Working with Couples and Depression - 3-Day CPD

Based on NICE guidelines, Couple Therapy for Depression is a brief integrative-behavioural treatment for depression for couples where one or both partners are experiencing relationship distress and depression. It has been developed by identifying best practice in a range of behavioural, systemic, psychodynamic, cognitive and emotionally focussed couple therapies evidenced in RCT effectiveness trials. Couple Therapy for Depression focuses on the relational aspects of depression and on factors that reduce stress and increase support within the couple, using the relationship as a resource for recovery and relapse prevention.

This course provides private counselling and psychotherapy practitioners training in Couple Therapy for Depression.

The training will include:

• teaching on the relational aspects of depression
• learning around couple and individual stress management
• techniques to broaden couple communication, with links to depression
• theory concerning projective couple systems and the function of depression
• learning on acceptance and tolerance in an intimate couple relationship
• techniques to help couples create new ways to share problem-solving
• learning around intimacy, loss, and depression
• attachment patterns and links to depression
• MBT techniques for dysregulated couples
• interventions to help couples use their relationship as a shared resource and prevent relapse

This course is suitable for non-NHS couple therapists and counsellors who want to gain a working knowledge of a brief, evidence-based approach to working with couples who suffer from depression, to support and enhance their existing therapy skills.

Kate Thompson

Kate is Tavistock Relationships' Head of Couple Therapy for Depression, Projects and Business Development. She is a qualified couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist and is registered with BPC and BACP. In addition to her clinical and training responsibilities, she has coedited Engaging Couples: New Directions in Therapeutic Work with Families, alongside Chris Clulow and Andrew Balfour, published by Routledge.

Velia Carruthers

Velia is a couple psychodynamic psychotherapist and psychosexual therapist. She is Training Team Leader for CTfD, delivering trainings and supervising NHS therapists. Alongside this role, Velia sees clinical cases within Tavistock Relationships’ general and psychosexual services, as well as within the Mentalization-Based Therapy team. She also has a private practice in London. Velia is registered with BACP and COSRT.