Couple’s therapy is a very popular type of psychotherapy nowadays, because couple’s relationships are not always easy, and they often go through stages where difficulties gain ground and conflicts between members arise.

It should not be forgotten that each person has his or her own needs, tastes, insecurities and world view, and like any interpersonal relationship, if not properly negotiated and possessing a range of social and communication skills, difficulties can arise at any time.

Benefits of Couple’s Therapy

Couple’s therapy is somewhat different from psychotherapy in general , since the reason for consultation is not mental disorders or emotional problems (although they may sometimes appear together with couple’s problems), but rather dysfunctional relational dynamics. In addition, the sessions are not individual, but both members participate.

This form of therapy has many benefits. For example:

  • Helps improve communication
  • Helps to overcome occasional crises that could escalate
  • Allows for overcoming sexual and relationship problems
  • Improves the well-being of the couple and therefore of their members
  • Helps overcome infidelity
  • Generates greater trust among relationship members
  • Allows for overcoming irrational beliefs about love and marriage
  • It helps to put future plans and a common goal on track
  • Reduces distance between members and relationship crises

Related article: “8 benefits of online couples therapy”

The best training in couples therapy

Since this specialty of psychology presents a somewhat different methodology than other forms of therapy, generally systemic, psychologists who want to work in this field of application require training that allows them to successfully meet the demands of the therapeutic cases they attend.

But what is the best training in this field? In the following lines you will find the best offer of courses in Couple’s Therapy .

1. Professional Master in Sexology and Couple’s Therapy (Instituto de la Pareja)

  • Center : Instituto de la Pareja
  • Location : Murcia
  • Duration : 1 year
  • Price : 2.250

Instituto de la Pareja organizes in its headquarters in Murcia a recommendable Master’s Degree that combines two facets of life that often go together: attention to the needs of love and the couple, and attention to the problems of sexuality.

This training and specialization program lasts 10 months distributed in 1,500 hours (60 ECTS credits), and has a teaching staff professionally dedicated to psychotherapy, medicine, sexology and related sciences. It provides an insight into the theory and practice of patient care through couple therapy and sex therapy.

Thus, students will learn about such interesting topics as the biological basis of sexuality, the theory of attachment and its implications for love life in couples , the different approaches to sex therapy, the functioning of pathological jealousy, the Gottman method, the mediation of separation processes, etc.

  • If you are interested in reading more about this option, click here.

2. Expert in Couple’s Therapy (COP Madrid)

  • Centre : Official College of Psychologists of Madrid
  • Location : Madrid
  • Duration : 1 year
  • Price : 330 ? (member) and 420 ? (non-member)

According to statistics, the number of divorces has increased significantly in Spain in the last decade and, along with this reality, there has also been an increase in the number of Couples’ Therapy consultations.

This type of intervention, which is very useful, requires that psychologists are properly trained to treat the relational and communicative problems that can occur in the couple. With this training, the COP Madrid aims to train psychologists who are interested in developing their professional career in this direction .

The course has a systemic-constructivist, psychodynamic, psychodramatic, and cognitive-behavioral orientation, and throughout the training, different case studies are discussed, which help students to actively and practically learn the best methodology for this type of intervention.

3. University Course in Couple’s Therapy (Universidad Antonio de Nebrija / INESEM)

  • Center : Antonio de Nebrija University and INESEM
  • Location : Online
  • Duration : 1 year
  • Price : 180

Online courses are one of the best options for those who have little time to attend classes in person or who have difficulty combining their studies with work schedules. In order to avoid this barrier, the European Institute of Business Studies was created, with the aim of offering the possibility of continuing education to all those students who wish to do so.

This institution, together with the Antonio de Nebrija University, offers the “University Course in Couple’s Therapy” of 4 ECTS credits, which is approved and can be compared with the competition. The syllabus reviews different topics of interest, such as the identification of couple’s problems , the technique of pleasuring, relaxation techniques… and provides students with the best knowledge in the field and the most effective therapeutic resources to be able to use them in the therapeutic sessions.

4. Course in Systemic Couple Therapy (KINE Family Therapy Center)

  • Center : KINE Family Therapy Center
  • Location : Barcelona
  • Duration : 6 months
  • Price : 975

Centro Kine in Barcelona has been offering couples therapy for more than 30 years , but in addition to this service, in 1983 it began training psychologists to give basic courses in systemic family therapy.

Among its training actions, the “Course in Systemic Couple’s Therapy” stands out, which provides participants with a theoretical-practical model for the understanding of relationships and conflicts in couples and therapeutic strategies and techniques for their intervention in the therapeutic process.

It is addressed to Graduates and Licensed Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Psychotherapists accredited by the F.E.A.P.

5. Integrated Model of Couple’s Therapy and Divorce Intervention: Managing Difficulties More Frequently (Cinteco)

  • Center: Cinteco
  • Location: Madrid
  • Duration: 2 months
  • Price: 300 euros

Cinteco is a Psychology Clinic located in Madrid, which offers a course that aims to train clinical psychologists and psychotherapists in the intervention in cases of divorce . This course takes place on different weekends over a period of two months, and is recognised by the Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid and the Colegio Oficial de Medicina of the same community.

It consists of two blocks: intervention in couple’s problems and intervention in the divorce process. The classes are theoretical and practical where the participation of the students is essential to favour the maximum learning. It costs 300 euros; however, students enjoy a significant discount.

6. Basic Course in Family and Couple’s Therapy (Center for Psychotherapy and Family Study)

  • Center : Center for Psychotherapy and Family Studies
  • Location : Malaga
  • Duration : 6 months
  • Price : Consult with center

Family Therapy and Couple’s Therapy usually employ the same methodology, since the origin of most conflicts in both interpersonal relationships is found in relational and communication problems.

The Centre for Psychotherapy and Family Studies in Malaga provides basic training in family and couple therapy , which allows participants to acquire the necessary skills to be able to develop a great professional work in this field.

In addition, this centre offers comprehensive training in this area, and provides another training activity in this line of application: the “Advanced Course in Family and Couple’s Therapy”, which lasts 450 hours. Both courses are ideal for practicing professionally with maximum guarantees.