A high-impact masterclass for clinicians who are tired of “talking around” trauma and ready to start resolving it. No theory-heavy lectures. Just the clinical precision you need when a client shuts down, spirals, or gets stuck.
Stop Watching Your Clients Get Stuck in the Same Loop.
Move from “Talking About” Trauma to Resolving the Parts That Hold It.
You know the feeling. Your client has all the insight in the world. They understand their “why.” They’ve done the work.
And then, it happens again.
In a heartbeat, they’re gone. The self-aware adult you were talking to is replaced by a part that is paralysed with fear in panic and tears, lashing out in anger, or disappearing into a thick fog of shame and numbness.
You’re sitting there thinking: “We’ve talked about this ten times. Why can’t we move past it?”
The truth? You aren’t talking to the person anymore. You’re talking to a protector. And until you know how to work with that specific “guarding” part, the “wounded” part underneath will never feel safe enough to heal.
The “Clinical Map” You’ve Been Missing
Most trauma training gives you more theory. This masterclass gives you a clinical GPS. Instead of wondering what to do when a session “veers off the tracks,” you’ll learn to recognise exactly who is at the wheel, and how to help them move over.
Imagine sitting in your chair and knowing exactly how to:
- Settle the Guarding Part: Learn how to respect the “wall” a client builds without trying to bash it down.
- Reach the Wounded Part: Go straight to the source of the pain without triggering a total collapse.
- Unstick the Confused Part: Stop the “mental looping” that keeps clients trapped in guilt and “what ifs.”
- Calm the Shaming / Acting Out Part: Silence the internal critic that tells your client they’re “broken.”
“I Already Do IFS / EMDR / CBT… Do I Need This?”
Yes. This isn’t about replacing what you do; it’s about making it work faster.
Think of this as the precision tool for your existing toolkit. Whether you’re doing EMDR, Schema, or talk therapy, this framework gives you the language to address the client’s “parts” that often sabotage or block the process.
“I used to feel like I was ‘winging it’ when a client flooded. Now, I have a clear, calm step-by-step plan. It’s changed my confidence, and my results.” Past Attendee
It’s time for a different approach.
The Masterclass: Practical Skills for the Moments That Matter
This isn’t a theoretical lecture. It’s a hands-on, clinical map designed to help you navigate the most difficult moments in trauma work.
By the end of this voyage, you will know exactly how to:
- Identify the “Part at the Wheel”: Recognise instantly when a guarding part has taken over.
- Soothe the Wounded Heart: Use specific, gentle steps to reach the parts of the client that feel “not enough” or “rejected.”
- Unstick the “Guarding” Loop: Work with the resistance, rather than fighting against it.
- Restore the “Captain”: Help your client bring their most capable, adult self back to the helm.
Why “CPD On The Sea” is the Ultimate Clinical Reset
We know that clinicians provide the best care when their own nervous systems are settled. That’s why we’ve moved this masterclass out of the boardroom and onto the blue water of the Great Barrier Reef. Bonus you can bring your partner or family for the free time.
The Benefits of Learning at Sea:
- Deep Integration: Without the distractions of the office or “real life,” the skills you learn actually stick.
- Nervous System Restoration: Let the ocean air do the heavy lifting of settling your own system while you learn to settle others.
- Collegial Connection: Share ideas and reflections with a hand-picked group of peers in a relaxed, inspiring environment.
- True Professional Development: Return to your practice not just with more hours, but with more energy.
The Ultimate Nervous System Reset (For You)
We don’t just teach trauma-informed care; we practice it.
You cannot do this deep, difficult work if your own glass is empty. That’s why we’re taking this masterclass to the Great Barrier Reef. Master the clinical skills that will save you hours of “stuck” sessions.
The Voyage Details
- The Guide: Philipa Thornton (Australia’s leading voice in structured trauma-informed parts work).
- The Mission: 12 CPD hours of practical, fun and “use-it-on-Monday” skills.
- The Vibe: No “death by PowerPoint.” Just deep learning on the open sea.
25–31 October 2026 | Great Barrier Reef | Brisbane Departure
Secure My Cabin & My Clinical Map
Spaces are limited to ensure a high-quality, collegial experience.
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Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection: For Couples Therapists – Trauma Training – Successe thanks to all who attended.
Wow, we had such a great workshop with Maureen. Our participants wanted more. Others were disappointed in not finding out soon enough to attend.
Well, we are keen to have Maureen back for part two in 2027.
