What If You Had the Roadmap to
Create Lasting Change with Clients?
The Developmental Model Gives you x-ray vision into relationship challenges so you can address the real issues instead of the symptoms.
Created by industry innovators, the Developmental Model gives you a roadmap for incisive change. And this training includes a community to support your work as a couples therapist.
Created by industry leaders, the Developmental Model harnesses neuroscience, differentiation, and attachment theory to give you a roadmap for lasting relationship transformation.
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Too many training courses focus on behavioral skills and quick fixes rather than addressing the deeper wounds that keep clients stuck.
These other approaches might provide temporary relief, but they often fall short when it comes to real, sustained transformation. When clients get stuck, it’s often because they lack certain skills or capacities – not because they are fundamentally flawed.
Instead of teaching clients how to behave differently, the Developmental Model invites them – and you – to explore deeper layers of growth. To shift the focus from problem solving to differentiation and individual growth.
By building the individual skills each client needs, you equip them with the strength to relax their guard. To be vulnerable. To resolve fights without exploding or shutting down.
The Developmental Model sees couples’ struggles not as signs of illness, but as opportunities for growth. In a world quick to label and diagnose, the Developmental Model is a refreshing and powerful alternative. It shifts the focus from what’s wrong to what’s possible, empowering you to lead your clients toward lasting, meaningful change that goes far beyond most other approaches.
Your belief in what is possible for couples becomes their inspiration, fostering an environment where they can thrive.
We combine Attachment Theory, Neuroscience, and Differentiation to give you the solution to almost every relationship challenge.
I have done the work – so you don’t have to – to integrate recent findings in neuroscience, attachment theory, and differentiation. This gives you the foundation to diagnose, intervene, and significantly change even the types of couples who made you freeze.
Attachment Theory
You’ll become skilled at assessing each partner’s primary attachment pattern and learn immediate applications to help couples develop secure attachment.
Differentiation Theory
You will support the evolution of each partner, as well as the growth of the relationship. This makes couples strong enough to manage differences and conflict over their lifetime.
Neuroscience
We teach cutting edge techniques to deal with early life trauma that is stored in the emotional brain and contributes to the pain couples inflict on each other. We make it easy to share simple neuroscience concepts – clients are often grateful because this education gives them hope!
When integrated, those 3 pillars provide an unprecedented foundation so you can:
Help couples understand the underlying cause of relationship distress.
Apply practical techniques to get healing results.
Motivate unmotivated partners to take action.
Create progress so your couples don’t get discouraged and give up.
Play Video
Martha used to become confused in sessions because sexual issues are so complex and difficult for clients to discuss, but now she can hold the focus on one thing at a time and really make a difference for them.
Martha Kauppi, LMFT, ACST Madison, WI
Challenging Couples, Community, Clinical Improvement
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Tom says the Developmental Model translates well for working with queer couples because it’s really about how to be an individual inside a relationship, whatever the relationship structure looks like. And he especially appreciates the supportive community.
Tom Bruett, MS, LMFT Denver, CO
Diversity, Community, Clinical Improvement
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Tammy joined training as a relatively new therapist and it has made a big difference in her personal life as well as her professional life. She values the community, has increased her confidence in working with couples, and is now having to decide what to do with more clients than she can see.
Tammy Van Hinte, MA, RCC Victoria BC
Community, Personal, New Therapist, Full Practice
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When Janae first started training, her work was primarily with individuals. Now she is able to work at a new level with individuals and see more couples, too. She’s learned a whole new language she can use with all of her clients.
Janae Munday, LCSW Phoenix, AZ
Individuals, Tools/Framework, Clinical Improvement
What can the Developmental Model do for Individual Therapists?
Do you work with individuals who constantly complain about their partner? It’s easy to get pulled into colluding or agreeing with them. And it’s hard to identify their role in the problem.
When you get just one side of the story, it’s difficult to figure out, “What is this client doing that’s getting in their way?”
The assessments and tools you’ll find here help uncover the role your client plays in issues they complain about. And you’ll learn to assess the emotional capacities your individual clients lack, so you can target your work toward the personal development they need.
When you do that, you’ll become a catalyst for the changes your clients want – even if their partner doesn’t come to therapy.
