Infidelity rips relationships apart abruptly and violently. Treating couples in the aftermath is one of the most important challenges therapists will face.

Helping couples through infidelity is unlike any other challenge in a couples relationship, requiring a specific set of skills and tools. During this time of turmoil, rage and despair, it’s important that therapists manage the first session in a way that can bring a sense of relief and stabilization for the couple. Therapists also need to move the couple forward thereafter to help the couple repair the damage.

Do you feel dread when a couple needs help with infidelity? Do you feel stuck with the betrayer’s defensiveness, avoidance of the topic or the betrayed partner’s rage and obsession with details? Would you like to calm the couples system while being effective at helping move the couple forward?

If so, this training is for you. Whether you are meeting with the couple or one of the partners, you will feel like a more powerful leader with these frameworks and interventions.

This short but powerful training is designed to equip you with tools and structures needed to help couples and individuals navigate this challenging time. Through small and large group discussion, case examples, role plays, teaching, transcripts, video demonstration, handouts for your couples and more, you will learn:

• The 3 choices a couple is faced with in the aftermath of infidelity, how to present them to the couple and how to help them decide which is the right path for them.
• How to stabilize first sessions, and the sessions thereafter.
• Predictable ways each partner is experiencing the infidelity, and how to reframe these experiences as powerful interventions.
• The 3 phases of infidelity, and tools to help the couple navigate each phase.
• A step-by-step process for rebuilding trust (the betrayed partner plays a role too!), and how to explain it to the couple.
• Predicting and managing the common obstacles that arise in the trust building process.
• When the betrayer shares their thought processes that led to infidelity, the betrayed partner feels blamed. Learn an effective framework to counter this predictable obstacle, leading to receptivity and more transparent, open conversations at a time when the couple needs it the most.

And so, SO much more….

Couples lean on us in desperation: How do I know my partner will never cheat again? How long will I feel this way? Should I forgive them? Should we stay together? Will our relationship ever feel normal again? It’s important that we navigate these legitimate questions in a way that helps move the couple forward.

Join us!

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DETAILS & REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

When: Friday, April 4th, 2025
Time: 10 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: Zoom
CE: 4.5
Cost: $137 without CE; $147 with CE

Register online:

Questions for the instructor?
Email: [email protected]
Call/text: 650-485-1504

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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 globally.

Michelle is also a certified Enneagram Teacher and trainer, bringing 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, 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 trainings for couples therapists. You may view testimonials from couples workshop attendees and therapist trainees here: https://michellejoymft.com/testimonials/

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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 the aftermath of infidelity.

Fee: $137, or $147 for 4.5 CE

CE: 4.5 (for an extra payment of $10)

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.

Course meets the qualifications for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFT’s, LCSW’s, LPCC’s and LEP’s as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences