Never again wonder what to do in a couples session
Train with pioneers of Couples Therapy and discover how the Developmental Model can advance your work
Our world-class couples therapy training is so effective that we’ll let you try it out risk-free for 30 days to prove that it will work for you.
30 day risk-free trial.
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See for yourself how the Developmental Model can help you diagnose couples’ issues...including what they’re not telling you...and tailor your interventions to exactly what’s needed in the moment.
Wouldn’t it be nice to pick up the phone and join a case consultation that tells you exactly what to look for in situations where you feel stuck?
Imagine having a library of written, audio, and video lessons that address exactly what to say and do with tricky couples.
Learn what to do, when to do it, and why you're doing it so you stop flying by the seat of your pants and truly become the most confident therapist you know...
As We Work Together For The Next Year Here’s What You’ll Receive….

- The Hostile-Angry Couple
- The Conflict Avoidant Couple
- The Passive Aggressive Partner
- The Narcissistic Partner
- The Self-Absorbed Partner
- The Silently Disengaged Partner
- The Addicted Partner
- Lies, Betrayal, Affairs, and Infidelity
- Goal-Setting for a Powerful Start
- Assessment From an Attachment Theory Perspective
- Assessment Tools to Diagnose the Couples Developmental Stage
- Understanding Differentiation
- Accessing the Emotional Brain For Rapid Change and Trauma Healing
- Recognizing the Three Types of Motivation
- Developing Empathy in Self-Absorbed or Narcissistic Partners
- Resolving Intra-Psychic Impasses
- Navigating Clashing Goals And Values Collisions
- How to Integrate Individual Sessions Into Your Couples Work
- How to Manage Confidentiality
- How to Integrate Couples Therapy When One Partner Is in Early Recovery
- How to Handle Sexual Desire Discrepancy
- How to Handle Threats of Violence or Divorce
Be Trained by One of the Masters of Couples Therapy
More about Dr. Ellyn Bader

Ellyn has authored two books. The first one, In Quest of the Mythical Mate, was awarded the Clark Vincent Award by the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists for its outstanding contribution to the field of marital therapy and is now in its 18th printing. She has been featured on over 50 radio and television programs including The Today Show and CBS Early Morning News, and she has been quoted in many publications including The New York Times, The Oprah Magazine, and Cosmopolitan.
You have 2 payment options today:
12 Monthly Payments
One-time Pay in Full Payment
Invest for the full year at $1,499 and get an additional savings of $265. You won’t find world-class training at that price ANYWHERE.
Remember that this training is a tax deductible expense in many countries.

Janet Congo, MFT, Coto de Caza, CA
Common Questions About Our Training
Most healthcare professionals can earn 36 hours of Continuing Education credit by completing this course. Please read the course objectives, accreditation, and other information before registering.
Yes! The integration of attachment theory, differentiation theory, and neuroscience has proven to be compatible with therapists I have trained throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Our training receives consistent and enthusiastic feedback that it enhances and supports other approaches of working with couples.
Likely not. Over the years, the therapists who have gone through my training typically include novices through seasoned therapists. The feedback we get is that therapists on all levels appreciate the understandable ways our strategies and interventions can be immediately applied to their own practice.
If you work mainly with individuals, you will learn a lot that will influence how you approach your individual clients who are depressed, angry, or stuck due to their relationship problems. There is a special training section to show you how to apply the Developmental Model to individual clients and their relationship issues.
Not unless you have done extensive training with me in the Developmental Model already. The consistent feedback I get, even from therapists who have been in long-term practice, is how valuable these concepts are along with the opportunity to get feedback as you integrate them with your actual clients.
The training can benefit a wide variety of professionals who work with individuals in relationships or with couples. Past participants have included Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Marriage Counselors, Clergy, Mental Health Counselors, Relationship Coaches, and more.
Most therapists – myself included – feel some anxiety about using technology. I’ve worked hard to be sure that our materials are very user-friendly. And our office staff is patient with beginners. So don’t let it scare you; jump right in!
You can ask questions throughout the training program. I stay on the monthly phone calls to answer all the questions you have, and my team also monitors the questions asked on the blog around the clock.
With many online courses there is no interaction with the instructor. You can’t ask questions about a specific case you’re working with. You can’t get elaborations on especially relevant interventions. There is no way to ask, “Now what?”
Our training is different. We look forward to talking with you and answering your questions about clients you’re working with and interventions that we’ve seen successful. Therapists who have gone through our program also share they enjoy the support they receive from peers in our online community.
At a workshop or conference, you generally will not get your specific questions answered completely. It isn’t the environment where you can continue to ask deeper and deeper questions until they are answered. You can’t, generally, have conversations with the presenter as they have too much material to cover and too many people who want their attention. You cannot even call the instructor after the workshop and say, “Wow, what you taught was really great, now how can I apply the interventions to my particular case?” A workshop is not designed to be comprehensive.
However, our program is designed to be comprehensive. This is what makes us so different. Our training includes all of this and much more!
In our experience, you will need this time to implement, experiment, and learn how to apply the interventions and strategies with confidence.
As I mentioned before, skillful couples therapy is not mastered in the occasional workshop or reading good books and articles. This prolonged format gives you the big picture and then time to apply specific strategies to specific situations. As your confidence grows, you will need different feedback. A longer training program allows you to get support through your evolution. Most participants spend about 4 hours each month to read and digest the material and calls.
The truth is you need two things to be successful – not just with couples, but also in almost any area of your life. The first is knowledge of how to achieve the success. The second is the dedication to acquire and apply that knowledge.
Agency discounts are available for 3 or more people. Please call 1-877-327-5915 or contact us for more information.
Don’t wait to join. Registration closes at 11:59pm Pacific on September 26. If you miss this opportunity, you won’t be able to…
- Help couples understand the underlying cause of relationship distress
- Apply practical techniques to get lasting results
- Motivate unmotivated partners to take action
- Create progress so your couples don’t get discouraged and give up
- Apply the Developmental Model to your individual clients with relationship stress
Check Out What Other Therapists Are Saying...

