An online training course from Terry Real and the Relational Life Institute Faculty

Relational Life Therapy Level 1 

Learn how to the heart of the problem in couples therapy, identify the vicious circle your clients are stuck in, and help them make substantive changes.
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🗓 Starts Wednesday, July 10

An Overview of What You Get Inside Relational Life Therapy Level 1

FIVE 2-Hour Classes with Terry Real and RLI Faculty

Class 1: Wednesday, July 10, 12–2 PM ET

Class 2: Tuesday, July 16, 12–2 PM ET 

Class 3: Thursday, July 18, 12–2 PM ET 

Class 4: Thursday, July 25, 12–2 PM ET  

Class 5: Tuesday, July 30, 12–2 PM ET 

A Supportive Community of Like-Minded Peers

Join your private community group to share your progress and give and receive support as you apply your learnings to your work.

Lifetime Access to The Class Recordings & Course Material

Refer back to the material as many times as you need to help you make real self-esteem a lifelong practice.

Plus 3 special bonuses…

SPECIAL
BONUS 1

75-Minute RLT Couples Therapy Demonstration with Terry Real

Witness the speed and precision of RLT firsthand with an inside look at one of Terry’s full-length couples therapy sessions.

You will observe RLT Phase 1 in action to help you cement your understanding of how the data gathering and diagnostic tools translate into practice.

SPECIAL
BONUS 2

60-minute interview with Terry and Gabor Maté

An in-depth discussion between Terry and Dr. Gabor Maté (renowned speaker, author, and trauma expert) on how trauma impacts our physical health and the health of our relationships.

SPECIAL
BONUS 3

60-minute interview with Terry & Carol Gilligan 

Discover the origins of Relational Life Therapy in this candid conversation between Terry and his colleague and friend, the feminist psychologist Carol Gilligan. 

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10 CEUs are available for this course.

Click here for more details

What You’ll Learn

Explore the Relational Life Therapy Level 1 Curriculum

Class 1: What is Relational Life Therapy?

Wednesday, July 10, 12–2 pm ET

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.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the 3 Phases of RLT and how RLT differs from traditional therapy
  • Understand the RLT view of power imbalances in couples, of psychological patriarchy, and how these are addressed through therapy
  • Describe the role and approach of the therapist in RLT
  • Explain Relational Mindfulness and the “fight, flight, fix” responses 

Class 2: Overview of Phase 1

Tuesday, July 16, 12–2 pm ET 

Explore the reasons why, in RLT, data must be gathered as a first stage of therapy. Also laid out are the seven diagnostic lenses of RLT, and the first first explored in depth.

The “stance, stance, dance” dynamic is explained, tools are given to describe each partner’s pattern and the dance that results, and the goal of therapy in working with this entire dynamic is expressed. Losing strategies, preconditions, and blatant/latent stances are explored.

Learning Objectives:

  • List the seven lenses
  • Explain the role of data gathering
  • Understand how preconditions are addressed in RLT
  • Differentiate the various losing strategies clients employ
  • Explain the difference between blatant and latent stances

Class 3: RLT Lenses 4, 5 and 6

Thursday, July 18, 12–2 pm ET 

Explore relational trauma and its impact on adult relationships. The three major family of origin roles are discussed, and advice is given on how to work with grandiose partners.

The Relationship Grid diagnostic tool is laid out as a tool to help you identify each partner’s relational stance. You will also explore the two kinds of boundaries and self-esteem, with advice on how to work with grandiosity. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the relational grid and track losing strategies against it
  • Describe the two kinds of boundaries
  • Outline the major family of origin roles and how they play with stances
  • Understand effective approaches to working with grandiose women as well as grandiose men

Class 4: Use of the RLT Lenses in Intervention & Finding Leverage

Thursday, July 25, 12–2 pm ET 

We move from diagnosis to treatment. Here, you will learn how to use the RLT approach of Joining Through the Truth to lovingly confront clients and engage them in the therapeutic process.

The concept of leverage is explored: what it is, why it’s necessary, and how it can be used. Advice is given on empowering latent people, and the concept of the “relational champion” is presented.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the concept of leverage and how to use it
  • Describe strategies for latent people
  • Understand that RLT requires that the latent person be a “relational champion” in therapy 

Class 5: Reconnecting the Blatant

Tuesday, July 30, 12–2 pm ET

This module focuses on empowering the latent, finding leverage, and reconnecting the blatant.  From a neurobiological perspective we discuss how to create the right combination of stress and safety for promoting change. 

