Core Skills For The Relational Therapist Certificate Program.

Registration Begins August 1, 2025.
Sliding Scale Fees Available.

Learn Core Skills for the Relational Therapist

Take your skills to the next level with this foundational, 6-month online certificate program for early to mid career psychology professionals. With a nuanced focus on inner development and the interactive process, you will get unique opportunities to deepen and refine your clinical skills. Registration begins August 1st for Fall Cohort. Program begins September 21, 2025. Sliding scale and monthly payment options available.

California Clinicians earn 24 CEs.

Are you an Early to Mid Career Clinician or Pre-Professional?

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Core Skills for the Relational Therapist Certificate

Registration Begins: August 1, 2025*

Inner Science Institute (InSci) trains mental health professionals interested in unique, transformative, and integrative professional development that emphasizes inner development.

Specializing in training that prioritizes self-awareness and therapeutic presence, we help clinicians develop inner qualities that compliment and enhance theoretical approaches.

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Inner Science Institute is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to sponsor Continuing Education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. Inner Science Institute maintains responsibility for all courses and their content.

Our provider number is #147142.

Registration closes in:

Hybrid Learning: Multimedia Self-Study & Interactive Video Consultation Groups.

Core Skills for the Relational Therapist Certificate Program is a 6-month online program that emphasizes learning to work from the inside out.

With a nuanced focus on inner development and the interactive process, you will get unique opportunities to deepen and refine your clinical skills.

The program is an integration of psychodynamic psychotherapy, relational mindfulness, and interpersonal neurobiology.

Over the course of this experiential program, we encourage you to embody your innate wisdom and unfolding confidence as you learn essential clinical skills, such as how to:

*Can’t make this date? Contact Us and we’ll let you know when the next program begins.

How Will You Enhance Your Professional Skills With Us?

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Sliding Scale Payments Range from $89-129/month for 6 months.

6-Month Program Curriculum

Two Modules per Month

Module 1: How to Cultivate Therapeutic Presence and Amplify the Transformative Potential of the Clinical Relationship

Module 2: Listening Deeply to Both Yourself and Your Clients for Maximum Attunement to What Unfolds in the Moment

Module 3: Building Trust by Learning to Discern the Right Amount of Support and Challenge

Module 4: How to Focus on the Subtleties of the Therapeutic Relationship While Shifting Your Viewpoint Back and Forth from Full Participant to Mindful Observer

Module 5: Attuning to the Intimate Edge and Bringing Forward What Most Wants to Surface into Consciousness

Module 6: Learning How to Gain Permission from the Patient’s Unconscious to Advance Therapeutic Work

Module 7: How to Transform Unconscious Relational Dynamics into Authentic Connection

Module 8: Committing To Relational Repair, Even in the Midst of Challenging Transference and Countertransference Reactions

Module 9: How to Shift the Negativity Bias by Engaging Neuroplasticity and Helping the Nervous System Evolve

Module 10: Emphasizing Compassionate Awareness to Avoid Extremes of Suppression and/or Immersion with Difficult Feelings

Module 11: Prioritizing a Trauma-Informed Foundation for the Therapeutic Journey by Resisting Re-Traumatization

Module 12: Using the Therapeutic Relationship to Empower by Learning to Acknowledge Reciprocal Impact and Social Conditioning

What Colleagues Have Said About Our Courses & Consultation Groups

I'm writing from the midpoint of the Core Skills 6-month certificate program and I can already say this is the most transformational CE program I've ever done. If you're looking for warm and gentle support and thought-provoking subject matter as you deepen and expand your understanding of your inner world as a therapist-this is the program for you! I've been licensed for ten years and this has given me new ways to look at myself in relationship to my clients that will continue to benefit us both. 

-C.Z., LMFT

I loved the holding I received from this group, the depth of presence and exercises were invaluable. Every meeting was special and helped me slow down, drop in and really meet myself. I want to thank you both for the truly beautiful time we all spent together- your teachings will continue resonating with me and gently shaping my work with clients for a long time to come.

A.S., LMFT

The course on deepening therapeutic presence was a delight to take, I feel more connected to myself as a therapist, and I found the wisdom in the course to be invaluable as I move forward in my practice. I took it for the CEs, and I would recommend this course to therapists and graduate students alike.

