Welcome to the Couple & Family Institute of New England
The Couple and Family Institute of New England is committed to enhancing people’s lives and their relationships to one another. We believe that healthy relationships with those we love are the foundation of our well-being.
We are committed to promoting social justice and freedom from oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, and ableism. We aim to embody this commitment in each of the educational programs and clinical services we offer. One concrete step is our Equity Pricing option, available for many of our programs.
Our vision is to offer state-of-the-art:
- Workshops and training programs for mental health professionals interested in working with couples and families
- Couple and family therapy services
- Educational programs for couples’ enrichment
COVID-19 Alert:
CFINE is committed to adhering to current public health standards due to the coronavirus outbreak. Services may be converted to online formats or postponed. Full refunds will be delivered if necessary.
When Emotions Run High: Helping Couples Make Sense of Stuck Places With Emotionally Focused Therapy

Where: On Zoom
Instructor: Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
CEs: 6 CEs approved for LICSWs
This workshop introduces the basic concepts of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based approach that has been shown to be highly effective in helping distressed couples repair their relationship and create a secure bond. Hosted by Smith College School for Social Work.
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Uses and Misuses of Therapist Self-Disclosure in a Time of Collective Upheaval, Grief, and Loss

Where: On Zoom
Instructor: Dr. Janine Roberts
CEs: 4 CEs approved for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
In this experiential workshop, participants will learn under what circumstances therapist transparency is legitimate and useful and when it carries risks, including interrupting the flow and tone of therapy, crossing established boundaries, and triggering a client's fear that the clinician isn't “there” for her/them/him.
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Emotionally Focused Therapy in a Time of Racial Reckoning: Centering Race in Couple & Family Therapy

Where: On Zoom
Presenters: Yamonte Cooper, EdD, LPCC; Paul Guillory, PhD; Bukky Kolawole, PsyD; Marjorie Nightingale, JD, LMFT
Moderator: Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
CEs: 6 CEs pending for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
This symposium is designed for couple and family therapists to hear from four experts who will speak to the special considerations of effective, anti-racist informed, Emotionally Focused Therapy.
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Save the Date — Antiracism Supervision

Where: On Zoom
Instructor: Yamonte Cooper, EdD, LPCC
CEs: 3 CEs pending for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
Save the date for this informative presentation on conducting Antiracism Supervision. More info coming soon.
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Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy

Where: On Zoom
Instructors: Lorrie Brubacher, MEd, LMFT, RMFT; assisted by Paul Guillory, PhD
CEs: 30 CEs pending for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
The Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is the basic four-day training, a pre-requisite for certification and follow-up advanced training in EFT. The Externship includes presentations of theory, clinical techniques and skills, training exercises, video recordings, observation of live interviews and discussion of specific cases and clinical issues. Participants will be introduced to EFT, a profound developmental theory of personality and intimate relationships.
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Follow the Emotion: The Challenges of De-escalation—A Refresher Course on Stage I of Emotionally Focused Therapy

Where: On Zoom
Instructor: Danielle Green, LICSW and Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
CEs: 6 CEs approved for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
This workshop is designed for those who have already received the basic training in Emotionally Focused Therapy, but would like to review theory and practice.
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Going Into The Fire: Working with Highly Escalated Couples

Where: Smith College Conference Center, 49 College Lane, Northampton, MA
Instructor: George Faller, MS, LMFT
CEs: 12 CEs approved for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
Do escalated couples make you want to quit being a therapist? Join us as we explore those moments of greatest difficulty for couples, from still-face to high reactivity to despair and rage.
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Sexual Identity, Gender Identity: Staying Current in a Rapidly Changing Landscape — Home Study
Keynote Speakers: Sidney Trantham, PhD and Acey Mercer, LMSW
Case Presentation Co-Moderated by: MaryAnna Domokos-Cheng Ham, EdD, LMFT and Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
Panelists: Sidney Trantham, PhD; Acey Mercer, LMSW; Steffani Brandenburg, LCSW, LICSW, CST; Julie Mencher, LICSW; Joseph Winn, LICSW, CST-S; and Jane Fleishman, PhD, MS, MEd, CSE
Workshops by: Acey Mercer, LMSW and Joseph Winn, LICSW, CST-S
CEs: 6 CEs approved for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists; approved for AASECT
This distance learning/home study program is from the Couple & Family Institute of New England's 2019 Fall Symposium "Sexual Identity, Gender Identity: Staying Current in a Rapidly Changing Landscape" featuring a keynote presentation, case study, and two workshops.
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Tales From the Licensing Board: Ethical Issues Facing Couple and Family Therapists — Home Study
Instructor: I. Scott Cohen, LICSW, LMFT
CEs: 6 CEs approved for LMFTs, LICSWs, LMHCs, and Lic. Psychologists
This online program brings to life the AAMFT Code Of Ethics as well as some of the ethical guidelines issued by the Commonwealth of MA, in an engaging and thought-provoking way. An interview with I. Scott Cohen has been added to make this course relevant to the time of COVID-19.
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On Becoming a Family: Clinical Approaches to Fostering Healthy Relationships—Morning Panel
Presenters: Carolyn Broudy, MD; Annette Cycon, LCSW; Charles Daniels, Jr., LICSW; Nancy Knudsen, LMFT; and Mirza Lugardo, LMHC
This distance learning/home study program is from the Couple & Family Institute of New England's 2018 Fall Symposium "On Becoming A Family: Clinical Approaches to Fostering Healthy Relationships" morning panel consisting of five speakers who each address a case study, drawing upon their own theoretical perspective and particular approach to family intervention.
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Couple Therapy Intensive

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*CANCELLED* The Hold Me Tight® Program: Conversations for Connection

Where: Smith College Conference Center, 51 College Lane, Northampton, MA
Instructor: Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
This program teaches couples to become more attuned, trusting, and open with each other and to more easily handle day-to-day stress and conflict. This event has been CANCELLED due to COVID-19.
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The Hold Me Tight® Program: Conversations for Connection

Where: Smith College Conference Center, 51 College Lane, Northampton, MA
Instructor: Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
If it's determined that this event should not be held in-person for health reasons, it will be postponed until in-person events can be held safely.
This program teaches couples to become more attuned, trusting, and open with each other and to more easily handle day-to-day stress and conflict.
Read More
The Hold Me Tight® Program: Conversations for Connection

Where: Smith College Conference Center, 51 College Lane, Northampton, MA
Instructor: Nancy Knudsen, LMFT
If it's determined that this event should not be held in-person for health reasons, it will be postponed until in-person events can be held safely.
This program teaches couples to become more attuned, trusting, and open with each other and to more easily handle day-to-day stress and conflict.
Read More