Introduction to the Developmental Model of Relationship Therapy

In Person in Denver, CO

September 28th and 29th 2024, 9-5pm MT

14 CEUs for Colorado & California*

Why do our clients get trapped in the same relationship patterns?

They're distraught, desperate for something to change, but they can't see the path forward.

What can we do to help them progress?

My answer:

The Development Model of Relationship Therapy.

It’s a practical program for

pinpointing exactly where your clients’ relationships get stuck
empowering them to discover their role in the dynamic - and shift it.

Through this model, I have seen clients transform – and by bringing these insights to my personal life, I’ve experienced the transformation firsthand.

In this approachable but deep 2-day training, I'll show you how to stop the blame game and unlock true potential for change.

Hi, I'm Tom Bruett.

I am a therapist, trainer, consultant, and author who works extensively with the queer community. As the founder of the Queer Relationship Institute, I provide therapy for queer folx and training for therapists who work with queer relationships. I even wrote a book about it — coming soon from Jessica Kingsley Publishing.

My work is deeply informed by my experience training under Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson in the Developmental Model of Relationship Therapy. I want to empower as many therapists as possible to start using this ground-breaking approach.

My mission is to empower you with the skills and tools you need to help your clients thrive relationally. It’s my belief that strong relationships build strong communities, and strong communities build deep, connected, and meaningful lives.

Why the Developmental Model?

↦ Created by Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson, the Developmental Model of Relationship Therapy is strengths-based, non-pathologizing, and easy to apply.

The Developmental Model of Relationship Therapy understands relationships as a system in which each person has their part. It’s a tremendously empowering model which honors each partner’s capacity for growth and change – and provides you with practical tools to support that growth.

Plus, it synthesizes beautifully with other models... so wherever you’re coming from, it will fit into your practice.

Three pillars of the Developmental Model

Attachment science

‣ Unpack the root causes of many relationship struggles

‣ Understand how our past experiences are lived forward in current relationships, and what to do about it

Neurobiology

‣ Uncover the inner workings of emotional regulation and dysregulation

‣ Recognize the power of brain plasticity and what it means for our capacity to grow

Differentiation theory

‣ Discover a cohesive and revelatory view of relationship development

‣ Locate your clients’ stuck points and learn targeted tools to help them move forward

What you learn in this two-day training will make an immediate difference in your practice.

Here’s the roadmap:

In the first session, you'll learn how to

avoid the first-session blame game and set yourself up for effective work right off the bat
assess your clients’ relationship skill gaps and understand exactly where they’re breaking down
use the Initiator-Inquirer Process, an essential tool for deepening your clients’ conversations

In the second session, you'll learn how to

disarm hostile, angry partners
break the cycle of conflict-avoidance
keep the momentum through the long, hard road of middle-stage relationship therapy
help your clients truly recover from infidelity and betrayal (no band-aid solutions here)

↦ You'll leave with a toolkit you can start using immediately. You'll have the confidence to tackle more challenging cases and work with a variety of different identities, orientations, and relationship structures. You'll understand the deeper dynamic of relational growth. You’ll be connected to an extensive network of DM therapists for collaboration and referral.

And, should you choose to deepen your engagement with the Developmental Model, you'll be qualified for my higher-level consultation program.

Limited seats

This is a boutique training, designed to give you tons of personal attention and feedback, so seats are necessarily limited! There are only 20 spots available.

Join the Waitlist

Be the first to know about the next in person training in Colorado.

Tom is a wonderful trainer! During Tom's presentations, I have found him to be engaging, knowledgeable, funny, with a unique perspective... I would attend any training where Tom presented!

Andrea Tang EdS, LMHC, NCC, CCTP, CCTHP

Tom is a gifted clinician with so much expertise, insight, and knowledge that it is a rare privilege to get to train with him. His constant willingness to learn and grow set him apart, and the fact that his expertise is delivered with such compassion, openness, and a true gift of relating to other clinicians make his trainings top notch. I encourage you to prioritize the chance to train with Tom, you won't regret it!

Cathy Carr, LMFT

Tom is patient and approachable. He offers clinicians an accessible way to become both affirming and more effective in their relational work with LGBTQ+ clients.

Fiona O’Farrell, PhD, LMFT, CST-S

↦ A welcoming culture

This training is for clinicians of any gender, orientation, and identity. It will be safe, LGBTQ+ affirmative, sex-positive, and culturally expansive.

↦ Need-based scholarships

At Queer Relationship Institute we see how the impacts of systemic issues like class and race can make training unreachable for some communities. Our mission is to create training that is high-quality, approachable, and as accessible as possible. Seats are limited and offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

↦ Refunds

Refunds will be offered up to one month before the weekend course begins.

↦ Accommodations

To request accommodations for special needs, please email or call.

↦ Grievances

To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance, please email or call.

*Tom Bruett, LMFT (provider #115291) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFT, LCSW, LPCC and LEP. Tom Bruett maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.