Professional training for relationship therapists.

Relationship Institute Australasia is Australia's first and longest-serving organisation to offer accredited Gottman training and therapist certification. RIA is led by Trish Purnell-Webb and John Flanagan - Certified Gottman Therapists, Advanced Clinical Trainers & Gottman Institute Consultants. We also welcome Gottman Clinical Level 1 Trainers - Campbell MacBean, Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor & Certified Gottman Therapist and Carole Simpson, Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor & Certified Gottman Therapist.

Continue your Gottman training journey with Advanced Gottman Clinical Trainers Trish Purnell-Webb and John Flanagan. Relationship Institute Australasia is one of the leading agencies in Australia in Gottman training and therapist certification. Deepen your understanding of Gottman Method Couples Therapy… Expand your strategies & interventions with couples! Level 2 Training will expand your assessment strategies and intervention techniques. This is the next step toward certification and designation as a Certified Gottman Therapist. At the completion of Level 2 Training, you should have the clinical familiarity, knowledge, and resources to integrate Gottman Method Couples Therapy assessments and interventions into your clinical work with growing confidence.

Complete your Gottman training journey with Advanced Gottman Clinical Trainers & Consultants Trish Purnell-Webb and John Flanagan. Relationship Institute Australasia is one of the leading agencies in Australia in Gottman training and therapist certification. Through videotaped cases of real couples, hands-on role plays, demonstrations of assessments and interventions, and nuanced discussion of technique, the Level 3 Training significantly expands your understanding of when and how to use Gottman Method strategies.

This one-day workshop will explore the main evidence-based theories and models relating to intimate relationships and how to assist an individual partner to make positive change through the use of psycho-education, cognitive and emotional self-exploration and behavioural interventions. The training will incorporate lectures, group discussions, videos, and Q&A sessions.

The research suggests that individual therapy that is focused on the management of relationship issues has traditionally not only not been successful, but has also been found to lead more frequently to relationship breakdown. However, statistics tell us that 86% of individuals presenting for therapy list relationship distress as one of their top 3 presentation issues. What is a well-meaning therapist supposed to do?

While more research needs to be conducted, emerging theories looking at individual therapy for couple problems (ITCP) suggests clinicians can become more equipped in offering couple-sensitive individual therapy (CSI therapy). In this workshop, we focus on the knowledge, skills, and processes that help therapists and individuals address couple distress more successfully when only one partner is in attendance.

Outline of the Day

- Evidence for and against ITCP
- Pitfalls to be aware of
- Therapist needs
- Relationship Models
- Assessment
- Therapeutic interventions
- The effectiveness of the workshop will be evaluated through the use of a knowledge questionnaire and a course evaluation completed by each participant.

Cost - $320 for the 1-day live via ZOOM

CPD: This training is eligible for 6 hours of CPD points.

Workshop timings: 8.30 am - 4.30 pm AEST (SYD / MELB TIME ZONE)

Infidelity and Betrayal in Committed Relationships: Understanding, Healing, and Rebuilding

Live and Interactive via ZOOM | 2-Day Training

The disclosure of infidelity and betrayal is one of the most devastating and painful experiences a couple can face. It is also among the most complex and challenging issues encountered in therapy.

This engaging two-day online training will delve into the theory behind infidelity and its causes, explore the symptoms and relational impacts of betrayal and loss of trust, introduce models of treatment, and provide a wide range of intervention strategies to help couples repair, rejuvenate, and rebuild their relationships.

Key challenges addressed in treatment include:
• How much detail should be disclosed—and why
• Rebuilding trust after it has been shattered
• Managing hypervigilance, hyperarousal, and anxiety
• Developing emotional attunement and empathy between partners

Learning Objectives – Participants will:

1. Understand the theory and root causes of betrayal in committed relationships
2. Identify key considerations and common pitfalls in the treatment of infidelity
3. Clarify the roles of confidentiality and transparency in couples therapy
4. Gain practical skills in using couples dialogue and emotional processing techniques to support healing
5. Learn the stages of the betrayal recovery model
6. Build competence in delivering effective interventions that restore trust and commitment

Please note: This workshop is not the required Treating Affairs and Trauma training needed to progress through the Gottman Certification Track.

