Relationship Therapy Diploma: Affinity’s Advanced Diploma programme gives you a thorough foundation in the fundamentals of relationship therapy. It also takes you on a deep dive into some of the more complex aspects of relationship and sexual diversity and disruption. Themes of working with diversity and disruption are integrated into every module, with a focus on adaptive and self-reflective practice.
Our modular programme integrates an eclectic mix of modalities, including behavioural, cognitive, creative, gestalt, humanistic, interpersonal, phenomenological, systemic, transactional analysis and transpersonal – to name just a few. We look at relationships in a holistic way: what’s going on biologically, psychologically and sociologically – from the past and the present. A truly integrative approach to relationship therapy.
Some of our key modules include:
Gender, sexual and relationship diversity, including gender transition; non-monogamy and polyamory; BDSM and kink
Working with sociological differences, like religion, culture and socio-economic status
Consent, boundaries and relationships
Infidelity and deceit
Neurodiversity and neuropsychology
Out-of-control sexual behaviour
The impact of physical and mental ill-health on relationships and sex
Psychosexual issues: typical presentations and more recent developments, like Digi Sex and Chem Sex
Toxicity, abuse and coercive control
The impact of trauma on relationships and sex
Affinity Psychotherapy Academy Relationship Therapy Diploma
Programme dates & modules 2022
21 - 23 January (3 days)
Introduction to the Diploma and relationship therapy
- Introduction to our therapeutic modalities and research, writing and delivery
- Ethical and moral issues relating to relationship therapy, gender and sex
- Legal aspects of relationship therapy, including current relevant legislation, and any regional and global variations
- Applying equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice, and safeguarding
Getting started with relationships
- Assessment, treatment plans, risk and referrals
18 – 20 February (3 days)
Tutors: Diane Hassall & Keeley Mardon
- The shape and style of relationships
- Core competencies for working with relationships
- Integrating modalities in relationship and sex therapy
- Tried and tested tools and techniques
Disruption during therapy
- Exploring types of disruption
- The therapist’s adaption of self in response to disruption
Infidelity and deceit
- Different models of working with infidelity and deceit
- Moving from mistrust to trust
19 – 20 March (2 days)
Gender and sexual development and identity
Tutors: Serge Nicholson, Diane Hassall & Keeley Mardon
- Sexual development and changes throughout the lifespan
- Gender development, status and identity
- Sexual identity and attraction
- Understanding all aspects of gender transition: the medical, legal and emotional
- 2nd Memorandum of Understanding against Conversion Therapy and what it means to us as therapists
23 – 24 April (2 days)
Tutors: Betty Martin & The School of Consent
- Empowerment and consent: teaching clients how to become aware of their own desires and limits, and how to communicate them
- Importance of touch – it’s not just about sex
- Working with the Wheel of Consent and Three-minute game
14 – 15 May (2 days)
Sociological differences
Tutors: Natalya Price & Gurpreet Singh
- The impact of sociological differences and intersectionality on relationships and sex, for example culture, race, ethnicity, language, traditions, socio-ecomic status and religion
- Understanding your own cultural competence and the importance of working in a culturally sensitive way.
