Why Today’s Couples Therapists Need Trauma-Informed Training

Couples therapist Trauma infomred training with Maureen McEvoy, Sydney November 8/9 Imago workshop presenter from Canada Healing Trauma Restoring Connection sponsored by the Australia Resource Therapy Institute.

Every couple’s therapist knows the moment.

The couple across from you begins to spiral. One partner escalates, the other shuts down. The session feels stuck. You reach for your skills, but nothing seems to land.

If you’ve ever left the room doubting yourself – “Did I miss something? Why couldn’t I shift them?” You’re not alone. Therapists across Australia and beyond are encountering the same challenges.

And it isn’t because you’re not skilled. It’s because couples today are bringing something bigger into therapy: trauma histories, attachment injuries, ADHD and nervous system dysregulation.

Why talk therapy isn’t always enough

Traditional approaches to couples work focus on communication skills, conflict resolution, and attachment repair. These are valuable, but they can stall when trauma is active in the room.

Sessions loop in circles without resolution.
Partners escalate beyond the therapist’s containment.
Shutdowns leave the couple, and therapist in silence.
Therapists burn out, carrying their clients’ trauma home.

Without trauma-informed tools, even experienced clinicians feel under-resourced.

The answer: trauma-informed couples therapy

That’s why we are hosting:

Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection – Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy Training

📍 8–9 November 2025 | Crows Nest Community Centre, Sydney

🎓 12 CPD Hours elegible (PACFA, ACA, APS, AASW, ACA AAPI)

🟡 Sponsored by Australian Resource Therapy Institute (ARTI)

This two-day intensive brings Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC (Canada), International Imago Faculty to Australia for her only 2025 training. Maureen is an internationally respected therapist and trainer known for integrating trauma work with relational models in ways that are practical, safe, and deeply human.

What you’ll gain

Across two days, you’ll learn to:

✅ Integrate Imago, EFT, Gottman, and PACT approaches with Bruce Perry’s neurodevelopmental insights.

✅ Apply somatic and creative arts methods for in-session regulation and repair.

✅ Recognise when trauma is disrupting couples dynamics — and how to respond effectively.

✅ Strengthen your therapist presence so you leave sessions grounded, not depleted. ✅ Connect with a professional community who share your challenges.

You will walk away with practical interventions you can use immediately in your practice.

🏆 Scholarship Competition – #WhichCrewRU

To celebrate this rare event, we’re offering:

Five full-fee scholarships (value $1,250 AUD each)
Five half-fee scholarships

How to enter:

Pick the therapist “crew member” you most identify with (Foggy Fran, Not-Enough Nellie, Burnout Baxter, etc).
Write up to 100 words on why and how you’ll apply this training in your practice.
Email your entry to philipa@resourcetherapy.com.au by 15 October 2025.

Then share your reflection on social media using #WhichCrewRU to join the conversation.

ARTi Scholarship 10 therapist Crew #whichCrewRU for the two day couples therapist trauma informed training with Imago faculty member Maureen McEvoy MA RCC of Canada — ARTi Scholarship 10 therapist Crew #whichCrewRU for the two-day couples therapist trauma-informed training with Imago program presenter Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC of Canada

Who this training is for

Q: Who should attend?

A: Couples therapists, psychologists, counsellors, and mental-health professionals seeking to expand their trauma-informed skill set.

Q: I’m early in my career — is it still for me?

A: Yes. Newer therapists will gain foundational trauma-informed skills. Experienced therapists will discover fresh tools and integration strategies.

Q: What if I mainly practise one model (Imago, EFT, Gottman, Art Therapy, Somatic Therapy)?

A: This training shows you how to integrate modalities through a trauma-informed lens. It doesn’t replace your current approach — it strengthens it.

Why is this training different?

Rare: The only trauma-informed couples therapy training of its kind in Australia, in 2025.
International expertise: Learn directly from Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC (Canada), International Imago Workshop presenter
Recognised: Eligible for 12 CPD hours across major professional bodies.
Practical: Tools and interventions you can take into sessions straight away.
Community: Step out of isolation and into a supportive network of colleagues.

Event details at a glance

Detail Information

Who Couples therapists, counsellors, psychologists, and mental-health professionals

What Two-day trauma-informed professional training workshop

Trainer Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC (Canada), International Imago Faculty

When 8–9 November 2025

Where Crows Nest Community Centre, Sydney

Fees September Saver: $995 until 30 Sept · Standard: $1,100 from 1 Oct

CPD 12 hours recognised by APS, PACFA, AASW, AAPI ACASecure your place

⚡ September Saver: $995 until 30 Sept

👉 Register now: resourcetherapy.com.au/professional -training/master-classes/

Seats are capped to ensure an interactive learning environment. Don’t miss your chance to be in the room.

Key take-home

Couples therapy is changing. Clients are bringing deeper trauma, faster escalation, and greater disconnection into our rooms. Without trauma-informed frameworks, therapists risk feeling stuck, isolated, or burnt out.

