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When One Partner Wants Therapy and the Other Doesn’t (2 CEU's)
COUPLES, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
When One Partner Wants Therapy and the Other Doesn’t – 2 CEUs
Overview:
Couples often enter treatment with unequal levels of motivation, differing expectations, or conflicting beliefs about the value of therapy. In many cases, one partner actively seeks support while the other attends reluctantly, expresses resistance, or declines participation altogether. Therapists may encounter situations in which one individual feels desperate for change while the other feels pressured, skeptical, emotionally disengaged, or fearful of the therapeutic process. These dynamics can create significant challenges related to alliance-building, treatment pacing, power imbalances, and therapist neutrality. Without thoughtful intervention, clinicians may unintentionally align with one partner, reinforce relational polarization, or contribute to increased resistance.
In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, participants will examine practical and relational approaches for working with couples when motivation for therapy is unequal or one partner resists treatment involvement. Attendees will explore common reasons individuals avoid or resist therapy, including cultural beliefs, attachment patterns, prior experiences, stigma, emotional avoidance, fear of vulnerability, relational injuries, and concerns regarding blame or exposure. The course will address clinical challenges including pressured participation, differing goals, treatment ambivalence, and managing the expectations of the partner seeking therapy. Participants will learn strategies for engaging resistant partners without coercion, maintaining therapeutic balance, reducing defensiveness, and facilitating conversations that increase emotional safety and participation. Through case examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for navigating one of couples therapy’s most common and challenging presentations.
Objectives:
Identify factors that contribute to unequal motivation and resistance within couples therapy.
Recognize clinical pitfalls that may increase polarization or inadvertently reinforce relational dynamics.
Apply practical engagement and intervention strategies that support therapeutic alliance and participation while maintaining neutrality.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with an overview of clinical approaches for working with couples presenting with differing levels of motivation for treatment. Participants will learn practical engagement and intervention strategies relevant to relational clinical practice. This training does not provide certification in couples therapy models or comprehensive instruction in specialized relational treatment approaches. Participants are expected to apply course material within their professional scope of practice, ethical standards, and ongoing consultation when appropriate.
Financial and Commercial Disclosure
The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to couples therapy frameworks, interventions, or resources are included solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.
Refund Policy – Live CE Trainings (Virtual & In-Person)
All registrations for live CE trainings are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, participants agree to these terms. Cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the scheduled training date are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee, or participants may elect to receive a full credit toward a future training. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled training are non-refundable; however, registrations may be transferred to another eligible training or another attendee with prior written approval. Participants who fail to attend a scheduled live training, do not complete attendance requirements, or fail to satisfy course participation requirements are not eligible for refunds or CEUs. If a training is canceled or rescheduled by the provider, registrants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another training. Refunds will not be issued if participants are unable to earn CEUs due to incomplete attendance, failure to complete required evaluations, or licensing board eligibility restrictions.
COUPLES, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
When One Partner Wants Therapy and the Other Doesn’t – 2 CEUs
Overview:
Couples often enter treatment with unequal levels of motivation, differing expectations, or conflicting beliefs about the value of therapy. In many cases, one partner actively seeks support while the other attends reluctantly, expresses resistance, or declines participation altogether. Therapists may encounter situations in which one individual feels desperate for change while the other feels pressured, skeptical, emotionally disengaged, or fearful of the therapeutic process. These dynamics can create significant challenges related to alliance-building, treatment pacing, power imbalances, and therapist neutrality. Without thoughtful intervention, clinicians may unintentionally align with one partner, reinforce relational polarization, or contribute to increased resistance.
In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, participants will examine practical and relational approaches for working with couples when motivation for therapy is unequal or one partner resists treatment involvement. Attendees will explore common reasons individuals avoid or resist therapy, including cultural beliefs, attachment patterns, prior experiences, stigma, emotional avoidance, fear of vulnerability, relational injuries, and concerns regarding blame or exposure. The course will address clinical challenges including pressured participation, differing goals, treatment ambivalence, and managing the expectations of the partner seeking therapy. Participants will learn strategies for engaging resistant partners without coercion, maintaining therapeutic balance, reducing defensiveness, and facilitating conversations that increase emotional safety and participation. Through case examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for navigating one of couples therapy’s most common and challenging presentations.
Objectives:
Identify factors that contribute to unequal motivation and resistance within couples therapy.
Recognize clinical pitfalls that may increase polarization or inadvertently reinforce relational dynamics.
Apply practical engagement and intervention strategies that support therapeutic alliance and participation while maintaining neutrality.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with an overview of clinical approaches for working with couples presenting with differing levels of motivation for treatment. Participants will learn practical engagement and intervention strategies relevant to relational clinical practice. This training does not provide certification in couples therapy models or comprehensive instruction in specialized relational treatment approaches. Participants are expected to apply course material within their professional scope of practice, ethical standards, and ongoing consultation when appropriate.
Financial and Commercial Disclosure
The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to couples therapy frameworks, interventions, or resources are included solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.
Refund Policy – Live CE Trainings (Virtual & In-Person)
All registrations for live CE trainings are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, participants agree to these terms. Cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the scheduled training date are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee, or participants may elect to receive a full credit toward a future training. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled training are non-refundable; however, registrations may be transferred to another eligible training or another attendee with prior written approval. Participants who fail to attend a scheduled live training, do not complete attendance requirements, or fail to satisfy course participation requirements are not eligible for refunds or CEUs. If a training is canceled or rescheduled by the provider, registrants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another training. Refunds will not be issued if participants are unable to earn CEUs due to incomplete attendance, failure to complete required evaluations, or licensing board eligibility restrictions.