Course Description

Being a trauma-informed therapist is a critical component in working with couples in today’s world. This innovative training provides current evidence-based research to create an effective new approach for healing trauma in couples-based therapy. This course demonstrates step-by-step guidelines on how clinicians can conceptualize and deliver trauma-focused care in their work with couples. This course includes a deep dive into defining and understanding what trauma is and how it (and any other mental health-related issues) can impact the dynamics of relationships.


This two-day course is for EMDR therapists to learn practical applications and effective approaches that bring a holistic and trauma-informed framework to your work with couples.


Day 1:

Following a description of trauma-informed care, this course provides guidelines from an EMDR/AIP perspective with the primary focus of helping clinicians learn how to better understand trauma-informed care and mindfulness practices. Using trauma-focused language and recommendations for teaching specific EMDR coping skills, strategies, and techniques, it will help you assist your couples to better understand the impact trauma may have on their relationship.


Key Features:

  1. Offers a framework for providing trauma-informed care for couples therapy based on EMDR therapy's AIP model
  2. Provides step-by-step approaches to help assess the client’s mental health and trauma history and the impact it may have on the couple’s presenting issue/s
  3. Includes evidence-based coping skills and skills to help decrease the couple’s maladaptive coping skills and increase their adaptive coping tools to improve the emotional wellness of their relationship
  4. Implements a trauma-informed process to expand knowledge of trauma-informed care in a clinical setting (individual or couple), based on the AIP Model
  5. Teaches 3 to 4 adaptive resourcing/coping strategies to share with clients (applicable for all clinicians) (Phase 2 for EMDR therapists)


Day 2:

Many EMDR therapists ask, “Can you do EMDR with couples?

The quick answer is “Yes,” and then must be followed up with the question, “What phase are you referring to?”


This course focuses on Phases 3-8 of the AIP EMDR model to assist participants in better understanding how to integrate EMDR into their work with couples. There are countless ways that EMDR can be incorporated into clinical practice. However, when working specifically with couples, taking a trauma-informed approach ensures that all clients feel supported as well as educated in what trauma is and how it can affect a relationship. It also helps them to be prepared for potential reprocessing work.


This course incorporates trauma-focused language and recommendations for teaching specific EMDR coping skills, strategies, and techniques to assist your couples better understand the potential impact trauma may have on their relationship. The goal is to help clinicians learn how to best utilize resourcing skills to help couples decrease emotional disruptions and increase relational safety outside of the therapeutic environment.


Teaching couples how to take care of their mental health and emotional needs as individuals and as part of a relationship can help break through the painful negative cycles of trauma, empowering clients to create safety and security within their everyday lives.


Key Features:

  1. Strategize how to include adaptive coping approaches into closure (Phase 7) plans for clients, explaining how the process can be vital for managing affect in between sessions and overall distress tolerance/containment
  2. Develop a clear path on how to utilize Phase 3-4 with couples
  3. Learn how to assess the safety in couples in preparation for any possible reprocessing work
  4. Strategize how to include adaptive coping approaches into closure (Phase 7) plans for clients, explaining how the process can be vital for managing affect in between sessions and overall distress tolerance/containment
  5. Explain how EMDR strategies can assist EMDR therapists in managing abreaction and dissociation within EMDR therapy sessions


This two-day workshop is appropriate for EMDR trained clinicians.

For the one-day training for all clinicians, click here.

CE credits are calculated based on total video content hours. Readings are supplemental and are not calculated towards CE credit. This workshop was held and recorded in 2025. A course quiz is required in order to obtain CEs. The passing score is 70%.

*For more information on our work at The Touchstone Institute, visit our website.

Course Overview

  • Schedule:

    Asynchronous Webinar via Zoom.

  • Prerequisites

    Completion of an EMDRIA-approved foundational EMDR therapy training.

  • CE Credits

    Participants are eligible to receive 12 CE credits for this training. (see more details below)

The Prerequisite:

Get EMDR Trained

Join Dr. Mara Tesler Stein and other perinatal mental health practitioners for Foundational EMDR Therapy Training utilizing The Touchstone Institute's EMDRIA-Approved curriculum.
Learn More

Note on Accessibility:

We include captions in all of our live and self-paced trainings. If there is anything else you need to make our trainings accessible to you, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We recognize that every person has access needs and we are happy to do everything we can to meet yours.
Get in Touch

Instructor

Patrick Monette, LMHC, CASAC

Instructor

Patrick Monette is a licensed mental health/addiction and certified trauma counselor and certified life coach located in Northern New York. He is a Certified EMDR therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant and certified EFT couples counselor. He has taught at local universities and maintains a private practice focusing on couples work and trauma-informed treatment as well as gender issues, anger management, perinatal traumas and co-occurring disorders. He is actively engaged in the local community drug court systems as a mental health consultant and educator. Patrick is fluent in English and Spanish and offers treatment in both languages. He also stated his bi-weekly video show/podcast Friday Night Feels that focuses on various aspects of wellness and incorporates guests to come and share their experiences and areas of specialty. During the pandemic, Patrick has begun to hold online couples courses/retreats called Hold Me Tight® to assist couples focus and improve their relationships. In March 2020 he also created his bi-weekly video show/podcast Friday Night Feels which focuses on mental health, wellness and overall well-being. Please visit his website for more information www.patrickmonette.com

