Introduction to RLT is a separate one-day training, ticketed independently of the conference.
Outside Creation Room
Desirae Ysasi·Creation Room
Opera Foyer
Grand Opera
Terry Real·Grand Opera
Three Concurrent Sessions
Damian White
What if RLT is not only a set of interventions, but a theory of what it means to be human in relationship? In this workshop, participants will learn to name the existential fears beneath common RLT patterns, translate core concepts into an existential formulation, and use a repeatable session flow that brings freedom, responsibility, meaning, and repair into the room.
Deran Young
This workshop reframes parenting as a relational and communal practice rather than an isolated individual task. Participants will examine how cultural pressure, gender roles, burnout, and over-functioning shape caregiving, while exploring RLT-informed ways to offer children both emotional grounding and space for autonomy.
Anna Sterk
How can the Relationship Grid become more than a concept and turn into a living clinical map? Participants will learn how the grid functions across all three phases of RLT: as a tool for assessment and reconnection, a pathway into Relational Mindfulness, and a reference point for consolidating new skills. The living grid experiential helps practitioners feel each quadrant from the inside and translate that awareness into clearer clinical choices.
Four Concurrent Sessions
Lori Davis
Participants will learn to recognize sexual grandiosity in both initiating and declining partners, including how shame, cultural scripts, and therapist discomfort obscure the pattern. The workshop offers RLT-informed language, reframes, and stance work for addressing entitlement, contempt, and other-based self-esteem while maintaining compassion.
Zach Brittle
This workshop frames relational recovery as an ongoing practice rather than a fixed outcome. Participants will explore how shame and performance pressure interfere with change, and learn a practice-based approach that emphasizes return, repair, direction, and lived relational movement over perfection.
Priscilla Short
This workshop introduces the TIMBBBBER framework as a way to map emotional reactivity and support reflective awareness within RLT. Using clinical video and worksheet practice, participants will identify trauma-driven processes beneath couple reactivity and apply the framework to help clients move toward relationality.
Cathy Hill
This workshop connects therapist use of self with research, RLT stance, and the clinical balance of stress and safety. Participants will identify overlapping research concepts, examine key RLT therapeutic stances, and consider how culture shapes what feels stressful or safe in relationship therapy.
Frank Anderson·Grand Opera
Grand Opera
Grand Salon
Opera Foyer
Grand Opera
Dr Kenneth Hardy·Grand Opera
Four Concurrent Sessions
Solange Dufourq
This workshop helps practitioners spot moments when nervous system activation blocks Wise Adult functioning in couples work. Participants will learn a simple Trauma Tapping Technique protocol and explore how to integrate it ethically alongside core RLT tools such as Time Outs, repair, boundaries, and the Feedback Wheel.
Dr Kenneth Hardy
This workshop examines the anatomy of racial trauma and the hidden wounds caused by ongoing oppression. Participants will consider why standard trauma-informed care often falls short, learn race-informed strategies for treatment, and reflect on self-of-the-therapist factors that shape clinical understanding and intervention.
Dolma Beresford
Participants will assess desire discrepancy through a psychosexual and biopsychosocial lens, including when medical referral may be needed. The workshop applies models of arousal, spontaneous and responsive desire, and brakes and accelerators to reduce shame and help couples move toward shared responsibility and intimacy.
Jane Bliss Birk
What changes when RLT becomes a leadership language, not only a clinical model? This workshop shows participants how to bring relational competence into coaching, teams, and organizational development. Participants will practice translating RLT concepts into clear workplace frameworks and learn how to adapt the model when the system is a team, leader, or organization rather than a couple or family.
Panel Discussion
Grand Opera
Julie RudigerModerator
Ya’Ron Brown
Justin Real
Julio Dantas
Martin Lehmann-WaldauMartha Kauppi·Grand Opera
Grand Opera
Opera Foyer
Opera Foyer
Grand Opera
Jim Gilligan·Grand Opera
Four Concurrent Sessions
Kate Harris
This experiential workshop explores detachment from outcome as both a therapeutic stance and a spiritual practice. Participants will consider why detachment supports presence and flexibility, then try relational mindfulness tools drawn from RLT, meditation, prayer, poetry, metaphor, and contemplative traditions.
Ya’Ron Brown & Stacee Brown
Participants will examine the therapist's role as a powerful third in couples work. The workshop distinguishes alignment from triangulation, explores how to use authority intentionally, tracks cultural impact without abandoning accountability, and practices repair when therapist-created rupture occurs.
Rilla Clark & Clare Mézes
Through floor mapping and psychodrama sculpts, participants will explore Adaptive Child coping mechanisms, Latent and Blatant roles, and stance-stance-dance sequences. The workshop offers an embodied way to pause, reset, and practice moving from protective patterns into the healthy Wise Adult.
Shelly Macdonald
Participants will evaluate parenting styles through an RLT lens and learn how the Influential or Center of Health style supports children's long-term emotional, relational, and behavioral health. The workshop offers Wise Adult self-regulation, behavior reframes, and concrete skills that increase connection, cooperation, confidence, and interrupt inherited cycles of hurt.
Terry Real & Carol Gilligan·Grand Opera
Workshop places are allocated in advance. Your confirmed sessions were sent to you by email. If anything here looks wrong, come to the registration desk in the Opera Foyer or write to support@terryreal.com.
Travel, hotel and registration details are on the conference page. Times and rooms may change. Last updated 15 September 2026.
Facilitated by Desirae Ysasi, LPC-S
This course is approved for continuing education hours as described below.
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.
Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Nurses, and LMHCs, LMFT’s, Educators, Coaches, Chemical Dependency Counselors
The course content is appropriate for Intermediate level clinicians.
Live Online
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.
At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:
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.
$395
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.
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
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
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.
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:
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:
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 $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
The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:
The RLT Intensive Model: A Framework For Breakthrough Couples 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.
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.
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:
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:
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 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:
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
Free instant access. We will never spam you, unsubscribe anytime.
The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:
When Weekly Therapy Isn’t Enough: Discover The Art of RLT Intensives for Breakthrough Couples 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 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:
Learning Objectives: At the completion of this course, participants can expect to:
Throughout the course, you’ll learn:
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
FORMAT:
Continuing Education credits offered:
Requirements for CE Certificate:
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
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.”
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.
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.
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 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
You’ve joined the Relational Life community. Expect thoughtful insights on building deeper, more authentic connections.