Certificate in Couple / Relationship Therapy

The course is designed for two categories of learner (everyone atteding is a qualified therapist):

1. Those who are new to couple work or have not yet started, to gain additional skills.
2. Therapists who are already working with intimate partner relationships / couples as an additional certification and distillation of knowledge.

Feedback from prior participants is that the course is a valuable exchange of practical skills and perspectives on ways of working – whether intimate relationship/couple therapy is part of their practice yet or not.

We create study buddy groups which are a smaller set of people with whom you spend time during the course. Prior students tell us that these groups often carry on meeting way beyond the lifetime of the course. Course attendees can also connect with other course members from the full group if they wish, which is useful for referrals, networking, or peer support outside the course time.

Through teaching and experiential work, including role-plays and skills practice you will gain some insights and tools to work with the dynamics of a couple client, as well as common issues arising in couple therapy or working with other forms of intimate relationship.

This Certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy is awarded by The Grove Practice as evidence of 50 hours of CPD in this field, giving confidence to the therapist about an ethical stance for their scope of practice – with evidence of having undertaken relevant training.

To give reassurance to the clients, the therapist can describe themselves as having taken relevant specialised training in couple/relationship therapy.

As with any topic, there’s always more depth and breadth to study. This CPD course is a foundation or a refresher, rather than a multi-year deeper training.

The course content is intended to slot in alongside each therapist’s existing training background, theoretical model, or modality.  This approach is intended to be complementary in the context of prior learning or theoretical model.

It is an integrative syllabus, based on person-centred values and humanistic psychology, with reference to psychodynamic concepts.

The main model is a homeodynamic one, linking brain / mind / body / emotions, per the LoveSex book written by the course author Cabby Laffy.

We also draw upon couple therapy models such as Gottman, Imago, Bader-Pearson, as well as attachment theory and developmental psychology.

A full reading list will be provided as well as materials for each month’s module during the course.

This is an overview of the course content.

• Introduction to working with relationships: Expectations, for therapists and for couples. Awareness of counter transference
• Beginnings: Assessments. Contracts. History taking.
• The Dynamics of working in Triads: Triads, Drama Triangle. Psychosocial development.
• Philosophies and beliefs: Theories about working with relationships. Stages in relationship and life issues.
• Working with Difference: Sexual diversity. Shame. Transference.
• Desire, differentiation and conflict: Sexual desire and its connection with differentiation. Managing conflict in the therapy room.
• Communication: Teaching and modelling Communication skills. Winner’s Triangle and Assertiveness.
• Endings: Importance of Endings. Review of what you have learnt.

This course has a bio-psycho-social underpinning – whereby the body’s physiology and the client’s psychological process are considered within the sociological context. The training has a sex-positive philosophy, in which sex has a valid place within therapeutic work.

Written materials are provided throughout the course, containing theory as context for the learning. Each set of materials is intended as preparatory reading before each weekend of the course. The materials are accompanied by practice-based tips for working therapeutically with this client group. Although a reading list is provided, there is no formal requirement for further reading – although additional reading is recommended to enhance your professional development subsequent to the course.

There are two options for taking this course. The first is by attendance only, where learning is absorbed by participation during the course days. For this option, there is no assessment other than attendance and participation. This route leads to the Certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy awarded by The Grove.

The other option leads to the COSRT Level 5 accredited certification. This involves undertaking a written assignment of up to 3,000 words, with two quizzes on course content, along with watching a safeguarding video. The Certificate is awarded by The Grove, with an additional narrative and logo indicating that the assessments for the COSRT Level 5 certification have been achieved. Students can choose this option at any time during the course days.

A fee of £150 to cover administration and assignment marking is payable for the optional COSRT Level 5  certification.

An upgrade to COSRT Level 5 certification is possible for those who completed a prior intake, or who wish to take the written assignments after their course has completed, by payment of the additional fee of £150.

But please note that the COSRT Level 5 certification is available only for people who have taken the full 8-day training with The Grove. This is because the assignments rely on material taught specifically on The Grove’s course and the COSRT course accreditation is awarded to The Grove on that basis.

We also recommend that any practitioner who provides couple/relationship therapy seeks supervision from a suitably qualified professional, to support this important area of work.

The award of the Certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy will be issued upon completion of the course, provided that a minimum 80% attendance has been met and the course fee has been paid in full. If these criteria are not met, a CPD attendance letter will be provided – or the student can submit a written reflective piece covering the content that has been missed, which will be marked before the full Certificate award is issued.

A digital certificate is provided as a matter of routine. Paper certificates despatched by Royal Mail are available upon request. Replacement certificates are available on request.

We are still accepting applications for this intake, however, this is only to join a waiting list as this course is now over-subscribed. This intake which will be held entirely on Zoom, being taught by Elliot Davis and Sarah Briggs.

The 8-day Certificate course is taught over 4 x 2-day blocks on the following Saturday and Sunday dates in Spring 2025:

1 & 2 March
29 & 30 March
3 & 4 May
31 May & 1 June

Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.

We are still accepting applications for this intake, however, this is only to join a waiting list as this course is now over-subscribed. This intake will be held entirely in person at the training venue NCVO in London, being taught by Cabby Laffy and Shana Laffy.

The 8-day Certificate course is taught over 4 x 2-day blocks on the following Friday and Saturday dates in Spring 2025:

14 & 15 March
11 & 12 April
9 & 10 May
6 & 7 June

Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.

We are accepting applications for this intake in 2025, which will be held entirely online on Zoom, being taught by Elliot Davis and Sarah Briggs and Robert Rees.

The 8-day Certificate course is taught over 4 x 2-day blocks on the following Saturday and Sunday dates for Summer 2025:

28 & 29 June
19 & 20 July
30 & 31 August
27 & 28 September

Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.

We are accepting applications for this intake in 2025, which will be held entirely for attendance in person, being taught by Cabby Laffy and Shana Laffy.

The 8-day Certificate course is taught over 4 x 2-day blocks on the following Friday and Saturday dates in Autumn 2025:

5 & 6 September
3 & 4 October
7 & 8 November
5 & 6 December

Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.

We are accepting applications for this intake in 2025, which will be held entirely online on Zoom, being taught by Sarah Briggs, Elliot Davis, and Robert Rees.

The 8-day Certificate course is taught over 4 x 2-day blocks on the following Friday and Saturday dates in Autumn 2025:

5 & 6 September
3 & 4 October
7 & 8 November
5 & 6 December

Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.

This intake which will be held entirely online on Zoom, being taught by Elliot Davis and Sarah Briggs.

Please note this intake will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

The 8-day Certificate course is taught over 4 x 2-day blocks on the following Saturday and Sunday dates in Winter 2024 going into early 2025:

15 & 16 November 2025
6 & 7 December 2025
10 & 11 January 2026
7 & 8 February 2026

Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.

Certification by The Grove including verification of 50 CPD hours:

£1,650 + VAT = £1,980 payable in full or by instalments.

Everyone who completes the course satisfactorily will receive this certification.

COSRT Level 5 certification:

There is an additional fee of £125 + VAT = £150 to cover marking and administration of the assignments required for the COSRT Level 5 award. This is an optional extra. An updated certificate will be issued when satisfactory marking of the assignments has been completed, as detailed in the course handbook.

After paying the deposit of £480 including VAT, the remainder of the fee can be paid by instalments as indicated on the invoice usually reaching the full total by 6 weeks before the final weekend of the training.

The course fee includes all training materials and the CPD certificate.

Some reduced-fee places may be awarded depending on student circumstances, subject to availability. The course fee can also be invoiced fully or partially to an employer or funding organisation. Please contact us for details.

Tea, coffee and water are served during each day of the course as well as a light sandwich lunch.

However, please let us know if you have particular dietary requirements so we can arrange this to be provided by the venue, or if you need to bring in your own food.

There are many cafes and restaurants near the venue such as at Kings Cross station or in York Way, where other lunch options can be purchased.

Please note that only food and drink served by the venue may be consumed on the premises.