“I only see individuals and this course has elevated my practice in ways I had not anticipated. I have used many of the interventions in individual sessions, and I feel so much more able to help clients with their relationships. Ellyn showed me how to effectively step back and look at the big picture and address the patterns and processes rather than the situations. This program has given me a whole new perspective on relationships and communication, and it is invaluable!”
Kira Lynne, BA, RPC, CCPCPR, Vancouver, Canada
“Although I work with individuals, I have improved my capacity in helping individuals understand, normalize, and make meaningful and beneficial changes in their relations.”
Angelica Traverso, Psychologist, Santiago, Chile
“I see mainly individuals. However, the Developmental Model has been invaluable in expanding my work. I have become a more confident therapist and find myself taking more responsibility in my personal life for what happens for me internally. Thank you for this life changing communal experience.”
Judith Howse, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist, South Yarra, Australia
Do you want mind-blowing transformation in less than a year, with “aha” moments starting immediately?
It only takes a few weeks to understand the basics of the Developmental Model. But because it’s so robust, it can grow with you through the length of your career.
In 12 weeks or less you will have a completely different mindset when facing tough situations.
In 12 months, you’ll be rock steady confident because you’ll have the tools to assess, intervene, and motivate – solutions you can’t observe in regular CE courses.
“I wish I could have come out of school and done this. Within 2-3 of the lessons I had tools I could use right away. I can’t imagine ever tapping out of the program and I can’t imagine therapists or coaches getting anything better for their money than what’s here!”
Noelle Cochran, PsyD, San Francisco, CA
“I’m just getting into the 1st lesson. Those questions are excellent, and tackle areas I find myself getting stuck. I’ve specialized in couples for 10 years, and I’m very excited to think about cases in a new way.”
Amy Lemberger, MS, LMFT, Brookfield, WI
Bridge the Gap Between Learning and Doing:
Practice with Experts!
Many courses give you videos and theories, expecting you to have the courage to integrate them into your sessions. And to do it well, right off the bat! But when you're under pressure with real clients, theory often falls short. And as ancient poet Archilochus said, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”
Unlike other programs that leave you to figure things out on your own, we give you weekly opportunities for practice. First, you’ll watch Ellyn and experienced trainers demonstrate techniques, and then you’ll step into roleplays to practice them yourself, with real-time feedback.
You’re not just learning – you’re doing.
You’re not just watching – you’re participating.
And you’re not just hoping for results – you’re seeing them, session after session.
Upcoming practice sessions include:
Empathic Embellishments and Connecting
with Each Partner
What is an Autonomous Goal? Practicing
Internal Self-focus for Symbiotic Clients
Slowing Down, Avoiding Problem-Solving
and Working with Each Partner
Identifying and Working with
Symbiotic Shifts in Early Sessions
How you establish yourself, your role, and your leadership makes an enormous difference in your clients’ motivation to do the work, and the outcome of therapy itself. That’s why we start your journey off with carefully chosen topics: so you can really get into your bones what it means to slow down and avoid problem solving. There is almost no greater skill you can develop than to guide clients toward an internal focus, set goals for themselves (regardless of their partner’s behavior), and hold them to their goals in the face of adversity.
Video, Audio, or Written Delivery, Introvert or Extrovert
We’ve Got Your Learning Style Covered!
The Developmental Model program is the most personalized and in-depth program available.
Every learning style is supported, from social extroverts to introverted wallflowers, auditory processors to avid readers.
You get abundant resources in the format that works for you!
Want to jump into a lively community, present a case, ask questions, or practice new skills? Come on in, that water’s fine!
Would you rather curl up with something to read and never have to talk to a single person? We’ve got you covered.
Live Trainings
We’ve Got Your Learning Style Covered!
Q&A call with Trainers
Weekly Guided Practice Sessions
Bonus Calls with Special Guests like, Esther Perel, Diane Poole Heller, Stan Tatkin
Self-Study Learnings
Replays of every
clinical session
Video demonstrations and deep dives of specific techniques
Real client session videos
Transcripts, Handouts, and
Client Worksheets
24 strategically sequenced written lessons
Written summaries and transcripts of clinical sessions
21+ handouts you can use or give to your clients
Homework for clients to support your work
Case
consultations
Message boards
