Q&A with Terry

Lunch + shorter breaks

A look at the day

The relational perspective

Waking Up the Client

Trauma Work

Skill Building

Live Q&A

Lunch and shorter breaks included

Bring your questions. We’ll bring the workbook.

Your questions, answered

For the couplesyou’re thinking about.

The Relational Life

RLT Decoded: Real Sessions, Real Decisions

LIVE Workshop Continuing Ed Details

NBCC (National Board of Certified Counsellors)

Target Audience

Course Content Level

Format:

Course Description

Learning Objectives:

Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:

Coach conflict-avoidant couples to embrace health conflict, negotiate, and ask for what they want.

Help highly-defended clients reconnect to their emotions.

Conduct inner child work in the presence of the partner – identifying when experiential or non-experiential work is indicated.

Identify the deeper, repeating pattern that clients need to address that underlies their presenting problems.

Registration URL

Continuing Ed Credits Available: 16 NBCC credit hours ($40 additional fee)

CE Certificate Requirements:

Cost

One-Time Payment

$395

Pay Monthly

3 x $145

$435 in total

Instructor’s Bios:

CEU REQUIREMENTS:

CEU REQUIREMENTS:

CE REQUIREMENTS:

CE REQUIREMENTS:

Dr. Gabor Maté:

CE REQUIREMENTS:

When a couple says “You’re our last hope”
what do you do next?

From blame and old hurts
to a different way of relating.

01
Name the pattern.

02
Address the wounds.

03
Build new skills.

What does this look like
in a difficult session?

Live teaching. Demonstrations.
Live Q&A.

Bring your questions.
We’ll bring the workbook.

For the couples
you’re thinking about.