We explore how to work with the fears of the latent and the grandiosity of the blatant.  Terry demonstrates joining through the truth with a blatant man.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the concept of appropriate discrepancy and how it works with Neuroplasticity
  • Understand types of leverage
  • Know how to join through the truth
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“Terry helps reawaken couples who seem trapped in a long-term stalemate and allows them to move toward growth and fuller Selfhood.”
– Richard Schwartz, originator of Internal Family Systems

Enroll in Relational Life Therapy Level 1

Choose the payment option that best suits you.

3 x Monthly Payments

$179*3

Choose

Pay in Full

$497

Choose

You’re Protected by our Money-Back Guarantee

We’re confident you’ll love Relational Life Therapy Level 1, but we offer a 100% money-back guarantee for your peace of mind. If, for whatever reason you’re not completely satisfied, please contact us at support@terryreal.com within 48 hours of the first live call and we’ll issue you a full refund, no questions asked.

Did you
know…

This course is part of the RLT Certification program.

Learn More

What Others Say About Relational Life Therapy Level 1

RLT breaks many of the rules of traditional couples therapy to get results…

We dare to take sides… because not all problems in relationships are 50/50. Some are 70/30. Some are 99/1.

If you don’t take sides, there’s a power imbalance. And you can’t guide couples into intimacy if they’re not equal. 

We also tackle grandiosity head-on, we lovingly confront our clients with the truth about how their behaviors harm their relationships. We’re direct. We’re not neutral. But we’re also compassionate and empathetic.

RLT Level 1 will give you a solid grounding in RLT theory with practical skills you can implement in your client
work immediately.

Over 5 two-hour classes, you will explore:

  • The 3 RLT Phases and how RLT differs from traditional therapy.
  • The 3 parts of the psyche, how they show up in relationships, and how to work with them.
  • The concept of leverage—what it is, why it’s necessary, and how to use it
  • The 7 diagnostic lenses and how to identify each partner’s relational stance.
  • How to build trust with your clients & engage them in therapy.
RLT has helped thousands of relationship professionals strengthen their work with couples. We invite you to join them and start your RLT journey today ↓
Enroll Now
A tip: “Don’t get out ahead of your client. They’re the ones to assert the leverage, not you. You go too far when you act as if you have more leverage than you have. You go too far if you take on the offender of the blatant, rather than have the latent take on the blatant, generally.”
– Terry Real

Meet Your Teachers

Terry Real,

Creator of Relational Life Therapy

Terry Real, LICSW, is a leading couples and family therapist, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author. Having worked with thousands of individuals, couples, and fellow therapists, Terry knows how to lead people on a step-by-step journey to greater intimacy and personal fulfillment. His expertise has been featured in outlets such as Psychology Networker, Psychology Today, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Vogue, Forbes, Oprah, and The New York Times. With 30+ years of clinical experience, Terry is a former senior faculty member of the Family Institute of Cambridge in Massachusetts and a retired Clinical Fellow of the Meadows Institute in Arizona.

He is the founder of the Relational Life Institute, which provides workshops for couples and individuals as well as a professional training program for clinicians wanting to learn his Relational Life Therapy (RLT) methodology. RLT teaches people how to make their relationships work by equipping them with the relational skills they need to cultivate and sustain authentic connections—to themselves, each other, and the planet as whole.

Cathy Hill,

Licensed Psychologist & Senior RLT Therapist

A licensed psychologist in private practice, Cathay is located in Vancouver, Canada. She began training in RLT in 2010 and after her first bootcamp experience was determined that Terry teach others how to do it. She hassled him until he enlisted her help in setting up advanced training for his senior therapists, which led eventually to joining the RLI Faculty. 

Cathy is trained in the ‘scientist-practitioner’ model, and very keen on getting RLT ‘evidence-based,’ which requires excellence in training in order to translate into excellence in practice.

Anna Sterk,

LMFT & Senior RLT Therapist

Learning how to build and sustain healthy relationships has been the journey of Anna’s life, and not always an easy or straightforward path. It was life changing for Anna to build on the personal work she was doing when she started studying with Terry Real in 2012, and it is an honor for her to pass along what she has learned to clients and through teaching the relational skills in bootcamps, practicums,
and mentoring.

A senior RLT therapist and a member of the RLI Faculty, Anna is part of the team responsible for training mental health practitioners in the Relational Life Therapy method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course live?

Each class consists of a pre-recorded lecture of roughly 60 minutes—including theory, couples therapy demos, debriefs, and case studies—with Terry Real and Cathy Hill. You will then join Anna Sterk, senior RLT therapist, for an LIVE in-depth Q&A on the material to deepen your understanding and further explore practical aspects.

