When One Partner Isn't Sure: Assessing and Navigating Mixed-Agenda Couples

Course overview

This course is intended for counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, social workers, and other behavioral health professionals engaged in relational or couples therapy. This 1-hour training introduces therapists to the clinical, ethical, and emotional complexities of working with mixed-agenda couples - where one partner is leaning out of the relationship and the other wants to preserve it. These couples often present for therapy without shared goals, making traditional couples work potentially ineffective or even harmful. The course explores strategies for early assessment, introduces a structured approach to support decision-making, and highlights how to avoid common pitfalls. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to ethically and effectively guide couples in the early stages of treatment.