Ann Veilleux, MSW, LCSW, Madison, WI
Shannon Seeley, LCSW, Soquel, CA


Vickie Vann, LCSW, San Francisco, CA
Jeremiah Gibson, LMFT, Quincy, MA


Meg Luce, LMFT, Grass Valley, CA
Jules Comeault, MA, Gatineau, QC


Elany Mueller, LMFT, Pasadena, CA
What You Receive In The Developmental Model Training Program
Value Per Item
Total Value
12 Live Training Sessions with Dr. Ellyn Bader & 8 Special Training Sessions
$500
$10,000
8 Live Bonus Training Calls with Guest Experts
$350
$2800
8 Videos of Real Client Sessions by Dr. Ellyn Bader and Dr. Peter Pearson
$75
$600
100 Plus Archived Training Calls with Dr. Ellyn Bader
$70
$7000
82 Archived Bonus Calls with Guest Experts like Dan Siegel, Esther Perel and others!
$60
$4920
30 Client Handouts to Support Your In-Session Work
$30
$900
Being part of a Supportive Therapist Community
-
Priceless!
Investing in your Professional and Personal Growth
-
Even More Priceless!
Value of the Program
-
is over $26,000
Total cost of The Developmental Model Training Program with Dr. Ellyn Bader
-
$147/month ($1,764) OR one payment of $1,499 (SAVE $265)

Iron Clad Guarantee:
We know that the Developmental Model works. What we don’t know is whether you’ll put the program to work for you. That’s why we don’t think you should have to pay for it until you’ve tried, tested, and proven to yourself that it can work for you.
- Have a clear, non-pathological way to describe to your couples why they are struggling
- Feel more confident in your ability to conduct first sessions
- Have diagnostic and assessment tools ready to use
- Look forward to listening to – and participating in – Monthly Training Calls
- Find value in learning and applying the Development Model of Couples Therapy
- Are comfortable knowing how to take charge in your sessions
- See clients responding better, making more progress, returning with enthusiasm
- Imagine getting referrals for more couples
But hurry! We are closing registration on Sunday, September 26 at 11:59pm Pacific.
12 Monthly Payments
One-time Pay in Full Payment
Invest for the full year for $1,499 and get an additional savings of $265. You won’t find world-class training at that price ANYWHERE.
Developmental Model Trainees in 60 Countries Worldwide


“My only regret is that I had not signed on sooner. I look back on a few couples I have seen over the years and wonder how different the outcome might have been if I'd known then what I know now.”
Helene Beddingfield, LMFT, Fair Oaks, CA
“Before I took Ellyn's course I had some financial reservations. But I'm so glad I took the leap of faith. Couples stay with me longer. Because of my confidence and what I've learned, I’m busier than ever with couples. It has more than paid for the course in the long run.”
Lori Collins, MFT, Redwood City, CA


“This training was well worth the time, energy and expense. Every lesson opened up my clinical insights and skills. I have been in practice nearly 40 years and still devoured the materials like a young and eager college student.
Madge Flynn, LCSW, PhD, Fayetteville, NY
“My experience with the program has been excellent. I have a very busy schedule and the program is always available to me when I am ready. I have acquired new skills and insight into couples therapy. I certainly notice the difference!!!”
Maria Hernandez Cuevas, MFT, Miami, FL


“I’ve been in practice for over 20 years. Dr. Ellyn Bader has been a part of my work for nearly the entire time. Her training program was like a booster shot for my work with couples. It has only continued to improve since then. Ellyn’s desire for consistent improvement and refinement is what makes this program so invaluable. Ellyn’s wealth of experience, knowledge, incisiveness, and compassion combine to help anyone build a strong foundation upon which to grow and expand both professionally and personally.”
Paul McCandless, MFT, Fullerton, CA
Michael Klein, Ph.D., San Francisco, CA