- Creating a culturally senstive practice to increase congruence and enhance therapy
Physical health issues
Tutor: Natalya Price
- How common diseases and health conditions, such as cancer, heart disease and IBS, can affect relationships and sex
- The impact of physical disabilities on relationships and sex
- Working with ill-health and disability in relationships and sex therapy
18 – 19 June (2 days)
Neuropsychology: from cell to soul
Tutor: Marcus Sorensen
- Exploring the interactions between our mind and body – our emotions and physical sensations – both of which are profoundly influenced by our outer world
- Helping clients tune in to these interactions, so they feel more connected to themselves and others, and improve relationships
02 – 03 July (2 days)
Tutors: Caroline Courtney, Giuseppe Picuccio, Diane Hassall & Keeley Mardon
- Typical and less typical psychosexual presentations
- Exploring latest research and adaptive practice
- Integration of mind and body
30 – 31 July (2 days)
Relationship diversity
Tutors: Diane Hassall & Keeley Mardon
- Exploring the multitude of relationship styles, from solo-ness, through monogamy to non-monogamy, and why people might choose them
- Identifying your own beliefs and biases around different kinds of relationships
- Working with non- monogamous and polyamorous relationships in therapy
Diverse sexual practices
Tutors: Diane Hassall & Keeley Mardon
- Challenging myths and misinformation surrounding kink, BDSM and other diverse sexual practices, such as Chem Sex and Digi Sex
- Building your awareness of kink and BDSM practices, etiquette and terminology
- Identifying your own beliefs and biases around diverse sexual practices
17 – 18 September (2 days)
Men, intimacy and relationships
Tutors: Bernd Leygraf & Liam Mongeland
- Exploring men’s relationship with intimacy and sex – young men, middle aged men, older men, hetero, gay, bi, pan and trans men
- Working with men as partners in relationships to improve their intimacy, relational and emotional fitness
8 – 9 October (2 days)
Neurodiversity
Tutor: Dr Anna Preston
- Exploring neurodiversity in comparison with neurotypicality and the impact of difference in relationships
- Common mental health and personality disorders and the impact on relationships and sex
Impact of Eating Disorders on Relationships
Tutor: Anita Gaisford
- Learn how eating disorders are an all-consuming illness and once formed, they impact on more than one’s relationship with food.
- Explore the many areas of a person’s life and relationships that eating disorders weave into, such as the impact they may have on a person’s body image, sexual intimacy, communication (given that most eating disorders are by nature very secretive), emotional and physical health and on how you can support your partner through recovery.
19 – 20 November (2 days)
Out of control sexual behaviour / sexual offending
Tutors: Pamela Roberts & Miranda Christophers
- Explore different approaches to working with out-of-control sexual behaviour
- Discussing and challenging different schools of thought: sex addiction, compulsive or out of control sexual behaviour
- Identifying sexual offending/working with sex offenders
09 – 11 December (3 days)
Infertility and infant loss
Tutor: Louise Magee
- How infertility and its issues can affect relationships
- Understanding reproductive grief and loss
- Treatment issues and the role of the therapist
Trauma and embodiment
Tutor: Louise Magee
- The impact of trauma on intimate relationships and sex
- Understanding of the polyvagal system
- Integration of body sensing, experiential breathing and mindfulness
EMDR in relationship therapy
Tutor: Teresa King
- Provide an overview of what EMDR is and how it works
- Identify the impact that past trauma can have within a relationship
- Identify relationship issues and attachment deficits from childhood that re-enact within a relationship
- Show how EMDR can be integrated into relationship therapy
- Positive benefits gained by couples shifting old and dysfunctional material that impact negatively on the relationship
Toxicity and abuse
Tutors: Diane Hassall & Keeley Mardon
- Relationships in crisis
- Recognising underlying/ongoing toxicity and abuse
- Physical violence in relationships
- Working with abuse in therapy and knowing when to refer
Affinity Psychotherapy Academy Relationship Therapy Diploma
In one year, you will complete 20 modules over 12 weekends. Learning will be through a blend of seminars, research, reflective enquiry and supported practice.
Together, we will examine the most up-to-date research and innovation. You will discover tools and techniques that can be easily adapted to meet the diverse needs of each and every client. We also help you to learn how to adapt to disruption in the therapy room.
With every module, you will grow in confidence as a relationship therapist.
And you can choose to join us in person in London for your training or online from anywhere in the world live on Zoom!
Need more information?
You must be a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist (Level 4 or above).
We want your learning to be collaborative, sharing knowledge and experience to shape a new model of relationship therapy. You will be pioneers for diversity, difference and disruption; advocates for adaptive psychotherapy that meets the needs of clients in the 2020s.
A Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Contemporary Relationship Therapy will be awarded to students who:
- Have completed 27 training days over 12 months
- Completed a 4,000-word case study to demonstrate the integration of their learning into safe, supervised clinical practice
- Completed at least 50 clinical hours in relationship therapy practice with appropriate supervision.
The cost for the full Diploma programme is £3,250
This can be paid in one lump sum, or in monthly installments. A non-refundable deposit of £325 is payable on acceptance of a place on the programme
