For Those Moments When You’re Thinking:
“What Do I Do Next?”
🗓 Tuesday & Wednesday, December 8–9, 2026 · 10am–5pm ET both days
The same challenges you face, handled live. Watch Terry Real work with 4 couples, then hear the thinking behind each intervention in Q&A – and take that decision-making back to your own sessions.
- 4 LIVE Couples Sessions | With Q&A
- 100% Money-Back Guarantee
Featured In:
You Can See What’s Happening. The Hard Part Is Knowing What to Do In That Moment.
Anyone who works with couples knows what a minefield it can be, things can escalate quickly and you never know when one partner might throw you a curveball.
Knowing what to do in theory or on reflection post-session is one thing, knowing how to make a quick decision in the moment and pivot where needed is an entirely different thing.
If you’ve ever…
Watched a couple escalate faster than you could think… every second sentence is an attack. Your brain needs a second to catch up, and by the time it does they’re three rounds further in – and you’re scrambling to process everything.
Lost one partner while you attended to the other… you give Partner A the space to share. And you can see Partner B sitting there loading their rebuttal or slowly checking out as they feel like a case is mounting against them.
Felt like you spent a whole session in the courtroom… the non-stop cycle of who’s right and who’s wrong. Trying to establish exactly what was said and what was meant by it.
Known exactly what needed saying – and not said it… you can see one partner is causing more damage than the other. You can see what it’s costing them and the relationship. Yet you tread on eggshells, skirting around the issue because you were trained to stay neutral, and you don’t yet trust what happens if you name what you see out loud.
… then the Couples Experiential is the training you need.
Discover How a Leading Couples Therapist Navigates Those Moments of Uncertainty in Real-Time
This training will show you the moment of decision – what a therapist actually does, in real time, with that couple, in that chair.
And not just any therapist – leading couples therapist Terry Real. He has a reputation as “the turnaround guy” for his remarkable ability to save even the most fractured couples from the brink of divorce.
In this unique opportunity, Terry is opening up the backstage machinery to let you in on exactly how he approaches these moments of uncertainty (and the process behind his decisions).
Four Couples. Four First Sessions. One Roadmap.
Over two days, Terry works live with four couples he has never met. One full session each, completely live, unscripted, and unedited.
You’ll watch every step as he finds each couple’s pattern, finds the point where it can turn – and shift it in a single session using the therapy method he created Relational Life Therapy® (RLT®).
RLT gives you a clear sequence of what to look for – from the preconditions that have to be in place before any work can happen, to the presenting problem, to the “more the more” – the vicious cycle every stuck couple is caught in.
When you know what you’re looking for, you’re no longer scrambling to process everything the couple throws at you. You’re gathering data. And data tells you where to step in.
You’ll watch him do that four times, with four very different couples. Then, in the Q&A, he’ll tell you what he saw, what he chose to ignore, and why he went where he went.
“Very powerful, very educational, very comprehensive.
I learned so much from observing Terry and then being able to debrief with him over lunch and at the end of each day. It’s well worth the time and money. I plan to attend again.”
– Cindy Hastert
on the Couples Experiential with Terry Real
How the Couples Experiential Works
The Couples Experiential takes place entirely online over Zoom, from 10am to 5pm ET on both days.
There are two parts to the workshop:
Observation
You’ll watch Terry work in depth with each couple, one at a time. He spends up to two hours with each couple, then invites the other couples to share their reflections with the couple who has just done their work. During the sessions you’ll stay on mute and won’t take part.
Q&A
Each day includes dedicated Q&A time with Terry while the couples take a break. Terry invites observers to stay with him over lunch and at the end of each day to share what they noticed and ask their questions. He’ll be candid about the RLT tools he used and why he took the stances he did.
Because this is live work with real couples, Terry sets the agenda each day based on what the couples need, so exact timings may vary.
What You’ll Learn
Over two days of live sessions and Q&A with Terry Real, you’ll see how a first encounter with a couple can move from gathering data to real movement. You’ll come away knowing how to:
Slow the pace when a couple starts escalating.
See how Terry steadies the session, identifies which thread to follow, and keeps the session focused.
Engage both partners, even when you can only attend to one.
Watch who he goes to first, how he explains the choice, and how he builds trust with each partner without losing the other.
Get a couple out of the courtroom.
See what he does to interrupt the battle of who’s-right-who’s-wrong so the session stops being a mission to establish the facts and becomes about what needs to change.
