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Confidently work with the toughest challenges that break most couples apart – from constant conflict and infidelity to emotional distance and broken trust – and guide even those on the brink toward repair, reconnection, and lasting intimacy.
“After 25 years as a psychotherapist and marriage counselor, I was ready to ‘hang it all up.’ I was more than burnt out. Now, 6 months later, I am reinvested in my work and enjoying it in a brand new way.”
“The practical and positive approach of RLT has helped my clients see change almost immediately and have expressed new deep and meaningful connections.”
If you’ve completed one or more RLT programs that are part of the certification, your tuition will be credited toward your total certification fee:
These are the moments that can leave even experienced therapists and coaches second-guessing themselves, or wondering if they’re making a difference at all.
What truly makes the difference is having a clear roadmap to fall back on. One that helps you see the destructive patterns beneath the conflict with clarity, and gives you the confidence to guide even the most stuck couples forward.
That’s what Relational Life Therapy provides: a direct, structured approach to couples work that moves beyond the long-held norms of conventional practice.
Relational Life Therapy is deeply influenced by the work of the late Pia Mellody, whose insights into adult attachment and codependency helped lay the foundation for this model. It also draws from family and systems therapy, feminist theory, neurobiology, and the core principles of 12-step recovery.
While RLT is grounded in these respected models, it breaks from convention in how it’s practiced. And at its core, the method unfolds in three distinct phases that give both you and your clients a clear and effective path forward:
Assess the repetitive “dance” between partners with precision, often within the first few sessions.
Work with the early relational wounds that drive these patterns, while both partners are present.
Equip clients with structured tools for communication, repair, and maintaining connection in daily life.
Taken together, these phases form an integrative, trauma-aware, and action-oriented method.
Not all problems in relationships are 50/50. RLT takes sides when one partner’s behavior is causing more harm to the relationship to restore balance.
Not all problems in relationships are 50/50. RLT takes sides when one partner’s behavior is causing more harm to the relationship to restore balance.
The differences that define RLT come directly from Terry Real’s forty years of experience working with the most shut-down and high-conflict couples. And it’s this distinct approach that earned him the reputation as “the turnaround guy,” consistently saving marriages on the brink of divorce where other methods had failed.
The RLT Certification distills that experience into a clear framework that equips you with the tools, knowledge, and roadmap to achieve remarkable breakthroughs in even your toughest cases.
These are the moments that can leave even experienced therapists and coaches second-guessing themselves, or wondering if they’re making a difference at all.
What truly makes the difference is having a clear roadmap to fall back on. One that helps you see the destructive patterns beneath the conflict with clarity, and gives you the confidence to guide even the most stuck couples forward.
That’s what Relational Life Therapy provides: a direct, structured approach to couples work that moves beyond the long-held norms of conventional practice.
A trauma-informed, practice-driven path to confidently guide couples toward deep, lasting connection
Many components of the RLT Certification are eligible for CE hours. For example, a Practicum offers 24 CE credits, and Small Group Mentoring provides an additional 10 CE credits. On average, active participants earn 30+ CE hours per year, with opportunities to accrue more depending on your level of engagement.
RLT Certified Relational Therapist
Built for working therapists and coaches
Move through the training at your own pace with a blend of on-demand learning and live, faculty-led sessions offered year-round.
Whether you’re balancing a full caseload or navigating life outside of work, the RLT Certification is designed to meet you where you are.
On-demand video lessons you can start anytime and work through at your own pace.
Live practicum and mentoring sessions in small groups (typically 5 to 10 participants), designed for deep practice and personalized feedback.
Weekly live calls with Terry Real and RLT faculty, with ongoing teaching, clinical insight, and space to ask your most pressing questions.
Below is a sample study path that shows how the certification can unfold.
This is just one of many ways to move through the program.
The curriculum is designed to be flexible, so you can adjust the timing and sequence to match your schedule and learning style.
For a full breakdown of all the programs included in the certification, download the brochure below:
This stage is designed to help you find your footing through two dedicated onboarding calls and an introduction to the core principles of RLT. You’ll build a deep understanding of the method – what makes it different, why it works, and how to begin applying it. You’ll also observe RLT in action, and start practicing the foundational skills.
By the end of this stage, you’ll have the clarity and confidence to begin integrating RLT into your work.
