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In-person Workshop

Working with Conflict: Developing a Relational Stance in Couples Therapy

with Karen Murphy

Saturday, 16th May, 2026
10.00 am – 4.00 pm
5.5 CPD Hours

In Person,  Aisling Hotel , Dublin (10 – 13 Parkgate St, Stoneybatter, Dublin 8, D08 P38N)

€125 *Includes tea/coffee and scones for morning break, and soup and sandwich for lunch.

49.00Add to basket

A practical, one-day and reflective training for therapists working with, or considering working with couples.

What is conflict?
Why is it that relationships get stuck in conflict despite the partners wanting a happy relationship?
Why is it so hard for couples to resolve conflicts themselves?
How do therapists hold a relational stance when there are high levels of blame, anger and defensiveness?
How do you develop a working alliance with the couple?
What are effective interventions that will help the couple?

This one-day in-person training will be of interest to both those already working with couples and those considering transitioning to couples work

What You’ll Learn

  • Develop a grounded, confident approach to conflict in couples therapy
  • Understand reactivity through the vulnerability cycle
  • Create structure and safety in high-conflict sessions
  • Set strong, compassionate boundaries
  • Integrate what you already know from individual therapy into your couples work
  • How to build and maintain a strong working alliance with both partners
  • What helps you stay relational when blame and reactivity escalate
  • Use practical interventions you can apply immediately after the session

49.00Add to basket

You can learn so much about the couple’s dynamic just in how they sit, how they speak, and how they interrupt each other - or not.

Karen Murphy

About the Speaker – Karen Murphy

Karen Murphy is the founder of the Institute of Couples Therapy and an IACP-accredited psychotherapist and supervisor. With over a decade of clinical experience, she has supported hundreds of therapists in navigating conflict in couples therapy with greater confidence, clarity, and presence.

She holds a BA (Hons) in Person-Centred Humanistic Psychotherapy and has successfully run a private practice for over 10 years. Additionally, Karen has completed advanced training in EMDR, adolescent psychotherapy, and family constellations.
She works from a relational, experiential, and exploratory approach with couples strongly influenced by Gestalt principles, the Developmental Model, Relational Life Therapy, David Schnarch’s differentiation, and Salvador Minuchin’s family therapy.

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