Say the truth without losing your clients.
Watch Terry skillfully take sides, name what one partner is doing to harm the relationship, and do it in a way that leaves that partner trusting him more, not less.
Heal relational trauma in the presence of the partner.
See how inner child work done with the partner in the room, rather than behind closed doors, builds empathy and brings a couple closer.
How to bring confident decision-making into your own work.
In the Q&A after each session, Terry walks through what he saw, what he chose to ignore, and what he was aiming for – so you leave with his reasoning so you can apply the same in-the-moment decision-making into your own sessions.
Who Is the Couples Experiential For?
You don’t need any background in RLT to get value from these two days. Terry explains what he’s doing and why in every Q&A, so if you’re meeting the model for the first time, this is one of the most direct ways in. And if you’ve done some RLT training and still freeze when a real couple is in front of you, this is the bridge between knowing the theory and using it in the room.
Please note: this is a professional training, not couples therapy. If you’re an individual or couple looking for help with your own relationship, we recommend Terry’s online course, Getting What You Want From Your Relationship.
Anyone who registers and is found not to be a therapist or coaching professional will be removed from the course and their fee refunded in full.
The Couples Experiential is for relationship professionals who already work with couples, or want to start:
- Therapists, counselors, and psychologists
- Social workers
- Relationship and life coaches
Meet Terry Real
Terry Real, LICSW, is an internationally recognized couples and family therapist, New York Times bestselling author, and the creator of Relational Life Therapy®.
A former senior faculty member of the Family Institute of Cambridge, where he taught for over 20 years, and a retired Clinical Fellow of the Meadows Institute in Arizona, Terry built RLT® out of two decades of working with couples on the brink of divorce that no one else had been able to help. Two days with him, and they were either back on track or getting a divorce. He broke most of the rules he’d been taught to get there – and then stepped back to ask what was actually working.
Through the Relational Life Institute, he has trained thousands of therapists worldwide in that method. His work on couples therapy, relationships, and men’s issues has been featured in outlets from Oprah and The Today Show to Vogue and The New York Times. His latest book is the bestseller Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship.
He still describes himself the way he describes his clients: someone who came from a dysfunctional family, worked his way out, and uses the same skills he teaches in his own 40-year marriage. “On the days we don’t,” he says, “we look just as ugly as you two.”
“When I need advice, I call Terry Real. His decades of clinical experience, research, and wisdom are invaluable to my patients, colleagues, and friends.”
What Your Colleagues Say About the Couples Experiential
“Transforms it quietly.”
“It was my first time joining the Couples Experiential. I am still impressed to see how a theory (the relational approach) enters the reality of couples and transforms it quietly. I also loved how this was embedded in a really smart teaching choreography, and for this especially the constant line and authentic mode of reflections within the dialogue.”
Dr. habil. Antje Schneider
Scientist in the field of Intercultural Communication and Systemic Counselor
“Lives changed, including, perhaps, my own.”
“Observing Terry was extraordinary, powerful – lives changed, including, perhaps, my own. The ‘debriefing’ was essential. Amazing training!”
Amy W.
MFT, Detroit, MI
“Fierce honesty, deep listening, compassion, and a way forward.”
“Rarely does a therapist have the ability to get to the heart of a matter quickly. Incorporating fierce honesty, deep listening, compassion, and a way forward, Terry shares insights and wisdom from beyond. After he worked with each couple, it felt like a little piece of suffering was lifted from the universe.”
Christine King
“Quite breathtaking.”
“It is a wonder to watch Terry work… The mix of challenge, support and empathy is quite breathtaking. Finally, the meetings with the Observer group was enriching, often moving. All in all, just what a great educational experience should be.”
Mary Anne Lushe
LMSW, LMFT
“I found it life changing.”
“Instead of hearing how to do therapy, the Couples Experiential provided the opportunity to watch Terry Real, a master therapist, work with four couples who were on the brink of divorce. It was an exquisite opportunity to see Relational Life Therapy in action. As a result of attending, I will hold my clients in a more loving space while having specific goals and caring far less about outcome. I found it life changing!”
Janet M. Congo
“Not just more theory – you learn interventions.”
“I have been doing couples work for 23+ years. It is never easy and always a challenge. I started my journey learning from Terry Real and I am STILL learning and growing! Terry’s work is SO IMPORTANT if not imperative and should never be missed if you also want to do couples therapy. I recommend 100%, so, so fantastic and NOT JUST MORE theory, but you learn INTERVENTIONS!!!”