All elements of the training will be recorded and stored within your private learning platform.

The classes take place on the following dates and times:

Class 1: Wednesday, July 10, 12–2 pm ET

Class 2: Tuesday, July 16, 12–2 pm ET 

Class 3: Thursday, July 18, 12–2 pm ET 

Class 4: Thursday, July 25, 12–2 pm ET 

Class 5: Tuesday, July 30, 12–2 pm ET

(All classes will be recorded and stored within your private learning platform.)

Yes—10 CEs are currently available for the home study version of this course. Once you have completed the course you may take a test to collect your certificate.

Forever! All course materials, including the call recordings, will be stored in your private learning platform for you to review at your convenience.

Yes—when you enroll in the RLT Certification (our deepest, richest couples therapy training), you automatically receive access to RLT Level 1. Find more information on the RLT Certification here. 

We’re confident you’ll enjoy Relational Life Therapy Level 1, but we offer a 100% money-back guarantee for your peace of mind. If, for whatever reason you’re not completely satisfied, please contact us at support@terryreal.com within 48 hours of the first live class and we’ll issue you a full refund, no questions asked.

Yes! RLT is useful in preparing you to work effectively with couples, but it is also helpful in your work with individuals. Learning how to compassionately tell the truth to your clients, work with grandiosity, and gather data to identify dysfunctional patterns will all benefit your 1:1 sessions, too.

Please reach out to our support team at support@terryreal.com. 

Here’s Everything You Get Inside Relational Life Therapy Level 1

  • FIVE 2-Hour Classes with Terry Real and RLI Faculty
  • A Supportive Community of Like-Minded Peers
  • Lifetime Access to The Class Recordings & Course Material

Plus 3 special bonuses…

SPECIAL
BONUS 1

75-Minute RLT Couples Therapy Demonstration with Terry Real

SPECIAL
BONUS 2

60-minute interview with
Gabor Maté

SPECIAL
BONUS 3

60-minute interview with
Carol Gilligan

Enroll Now
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CE REQUIREMENTS:

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. 

FORMAT: Five LIVE Online Sessions on Zoom, facilitated by Kate Harris, Phd; plus teaching by Terry Real, LICSW; Cathy Hill, PhD; and Anna Sterk, LMFT

Continuing Ed credits offered:  10 credit hours for 5 Classes

At the completion of this course, all participants will be invited by email to purchase the 10 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:

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:

  1. Compare the RLT phases and how RLT differs from traditional therapy
  2. Describe the role and approach of the therapists in RLT
  3. List the seven lenses
  4. Explain the role of data gathering

  

Throughout the course, you’ll learn: 

    • True intimacy can only happen when partners are “same as”—neither one-up nor one-down
    • That RLT Therapists and Coaches will confront and teach their clients how to actually live relationally
    • How to use the RLT Lenses in Intervention & Finding Leverage
    • How RLT Therapists and Coaches use judicious self-disclosure, sharing stories of they use these same skills in their own relationships.

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

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

Cost: $497 in full; or 3 payments of $179 each

Course Dates & Hours: 

January 14, 21, 28; February 17, 11, 2025

Hours: 12pm to 2pm Eastern Time each class

Cancelation 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.

Registering for the course on the RLI website for is required to receive a Continuing Ed Certificate.

FAQ’s

How do I receive the Zoom link?

The Zoom link is emailed to you from ZOOM when you register for the course. If you do not receive the link, please contact us at support@terryreal.com

Should the name you register with match your Zoom name?

Yes, your first and last both names must be entered on your registration and then displayed on the screen during all classes. Please do not use nicknames, or employee ID numbers or log into Zoom using a co-worker or family member’s Zoom Account as this will post you as ABSENT.

When will I get my certificate?

Certificates will be available within ten business days of the event. Certificates will be emailed to the email address you used to register for the course.

Please contact our Support team if you have any questions 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.

He 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.”

Kate Harris, PhD: Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Kate is a Clinical Psychologit and a certified Martha Bec, 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 reaches 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.

Cathy Hill, Ph.D., R. Psych:

Cathy Hill began training in RLT in 2010 after attending her first Relationship Bootcamp and from that experience was determined that Terry needed to teach others to do RLT. Cathy persisted in this idea and Terry ended up having Cathy set up adanced training for his senior therapists which was very well received. Soon after she was named Director of Training for RLI. Cathy is trained in the ‘scientist-practitioner’ model, and is devoted to getting RLT ‘evidence-based’ which requires excellent in training in order to translate into excellence in 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 lisa@relationallife.com