With the basics in place, this stage is about developing fluency in the RLT method. You’ll deepen your understanding of how to guide both partners through the work – even when trauma, resistance, or power imbalances are present. You’ll also witness real therapy sessions with real couples, giving you a front-row seat to the timing, pacing and judgment required in RLT.
In Practicum 2, you’ll start practicing more advanced interventions with live guidance and feedback from RLT faculty.
By this stage, you’ll be able to use RLT more effectively with your clients. With each session, you’re gaining greater confidence and sharper instincts to support more meaningful shifts in your clients.
You’ll continue honing your skills through personalized mentoring with experienced RLT faculty, integrating everything you’ve learned throughout the program.
For those on the coach track, this is also where you complete your certification and your name is added to the official RLT directory.
For those on the therapist track, this final chapter takes you into the deepest and most demanding aspects of RLT. You’ll learn how to move beyond talking about the inner child to speaking to the inner child directly – facilitating profound repair in the presence of the partner.
You’ll also sharpen your ability to work with family-of-origin patterns, address complex trauma responses, and remain grounded in the face of intense emotional release.
It is where all the strands of the method come together, and where you demonstrate your readiness for certification as an RLT Certified Therapist.
Observe real, unedited sessions with Terry and senior faculty as they work with actual clients.
You’ll witness the model in action – including the nuance, timing, and clinical decision-making that brings it to life.
Submit your clinical work for faculty review and complete the final step in your certification.
You’ll demonstrate your growth, apply the method with confidence, and be recognized as a Certified RLT Therapist or Coach.
Learn the full method directly from Terry Real through a three-level, self-paced training.
You’ll build your foundation step by step – from diagnosing relational dynamics to applying interventions in real time with both individuals and couples.
Take part in guided, live practice with no more than 10 peers per group.
You’ll roleplay interventions to sharpen your instincts and build confidence as you receive immediate feedback.
Work closely with RLT faculty in mentoring groups of just 5 participants.
You’ll get personalized guidance, space to reflect, and direct support on integrating RLT into your own style and practice.
Deepen your skills with trainings on grandiosity, betrayal, boundaries, and more.
Each topic strengthens your ability to handle complex dynamics and develop your personal capacity as a relational practitioner.
Feel part of a vibrant, global community of couples therapists and relationship coaches.
Connect with professionals who truly understand the challenges of couples work as you find practice partners, learn from one another, and experience the full depth of this certification with your peers.
See how Terry and senior faculty guide real couples through breakthrough moments in extended, unfiltered sessions.
Become recognized as an RLT Certified Therapist or Coach and listed publicly for referrals and visibility.
30+ interviews with leaders in trauma, neurobiology and relational work to expand your clinical lens.
Receive expert guidance to grow your practice, attract aligned clients, and create lasting momentum.
Get case consultation, teaching, and real-time guidance to deepen your application of the work.
Keep learning close at hand with printable workbooks, transcripts, and quick-reference tools.
Dear Colleague & Friend,
You probably know what it’s like to sit in front of two people who are breaking apart, and not know what to do.
I’ve been there too. When I first started working with couples, I was trained to stay neutral. To mediate the issues of the day and not call out bad behavior. But I’d watch them walk out of my office with no relief from the suffering they walked in with.
So I threw out the rulebook. I stopped hiding behind neutrality, and I tried something different. I told the truth. I took sides. I shared from my own experience.
And that’s when everything changed.
Relational Life Therapy was born out of those moments.
Connection has never felt more precious – or more critical. At no time in history has it been clearer that intimacy is life’s grail. And yet, we live in an anti-relational, narcissistic culture that praises independence and competition, while leaving us poorly equipped to sustain real closeness.
As therapists and coaches, we can fill in those gaps. We can give our clients the tools for intimacy that our culture has failed to teach us.
That has been my mission for more than forty years: developing RLT as a practical, no-nonsense approach that brings relief and healing to even the most fractured couples.
I’m proud to say this work has changed thousands of lives. And it has also changed me. It’s made me a better husband, a better father, and a better man.
And now, with the demand for RLT rising rapidly, this work no longer belongs to just me. it belongs to you too – the practitioners who feel called to carry it forward.
If you choose to embrace RLT, as so many of your peers have, here’s my promise to you: At every step on your RLT path, both the faculty I’ve personally trained and I will be right there with you. To support you as you bring more of you to your work. More trust, more courage, more capacity to say what you’re really thinking and feeling.
