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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.”
Roseanna Zoubek, LCSW,
West Orange, NJ
“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 courses that are part of the certification, the cost will be deducted from your 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:
1
Assess the repetitive “dance” between partners with precision, often within the first few sessions.
2
Work with the early relational wounds that drive these patterns, while both partners are present.
3
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
The following components of the RLT Certification are approved for Continuing Education (CE) credit hours:
On average, active participants earn 30+ CE credit hours per year, with opportunities to accrue more depending on your level of engagement.
Priscilla Short
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.
Access to RLT Therapy Session Recordings
See how Terry and senior faculty guide real couples through breakthrough moments in extended, unfiltered sessions.
Public Directory Listing
Become recognized as an RLT Certified Therapist or Coach and listed publicly for referrals and visibility.
Expert Interview Series
30+ interviews with leaders in trauma, neurobiology and relational work to expand your clinical lens.
Business Mentoring
Receive expert guidance to grow your practice, attract aligned clients, and create lasting momentum.
Weekly Live Calls with Terry & Faculty
Get case consultation, teaching, and real-time guidance to deepen your application of the work.
Downloadable Materials
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
Esther Perel
Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author
Founder and CEO of goop
Anisha Kaul
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.
01
If accepted, you’ll be invited to a personal call to review the certification and your study path.
02
Receive next steps to officially join the certification and begin your training.
03
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. Several components of the RLT Certification are approved for continuing education credits. RLT Level 1 offers 10 CE credit hours, Working with Grandiosity offers 9.5 CE credit hours, and each Practicum offers 23 CE credit hours. On average, you can expect to earn 30+ CE credit hours throughout your certification journey.
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.
