How Your Couples May Be Getting Stuck & What You Can Do About It

If you work with couples, you know the feeling.

You’ve introduced great tools. You’ve taught active listening, mirroring, and validating. You’ve helped them identify their cycles.

And yet… something still feels stuck.

One partner keeps shutting down. The other grows more reactive.

You’re managing emotional flare-ups, dissociation, blank stares – and despite your best efforts, it feels like you’re not getting to the root of the issue.

Sound familiar?

You are not alone.

Whether you are a seasoned couples therapist or new to relational work, these challenges are increasingly common. We know this from the ACES studies and neuroscience advances – trauma is everywhere. And they are often not a sign of clinical inadequacy, but of something deeper: unmet trauma showing up in the room.

That is why trauma-informed couples therapy is not just a buzzword – it is becoming an essential skillset for every therapist who works with relationships.


When Talk Therapy Is Not Enough

The traditional communication-based models – like Imago, EFT, Gottman, or PACT – are powerful. But when a client’s nervous system is overwhelmed by unresolved trauma, insight alone often does not land.

That is when you see:

  • Looping arguments that never resolve
  • One partner freezing or becoming flooded
  • Outbursts that seem out of proportion to the topic
  • Sessions where you leave drained or uncertain

This is where trauma-informed, body-aware approaches can create real shifts.

As trauma specialist and senior Imago therapist Maureen McEvoy says:

“When we integrate nervous system awareness and parts work into our couples sessions, we meet people where they are – not just where we want them to be.”


Why This Workshop Is A Must-Attend

We are thrilled to welcome Maureen McEvoy (Canada) to Sydney this November for a rare two-day workshop designed specifically for couples therapists:

🧠 Healing Trauma, Restoring Connection
🗓️ 8–9 November 2025 | 📍 Crow’s Nest Community Centre, Sydney
🌐 Book now to avoid disappointment

This is Maureen’s only Australian appearance in 2025, and it is a chance to learn directly from one of the field’s most integrative, compassionate, and experienced trainers.

She brings over 30 years of experience in:

  • Imago Relationship Therapy (Certified Senior Advanced)
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
  • Somatic Experiencing
  • PACT
  • Creative approaches such as art therapy
  • Justice Institute trauma counselling education
  • Clinical supervision and therapist mentoring

Whether you are Imago-trained, PACT-oriented, EFT-inspired, or creatively curious, this training will enrich your practice.

How Your Couples May Be Getting Stuck – And What You Can Do About It
Trauma healing. How Your Couples May Be Getting Stuck – And What You Can Do About It

What You Will Learn

In two experiential, practice-rich days, you will explore how to:

  • Work safely with trauma activation in the couple space
  • Identify trauma responses like freeze, fight, and dissociation in session
  • Use somatic and parts-based techniques to reach stuck clients
  • Integrate co-regulation tools and nervous system language into your framework
  • Support both partners while staying grounded and present yourself
  • Combine Imago, EFT, PACT, and other approaches through a trauma-informed lens

This workshop is not just about information – it is about transformation.

You will walk away with practical skills, renewed confidence, and a fresh sense of what is possible in your couples’ work.


Who It’s For

💪 You’re a couple’s therapist who has hit roadblocks in sessions
💪 You want to integrate body-based and trauma-informed tools into your relational work
💪 You feel a calling to deepen your presence and precision with complex couples
💪 You crave a training that is warm, experiential, and deeply practical

This training is open to therapists of all models and modalities. And if you are newer to couples work? It is the perfect foundation to build your confidence from the ground up.


Bonus Benefits

🟡 A beautiful Sydney weekend
Enjoy time with colleagues, connect with the Imago and wider therapy community, and take a tax-deductible CPD trip to a fabulous city.

🟡 Connection & Collegiality
Maureen’s teaching style is warm, inclusive, and collaborative. You will learn in a space where your experience is valued, and your questions are welcomed.

🟡 Practical Tools You Can Use Right Away
You will leave with worksheets, practices, and somatic tools ready to bring into your next session.


Final Places – Register Now

🎟️ Early bird price: $995 (ends 31 August)
💳 Standard price: $1195 AUD from 1 September

This event is hosted by Philipa Thornton and Chris Paulin, wife and husband co-directors of the Australian Resource Therapy Institute. We are proud to bring this rare opportunity to the local community, and we look forward to welcoming you.

🌿 Secure your place now and transform your couple’s work from stuck… to healing.

Online Getting the Love You Want – NZ Style ?

Hello lovely relationship workers! My Imago friends, and teachers in New Zealand Brenda Rawlings and Peter Macmillan are offering a special treat.

Online 2 hours post Getting the Love You Want Post Workshop Support for Couples.

It’s perfect timing for us Aussies at 5-7 pm, monthly next on August 31st.

Getting the Love You Want
Online Couples Support –  Monday 27 July
A monthly online Seminar ***for couples who have attended a ‘Getting the Love You Want’ Couples Workshop
****
 
About Online Couples Support
The aim of these sessions is to provide support to couples, following your attendance at a ‘Getting the Love You Want’ Couples Workshop.
 
The sessions will be via Zoom and will be presented by Brenda Rawlings and Peter McMillan (jointly or individually).
 
They are held on the last Monday of the month, from February to November.
You can register for one, some, or all of the sessions.
The next one is on Monday 31, 7 pm
– 9pm (New Zealand time).

Each session may include a lecture, a demonstration, and exercises to work on with your partner. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
 
What Will Be Covered?

