Become the Confident, Unshakable Couples Therapist Your Clients Need
A live, small-group case consultation + training experience with Michelle Joy, MFT (20+ years specializing in helping couples)
Do you ever leave a couples session thinking…
- “I wish I knew exactly what to do next.”
- “This couple is stuck — and now I’m feeling stuck too.”
- “I’m confident with individuals, but with couples I sometimes feel on shaky ground.”
If so, this space is for you.
Couples work is some of the most emotionally complex, high-stakes therapy we do. It takes strong leadership, emotional containment, a place to explore our countertransference. Most of us don’t have a roadmap—or a trusted place to check in, ask questions, or feel supported.
That’s why I’m offering a new small-group experience: to give you the tools, clarity, and community to navigate your most challenging couples, while building your confidence and client retention.
“I wanted to thank you Michelle for helping me to feel calm and confident in supporting both members of the couple, and just overall feeling like I can handle what is thrown my way!” ~Laura, MFT
The couples cases you and your fellow participants bring to group may be facing some of the most challenging and emotionally charged issues therapists encounter — from sex and intimacy struggles to infidelity, communication breakdowns, uncertainty about staying together, addiction, and the impact of trauma. You might also bring cases dealing with blended family stress, chronic conflict, parenting differences, or emotional disconnection.
This work challenges even the most seasoned therapists – and often we do in isolation. In this group, no topic is off-limits — you’ll receive grounded, experience-based perspectives to help you navigate even the toughest situations with clarity and confidence – all alongside the community and support of fellow clinicians.
What You Will Get:
1. Expert Facilitation
You’ll be guided by Michelle Joy, MFT with 20+ years specializing exclusively in couples therapy, training other therapists, and integrating advanced tools like the Developmental Model and the Enneagram into relationship work.
2. Skill Reflection & Progress Snapshot
You’ll begin with a short self-assessment to identify your strengths and growth edges in couples work. Three months later, you’ll revisit it to notice shifts, wins, and areas that feel stronger — giving you a clear snapshot of your progress, while pointing to continued areas of growth.
3. Curated, Battle-Tested Tools
Receive go-to interventions, handouts, and strategies that work in high-conflict, emotionally charged, or stuck couples cases — plus resources shared by other experienced members.
4. Live Coaching & Role Play
We don’t just talk about cases — we try things on in real time. Whether it’s running a role play or walking through a high-impact intervention, you’ll get immediate tools you can use in your next session.
5. Organic Mini-Trainings
Every meeting will naturally weave in short teaching segments as cases unfold — so the learning is directly tied to real client challenges, not theoretical lectures.
6. Trusted, Ongoing Network
A safe, confidential group where you can share vulnerabilities, navigate countertransference, and build lasting referral relationships with other couples therapists.
Fellow clinicians will also offer guidance and perspectives on your cases through their own therapeutic experiences and modalities.
“I am a much better and more capable couples therapist as a result of Michelle’s great teaching. She gave me the deeper-level knowledge and skill development to feel confident in my work with couples.” ~Richard Litvak
Which couples therapy approaches will be used?
Michelle’s approach is Enneagram-informed, rooted in the Bader/Pearson Developmental Model of Couples Therapy and enriched by over 20 years of experience with a variety of other modalities including EFT, IFS, Gottman, Esther Perel, Terry Real, neuroscience and more.
All clinicians will share guidance and insights from their own approaches, building upon your current orientation and methods. This will make the group a very rich and eclectic learning experience.
“Michelle is a great teacher and has helped me navigate and solve problems with very challenging couples. I have a deep respect and gratitude for her wisdom.” ~Jaye Moyer, LCSW-R
REGISTRATION:
📅 Dates & Commitment
Cohort meets every other Wednesday beginning January 21st, 2025 (twice per month)
Time: 9:00–10:30 AM PT
Location: Live on Zoom — join from the comfort of your home or office.
💳 Investment
$77/month EARLY BIRD price (billed in 3-month committed increments of $231). Your spot is reserved for the full commitment period, ensuring group continuity, cohesiveness, learning and safety. Payment is required regardless of attendance.
Payment increases to $99/month starting December 1st, 2025.
🔒 Confidentiality
For client and therapist privacy, sessions are not recorded.
👥 Small Group Format
Enrollment is limited to ensure personalized attention, rich discussion, and in-depth case support.
About the Group Facilitator:
Michelle Joy, M.A., MFT has been affiliated with The Couples Institute in Menlo Park, CA (and now CICS), since 2002. A graduate in The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy – Advanced Level, Michelle is a go-to person on the Couples Institute staff for professional trainings. In addition to teaching advanced classes as well as providing consultations and trainings to therapists, Michelle has been a local and national speaker for several professional associations, including PESI.com and CAMFT, on how to help more couples using the Developmental Model. She gets invited to teach expert classes in Dr. Ellyn Bader’s online course that reaches therapists all over the world.
Michelle is also a certified Enneagram Teacher and trainer, enabling her to bring the rich insights of the Enneagram to further deepen her work with couples. She created & hosted the first annual The Enneagram and the Helping Profession Summit in 2024, bringing people together from all over the world.
Michelle has been specializing in couples for over 20 years in her private practice. She teaches communication workshops and offers trainings for couples therapists. You may view testimonials from couples workshop attendees and therapist trainees here: https://michellejoymft.com/testimonials/
Office located in Menlo Park, CA. Serving clients in Menlo Park, Redwood City, Atherton, Palo Alto, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Campbell, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Portola Valley
CE INFORMATION:
Michelle Joy, MFT (Provider #65866) is approved by the California association of marriage and family therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFT’s, LCSW’s, LPCC’s and LEP’s. Michelle Joy, MFT maintains responsibility for the program and all its content.
Target Audience: This course is designed for mental health professionals who would like to learn how to deepen their work with couples
Fee: $297
CE: 10.5 (for an extra payment of $20)
Registration fee is nonrefundable, but you may forward to a future training by Michelle.
Accommodations: To request accommodations for special needs, please email the Program Administrator at [email protected]
Grievances: To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email [email protected] or call 650-485-1504
Certificates: Course Completion certificates will be awarded at the end of the course in exchange for a completed evaluation form and possibly a post test.