Dr. Fallynn C. Cox
Enroll in the Couples Experiential Today
Four Live Couples Therapy Sessions
See the transformation. Understand the thinking. Apply it to your sessions.
Includes lifetime access to all recordings.
Choose your payment option:
You’re Protected By a 100% Money-Back Guarantee
We’re confident you’ll love the Couples Experiential. However, if you’re not 100% satisfied with your purchase, simply contact us at support@terryreal.com by 12pm ET on December 8 and we’ll give you a full refund, no questions asked.
Did you know… the Couples Experiential is included in the RLT Certification?
Every Couples Experiential, plus the full training in the model, is part of RLT Certification – our deepest training in Relational Life Therapy®. If you’re considering certification, this is a good place to start. Learn more →
12 Continuing Education Credits Available
12 CE credits available to purchase for an additional $40 fee for those who attend both days live and in full.
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.
ACEP No. 7495
Frequently Asked Questions
When is it, and what are the hours?
Tuesday and Wednesday, December 8–9, 2026, from 10am to 5pm ET both days, live on Zoom. Because this is live work with real couples, timings may vary slightly depending on what the couples need – Terry will confirm how he plans to run things at the start of each day.
Two full days is a big commitment. Is it worth it?
It’s the length that makes it work. One session shows you how another therapist handles the same issues that come up in your own work. Four sessions, with Q&A after each, show you the decision-making process – and that’s what you take back into your own sessions. If you can’t clear both days, every session and Q&A is recorded and yours to keep to watch when best suits you.
What if I can’t make it live?
Your registration includes lifetime access to the recordings, so you can watch whenever suits you and go back as often as you like. We do recommend attending live if you can, for the Q&A and to qualify for CE hours.
Are CE credits available?
Yes – 12 Continuing Ed credit hours are available for an additional $40 fee for attendees who complete both days live. Details here.
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.
ACEP No. 7495
I’m new to RLT. Will I be lost?
Terry will explain what he’s doing and why in every Q&A, and the sessions themselves are the clearest introduction to the model there is. Many people meet RLT for the first time at a Couples Experiential and go on to further trainings with us from there. If you would like an initial grounding in the model before starting, we recommend exploring our 3-hour introductory workshop here.
Can I really work the way Terry does?
You don’t have to. The aim isn’t to copy his style; it’s to see the decisions underneath it – what he’s looking for, and why he steps in where he does. Those transfer to your own way of working. As one past observer put it: “We can learn many ways to do the model and we don’t all have to be Terry.”
Is this part of the RLT Certification?
Yes – the Couples Experiential is included in the RLT Certification, our deepest training in the model. If you’re a current certification student, you already have access – check your student emails for details. If you’re not yet enrolled and would like to learn more, visit the information page here.
Is there an Alumni Membership discount?
Yes – Alumni members receive 30% off. Your discount code is in the email we’ve sent you. If you can’t find it, contact support@terryreal.com and we’ll send it again.
If you’re certified in RLT and not yet an official Alumni member, learn more and join here.
I’ve done a Couples Experiential before. Why come again?
Because you won’t see the same thing twice. Every couple is a different pattern and dynamic – so you’ll watch Terry make a whole new set of decisions. And the more familiar you become with RLT, the more nuanced you become as you observe the work and you’ll catch things you maybe missed last time. This is also the first time since 2023 that Terry has run his Couples Experiential, and we can’t guarantee when he’ll run another, so it’s an excellent opportunity to see him at work.
Can I attend if I’m not a mental health professional?
This is a professional training, so it’s open to therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and relationship coaches. If you’re looking for help with your own relationship, Terry’s online course Getting What You Want From Your Relationship is the right place to start.
How much does it cost?
$395, or two monthly payments of $199. That includes both live days, every Q&A, and lifetime access to the recordings. 12 CE hours are available for an additional $40.
What if I change my mind?
We’re confident you’ll love the Couples Experiential. However, if you’re not 100% satisfied with your purchase, simply contact us at support@terryreal.com by 12pm ET on December 8 and we’ll give you a full refund, no questions asked.
The Next Time a Session Could Go Ten Directions, You’ll Know Where to Look
Two Days. Four Couples. Every Decision Explained.
Join Terry Real on December 8–9
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Lifetime access to recordings
- 12 CEs available