Sarah P, MA, LMHC

I'm writing from the midpoint of the Core Skills 6-month certificate program and I can already say this is the most transformational CE program I've ever done. If you're looking for warm and gentle support and thought-provoking subject matter as you deepen and expand your understanding of your inner world as a therapist-this is the program for you! I've been licensed for ten years and this has given me new ways to look at myself in relationship to my clients that will continue to benefit us both. 

-C.Z., LMFT

I am very appreciative for the supportive space you both created and the valuable content you provided. The group felt safe to be vulnerable and offered ample opportunities for growth.

S.S., LMFT

I enjoyed the thoroughness of When the World is Anxious: Navigating the Therapeutic Relationship under Unusually Difficult Circumstances as it provided insight into how to best understand and navigate through the mind when in distress for both parties. The mix of exercises, audio, and written sections made it easy to stay engaged. I would definitely recommend it to all!

Mahryssa Segura-Izquierdo, Graduate Student

I have so treasured our time together in the group, and even more so the ripple effects your guidance and our discussions have had in my practice and life!

C.Z., LMFT

I enjoyed the Therapeutic Presence training! Easy to listen to, maintained my attention and provided a much needed refresh on therapeutic presence. I look forward to taking other Inner Science courses in the future.

Catherine M., LMFT

I found How to Transform Unconscious Relational Dynamics to be an insightful course. It was especially helpful in allowing me to become more aware of how to attune to and gain permission of the unconscious. The exercises facilitated a deeper awareness of how I sit in the chair. I would recommend this course to mental health professionals who are particularly interested in psychodynamic psychotherapy or those who want to understand how to negotiate countertransference material and/or reactions.

Colby, LCSW

Payments Start at Just $89/month for 6 months

Meet the Instructors

Tamara Thebert, MFT

Tamara Thebert, MFT is the CEO, Co-Founder, and an Instructor at Inner Science Institute. She uses her 18 years of experience to support clinicians to deepen and expand their self-awareness by learning from the inside out. 

Tamara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies with a concentration in Art and Psychology from Knox College, a Master’s Degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, and a Certification in Hypnotherapy (Spiritual Counseling emphasis) from Foundation of the Sacred Stream. She is currently enrolled in Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, a two-year training in awareness and compassion-based practices.

Tamara has training and certificates in integral counseling psychology, neurobiologically-informed trauma treatment, mindful self-compassion, meditation, spiritual counseling, energy medicine, women’s spirituality, grief and bereavement, shamanic counseling, ecopsychology, and permaculture. Since 2004, she has studied and trained in spiritual and psychological traditions from all over the globe. Tamara teaches spiritual principles and practices specifically tailored to improve mental and emotional health and spiritual awakening.

In her private practice Tamara specializes in helping women recognize & amplify inner resources to recover from trauma, anxiety, stress, and distress while attending to the important relationships in their lives. 

To find out more about her psychotherapy practice, go to www.psychospiritualcounseling.net.

Tamara offers mindfulness-based clinical consultation via Zoom. For more information, go to www.psychospiritualcounseling.net/mindfulness-based-consultation/.

Deborah Yarock

Deborah Yarcock, MFT

Deborah Yarock, MFT is a Co-Founder, Instructor, and Clinical Consultant at Inner Science Institute. She uses her 40 years of experience to help clinicians address impasses that emerge from transference-countertransference interactions, with particular expertise in navigating ethical dilemmas, power dynamics, oppression/internalized oppression, and personal/professional boundaries.

She holds a Masters Degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies and has served as a counselor, therapist, supervisor, and instructor in a variety of community-based, educational, and private practice settings in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She has degrees and training in integral counseling psychology, psychological process work, re-evaluation counseling, and extensive experience in all phases of addiction treatment. As an adjunct professor, she has taught graduate and undergraduate psychology courses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1995, while teaching and mentoring pre-professionals in the field of community mental health, Deborah expanded services by developing and running practicum sites. She has also created avenues to advance cultural competency, address stress and vicarious trauma, and encourage comprehensive grief support.

Throughout her career, Deborah has respected and addressed the practical realities of life alongside deeper identity and soul-searching aspects of therapeutic work. To find out more about her psychotherapy practice, go to www.deborahyarockmft.com.

In order to accommodate busy and complex schedules, Deborah offers clinical consultations via phone. For more information, go to https://deborahyarockmft.com/consultation/.