This special workshop program equips you with the tools, presence, and community you need to guide couples from reactivity to reconnection.

October 3, 2025October 2, 2025

✨ Love That Lasts: A World-Renowned Couples Workshop Comes to Sydney

Philipa Thornton certification badge as Imago Workshop Presenter

Most relationships don’t end because of a lack of love.

They drift apart because they lose the language of connection.

After 1.5 years of advanced training and mentorship (and yes, more than a few late nights and chocolate fixes along the way), I am honoured to share that I am now a certified Imago workshop presenter, accredited to deliver the internationally acclaimed Getting the Love You Want couple’s workshop.

The first in-person Sydney event will be held on 7–8 March 2026. For couples who can’t travel or are balancing parenting and busy lives, we’ll also be offering an online evening option — like a live class you can join from your sofa once the kids are in bed.

💙 Why Couples Choose This Experience

This isn’t ordinary couples counselling, and it’s not relationship therapy. It’s an immersive, experiential weekend that helps partners:

Break the cycle of conflict and rediscover safety
Reignite intimacy not just sex, but affection, laughter and joy
Feel seen and understood in a way that softens defences and opens hearts
Move from autopilot to intentional connection, learning a new language of love

And it’s not just for couples in crisis.

Many attend because things are good, but they want to go even deeper.

Think of it as relationship coaching at its highest level: a chance to take a good relationship to extraordinary depth.

We live in an age where love is tested by work demands, endless screens, and family pressures. Couples often find themselves “fine” but not fulfilled. Others slip into what I call the silent divorce, living side by side, yet emotionally worlds apart.

This workshop offers an antidote.

It’s where couples pause, breathe, and rediscover the spark that first drew them together.

It’s about love that not only endures but stays passionately alive.

Chris often jokes that when we met through dancing, we weren’t just learning steps we were learning how to lean in, listen and move together. That’s exactly the spirit of this workshop: finding your rhythm again.

Philipa Thornton certification badge as Imago advanced Clinical Therapist in Sydney and on line

Proven worldwide – delivered in over 30 countries for more than 40 years
Grounded in science – built on neuroscience, attachment theory, and empathy-based tools
Safe and private – all core work happens between you and your partner
Transformational – many couples describe it as “months of therapy in two days”

And it’s delivered by a partnership, too. Alongside me will be my husband, Chris Paulin, consultant psychologist, co-founder of the Australian Resource Therapy Institute, and co-director of Marriage Works.

Chris has been my steady support throughout this journey (he likes to say he’s my “number one fan and loudest cheer squad”, and he’s right). Together, we bring decades of clinical experience and a shared passion for helping couples heal and thrive.

Do we share personal issues in public?

No. All core work is private with your partner. Demonstrations are sometimes offered so couples can see how the dialogue unfolds. Some choose to volunteer because it helps everyone learn — but it is always optional.

Can I join if I can’t attend in person?

Yes. For those balancing parenting, long work hours, or who live outside Sydney, we offer an online evening format. The same tools and practices are delivered live across several evenings, designed to fit into everyday life.

When is the next workshop?

The first in-person Sydney workshop will be held on 7–8 March 2026. Online evening options will also be available. Early-bird pricing and dates will be released first to the waitlist.

Whether you’re seeking repair after disconnection or wanting to elevate a strong relationship to the next level, this is your invitation to invest in love that lasts.

👉 Join the Sydney launch waitlist now for priority access to the 7–8 March 2026 workshop and early registration for the online evening program. Join the Waitlist Here

This certification is more than a credential; it is a mission. I believe every couple deserves the chance not just to survive together. But to thrive, to experience love that is safe, vibrant, and alive with possibility.

I am deeply grateful to Chris, my husband, co-founder, and constant support, for walking this path with me. Together at Marriage Works and the Australia Resource Therapy Institute, we are committed to helping couples and therapists globally.

Love is the greatest investment you can make.

And in March 2026 in Sydney, we look forward to welcoming couples ready to begin that journey.

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025

Resource Therapy Now Insured: AON & Fenton Green Recognition

Australian Resource Therapy Institute ship graphic celebrating insurance recognition by AON and Fenton Green for professional indemnity and public liability cover.

Great news for every Resource Therapist: AON and Fenton Green now officially recognise Resource Therapy (RT) for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance.

This recognition confirms that RT is both clinically sound and professionally validated. Strengthening every helping practitioner’s credibility and protection.

A Collective Win

This success belongs to all of us.
Special thanks to Gina, Amandah and the many mental health practitioners who updated their insurers and reported back. Your action and feedback helped pave the way for this achievement and demonstrate the power of a connected professional community.

“It took a few hoops and a quick update with my insurer, and Resource Therapy is now on my policy—so easy!” – Amandah, RT Clinician and Psychotherapist.

Why This Matters

Stronger professional presence – Listing RT on your policy elevates your practice profile and sets you apart.
Trust and reassurance – Clients and referrers see that your modality meets established industry standards.
Simple next steps – New graduates of our Foundation, Clinical, and Advanced programs can now secure cover without extra red tape.