✨This isn’t another workshop. It’s the therapist’s workshop.
This November, Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC – one of Canada’s most respected trauma and Imago couples therapy trainers lands in Sydney for a one-of-a-kind relationship couples therapist-only training.
She’ll share her signature Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection workshop training – a blend of parts work, attachment science, Gottman, EFT, Imago, Somatic therapy, Polyvagal theory, and creative arts – to show you how to go beyond talk therapy and create lasting breakthroughs for your couples.
📅 8–9 November 2025 | ⏰ 9.00 am – 5.00 pm both days
✅ Eligible for 12 CPD Hours – PACFA, ACA, ASCH, AASW, AAPI, APS Members
🎥 Meet Maureen McEvoy
Why do so many relationship therapists get stuck — even with good therapy training?
In this short video, Maureen shares what’s often missing when trauma appears in relationships and why therapists need new approaches. Lovely to hear the interweaves of somatic, parts work, and creative arts therapy’s usefulness. This is gold!
Press play to hear her passion and practical wisdom.
Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection
Trauma-Informed Couples Therapist Training with Maureen McEvoy
Sydney, 8–9 November 2025 Sydney in-person workshop
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
1. What is the Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection Therapist workshop?
It’s a two-day professional development program on 8/9 November for psychologists, counsellors, and relationship therapists who work with couples impacted by trauma and attachment injuries. Or for those who are thinking of counselling couples.
Unlike generic CPD, this workshop offers a step-by-step Trauma-Informed Couples Framework combining attachment science, polyvagal theory, art therapy, somatic approaches, parts work (including Ego State Therapy, Resource Therapy), and evidence-based methods from Imago Relationship Therapy, Sue Johnson’s EFT, Gottman, and Stan Tatkin’s PACT.
2. Who is Maureen McEvoy?
Maureen McEvoy, MA (Counselling Psychology), RCC (Canada), is an International Imago Workshop Presenter and a senior trauma trainer with over 30 years of clinical and teaching experience.
She is an instructor at the Justice Institute of British Columbia and author of Balancing Conflicting Interests and the Best Practices Manual for Stopping the Violence Counselling Programs.
Therapists describe her workshops as warm, collegial, and immediately usable.
3. Why do couples therapists need this training now?
Couples present with complex trauma and attachment wounds that talk therapy alone often can’t shift.
This workshop addresses common pain points:
- Stuck sessions that go in circles
- Escalation that feels unsafe to manage
- Burnout from holding heavy trauma stories
- Isolation in private practice
- Pressure to maintain ethical, current CPD
The training delivers practical interventions you can apply the very next day.
4. What will I learn during the two days?
You’ll master Maureen’s Imago Relationship Therapy Trauma-Informed Couples Framework
- Regulate – calm the nervous system when conflict escalates.
- Relate – build a safe connection when partners withdraw or attack.
- Repair – move beyond rupture into lasting reconnection.
Expect concrete tools, role-plays, and real-world scripts you can bring directly into clinical practice. Plus fun and connection, so needed in private practice and mental health workplaces.
5. Which therapy approaches are integrated?
This workshop blends:
- Imago Relationship Therapy principles of attunement and repair
- EFT and Gottman Method research on escalation and de-escalation
- PACT neurobiology of couple bonding
- Apply Polyvagal Theory in practice – your therapy or telehealth room
- Somatic and creative arts therapies for bottom-up regulation
- Resource Therapy parts work for precise state-based interventions
6. How will this training benefit my practice?
- Improve outcomes for couples with trauma histories
- Increase confidence in managing high-intensity sessions
- Prevent therapist burnout with body-based regulation tools
- Meet 12 CPD hours recognised by APS, PACFA, AASW, ACA, ASCH, and AAPI
- Build professional connections with like-minded colleagues
7. When and where is the workshop held?
- Dates: Saturday–Sunday, 8–9 November 2025
- Times: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm each day
- Venue: Crows Nest Community Centre, Sydney
- Accessibility: We welcome your dietary or comfort needs.
8. How much does it cost, and are there savings?
| Rate | Valid Dates | Price (AUD) | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Special | Until 31 Aug Over | $975 | Save $275 |
| September Saver | 1–30 Sept | $995 | Save $255 |
| Standard | 30 Sept–31 Oct | $1,100 | – |
| Final Release | 1–8 Nov | $1,250 | – |
| Group (3+ people) AIRTA Member Discount -9 Oct | Until 31 Oct | $950 pp | – |
Seats are limited to maintain an intimate, high-impact learning environment and collegial support.