Feel free to contact Deborah today for a consultation or to explore ways she might be able to help you in your work: 510-214-6951 or deborah@innerscience.net.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Inner Science Institute?

We train mental health professionals who value progressive social change and the expansive consciousness that comes from learning to work from the inside out. We teach in this way because we believe that when we intentionally examine our conditioning and become more aware of our impact on clients and their impact on us, we inevitably expand our psychological and spiritual consciousness, improve our standard of care, and collectively begin to take steps to dismantle oppression in the mental health system. In this spirit, we use our experience to create trainings that inspire compassionate awareness and mindful participation in the therapeutic process.

Who is this program for?

Can anyone benefit from this program?
While our current certificate program is designed for early career psychology
professionals (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, and LEP) and advanced preprofessionals providing adult psychotherapy, we have had clinicians with up to 10 years of licensed experience. In addition, the underlying principles are applicable for other therapeutic relationships and settings. Because we focus on helping clinicians deepen their awareness of the reciprocal relationship between self and others, we believe the courses can be beneficial to professionals working in other areas of human services, including spiritual counselors, chaplains, life coaches, energy healers, activists, teachers, and psychiatric nurses.

What’s the difference between Core Skills for the Relational Therapist Certificate and other forms of professional training?

While there is no shortage of continuing education courses or postgraduate certificate programs in Psychology, Core Skills for the Relational Therapist is truly in a class of its own, bringing you a 6-month online program taught by seasoned professionals who emphasize your inner development and self-awareness while you learn to refine essential clinical skills. Plus, you will receive the support of an online consultation group facilitated by your instructors to support you during the entire program. 12 video presentations, 18 hours of teachings and experiential exercises, 6 group video consultation sessions, and carefully curated supplemental readings and videos to offer you an enriching training experience.

Are there any prerequisites for this program?

There are no prerequisites for this certificate program.

How long will I have access to the lesson materials?

At the conclusion of 6 months, you will have the option to become an alum for up to 6 months for a small monthly fee. As an alum member, your access to lessons and consultation groups will remain available for you to finish your certificate requirements or review. 

How long is the program and how much time is required each month?

This is a 6-month program that requires approximately 1.5 hours per week or 6 hours per month if, in addition to your coursework, you choose to attend 6 group video consultations, and read the supplemental readings.

What will I be doing during the course of this program?

  • You will be watching, listening, and/or reading two modules per month. In
    addition to a video presentation, modules include experiential exercises,
    vignettes, case studies, and supplemental readings.
  • You will have the opportunity to attend live monthly group consultations
    led by the instructors, during which you are welcome to ask questions, get
    clarity about the material and how it applies to your practice, and add
    your own perspectives.

How will I interact with others during the program?

You will interact with your instructors and colleagues through group video
consultations.

What if I am unable to attend a live consultation video session?

We offer one extra make-up group to help you meet your requirements for CEs and certification.

Are professional development credits available for this program?

Yes. 24 CEs are available for California clinicians who take Core Skills for the Relational Therapist. All clinicians, regardless of location, will receive a certificate of completion for their portfolio.

What are the requirements to earn 24 CE Credits?

You must complete all modules, exercises, and supplemental readings, attend all 6 of the monthly group video consultations, answer test questions, and fill out an evaluation. We do not offer partial credits.

What are the requirements to earn the certificate without CE Credits?

You must complete all modules and exercises, attend at least 3 of the 6
group video consultations, answer test questions, and fill out an evaluation.

What is your accreditation?

Inner Science Institute is approved by the California Association of
Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) to sponsor Continuing Education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. Inner Science Institute maintains responsibility for all courses and their content. Our provider number is #147142. All clinicians and helping professionals outside of California are welcome to take our courses and receive a certificate of completion for any course or program.

 

What are the measurable learning objectives for this certificate program?

