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Certified Expert Course in Brief Couple Psychotherapy
«Therapy is always systemic.» — Dr. José Luis Marín
An integrative, brief, and effective model for working with couples beyond the symptom.
Before you enrol, watch the first class.
No forms, no sign-up required. Experience the methodology of Dr. José Luis Marín first-hand and make an informed decision. What are the classes like?, open to everyone.
Enrol in the full courseEffectively intervene in the bond, not just the conflict the couple brings.
«Therapy is always systemic.»
— Dr. José Luis Marín
Only 24% of couples report maintaining a truly satisfactory relationship. And yet, the vast majority of adult patients who come to therapy, no matter the reason, sooner or later end up talking about their partner. It is one of the most decisive areas of human well-being and, at the same time, one of the least addressed with clinical rigor. Treating it solely in terms of «communication» or «techniques for couples» falls very short: another model is needed.
This program offers an integrative model, validated over more than 40 years of clinical practice and research, that goes far beyond behavioral symptom change. It delves into the relational, psychosocial, and biographical phenomena that truly determine how a couple functions, or ceases to function.
«Psycho» and «Brief»
- «Psycho» makes the difference. It's not about applying techniques to extinguish conflict, but about empowering the couple by helping them understand their unconscious dynamics and relational patterns.
- «Brief» responds to evidence. In this field, prolonged interventions are not effective; the longer the process, the more entrenched the problem becomes.
«With the couple» and «of the couple»
The model applies both to working with the couple (when both members consult) and to working of the couple (when only one consults and, even so, the relationship is the true object of intervention). This seemingly technical distinction is decisive: it allows working on the relational dimension even when only one member is present, which happens in a large part of real consultations. Because, as Dr. Marín reminds us, therapy is always systemic.
Partner choice and collusions
The course delves into one of the most fascinating and least studied areas of working with couples: the conscious and unconscious mechanisms of choice. Why we choose whom we choose, what is committed to whom at the moment of choosing, how love and infatuation function from a clinical perspective, and what collusions are—those invisible pacts between two unconscious histories—and why what was once deeply adaptive ceases, over time, to be so.
From disillusionment to intervention
From there, the therapy of disillusionment regarding the initial pact, the couple's evaluation and communication, and universal life crises (commitment, arrival of children, losses, aging) are explored, distinguishing those that transform from those that destabilize. A specific intervention model for infidelity is addressed, with its two possible outcomes: repair or accompaniment in the grief of separation.
Resources and techniques
The program concludes with intervention tools: analogical resources (cinema, literature, stories), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Problem-Solving Therapy, adapted for working with couples. If you attend to adult patients, you will inevitably have couples in your practice; this course provides the tools to reach their deep dynamics, beyond the surface of the conflict.
For decades, access to the best psychotherapy training depended on mastering the language it was taught in. Not anymore. Thanks to artificial intelligence, at Psychotherapy Masters we have broken down the language barrier to bring you the leading international specialists in your own language.
It is a leap that until very recently was unthinkable, and we take it with the utmost rigour. We always start from our instructors' original work, and every video is translated with AI technology under human direction and reviewed by native specialists, who guarantee the clinical fidelity of every concept.
First-class training, without borders.
Questions about the programme? request information.
Request information with no obligation: we will answer your questions about the content, accreditation or payment options live.
A comprehensive programme across 6 modules.
25 video lessons, supplementary documentation and a module-level assessment. Click on each module to view the full detailed content.
Establishes the conceptual framework. Differentiates three planes that are often confused (the couple and their therapy, the couple and their therapist, the couple and their «issues») to prevent the therapist from becoming triangulated within the very conflict they came to treat.
Delves into one of the least studied areas of working with couples: why we choose whom we choose. Commitment, love, and infatuation are addressed from a clinical, not just poetic, perspective, and what is at stake at the moment of choosing.
From infatuation to disillusionment. Addresses the therapy of disillusionment regarding the initial pact and integrates attachment theory, the bodily and lifestyle aspects, and the interaction between individual personality and couple dynamics, where the whole is different from the sum of its parts.
How to assess and plan the process. Analyzes couple communication and its patterns, structures planning at logistical, strategic, tactical, and technical levels, and incorporates an expanded systemic view of the relationship with children.
Addresses critical moments. Infidelity (understanding and intervention), universal life crises, and couple grief, distinguishing crises that transform from those that destabilize, and accompanying both repair and the grief of separation.
Concludes with intervention tools. Analogical resources (cinema, literature, stories), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Problem-Solving Therapy, adapted for working with couples.
How the course works.
A 100% online programme designed to combine independent study with opportunities for direct interaction.
Assessment and accreditation
At the end of each module there is a multiple-choice self-assessment. To obtain accreditation you must complete all modules achieving a score of at least 80%. You have 3 attempts per test. Upon completing the programme you receive an accredited diploma with 10 ECTS credits.
Just another course on brief psychotherapy?
Not all clinical training programmes are equal. Choose clinical rigour over generic content or theory disconnected from practice.
José Luis Marín López is a renowned Spanish psychiatrist and psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience. As the leader of the International Forum for Psychotherapy Training, he has been a key figure in the advancement of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy in Spain and internationally. His integrative and evidence-based approach has transformed therapeutic practice, emphasizing the mind-body connection and the social determinants of mental health.
Professionals who have already trained with us.
Psychologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists applying what they have learned in their practice.
"Excellent!"
"I think it provides good tools and a very down-to-earth approach. I like that it doesn't hide the truth but allows us to choose a comforting illusion and be respectful of our patients' lives."
"I had a lovely experience. I'm completely satisfied. Thanks!"
"I found the course very useful. I'm working with couples, and I came across cases where the information from the classes and the bibliography was of great help to me. I recommend it."
"Yes, like all the courses I've taken so far, I found it useful and beneficial."
"It was a good choice for me. As a therapist, it validates practices I was already using in session with my patients, like the use of audiovisuals."
"Excellent training in couple's therapy"
"I'm truly surprised by the course content and the learning I've gained through José Luis. I 100% recommend it because, additionally, you enjoy it a lot. I'm very grateful for it. Thank you!"
"It's been an excellent experience, as always a 10 for the Professor!"
"This course was exactly what I was looking for in terms of training, it positively surprised me, I learned from every video and all the content was very useful, it was a true honor to listen to the master Dr. Jose Luis Marín, totally recommendable. I wish I had known him..."
"Very clear, dynamic, and provides many resources that will keep on giving beyond the course. Thanks."
"The experience was really good, I learned things they don't tell you in your degree!"
"A very relevant course."
"Huge value, a great help for helping!"
"I really liked it because it provides clear, practical, effective, and common-sense based tools. Plus, it adds naturalness and warmth to each lesson, which makes every class super entertaining. The course is very complete, and the doctor's experience and professionalism are..."
"I feel it was a good choice. I hope to be able to help many couples."
"Dr. José Luis Marín's Expert Course in Brief Couple Psychotherapy is, overall, a solid proposal, well-supported academically and professionally. It's presented as specialized training, with an integrative approach and practical application. It promises to go beyond the..."
"Thank you, thank you! I really enjoyed this course! It helped me learn and clarify so much!"
"Fantastic, just like all of Dr. Marin's courses, I learned a lot! Very recommendable personally and professionally."
"It's quite comprehensive and clear. It covers the necessary topics to better prepare oneself, and it has a spectacular human perspective!"
"Excellent!"
"The course is very complete, the information and bibliography are very well selected. Maybe a discussion space is missing."
"My favorite, no doubt about it! Looking forward to the next courses!"
"I bought this course individually and now I want to buy the full master's program, but I've seen that this course is included in the master's. Is there any way I can get the price of this course discounted from the full master's program? Thank you very much for this content..."
"I learned a lot. The integrative perspective greatly helped my clinical work. Unbeatable treatment."
"The quality of the teaching staff is what truly stands out. In the final session, you get to work experientially with a real couple. A truly perfect course!"
"I chose Brief Couple Psychotherapy because many psychologists spoke very highly of this course to me. My rating is top."
Endorsed by the leading institutions.
Institutional backing that matters for your CV, your career, and the validity of your continuing professional development.
Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid (COPM)
Federación de Asociaciones de Psicólogos y Médicos Psicoterapeutas de España (FAPYMPE)
Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Madrid (ICOMEM)
SEMPyP (Sociedad Española de Medicina Psicosomática y Psicoterapia)
Diploma · Certified Expert Course in Brief Couple Psychotherapy
Awarded upon successful completion of all 6 modules of the programme
About the professional body seals on the diploma
To ensure specific professional body endorsement and in compliance with the regulations of these institutions, the inclusion of official professional association seals on the diploma is exclusive to students holding a degree in Medicine or Psychology. This distinction does not, however, affect the institutional endorsement of the programme's quality, ensuring that all our students, regardless of their degree, complete their training with qualifications whose excellence is fully recognised by these institutions.
Everything you need to know before enrolling.
If you have a question that does not appear here, write to us at info@psychotherapymasters.com and we will respond personally.
The course is 100% online with immediate access: as soon as you enrol you receive your virtual classroom credentials and can start straight away. There are no fixed start dates or mandatory schedule.
You have full access for 1 year to complete all 6 modules at your own pace. Most students complete it alongside their regular clinical work.
These are the requirements to access the course:
- No degree is required to take the courses.
- However, prior knowledge in the subject is recommended.
At the end of each module there is a multiple-choice self-assessment quiz. To obtain accreditation you must complete all modules answering at least 80% of questions correctly. You have 3 attempts per quiz.
Upon completing the course you will receive your diploma with 10 ECTS credits.
The price includes: full access for 1 year to all 25 video lessons, all supplementary course materials, the self-assessment quizzes for each module, and the accreditation diploma upon completing the programme.
You can also pay in instalments: from 125,14 US$/month over 6 payments.
Yes. If after enrolling the course is not what you expected, you have up to 14 days to request a full refund, in accordance with our withdrawal policy.
We also recommend watching the first class for free before enrolling, so you can assess the methodology with complete freedom.
Yes, we issue invoices in your name or in the name of a company/healthcare centre. For many professionals, the course is deductible as continuing education. If you need a specific invoice, please indicate this at the time of purchase.
Scholarships and solidarity access
Each edition we reserve a limited number of partial scholarships for professionals from Latin America, MIR/PIR residents, and psychotherapists who are unemployed. We believe that rigorous clinical knowledge cannot depend on your postcode.
Start today.
Immediate access.
No commitments. Access to the virtual classroom upon enrolment. And if you want to try it first, watch the first class for free.
