2026 NEFESH Summer Online Conference
July 14-15, 2026 · Online Event
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Understanding Uncoupling: Supporting Clients Through Relationship Endings

Tuesday, July 28th, 2026   10:00 AM EDT -1:00 PM EDT
Dionne Aldridge
$59.99 USD

This workshop is designed for therapists who work with couples or individuals going through separation or the end of a relationship. Ending a relationship is more than just deciding to part ways — it can bring strong emotions, stress, confusion, and major life changes. Clients may struggle with communication, parenting concerns, identity shifts, or learning how to move forward.

This training focuses on practical, real-world ways therapists can support clients during this transition. Participants will explore how to guide respectful conversations, help clients manage difficult emotions, set healthy boundaries, and make thoughtful decisions about their next steps. The workshop also looks at how separation affects children, families, and social support systems.

Through discussion, examples, and hands-on activities, therapists will gain tools they can use immediately in sessions to support healing, clarity, and growth after a relationship ends.

About the Presenter

Dionne Aldridge, is the owner of Inspiring, LLC. She has over 25 years of dedicated experience in the field of Social Work. Ms. Aldridge has a private practice in Baltimore, Maryland, offering mental health services and professional development trainings. Since 2013, she has been a Board Approved Social Work Supervisor offering clinical guidance to interns, LMSW’s, and LCSW’s. For over 15 years, Ms. Aldridge has assisted Social Workers in preparing for licensing exams at all levels.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain what uncoupling means and describe the common emotional experiences people have when a relationship ends
  2. Identify practical strategies to help clients communicate respectfully and set healthy boundaries during separation.
  3. Apply supportive tools and interventions to help individuals and couples cope with change and move forward in a healthy way

Agenda:

0:00 – 0:15 | Welcome & Framing the Conversation • Introductions and workshop overview • Review objectives and group guidelines • Icebreaker: One word describing relationship endings • Brief group discussion

0:15 – 0:35 | Understanding Uncoupling • Define uncoupling in practical and therapeutic terms • Emotional and practical aspects of separation • High-conflict vs. respectful transitions • Group discussion on common client patterns

0:35 – 1:00 | Emotional Reactions & Attachment Dynamics • Grief responses in separation • Identity shifts and role changes • Ambivalence, anger, guilt, fear • Small group activity identifying emotional patterns

1:00 – 1:30 | Clinical Tools for Supporting Uncoupling • Emotion regulation strategies • Structuring difficult conversations • Boundary-setting techniques • Safety considerations and red flags • Practice exercise drafting therapist statements

1:30 – 2:00 | Case Scenario Breakout Activity • Case 1: High-conflict couple with children • Case 2: Individual experiencing identity loss • Case 3: Couple unsure about separating • Assessment priorities and intervention strategies • Group report-back

2:00 – 2:20 | Systemic & Family Considerations • Impact on children and co-parenting • Extended family and cultural expectations • Maintaining therapist neutrality • Large group discussion

2:20 – 2:35 | Building Resilience After Separation • Identity rebuilding strategies • Future planning tools • Coping and adjustment skills • Reflection prompt on client strengths

2:35 – 3:00 | Wrap-Up & Integration • Key takeaways • Implementation planning • Questions

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Mental Health Counselor #MHC-0082
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.