Relational Insight for a Complex World.
Strengthen and expand your relational approach to working with couples and families through dynamic, practice-informed training designed to meet you wherever you are in your professional journey.
Our Seminar Courses offer rigorous, high-quality training in relational, couples, and family therapy, grounded in Ackerman’s 60+ years of leadership and innovation in the field.
Designed for professionals across disciplines, these courses equip you with essential frameworks and refined clinical insight to more effectively understand, engage, and support the individuals and families you work with every day.
Many professionals are already working with families, often without formal training in relational practice. At Ackerman, we set the standard for this work. Our courses are designed to bridge that gap, strengthening your ability to navigate complex relational dynamics with clarity, confidence, and depth.
No prerequisites*
Fully online
Earn 42 CE Credits Upon Completion
14-week format
Tuition:Â $2,500
* We are committed to building a diverse community of learners. While relevant professional experience in behavioral health, mental health services, or human services is valued, it is not a mandatory prerequisite for these courses.
Train with Leaders Shaping the Field
Our Spring 2027 Seminar Courses are led by distinguished faculty whose work has defined and advanced the practice of relational, couples, and family therapy. Bringing decades of clinical experience, scholarship, and global influence, each instructor offers a depth of insight that extends beyond the classroom and into real-world practice.
Led by:Â
Dr. Suzanne Coyle
Faith-Based Seminar
Couples and families find it challenging to negotiate changing values in an increasingly disconnected world. Designed for mental health professionals, therapists, and spiritual leaders across diverse traditions, this course focuses on the self, systems, and spirit.
We will begin with the person of the caregiver—bridging clinical practice and spiritual or communal care—and then demonstrate foundational ways to structure questions in supportive conversations. These approaches are based on a relational systemic understanding of spirituality in a diverse world. Participants will practice various approaches that honor their own worldviews, fostering a rich dialogue between therapeutic modalities and diverse spiritual perspectives.
Led by:Â
Dr. Elizabeth C. Banks
Build a Relational Foundation for Working with Families in Today’s Complex World
Grounded in Ackerman’s signature relational approach, this course introduces the core principles of family therapy while engaging in the realities that shape how individuals and families experience the world.
Participants will explore how relationships are influenced by identity, culture, and broader social systems, gaining the perspective and tools needed to work more effectively across differences. This includes direct engagement with systemic inequities, including racism and other forms of oppression, and how these dynamics show up in both clinical and real-world settings.
Designed for professionals across disciplines, Foundations in Family Therapy provides a strong, relevant starting point for anyone seeking to build or refine their work with individuals, couples, and families.
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What You’ll Gain
- Deepen your understanding of relational, couples, and family therapy
- Strengthen your ability to navigate complex family dynamics
- Expand your clinical thinking through multicultural and systemic frameworks
- Build confidence in working across diverse contexts
- Learn from leaders shaping the field
Who These Courses Are For
- Therapists and counselors
- Social workers
- Psychologists
- Educators and school-based professionals
- Frontline and family-serving professionals
- Graduate students and emerging clinicians
- Experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their relational lens
Explore the Spring 2027 Offerings
Secure Your Spot​
Getting started is simple:
1. Submit Your Application
Complete our online form to begin the process.
2. Receive Your Admissions Decision
Our team will review your credentials and notify you of your status.
3. Confirm Your Enrollment
Secure your placement with a deposit.
Deposit Amount: $500
(Note: This deposit is applied directly toward your tuition balance.)
Flexible payment options and institutional scholarships are available to support your enrollment.
Tuition Payment Schedule
| Payment Option | Amount | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Payment in Full | 100% of Tuition | January 15 |
| Payment Plan (Installment 1) | 50% of Tuition | January 15 |
| Payment Plan (Installment 2) | Remaining Balance | March 15 |