Prerequisite: Completion of Gottman Level 1 Training (minimum)

Format: Live and interactive via Zoom
Facilitators: Trish Purnell-Webb & John Flanagan
Both Trish and John are Certified Gottman Therapists, Advanced Clinical Trainers, and Consultants for the Gottman Institute, with additional advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples.

CPD: Eligible for 12 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Participants will receive a downloadable workbook and Zoom access details in the week leading up to the event.

For more information, contact Kylie-Jo at: kylie@relationshipinstitute.com.au

An Exclusive 2-Day Retreat for Certified Gottman Therapists and Certification Track Clinicians

Join us for a special two-day retreat designed exclusively for Certified Gottman Therapists and clinicians currently on the Certification Track. This invitation-only gathering offers a rare opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside fellow professionals who share a deep commitment to the Gottman Method.

Over the two days, you’ll enjoy a rich program of dynamic presentations, interactive workshops, live demonstrations, and thought-provoking discussions—each designed to sharpen your clinical skills and strengthen your professional network.

To make the experience even more memorable, we warmly invite you to our Cocktail & Nibbles Networking Event on the first evening. This relaxed social gathering is the perfect setting to reconnect with peers, share ideas and enjoy meaningful conversations in a welcoming atmosphere.

This retreat is more than just professional development—it’s a chance to be part of a vibrant, supportive community of like-minded clinicians committed to excellence in relationship therapy.

Our 2024 retreat was our biggest yet, with nearly 30 attendees from across Australia. It was a fantastic event filled with engaging content, delicious meals, great company, and powerful connections.

For more information or to inquire further, please email:
📧 kylie@relationshipinstitute.com.au

Gottman Art and Science of Love Workshop
Gold Coast – 23rd & 24th August 2025

Created by world-renowned relationship experts Drs. John and Julie Gottman, and grounded in over four decades of research, this 2 day in person workshop is built for couples like you—people who care deeply about their relationship but need real tools to reconnect, repair, and rebuild.

Let’s be real for a moment. Relationships aren’t always easy.
There are days when it feels like you’re just co-existing. The arguments seem to loop. The distance grows, even when you’re sitting right next to each other. Maybe you're not sure how you got here—but you know one thing: you want to find your way back.

If you’re struggling, stuck in patterns that feel impossible to shift, or simply missing that spark you once had, The Art and Science of Love workshop isn’t just an event—it’s a turning point.

Created by world-renowned relationship experts Drs. John and Julie Gottman, and grounded in over four decades of research, this workshop is built for couples like you—people who care deeply about their relationship but need real tools to reconnect, repair, and rebuild.

Why This Workshop Might Be Exactly What You Need
You don’t have to be on the brink of breaking up to want more.
You might be holding hands at dinner but feeling miles apart inside.
You might argue over small things that somehow turn into big things.
Or maybe you just miss the ease, the laughter, the intimacy.

This isn’t therapy.
It’s not about airing your issues in front of a group.
It’s private. It’s practical. And it’s powerful.

Whether you’re dating, married, separated but trying, or simply at a crossroads—you’ll leave this weekend feeling like teammates again.

What You’ll Experience Together
Over two gentle, structured days, you and your partner will be guided through a mix of engaging presentations, meaningful reflections, and science-backed couples exercises. Everything is designed to help you:

Rebuild emotional closeness and trust
Break the cycle of conflict that keeps coming back
Communicate in a way that finally feels heard and understood
Heal emotional wounds and turn toward each other again
Laugh more, fight less, and rediscover why you fell in love
And no, you won’t be asked to share anything with the group. All exercises are done privately, just between the two of you—with guidance and support from expert facilitators when you need it.

For more information and registration details - please go to https://www.burleighheadspsychology.com.au/couplecounselling/couplesworkshop