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Transition Onto the Right RLT Pathway for You

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The new certification structure is our most comprehensive, high-quality training yet. This new structure will bring RLT into line with other established training programs and provide a platform for us to become evidence-based. We want RLT to be recognized as an important therapy school, included in classes and graduate programs around the globe. And, for RLT certified therapists, that means greater recognition and demand for your skills.

As part of the new structure, you access richer, more in-depth RLT training⁠—with plenty of real-life practice. Practice is critical to cementing your confidence and skills as an RLT therapist, and that’s what this training provides, with 70 hours of small group practicums and mentoring.

Unsure what your options are?
This is your guide to the RLT Certification 2.0

We’ve made some exciting changes to the RLT certification to build even greater credibility, standards, and esteem for our certified therapists—and those of you who are already on your RLT journey can enjoy the benefits of our enhanced training at a special discount.

The options available to you differ depending on how far along you are in the certification program and your desired outcome.

This article will explain the difference between the old and new certifications and how to transition to the new training to help you determine your options.

What Are the Benefits of the New Certification?

The new certification structure is our most comprehensive, high-quality training yet. This new structure will bring RLT into line with other established training programs and provide a platform for us to become evidence-based. We want RLT to be recognized as an important therapy school, included in classes and graduate programs around the globe. And, for RLT certified therapists, that means greater recognition and demand for your skills.

As part of the new structure, you access richer, more in-depth RLT training⁠—with plenty of real-life practice. Practice is critical to cementing your confidence and skills as an RLT therapist, and that’s what this training provides, with 70 hours of small group practicums and mentoring.

What’s the Difference Between the “Old” and “New” RLT Certification?
Below, you can see what’s been added to the certification—including plenty of practical, hands-on training.
How Do I Transition to the New Certification?

Anyone already enrolled in the RLT certification program can transition to the new one for $2,900, which includes all of the practicums, mentoring, and case review.

12-month payment plans are available.

Transition to RLT 2.0

What if I Want To Stick With the Old Certification?

If you only have one or two elements of the “old” left to complete, you can join our “fast-track” pathway. Via this route, you can complete the outstanding requirements of the old certification to obtain your RLT certification and listing on the website.

You continue to pay as you have done before for the remaining elements of the “old” certification you are yet to complete. The only additional payment is $250 for a case review.

Case reviews are now essential for all students as part of the certification process, and this includes fast-track applicants too. You simply need to submit a recording of your work for review by our faculty team. This ensures we maintain the highest standards across all RLT certified therapists and secures your listing on the website. Find more information on how to submit your case review here.

You can apply for the fast-track certification until June 30, 2022, and have until the end of 2022 to complete it.

Transition to Fast-Track

What If I Don’t Qualify For Fast-Track?

If you have more than two outstanding elements, you can join our hybrid training pathway at either the “trained in RLT” or “certified in RLT” tier.

What’s the Difference Between “Trained” or “Certified” in RLT?

Both will give you access to the training materials you need to help you understand and use RLT in your work. However, choosing “certified in RLT” means you access greater hands-on practice and mentoring and a listing on our website to boost your referrals.

We’ll apply the sum of your past expenses as a discount, and 12-month payment plans are available.

See the differences in what you get with each tier below.

How Do I Transition to the Hybrid Tiers?
Transition to the Hybrid “Certification” Tier

The price for transitioning to this tier and becoming “certified in RLT” is $6,900. However, you will receive a discount of up to $4,000 (your specific discount is equal to your total past payments for the RLT certification).

This “all-inclusive” price grants you two full years of access to all training materials and support—a total of 190 hours. Once you’ve completed the certification, you’ll enjoy lifetime access to all pre-recorded trainings.

Transition to the Hybrid “Trained” Tier

The price for transitioning to this tier and becoming “trained in RLT” is $3,900. If you choose this pathway, you will receive a discount of up to $3,900 (your specific discount is equal to the sum of your past payments for the RLT training).

If you’ve already spent more than $3,900 with the RLI, then you are already “trained in RLT,” and no extra payment is needed if you meet all requirements. Please note that this pathway doesn’t give you a listing on the Therapist Map.

Transition to the Hybrid Training 

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CE REQUIREMENTS:

The Relational Life Institute is pleased to offer:

Working With Men

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 Course facilitated by Terry Real, LICSW; and Julie Rudiger, LCSW

Continuing Education credits offered: 12  credit hours

Course Description:

Over eight live online classes, learn the skills to engage, motivate, and create breakthrough change with resistant male clients in this live, practice-focused training led by renowned couples therapist and male-psychology expert Terry Real, alongside RLT Faculty Member Julie Rudiger, LCSW. Grounded in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), the course unpacks how patriarchal conditioning and performance-based self-worth fuel disconnection, defensiveness, and shutdown, then shows you how to build trust with even the most challenging men through clear, compassionate confrontation that preserves the therapeutic alliance. You’ll learn to create effective leverage for transformation without triggering collapse, withdrawal, or escalated resistance; tailor interventions for the three common presentations—“boys, bullies, and avoiders”; and reframe masculinity so emotional expression is aligned with strength, honor, and integrity rather than weakness. Through demonstrations and actionable tools from both instructors, you’ll guide men in trauma healing and relational skill development that supports healthier partnerships and parenting. Leave with a concrete RLT roadmap you can use immediately to help clients move from resistance to responsibility and from disconnection to genuine intimacy.

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

  • Summarize the cultural shaping of masculinity and its consequences.
  • Recognize shame and grandiosity as dual defenses tied to male self-worth.
  • Develop skills to help men shift from defensiveness to compassion.
  • Identify how shame and performance-based esteem show up in male clients.
  • Discuss culturally sensitive ways to challenge entitlement and grandiosity.
  • Identify and work with three major types of difficult men: boys, bullies, and avoiders.
  • Describe how to use leverage as a tool to create change.
  • Identify patterns of resistance in men and learn how to engage them effectively.
  • Utilize leverage to create internal or external motivation for change.
  • Illustrate empowerment to the partner or family system to create pressure that opens the door to transformation.
  • Compare and differentiate between their wounded child, adaptive child, and functional adult selves.
  • Develop an internal caregiving relationship with their inner children rather than expecting partners to repair old wounds.
  • Demonstrate full relational responsibility as an adult, especially in high-conflict, high-defensiveness relationships.

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

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

Cost:   $497 or three payments of $197 each.

Course Date & Hours:   

1pm-2:30pm Eastern Time on:

September 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 2025 

TO REGISTER: https://relationallife.com/working-with-men

Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your registration up until September 16, 2025

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

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:

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.

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