Housed in the same building as the Couples Clinic, the Couples Research Institute (CRI) is an organization dedicated to research and training in the area of couple relationships and therapy. 

Couples Research Institute faculty members offer a variety of training opportunities in Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy for mental health professionals across the U.S. and abroad. Click here for a list of recent and upcoming seminars. CRI faculty members offer the following training opportunities.

5-day Intensive training in Pragmatic/ Experiential Therapy for Couples (PET-C)

Participants meet at the Couples Research Institute (CRI) with Brent Atkinson and other CRI staff members for 5 full days of training in PET-C. Participants review the basic assumptions and strategies of PETC, watch videotapes of couples therapy sessions conducted at the CRI, and discuss their own cases.  The next 5-day intensive training will be in Portland, Oregon, May 23-27, 2008. Click here for more details, or contact Brent Atkinson brent@thecouplesclinic.com or 630-232-7457 x 111).

Seminars:

CRI faculty members will travel to your area to deliver ½ day, one day, or two-day seminars for groups of mental health professionals. In recent years, a variety of professional associations have introduced their members to the Pragmatic/Experiental model in this way.  Other groups such as hospitals, mental health consortiums, and community mental health agencies have also sponsored seminars on Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy.   Click here for a description of one of the CRI's upcoming seminars:

Agency Consultations

Within the Northern Illinois area, CRI faculty members are available for ongoing consultations with agencies, hospitals, or other community mental health organizations. A typical format involves a 2-3 hour weekly, bi-weekly or monthly consultation with the mental health staff. In these consultations, CRI members typically provide a combination of didactic training, case consultation, and live or audio/videotape supervision of staff therapists.

Group Supervision

CRI faculty members offer ongoing supervision/consultation groups which meet at the Couples Research Institute facility in Geneva, Illinois. Participants include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and other mental health professionals who wish to further their knowledge and skills in Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy. Participants in these supervision groups benefit from the diverse perspectives contributed by the varied experiences and previous training of other group members.

Customized Training Formats

If none of the formats listed above suit your needs, just contact Brent Atkinson (brent@thecouplesclinic.com) to discuss a format that would fit better with what you need.