First Couple Session

Course Description

This workshop presents a template for initial sessions with couples, modeling respectful listening practices, identification of shared goals, and the creation of space for all participating voices. An actual couple session engaging these practices will be screened, followed by collaborative conversation with participants and presenter.

Instructor Information

Educational Goals

1. Develop respectful listening practices for initial sessions with couples that make space for all participating voices.
2. Develop practical ways of identifying shared goals with couples using beginning narrative practices.

Measurable Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe the structure of the First Couple Session Template.
2. Participants will be able to apply respectful listening practices while making space for each voice in working with couples.
3. Participants will be able to integrate beginning narrative practices in working with couples.

Outline with Main Points for Each Topic (including times)

1. 12:45–1:15 PM · Introduction — 30 minutes

   • Review Fluid Practices of Narrative Therapy
   • Review First Couple Session Template

2. 1:15–1:55 PM · Session Screening — 40 minutes

   • Couple session with Lily and Ben

3. 1:55–2:15 PM · Q&A — 20 minutes

   • Review participants' responses
   • Engage participants' questions

Total instructional time: 30 + 40 + 20 = 90 minutes / 60 = 1.5 CE hours

Signing in and out

• Sign in at the door before 12:45 PM.
• Sign out and complete this session’s evaluation at the door when it ends at 2:15 PM.
• Sign-in, sign-out and the evaluation are not part of the 1.5 CE hours.

References

• Cadenhead, R. A., & Fellin, L. C. (2023). Cultural reflexivity and the referral problem: A discourse analysis of three initial sessions of intercultural couple therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 45(3), 348–380. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12429
• Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (2025). Narrative couple therapy. In M. D. Reiter (Ed.), Case conceptualization in couple therapy: Comparing and contrasting theories (pp. 245–268). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003369097-12
• Lebow, J., & Snyder, D. K. (2022). Couple therapy in the 2020s: Current status and emerging developments. Family Process, 61(4), 1359–1385. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12824
• Quirk, K., Drinane, J. M., Edelman, A., Chow, D., Lim, J., Chandra, D., Miller, S., & Owen, J. (2021). The alliance–outcome association in couple therapy: A common fate model. Family Process, 60(3), 741–754. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12666
• Rosen, L. V., & Lang, C. (2005). Narrative therapy with couples: Promoting liberation from constraining influences. In M. Harway (Ed.), Handbook of couples therapy (pp. 157–178). John Wiley & Sons.