Austin Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy upcoming events

Perinatal Relational Health Training: Helping Couples in the Transition to Parenthood (September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Perinatal Relational Health Training: Helping Couples in the Transition to Parenthood

An Emotionally Focused Therapy-Informed Training for Therapists and Perinatal Professionals

This training is designed for therapists, birth professionals, and perinatal mental health providers who want to understand and support the couple bond as a foundation for family well-being. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment science, you’ll explore how a secure romantic connection between parents directly shapes a baby’s emotional development and how to help couples during this vulnerable time.

Through case examples, experiential learning, and clear, practical tools, you’ll gain confidence in helping new and expectant parents.

Learning Objectives:
Define perinatal relational health and its importance for maternal and infant mental health
Identify the components of secure attachment (Accessibility, Responsiveness, Engagement) in the perinatal stage
Distinguish between the need to educate vs. intervene in a couple’s relational dynamics
Engage the supporting partner in the transition to parenthood
Understand the attachment significance of grieving together after pregnancy-related loss

Whether you’re a therapist, doula, nurse, or other helping professional, this training will equip you to see the couple’s relationship as a core component of perinatal health - not just an optional extra.

**Who this training is for:

This training is for helping professionals curious about preventative care. The goal is to help the birthing parent see their relationship as a resource and to expand their bond.

This is not a training for working with couples in distress or an EFT deep dive.

BIO

Kelly Bourque, LMFT
Kelly Bourque is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified EFT Therapist, and Supervisor with 20 years of experience. She owns Red Therapy Group in Nashville, TN. As a key contributor to the Hold Me Tight® for Expectant and New Parents Facilitator’s Guide, Kelly developed Conversation 8 on grief and serves as a project facilitator. Kelly is known for her creativity and generosity as a leader in the global EFT community. Whether she’s facilitating a private intensive, leading her monthly webinars or developing resources - her passion is contagious.

EFT Book Club 2026 (September 25, 2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 17:30:00 GMT

We are excited to open registration for our EFT Community 2026 Book Club.

We will be reading: Loving with the brain in Mind: Neurobiology and Couples Therapy by Mona DeKoven Fishbane

We will split the book over five sessions.

Dates: Sessions will take place on the fourth Friday of each month (skipping July and August): May 29, June 26, September 25, October 30, November 20

Time: 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Location: Williamsburg Therapy Group, 2121 South Lamar

Registration will be $25 for EFT Community Members and $30 for nonmembers.

If you have any trouble finding the book, please do not hesitate to let us know - and we are happy to help!

EFT Book Club 2026 (October 30, 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:30:00 GMT

We are excited to open registration for our EFT Community 2026 Book Club.

We will be reading: Loving with the brain in Mind: Neurobiology and Couples Therapy by Mona DeKoven Fishbane

We will split the book over five sessions.

Dates: Sessions will take place on the fourth Friday of each month (skipping July and August): May 29, June 26, September 25, October 30, November 20

Time: 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Location: Williamsburg Therapy Group, 2121 South Lamar

Registration will be $25 for EFT Community Members and $30 for nonmembers.

If you have any trouble finding the book, please do not hesitate to let us know - and we are happy to help!

EFT Book Club 2026 (November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 18:30:00 GMT

We are excited to open registration for our EFT Community 2026 Book Club.

We will be reading: Loving with the brain in Mind: Neurobiology and Couples Therapy by Mona DeKoven Fishbane

We will split the book over five sessions.

Dates: Sessions will take place on the fourth Friday of each month (skipping July and August): May 29, June 26, September 25, October 30, November 20

Time: 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Location: Williamsburg Therapy Group, 2121 South Lamar

Registration will be $25 for EFT Community Members and $30 for nonmembers.

If you have any trouble finding the book, please do not hesitate to let us know - and we are happy to help!