Together, we can guide the world back into the connection it so desperately needs.
Warmly, Terry
RLT Certified Relational Coach
Experience the training risk-free for 30 days.
We built this certification to deliver real transformation for you, and for the individuals and couples you serve.
That’s why your enrollment comes with a 30-day, risk-free guarantee. If you join and realize the program isn’t the right fit for you, simply let us know within 30 days of enrollment and we’ll issue a full refund.
Fill out the short form with your background and experience.
If accepted, you’ll be invited to a personal call to review the certification and your study path.
Receive next steps to officially join the certification and begin your training.
Let’s explore if certification is the right next step for you.
There’s no pressure to commit. Just a short form and a personal 1-on-1 call with our team to walk you through the certification and how it could fit your goals, schedule, and client work.
We’ll also calculate your eligible program credits and adjust your tuition fees accordingly.
“My work with Terry has greatly enriched me as a therapist. I’ve been in practice over 35 years and trained with many exceptional therapists.
Training with Terry has pulled all this together and enabled my interventions to be more elegant and to the point, resulting in my client work being more focused and penetrating without sacrificing empathy or compassion.”
Eden Mills, Canada
“Before RLT I felt like something was missing as a therapist. The things I was taught in school were not practical and I felt stuck in my practice. I’m so grateful for the experiences I have had with the RLT training. I now see relationships in a way that finally makes sense to me and I have more confidence working with couples because I have something that is realistic and I believe works and more importantly my clients are able to grasp and practice.”
“The practical and positive approach of RLT has helped my clients see change almost immediately. By weaving past trauma and its impact on relationships and by building new skills together, my clients have expressed new deep and meaningful connections. RLT is not just a training program, it is a community that works in unity to offer ongoing support to therapists as well as clients.”
MSc, RP, Toronto, Canada
“You cannot provide this work for your clients without diving into your own personal growth.
Which then trickles into our own personal life and relationships that gives me permission to grow, hold myself accountable, see my children’s actions and perspectives change while we all challenge to love ourselves at the same time.
On a professional level, I have seen clients that have been stuck for years begin to move towards their authentic self with pride, dignity and confidence.”
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“I’ve done all kinds of trainings over the years but never found a model that truly fit for me. I had become “eclectic” in my approach, never really mastering any one approach. I longed for a model that encouraged me to myself—open, authentic, and most importantly, effective. I found my home in RLT.
My practice was already very successful, but since RLT certification, it’s skyrocketed. I had to close my practice to new clients. It’s also allowed me to be more selective about the clients that I work with. And I’m re-energized by the work: I used to be worn out working with couples, but now I love it. Success and making a difference is a powerful antidote to burnout!”
MSW, RSW, RMFT
The RLT Certification is specifically designed for practicing therapists and coaches, so it fits around your life, not the other way around.
You’ll have 18-24 months (for therapists) or 12-18 months (for coaches) to complete the full certification.
Half of the program is self-paced, so you can move quickly through the material or take your time, depending on your schedule.
The live components, like practicums and small group mentoring, run in multiple cohorts (and at different time zones for our international students) throughout the year. You can join at a time that works for you.
Whether you want to move steadily through or take breaks in between, this certification is built to support your rhythm.
Yes. We run the live practicums and small group mentoring sessions at a variety of times throughout the year to accommodate our international students. Even if you’re in Australia or Europe, you’ll find options that don’t require waking up at impossible hours.
Yes, you can. Many of our students enroll before they begin seeing couples. The certification is designed to help you build the skills and confidence to work with couples, even if you’re starting from scratch.
You’ll also have time to grow into that work.
For example, when it comes time for Practicum 2, your case consultation can be based on either an individual or a couple. Your first case review can also be from an individual client.
Only the second case review (required for those on the therapist track) must be a couple. There’s plenty of time to gain the experience you need, and we’ll support you as you grow.
Not at all. The certification is designed to support you at every stage of your journey even if you’re new to the field.
Each part of the curriculum builds on the last, starting with foundational skills and gradually moving into more advanced relational techniques. You’ll have time to learn, apply, and grow with guidance every step of the way.
That’s a valid concern, and one we planned for.
This certification was built specifically for working therapists and coaches, with a mix of self-paced learning and flexible live trainings that allow you to fit it around your existing commitments.