  • Imago dialogue
  • Parent child dialogue
  • Behaviour Change Request
  • Relational cycles
  • Zero negativity
  • How to listen deeply
  • How to speak safely
  • Using appreciation and gratitude to build safety and connection

You will be guided in using the tools and principles outlined at the Couples Workshop, and to further explore and integrate these into your lives.
 
TIME
5pm – 7pm Sydney Time
 
FEES
$45 (per session)
 

Register here Getting the Love Online :https://www.relationships.co.nz/getting-the-love-you-want-online-couples-support-australia/

Flyer https://relationships.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c59dd153b1792240bef578a5e&id=9396e91ca9&e=3d2c08868c

Fancy a Newcastle Getaway & Reconnecting your Relationship?

Last updated on May 31st, 2020 at 09:39 am

Hello Marriage workers and Relationship heroes. As we move into a new era, it’s time to freshen things up. So glad there is an easing of COVID 19 restrictions.

I am super excited to announce friends of mine Julie and Will are offering the amazing Getting the Love You Want Couples weekend workshop.

This is such a special seminar – designed for all couples who want to reset old patterns, and have a fresh start.

Interestingly, Imago couple therapy practitioners who want full certification also need to attend in their partnerships. It’s certainly helped me being on both sides of the metaphorical couch.

I am glad Chris and I had the opportunity. It totally brought new compassion, insight, and connection to our relationship. I

Even in this lock down, correct me if I am wrong but I think our most valuable asset is time.

This is exactly why investing in a weekend for your partnership is so productive to healing and hope.

Plus Newcastle is a cute place to visit.

Here is the details:

VENUE Conference Room, D.A. Centre 2 Percy Street, Hamilton

DATES:

13th/14th June 2020 Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm

Here is the Australian Institute of Imago Relationship Therapists link to register for this course. Early bird special still applies so don’t miss out.

http://www.imagocounselling.org.au/home/2016/9/19/couple-workshops

Marriage Works You Tube Channel – More on Getting the Love You Want Workshop

Couples Retreat November – Save your marriage with a weekend in Sydney!

Hurry the early bird for the Imago Couples retreat ends on the 16th October. This Wednesday. The workshop in Crows Nest runs 16/17 November.

Get your love bug back Sydney couples retreat
Get your love bug back Sydney couples retreat

I will be there helping out, so love to meet you!

Do your partnership a favour and attend getting the love you want workshop
Do your partnership a favour and attend getting the love you want workshop Sydney Early bird Ends soon.

Getting the Love You Want – Couples Workshop

I have just spent the last 3 days with my husband Chris attending a Character growth Imago workshop. This was with Advanced Imago Therapist Brenda Rawlings of The Imago Institute of New Zealand See here https://www.relationships.co.nz/about-us/

Now we are in luck Sydney folk!

The Couples Retreat – a 2 day weekend is here! Brenda and husband Peter are offering the Getting the Love You Want Couples workshop. Up the road in lovely Crows Nest.

https://youtu.be/L6oIU7XnDd8

Here is the link to https://www.relationships.co.nz/couples-workshop-dates-fees/ to secure your spot.

We can definitely recommend this workshop. Indeed it saved us from the brink. Please do yourself a favour and get the love you want. Your partnership is worth putting in a 2 days effort !

How our break up fixed my Relationship…

I want to share something personal – this is a huge thing for me to put on the website being a very private person. Yet I am a great believer in being real and honest. Chris and I went through some tough times earlier this year. We had come to a place of separation.

Broken hearts need healing help

It was over as we were wanting different things from the relationship.

Marriage is an Institution and investment in each other
Marriage

I am traditional and believe in the institution of Marriage – hence the name Marriage Works – right! Of course you can be totally committed partners without it. I am no Marriagist. Chris having been divorced was not bothered by matrimony.

I am glad to say we did work things through and are happily back together in a more powerful and deeper connection than ever.

Plus we got married on November 3rd 2018, a happy day all round!

The Bride and Groom - Chris and Philipa got hitched!
The Bride and Groom – Chris and Philipa got hitched!

What helped was us going and seeing a couple therapist and working through our sticking points. Being a client and learning about myself has always improved my therapy game. I could not believe how anxious I was going to every appointment. I definitely have a bucket load more compassion having had the counseling experience. Our good therapist really turned things around. Thank you!

Togetherness side by side in your recovery journey will get you there couple-260899_1920
Togetherness side by side

What also was incredibly useful was a couple therapy workshop called  Getting the Love you Want – Couples Weekend Workshop  Clink on the link.

Getting the Love You Want!
Getting the Love You Want!

Brenda and Peter hold these workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland New Zealand. In the weekend we learnt so much about each other and it offered us a way forward in hope with our love.

I am passionate about couples learning to connect and heal this can happen in the therapy room. The bonus is you get to take the learning and techniques into your life.

Look up and see the light and move away from misery and pain
Look up and see the light and move away from misery and pain

Using it as a therapy tool I have seen partner’s change in 90 minutes as they see and get their spouses angst in a hearfelt way. It’s different to the old ways of communicating which lead to hopelessness and desperation.

I recommend it to all my couples and friends! It is coming very soon 8/9 December so give your self the best gift every – a healthier, happier relationship for the two of you.

Find a beacon of light and hope here
Find a beacon of light and hope here

Book an appointment
0434 559 011
Weekdays 9am - 5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC +11)

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