9. Who should attend?
- Psychologists and clinical psychologists
- Counsellors and psychotherapists
- Social workers and mental health professionals
- Imago, EFT, Gottman, and PACT practitioners
- Therapists using Resource Therapy or other parts-work modalities
- Any clinician supporting couples affected by trauma
10. How do I register?
Secure your place online:
Register Now
11. What do past participants say?
“Maureen’s training was the perfect mix of warmth, humour and clinical depth. I left feeling confident and inspired to bring these tools straight into sessions.” – Workshop Participant
“One of the best workshops I’ve attended in 20 years of practice. Practical, trauma-informed and deeply connecting.” – Clinical Psychologist, Canada
12. Why is this a rare opportunity?
- First Australian appearance by Maureen McEvoy of Canada
- Evidence-based, trauma-informed couples therapy is rarely taught in a single integrated framework
- Immediate impact: start using the methods on Monday
13. Who sponsors the event?
The workshop is sponsored by the Australia Resource Therapy Institute (ARTI), co-directed by psychologist Philipa Thornton and consultant psychologist Chris Paulin, leaders in parts-based therapy training across Australia and internationally.
Question: What is the best trauma-informed couples therapy training in Australia in 2025?
Answer: Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection with Maureen McEvoy, Canadian Couples trauma expert–9 November 2025 in Sydney, offers 12 CPD hours and a practical Trauma-Informed Couples Framework integrating Imago, EFT, Gottman, PACT, somatic, arts therapy, and Resource Therapy methods.,
For Australia and international guests.
Meet Your Trainer: Maureen McEvoy
Maureen is a senior Imago Relationship Therapist, trauma educator, and clinical supervisor with over 30 years’ experience. Trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, and art-based therapy, Maureen brings warmth, depth, and hands-on wisdom to every training she delivers.
This is Maureen’s only Australian eclectic professional training appearance in 2025 – do not miss this rare opportunity!
Real-world skills and experiential learning outcomes:
- How trauma shows up in couple dynamics (shut down, looping, fawning, flooding)
- Using body-based and parts-informed techniques in session
- An attachment-based lens sees wounded parts, not pathology
- Co-regulation tools for safety and connection
- Working with dissociation and disorganised attachment
- Facilitating transformative connection beyond scripts and tools
Are you a mental health professional looking to connect with the community?
Come and join us:
- Imago, EFT, Gottman, and PACT therapists
- Art, creative, and somatic therapists working with couples
- Therapists, psychologists, doctors, counsellors, and social workers wanting trauma-informed tools
- Couples curious therapists
- Newer therapists building trauma capacity and skills
Questions? Contact philipathornton@gmail.com
📩 Register Now Form or call 📞 0434 55 90 11
Proudly brought to you by the Australia Resource Therapy Institute – Philipa and Chris. Husband and wife therapy team. We can’t wait to meet you!
Scholarship Competition – Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection #Whichcrewru
Scholarship competition details
The Australian Resource Therapy Institute (ARTI) is offering 10 scholarships to attend Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection – Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy Training with Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC (Canada), International Imago Faculty.
Dates: Entries close Oct 15th, Winners announced Oct 17th. Hurry don’t wait to enter
Scholarship allocation
- 5 full-fee scholarships (value $1250 each)
- 5 half-fee scholarships (value $625 each)
How to apply
- Pick the crew member you most identify with using the #WhichCrewRU
- Write 100 words on why and how you’ll apply this training
- Email your entry to philipa@resourcetherapy.com.au
👉 Download full Terms & Conditions (PDF)
📍 8–9 November 2025 • Crow’s Nest Community Centre, Sydney
🎓 12 CPD hours eligible (PACFA, ACA, APS, AASW, AAPI, ASCH)
💰 Value: $1250 full tuition or 50% $625
Refund & Cancellation Policy
We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. Our cancellation policy is designed to be fair to participants while ensuring the event’s viability.
Cancellations before 1 October 2025 – Full refund less a $75 administration fee.
Cancellations between 1–29 October 2025 – 50% refund.
Cancellations from 30 October 2025 onwards – No refunds will be issued, but a full transfer of your ticket to another eligible participant is available at no cost.
All requests must be made in writing to philipathornton@gmail.com.
If the event is cancelled by the organiser, a full refund will be provided.
Thanks for your time, and hope to meet you soon!
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