Relationship work and psychosexual therapy often becomes stuck when couples are trapped in repeating cycles of conflict or when the past is preventing them from moving on. Sometimes only seeing the couple together can further embed unhelpful patterns of relating. The therapy can then become bogged down with irrelevant content rather than addressing the deeper issues which are preventing progress. A repeating 1:1:2 pattern, seeing each partner and then the couple, can successfully recognise and deal with blocking issues as well as improving the overall relationship. Each partner can be coached in more effective ways of relating as well as helped to self-regulate and avoid conflict, with an improved sense of couple focus.
Having to share the therapist with their partner helps overcome competitiveness and early struggles with ‘splitting’ parents or resenting siblings. Partners appreciate the chance for uninterrupted reflection, and frequently view the relationship, and their part in the couple dynamic, very differently. Couples are considerably more successful at sticking to agreed changes and co-operating and tend to experience rapid improvement. Trauma therapies can also be offered successfully in the individual sessions, often alongside behavioural psychosexual treatment or in preparation for this.
The self-access class explains this process, the underlying theory and offer practical advice on how to make this work in both relationship and psychosexual therapy. It is of particular use to anyone feeling tempted to give up work with couple Service Users where progress is slow or stalled.
*This self-access class is a recording of a live event that took place in 2025.
Schedule:
- Introduction to 1:1:2 therapy
- Discussion of underlying theory and application
- How to manage the 1:1:2 dynamic and use the sessions effectively
- Troubleshooting
Key lessons:
- How to manage sessions and use appropriate interventions
- Understanding of 1:1:2 therapy and when to use it safely
- Appreciation of relevant theory
About the Trainer
Cate Campbell.
As well as being a relationship and psychosexual therapist, Cate is a supervisor and has taught and written courses to master’s level for the Relate Institute and Foundation for Counselling & Relationship Studies, as well as writing four books about sex and relationships. A 1:1:2 approach is increasingly being used in trauma therapy with couples which interested me as a qualified EMDR practitioner.
