Student experience: An Introduction to Therapy with Couples

Published in Blog by TR on 18 May 2026

Gemma Van Den Bergen joined our ‘Introduction to Therapy with Couples’ online course with no previous academic experience of psychology. Here she describes what motivated her to take the course, how she found the experience and if she has plans to continue studying psychology in the future.

Why I chose an introductory couples therapy course

I joined this training with no experience of studying psychology and found it to be very accessible and enjoyable. As a parent to a young child, I was interested to learn about the ‘third’ in the couple relationship and the training delivered on this subject with the topic ‘Parenting and the Couple’. I was looking for something that would fit into my busy schedule, and being fully online for 1hr 30min weekly felt like a very accessible option for me.

The pre-reading material and video content had a good balance, not too much and not too little, and with a mix of technically more challenging and 'easier' reading content. Additional material was recommended during the training as discussions took place. The case studies gave me an insight into the work of a therapist and brought the theory into real life, including current situations that people are experiencing.

The course leaders, Ellen and Shannon, were welcoming and approachable. They allowed space for each attendee and our thoughts - no matter our level or knowledge. Having two trainers brought in different approaches and ideas. They really ‘bounced’ off each other and brought a good feel to the space. I trained with a great group of people from different areas of expertise who were willing to share their knowledge. It really brought the training alive, which was great as I had worried that an online experience could feel ‘dry’ or that I may struggle to engage with everyone, but these concerns were soon put to rest.

A first step toward training in couple counselling

For me, this was a real starting point and ‘taster’ into psychology. I’m excited to think about my next steps and am looking to apply to Tavistock Relationships Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy, which is a first step towards clinical training.

I would highly recommend this Introduction course to anyone interested in couple relationships, whether it be your first experience of psychology training or if you have previous experience working with individuals and would like to work with couples. My group included people with no experience, all the way up to Doctorate.

Everyone will learn something from this course!

Find out more

Tavistock Relationships Introduction to Therapy with Couples course runs three times a year and online classes take place on Monday evenings across 11-12 weeks.

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