Course Curriculum

    1. Welcome Message from Patrick

    2. Get to know Patrick Monette!

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Course Description

      FREE PREVIEW

    4. Anti-Oppression Statement from The Touchstone Institute

    5. Content and Activation Reminder

    1. Handouts

    2. Interview (also included in course recording)

    3. Day 1 Presentation Slides

    4. Day 1 Lecture

    5. Day 2 Presentation Slides

    6. Day 2 Lecture

    1. Clench and Release Script

    2. Clench and Release Demo

    3. Lighstream for Couples Script

    4. Lightstream for Couples Demo

    5. Calm Space for Couples Demo

    6. Container for Couples Demo

    1. Course Quiz

    1. Receiving your CE certificate

    2. Course Evaluation

    3. CE Certificate Request

About this course

  • $400 - $550
  • On-Demand
  • 12 CEs (see below for specific approvals)

Tiered pricing options for this course:

Questions? See our FAQ below.

More about our pricing:

We offer tiered pricing for all of our trainings in order to make our courses accessible to as many practitioners as possible. If you are unsure which tier of payment is right for your financial situation, please read through our FAQ section below or visit our website.


Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you are interested in a multi-month payment plan. We are always happy to create a custom payment plan to make it more feasible for everyone to participate in our courses.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Day 1:

  • Describe the origins of couples/relationship therapies (e.g., indigenous traditions, historical threads in Jungian analysis, person-centered psychotherapy, and Gestalt psychotherapy) 
  • Define trauma-informed therapy and explain its role in couples therapy 
  • Explain the concept of EMDR based resourcing and why teaching it to clients is relevant in trauma-focused care 
  • Learn how to create a trauma-informed intake process (Phase 1 for EMDR therapists) 
  • Explore the role of trauma-informed care within the lens of perinatal trauma and treatment 
  • Implement a trauma-informed process to expand knowledge of trauma-informed in a clinical setting (individual or group), based on the AIP Model 
  • Learn 3 to 4 adaptive resourcing /copings strategies to share with clients (applicable for all clinicians) (Phase 2 for EMDR therapists)

Day 2:

  • Develop a clear path on how to utilize Phase 3-4 with couples 
  • Learn how to assess the safety of couples in preparation for any possible reprocessing work 
  • Explore 3 to 4 skills to help prepare clients for the reprocessing phase 
  • Discuss ethical options for couples regarding referring out for additional EMDR therapy 
  • Discuss how to utilize Phases 4 -7 of the AIP with couples, together, or individually 
  • Strategize how to include adaptive coping approaches into closure (Phase 7) plans for clients, explaining how the process can be vital for managing affect in between sessions and overall distress tolerance/containment 
  • Develop a plan on how to use the future template to assist couples in healing from past traumas
  • Explain how EMDR strategies can assist EMDR therapists in managing abreaction and dissociation within EMDR therapy sessions

Continuing Education Credits

Submission of a course evaluation and quiz is required to receive a CE certificate for this course. The course evaluation and quiz are made available after all lectures have been completed within the course portal. After completing the evaluation and quiz, participants will be able to submit a request for their CE certificate. This training offers 12 CE credits.

  • It is your responsibility to verify CE coverage in your State or Provence.

  • The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

  • The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, Inc. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7346. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, Inc. is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • The Touchstone Institute for Perinatal Training, [provider number 1876], is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: [1/19/25-1/19/28]. Social workers completing this course receive 12 continuing education credits.

  • This course is approved by Postpartum Support International (PSI) for continuing education towards maintaining the PMH-C

  • This course is approved by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). The Touchstone Institute is an approved training provider with EMDRIA: approval #22021.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is the Generative Access tier right for me?

    Select this tier if you: Own the home you live in (even with a mortgage); live in a two-income household; have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money; travel recreationally; have access to family money and resources in times of need; work part-time by choice, etc.

  • Is the Sustaining Access tier right for me?

    Select this tier if you: Have income available for recreational activities (going out to dinner, movies, concerts etc.); have consistent work compensated at a median income rate based on your region; pay rent that is not more than 25% of your monthly household income; do not own your own home, etc.

  • Is the Supported Access tier right for me?

    Select this tier if you: Are a graduate student paying tuition; have major medical expenses not covered by insurance; have been denied work, or experience discrimination related to ableism, racism, sexism, gender discrimination or other forms of oppression; are eligible for public assistance; have immigration-related expenses; have ever been denied work due to incarceration history; are supporting adult children, extended family members in need or have other adult dependents; are an elder with limited financial support; are primarily working in a setting with under-resourced populations and your income reflects this work, etc.

  • Are there payment plan options available?

    Yes! We are happy to work with you to create a payment plan that fits your needs. Please reach out to us over email with a brief description of the length of the plan that you are interested in using to pay for this course: [email protected].

  • How can I learn more about your pricing?

    Please visit our website for more information on our approach to pricing our trainings: www.touchstoneinstitute.org/pricing.

  • What is your refund policy?

    More than 14 days notice is required for a full refund minus 7% administrative fee. Cancellations made within 14 days of training are eligible for a 50% refund or full transfer to another training within The Touchstone Institute. Only 1 transfer to another training is allowed. If you can not attend the transferred training your fee will be forfeited. No-shows are not eligible for a refund or transfer. Exceptions to this policy are limited to medically documented circumstances or family bereavements. Failure to attend without prior notification (no-shows) will not qualify for a refund.

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