Couples and Family Therapy Training Through Role-Play

An educational program for therapists sponsored by Jonah Green and Associates, LLC

psychologist consulting a woman client indoors discussion therapy

For MD or DC Credit!

  • “Couple and Family Therapy Training through Role-Play” is an online, interactive educational program for therapists that teaches couples and family therapy skills through role-playing. Couple and family training has incorporated role-play for over 50 years and is consistent with the empirically supported systematic skill-building methods of Deliberate Practice.

This practical “how-to” course offers students the opportunity to learn and apply couples and family therapy approaches and techniques in real time. This is the sixth year of the course, and the format and curriculum have been fine-tuned with extensive feedback.

Each 1.5-hour class session starts with a didactic presentation and a role-play demonstration. During the remainder of the class, participants apply the skills presented, alternating between therapist, client, and observer roles. Students can access class recordings and other educational materials outside of class. 

The program consists of two series, each of which grants a Certificate:

  • Series One: Couples and Family Therapy Essentials (Sessions 1-15)
  • Series Two: Advanced Couples and Family Therapy (sessions 16-25)

Topics covered each week:

Series One: Couples and Family Therapy Essentials

  1. Joining in couples and family therapy
  2. First contact and first session
  3. Developing safety and hope
  4. Reframing and doubling
  5. Stimulating relational dialogue
  6. Cultural humility and self-disclosure
  7. Enactments
  8. Strengths and Solution-Focused Approaches
  9. Structural family therapy 
  10. Experiential family therapy
  11. Genograms and Family-of-Origin Approaches
  12. Best Practices with Couples
  13. The Gottman Approach
  14. Imago Therapy
  15. Emotion-Focused Therapy

Series Two: Advanced Family Therapy Practice

  1. Parenting consultations
  2. Trauma and grief
  3. Addiction
  4. Discernment counseling
  5. Separation and divorce
  6. Stepfamilies
  7. Working with siblings
  8. Aging Families
  9. LGBTQ+ Couples and Families
  10. Neurodivergence

Participants who attend 13 sessions from Series One or eight sessions from Series 2 may obtain Certificates. We offer make-up sessions throughout the year.

Classes are on Fridays from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. The first series will begin on Friday, September 12, 2025, and end on Friday, January 2, 2026. We will skip November 28 and December 26. The second session will start on Friday, January 9, 2026, and end on Friday, March 13, 2026. 

Pricing

Participants who pay by class pay $50 per class. Those who pay for an entire series receive a 20% discount, costing $600 for Series 1 and $400 for Series 2. Groups or agencies that enroll three or more individuals will receive further discounts. We do not offer refunds for missed classes.

Continuing Education Credit

Eligible participants can obtain Category 1 Credit for Continuing Education through the Maryland and DC Boards of Social Work. CE Credit may be available through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.

I took the Couples and Family Therapy Training Through Role-Play course last academic year and found role-play to be a unique way to learn from my teachers and colleagues in the class. I found the collaborative, emotion-focused approach to be very helpful in my work. Jonah Green's calm, positive, and nurturing demeanor creates a safe place for learning. I highly recommend this class if you are looking to improve your therapeutic skills.
~ Katie Smeltz, LMSW, Student, 2023-2024

Instructors

Jonah Green, LCSW-C, the owner and director of Jonah Green and Associates, LLC will present, facilitate, and mentor students throughout both series.  Jonah is a Clinical Social Worker who obtained his Master’s Degree from Boston University and has over 30 years of experience practicing family therapy. He has trained via role-playing and live supervision at the Philadelphia Child and Family Guidance Center and the Minuchin Center, among other venues. Jonah is a Registered Social Work Supervisor in Maryland and a Registered Supervisor for Marriage and Family Therapists in DC.

Statement by Jonah on Revitalizing Family Therapy Training Through Role-Play

Aron Carlson, LCSW-C, a clinical social worker and Registered Social Work Supervisor, has 16 years of experience and expertise in working with parents, couples therapy, sex therapy, and families with emerging adults, will co-lead the class. Aron’s approach helps families break through power struggles and develop relationships of greater meaning and intimacy.

Dani Delgado is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor with a master’s degree from New York University and a proud former student of Jonah Green & Associates’ “Couples and Family Therapy Training Through Role-Play.” Dani directs her passion and experience working with diverse cultural identities toward creating a nurturing environment for individuals, couples, and families to embrace the best parts of themselves and each other. 

Chris Erb, LCMFT, is a marriage and family therapist who obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Chris is passionate about helping couples and families develop new strategies to communicate, empathize, strengthen connections, and heal. He brings a wealth of practical experience to the class, having worked with families from diverse backgrounds and with a range of issues.

Contact us for more info!
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