Gottman Level 1: Bridging the Couples Chasm

Sponsored by: Jennifer Kempfert, LMFT, SEP, CGT

DATE(S): 6/12/2026 and 6/13/2026
LOCATION: Mequon, WI
PRESENTER(S): Jennifer Kempfert, MS, LMFT, SEP, CGT 
 

Presenter

Jennifer is an enthusiastic presenter (and person).  She loves helping others in their journey, and helping professionals help others is one of the best ways to do this!  She began her career doing in-home family counseling where she worked with the entire family, couples, children, and individuals.  Transitioning from there to crisis work in hospitals and emergency rooms was a great experience to see a full range of mental health work.  Yet, love for working with the couple and family system brought her to outpatient where she currently co-owns Forward Family Therapy.  She is a Certified Gottman Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Provider, and she has training in other couples' modalities.

 

Course Description

A truly inspiring workshop, Level 1 Training will give you new insights into treatment for couples who struggle, using proven assessment techniques and intervention strategies.

Our practical, emotion-focused, and highly effective approach is based on Drs. John and Julie Gottman’s four decades of research with more than 3,000 couples. It is the most extensive study ever done on marital stability and divorce prediction.

In this workshop, you will be provided with a research-based roadmap for helping couples compassionately manage their conflicts, deepen their friendship and intimacy, and share their life purpose and dreams based on the Sound Relationship House Theory.

You will be introduced to Dr. Gottman’s breakthrough research on thousands of couples to understand the difference between the “Masters” and “Disasters” of relationships. If you are not already doing assessment, this training will teach you how to assess a relationship’s strengths and areas of concern using empirically validated questionnaires.

You will view original videos of real couples from the famous Gottman “Love Lab,” as well as videos of Dr. Julie Gottman demonstrating assessment and interventions in a case example from her private practice.

 

Target Audience

Mental health professionals, Allied professionals and clergy, Students and interns, Family clinic staff, Professors/teachers of couples therapy, Researchers in the social sciences, and Employee assistance professionals

 

Learning Objectives

  • Summarize the research that allows us to predict future relationship stability.
  • Describe the seven levels of the Sound Relationship House Theory.
  • Conduct a couple’s therapy assessment using elements of the couple’s narrative, the Oral History Interview, written questionnaires, observations of conflict and individual interviews.
  • Describe two interventions to help strengthen a couple’s conflict management.
  • Describe two interventions to enhance a couple’s friendship system.
  • Describe two interventions to explore a couple’s system of shared meaning.
  • Explain why physiological self-soothing is essential for a healthy relationship.
  • Create a therapeutic contract with a couple, discuss and decide on goals and include a summary of the couples strengths and areas that need improvement.
  • Describe the Philosophy of Therapy and including assumptions, overview of techniques and goals of therapy.
  • Describe the Rapoport Intervention and when to use it.
  • Describe the process of therapy, including the structure of a session.
 

Agenda

Day 1

8:00 am to 8:30 am
Introductions
Overview of Research and Theory
8:30 – 9:30 am
Assessment of a couple
9:30 – 9:45 am BREAK
9:45 – 10:30 am
Assessment continued
10:30 – 12:00 pm
Case Formulation
Intervention Overview
12:00 – 12:30 pm LUNCH BREAK
12:30 – 3:00 pm
Intervention with high conflict
Conflict Goals

Day 2

8:00 – 8:30 am
Conflict Interventions Continued: Four Horsemen and Flooding
Conflict goals continued
8:30 am – 10:00 am
Conflict Blueprint: Rapoport and Dreams within Conflict
10:00 to 10:15 am Break
10:15 – 12:00 pm
Conflict Interventions continued: Art of Compromise and Aftermath of a fight or regrettable incident
Friendship Goals
12:00 to 12:30 pm LUNCH BREAK
12:30 – 3:00 pm
Friendship and Shared Meaning
Wrap up, Review and Follow up plans
 

Delivery Method and Interactivity

PowerPoint, Handouts, Lecture, Q&A, video role play

 

Continuing Education Credits

12

 
 
 

Continuing Education

Satisfactory Completion
Participants must have paid tuition fee, signed in, attended the entire seminar, completed an evaluation, and signed out in order to receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates available after satisfactory course completion at credits.education

Counselors/Marriage and Family Therapists
Credits.Education, #1032827, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Credits.Education maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.  Course meets the qualifications for 12 hours of continuing education credits for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
 
All Other States: Many states accept CAMFT approved courses for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs.  Check with your state board.
 

Special Needs - If you require ADA accommodations please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often. If you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board's approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

 

Refund and Grievance Policy - Click here to see our Refund and Grievance Policy.

Attendance Policy and Certificate Delivery Information - Click here for information about receiving credits.

Questions about Certificates and Accreditation? - Click here to Contact the CE Director