You’ll have up to 24 months (for therapists) or 18 months (for coaches) to complete the program. That averages out to about 2 hours per week. You can go faster (which many of our students do) if you’d like, or take your time.
And if something unexpected comes up, we’ve had students request and receive extensions due to personal or professional circumstances. Our goal is to see you succeed, not stress you out.
Yes, and you won’t be left to figure it out on your own.
Unlike other certifications that hand you a library of videos and wish you luck, the RLT Certification includes regular live touchpoints with both faculty and support staff to help you stay on track.
We also offer a weekly office hour dedicated to technical and organizational support. If you ever feel stuck, you can simply drop in and our team will walk you through whatever you’re facing – step by step.
That’s completely okay. The program is designed to be flexible and supportive, not rigid.
You’ll have up to 24 months (for therapists) or 18 months (for coaches) to complete everything, and the average weekly time commitment is around 2 hours. You can move faster or slower depending on your capacity.
And if unexpected circumstances come up, we’ve had students request extensions, which we’re happy to grant on a case-by-case basis. We’re here to help you complete the program in a way that works for your life.
We’re confident you’ll not only see the results you hoped for, but that the experience will exceed your expectations.
But if it doesn’t feel right for any reason, you’re covered by our 21-day unconditional guarantee. Just let us know within that window, and you’ll receive a full refund.
While we can’t promise specific outcomes, many of our graduates say the certification has been one of the most transformative professional decisions they’ve made.
They’ve shared that the confidence and clarity they gained in working with high-conflict couples led to stronger client outcomes, more referrals, and greater demand for their services.
We’ve also designed the program to support your growth beyond the clinical work – with business mentoring, community connection, and tools to help you build a thriving, values-aligned practice.
Most certifications focus on theory, neutrality, or managing conflict from the sidelines.
RLT takes a different approach. It trains you to get in the trenches with your clients.
You’ll learn how to speak the truth with compassion, disrupt toxic patterns as they happen, and work with trauma in the presence of both partners. The method is direct, deeply relational, and capable of sparking lasting, profound change.
Unfortunately, no. The therapist track is reserved exclusively for licensed mental health professionals.
This is because certain components, especially those involving deep trauma work and inner child repair, are designed to be taught only to clinicians who are licensed to practice therapy. This policy exists for legal, ethical, and insurance-related reasons. It ensures that the training stays within the appropriate professional boundaries.
That said, we fully recognize that many coaches – including those in our program – bring a deep understanding of trauma-informed work. That’s why the coach track is built to reflect that. It is trauma-informed, action-oriented, and designed to give you the tools to create powerful change while honoring your scope of practice.
Yes. Many components of the RLT Certification are eligible for continuing education credits. For example, each Practicum offers 24 CEs, and Small Group Mentoring offers 10 CEs. On average, you can expect to earn 30+ CE credits per year while actively enrolled in the certification.
Tuition fees vary depending on your track and how many RLT programs you’ve already completed. If you’re a returning student, the cost of your past training will be fully credited toward your certification. We also offer flexible payment plans to make the program more accessible.
To receive a personalized tuition breakdown and explore your options, just submit a quick application. No pressure or commitment required.
Let’s explore if certification is the right next step for you.
There’s no pressure to commit. Just a short form and a personal 1-on-1 call with our team to walk you through the certification and how it could fit your goals, schedule, and client work.
We’ll also calculate your eligible program credits and adjust your tuition fees accordingly.
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)
7.5 CE hours for Beginner Mental Health Professionals
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
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:
Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:
Continuing Ed Credits Available: 7.5 NBCC credit hours ($40 additional fee)
CE Certificate Requirements:
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
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:
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.”
BONUS Material Instructors (CE hours not included in bonus content)
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.
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 lisa@relationallife.com; www.relationallife.com
AWAITING Conference CE REQUIREMNTS
The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:
An Introduction to Relational Life Therapy
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
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:
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 27th one-day training with Desirae ONLY: £170 early bird until July 1 (then £195)
Oct 28-29th 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:
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.
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 lisa@relationallife.com
The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:
The RLT Level 1 Training Course
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
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.
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:
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:
Throughout the course, you’ll gain deeper competency in and be able to:
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:
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.”
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:
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 lisa@relationallife.com
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