Help Expand the List

Have you found other insurers now recognising Resource Therapy or Advanced Ego State Therapy?
Comment below with your updates so we can keep the community informed and build even more recognition.

Next Steps

Check your policy – Make sure “Resource Therapy” appears in your Professional Indemnity and Public Liability cover with AON or Fenton Green.
Share your findings – Add a comment below if you know of other insurers covering RT.
Stay protected – Keep your insurance current to meet ethical and legal standards for counselling and psychology practice.

🟡 FAQ

Q1. Is Resource Therapy covered by AON and Fenton Green?
Yes. Both AON and Fenton Green now list Resource Therapy for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance in Australia.

Q2. How do I list Resource Therapy on my insurance policy?
Include “Resource Therapy” under the modalities or therapies section when applying or renewing. If your insurer doesn’t yet list RT, add it in the “other modality” field and advise them that AON and Fenton Green recognise it. Reach out to us for any support.

Together we’re making Resource Therapy impossible to overlook—one insurer at a time.
© Philipa Thornton | Australia Resource Therapy Institute – www.resourcetherapy.com.au

September 23, 2025September 22, 2025

Transform Your Therapy: Trauma-Informed Training in Sydney – November

trauma-informed couples therapy, professional training for therapists, CPD Sydney 2025, Maureen McEvoy workshop, Imago and trauma integration, EFT and couples trauma, Gottman therapy training, somatic therapy for couples, art therapy integration, Resource Therapy Australia, ARTI professional training, Healing Trauma Restoring Connection, dissociation and couples therapy, attachment injuries therapy, continuing professional development Australia

Picture this:

It’s October. You’re scrolling LinkedIn. Colleagues are posting about the weekend they just spent with Maureen McEvoy in Sydney. They’re sharing tools they’re already using with couples, excited about feeling more confident, less alone.

And you feel that sinking moment: I should have been there.

We’ve all had that regret. The conference we missed. The supervision we didn’t book. The training that could have lifted our practice.

This time, you don’t have to miss it.

The rare chance to learn in-depth from Maureen McEvoy

On 8–9 November 2025, Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC (visiting from Canada) — an international Imago workshop presenter, therapist, and trauma specialist — will lead a two-day intensive workshop in Sydney:

Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection – Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy Training

👉 This is Maureen’s only in-depth training in Australia for 2025.

She will also offer a one-day Imago supervision workshop on 10 November (drop a comment below for details on how to register) but the full two-day trauma-informed couples training happens only once this year.

If you want to strengthen how you work with couples carrying trauma, this is the weekend.

Why this matters for your counselling practice

Couples come to us with more than conflict. They bring trauma histories, attachment injuries, nervous system reactions that hijack communication. Standard talk therapy alone can stall or retraumatise.

This training will help you:

Calm escalation and bring safety back into the room
Integrate Imago, PACT, EFT, Gottman, Somatic, and Creative Arts therapies with confidence
Use body-based tools to support regulation in the moment
Strengthen your therapist presence and reduce burnout
Earn 12 CPD hours recognised by PACFA, ACA, APS, AASW, AAPI, ASCH

And just as importantly, you’ll walk away with community. You’ll meet peers who know the weight of this work and who can remind you that you don’t have to carry it alone.

The Therapist Crew reflection

To make it fun, we’ve introduced the Therapist Crew — parts of us that show up in practice:

Foggy Fran freezes, unsure which model to use
Not-Enough Nellie doubts herself after difficult sessions
Lonely Leo feels the ache of isolation in private practice
Burnout Baxter has lost his spark
Conflicted Chris juggles too many frameworks
Ironic Irene hides behind humour while hurting inside
Starting-Out Sara fears missing something critical
Heavy Harry carries clients’ trauma home
Mentor Maya is supporting others, still growing
Wise Walter White wants to keep learning while passing on wisdom

Which crew member feels most like you right now?

Scholarship opportunity

To celebrate, we’re running the #WhichCrewRU scholarship challenge.

We’re awarding:

5 full-fee scholarships (value $1,250 AUD each)
5 half-fee scholarships 50%

How to enter:

Choose the crew member you identify with most.
Write 100 words on why and how this training will help.
Email philipa@resourcetherapy.com.au by 15 October 2025.

Event details

Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection – Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy Training

📍 Crows Nest Community Centre, Sydney

📅 8–9 November 2025

🎓 12 CPD Hours recognised (PACFA, ACA, APS, AASW, AAPI)

🟡 Sponsored by Australian Resource Therapy Institute (ARTI)

Fees:

September Saver – $995 (until 30 September)
Then – $1,100 (from 1 October)
Standard 1 November $1250

👉 Register now – secure your September Saver seat:

resourcetherapy.com.au/professional –training/master –classes/

Don’t miss your chance

Therapists who act now will enter November with new skills, renewed confidence, and a community behind them.

Those who wait may find themselves wishing they had.

Don’t let this be another missed opportunity. Save over $100 by registering today.