17 Couples and Relationship Counseling Courses to Explore

Throughout our lives we form many relationships—some deep and lasting, others brief. Keeping a relationship healthy and satisfying is rarely effortless, and responsibility for problems rarely falls on just one person.

Relationship and couples counselors provide guidance and support to help couples, families, and intimate partners resolve recurring issues. Their work can be restorative and empowering, whether the goal is improving connection or deciding to end a relationship with compassion.

Are you thinking about a career in relationship counseling, or do you want to add relationship counseling skills to your existing professional toolkit?

This article reviews a range of courses and degree programs in relationship and couples counseling to help you decide which path suits your goals and circumstances.

Training in Couples & Relationship Counseling

Conflict is a natural part of close relationships. Couples may disagree, bicker, or argue without permanently damaging their bond. However, some sources of conflict are persistent, damaging, or rooted in deeper issues that require professional attention—examples include betrayal, grief, or major life transitions.

For many couples, working with a neutral, trained professional helps them understand patterns, repair trust, and develop better ways of communicating—even when the healthiest outcome is to separate.

The route to becoming a relationship and couples counselor varies by country, but typically these professionals are licensed mental health practitioners with specialized training in individual, couples, and family therapies (McDowell, 2018).

As Carlson and Dermer (2017) note, marriage, family, and couples therapists provide preventive, developmental, educational, and therapeutic services—roles that demand a broad skill set.

Professionals who deliver relationship and couples counseling come from diverse backgrounds and include:

• Licensed marriage and family therapists
• Professional counselors
• Clinical social workers
• Psychologists

Qualifications of a Relationship Therapist

To begin a career in couples and relationship counseling, most professionals start with an undergraduate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field.

After a bachelor’s degree, aspiring counselors commonly complete a master’s program (typically two to three years) in counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical psychology, or an allied discipline. Some pursue doctoral training, which takes additional years for advanced clinical, supervisory, or academic roles (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy).

In many countries, including the United States, practice requires licensure. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction but generally include an accredited graduate qualification, a period of supervised clinical experience (often around two years), and passing a licensing exam or national certification.

Maintaining licensure commonly requires ongoing professional development—regular continuing education to stay current with best practice and ethics.

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9 Relationship & Couples Counseling Courses

You don’t need to be on a licensure track to benefit from relationship counseling training. Short courses and workshops help clinicians and other helping professionals manage complex interpersonal dynamics when working with multiple clients at once. They also count toward continuing professional development for many professions.

The options below vary by duration, depth, cost, and commitment. Most are available online or in blended formats.

Gottman Method Training

The Gottman Institute—founded by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman—offers a widely respected, research-based training pathway for couples therapy. Training progresses through levels:

• Level 1: A two-day workshop introducing research-driven techniques for conflict management and emotional connection. Open to those in helping professions and social sciences.
• Level 2: A three-day course that builds assessment and intervention skills; Level 1 is a prerequisite.
• Level 3: Advanced, experiential training featuring role-play, videotaped sessions, and live coaching; requires prior levels and graduate training in a mental-health discipline.
• Certification/Clinical Training Program: Post-Level 3 supervised practice and consultation to integrate the Gottman Method into clinical work. Entry requires substantial clinical experience.

Couples Therapy — A Practical Masterclass, Human Givens College

This one-day, practical workshop introduces brief, solution-focused approaches to couples therapy. Topics include building rapport with couples, fostering empathy, and structuring therapeutic interventions. It also typically contributes to continuing professional development hours.

Certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy, The Grove Practice

An eight-day online course designed for qualified counselors, psychotherapists, and psychologists. It blends taught content with skills practice and offers around 48 hours of professional development. Topics often include triadic dynamics, desire and differentiation, conflict resolution, and endings.

Practitioner Certificate in Contemporary Intimate Partner Therapy

This fully online program addresses contemporary intimate partner therapy, including non-monogamous and polyamorous relationship styles. The curriculum typically combines e-learning modules with live skills practice and covers topics such as sexual themes and principles of contemporary practice.

Diploma Course in Relationship Counseling, Udemy

An affordable, introductory course that explores core theories and practical approaches in relationship counseling. It suits learners who want a foundation in topics like conflict roles, collaborative problem-solving, and common patterns that block intimacy.

Couples Therapy Advanced Certificate, Adelphi University

This two-year, part-time graduate-level certificate combines seminars, supervision, personal therapy, and client work. It integrates family-systems and psychodynamic perspectives and addresses areas such as blended families, gender issues, and sexuality in couples work.

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8 Degree Programs to Consider

If your goal is a licensed career in relationship counseling, a degree program that includes a practicum and internship is often essential. When selecting a program, check for accreditation by recognized bodies—this ensures the curriculum aligns with professional and ethical standards.

Degree programs typically combine relationship-specific modules with broader clinical training in assessment, diagnosis, research, and evidence-based practice.

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Northcentral University

This distance-learning program was among the first accredited by COAMFTE. It covers human development, family therapy theory, professional studies, and research. Practicum requirements commonly include hundreds of client-contact hours and supervised clinical experience.

MEd/EdS and MAE/EdS in Marriage and Family Counseling, University of Florida

This program prepares students for registration as interns and, following supervised practice, for licensure as marriage and family therapists or mental health counselors. It emphasizes an eco-systemic approach and integrates practicum, internship, and clinical coursework.

Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Hodges University

An online Master of Science program accredited by CACREP. The curriculum includes clinical and counseling topics relevant to community settings, human sexuality, and substance abuse, alongside practicum and internship placements.

Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, Capella University

COAMFTE-accredited, this program blends online coursework, residencies, and internships. Modules often address diversity, systemic interventions for grief and trauma, and core therapy theory and practice.

Other degree options include clinical programs at the University of Central Florida, Stetson University, and doctoral training at Antioch University and Loma Linda University—each offering distinct emphases on fieldwork, research, and advanced clinical practice.

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Relevant Tools for Practitioners

Practical exercises can be immediately useful in clinical work. Two commonly used tools include:

Self-Disclosure for Connection

This exercise encourages partners to practice structured self-disclosure. One person shares while the other listens, helping both partners become more comfortable with vulnerability and mutual openness—key ingredients for intimacy.

Sound Relationship House Inspection

Using the Sound Relationship House framework, partners rate nine elements of their relationship—such as friendship, conflict management, and shared meaning—to identify strengths and areas needing attention. The exercise clarifies where to focus therapeutic work.

These and other validated tools are useful for clinicians, coaches, and educators who support couples and families.

A Take-Home Message

Becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist or couples counselor is a multi-year commitment involving study, supervised clinical hours, and ongoing professional development. For those who choose this path, the work can be deeply rewarding—helping people repair relationships, communicate better, and build healthier connections.

If you already work in a caring profession, shorter courses or workshops focused on couples and relationship skills can immediately enhance your practice and contribute to continuing education requirements.

As training formats and distance learning options expand, explore accredited programs and local licensing requirements before you commit. Choosing training that combines evidence-based theory, supervised practice, and skills training will best prepare you to support couples effectively.

We hope this overview helps you consider the training routes and resources available as you develop your skills in relationship and couples counseling.