Based on the content of the certificate program, you will be able to:

  1. Explain the difference between presence and therapeutic presence.
  2. Identify three ways that therapeutic presence enhances the effectiveness of the clinical relationship and process.
  3. Recognize the most common obstacle to being fully present with
    clients.
  4. Integrate the three main principles of deep listening to hear nuanced communications within yourself, your clients, and in the therapeutic relationship.
  5. Identify the anatomy of effective support and challenge statements
    that contribute to providing optimal stress.
  6. Create and apply at least three support and challenge statements that serve to advance your work with patients.
  7. Identify three subtle therapeutic processes that you can focus on to
    get beneath conscious material and help facilitate change.
  8. Distinguish the difference between full immersion and multilevel listening in order to expand perception of the intersubjective process.
  9. Name three key ways to attend to the most subtle aspects of the
    interactive process and transform the dimensions of the immediate
    experience.
  10. Distinguish the difference between attuning to the right or left brain of the client in order to initiate interpersonal regulation.
  11. Describe three ways to gain permission from the client’s unconscious to engage memories, images, sensations, fears, excitements, longings, and unawakened potentials.
  12. Identify three main ways to bring to light that which lies just beneath the surface of our own and/or our clients awareness in order to transform unconscious relational dynamics.
  13. Transform at least one relational rupture or impasse into a sincere,
    heartfelt repair that supports compassionate connection.
  14. Explain the brain science behind emotional dysregulation (aka
    “flipped lid”).
  15. Describe and compare at least three modern strategies of the threat defense system with their primitive counterparts (i.e. Flight could mean actual physical flight to stay safe or the modern strategy of emotional withdrawal).
  16. Name at least two modern collective strategies of the threat defense system.
  17. Apply self-directed neuroplasticity in order to bring into the
    foreground at least one positive experience and amplify it.
  18. Define the three key components of mindfulness as it relates to our
    internal, external, and relational experiences.
  19. Name the three crucial parts of trauma-informed care.
  20. Identify at least three common nonverbal cues that indicate someone
    is outside their window of tolerance.
  21. Define power and privilege in the context of the therapeutic
    relationship.
  22. Transform at least one clinical conflict, misunderstanding, or rupture into an opportunity for relational healing.
  23. Define oppression and internalized oppression and listen for the
    impact they are having on you and/or your clients’ mental health.
  24. Name the three main vehicles of internalized oppression and how
    they might show up in your clients’ material.
  25. Identify three primary ways to refocus your therapeutic lens to
    include intergenerational wisdom while also acknowledging the
    complexities of more difficult intergenerational transmissions.

What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

  1. You need a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or smart
    device has the following:
    • The most recent version of one of the web browsers listed below
    • Javascript enabled
    • PDF plugin
    • Video and audio output capability
  2. Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps
    (recommended)

What browsers do you support?

We currently support the latest two versions of all browsers listed below,
unless otherwise noted.
Desktop:

  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge

Mobile:

  • iOS Safari
  • Chrome
  • Samsung Internet

Please note: We do not support Internet Explorer, Chromium, or Linux web browsers.

What’s the deadline for registration?

September 14, 2024

What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept? Can I make payments for this program?

Sliding Scale Payments Range from $479-799. 

Monthly Payments are available: $79-149/month for 6 months.

What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

If you prefer to send a personal check, we ask for full payment of the
program. As soon as the check clears, we will send you your login
information via email. Please email us at admin@innerscience.net for our mailing address and to provide us with your email.

Can I call and place my order over the phone?

Absolutely! We can help you complete an order over the phone during
our regular business hours.

 

Our Risk-Free Learning Guarantee

At times, a course may not align with your specific needs or preferred learning style. If the course or program you purchase fails to meet your expectations, we offer two options to ensure your satisfaction. 

Option 1: Course Replacement

Within 30 days of your purchase date, you can opt to replace the course with another of your choice. This option applies as long as the course has not been more than 25% completed and is of similar cost. We understand that different individuals have distinct preferences, and we are committed to finding the right fit for you.

Option 2: Full Refund

Alternatively, you have the opportunity to receive a full refund within 7 days of your purchase date minus an administrative fee. This option is available as long as the course has not been more than 25% completed. We value your trust and want to ensure your satisfaction with our offerings.

We stand behind our commitment to provide exceptional learning experiences and we strive to accommodate your unique needs. Contact us at admin@innerscience.net with “Refund Request” in the subject line to begin the process.

What is your policy on deferrals?

If you are unable to attend the program at the time of your registration or during the semester, we can defer your enrollment for one semester, which is generally 6 months later. Contact admin@innerscience.net to set this up. 

Still have more questions, or need support?

Contact Us.

Still Have Questions or Concerns?

Contact Us

Sign Up Now! Program Starts Soon!

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