Beyond Communication: Helping Couples Explore and Deepen Their Intimate Bonds

Date and Time:

Friday, March 21st, 2025: 9:00 AM-2:30 PM

LOCATION:

1700 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Suite 302

Workshop Description:

Traditional couples therapy models, such as Gottman and EFT, provide a strong foundation for improving communication in relationships. While communication is essential, true relational fulfillment also requires deep emotional and physical intimacy.

This training expands upon traditional approaches by integrating an intimacy-focused model, equipping therapists with skills to enhance connection, address intimacy challenges, and explore diverse relationship dynamics. Participants will learn how to balance communication strategies with methods that deepen intimacy, helping couples cultivate more fulfilling and resilient relationships. By blending foundational techniques with innovative, research-backed approaches, this course offers a comprehensive framework for strengthening both communication and intimacy in couples therapy.

Course Objectives:

• Understand Communication models to support couples dynamics

• Understand why intimacy and connection matter in couple’s therapy.

• Review the limitations of traditional models like Gottman, EFT, etc.

• Introduce the new perspectives on intimacy-based models.

Audience:

• Professional Counselors

• Social Workers

• Marriage and Family Therapists

• Psychologists 

Presenters:

Ewelina Beardmore LCPC, CST, SEP

Ewelina Beardmore is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and Somatic Experiencing Professional (SEP) who uses a relational, somatic and strength-based model to help individuals and couples gain awareness of the roles and the dynamics present in their relationships. She has expertise in helping individuals heal from traumas such as sexual assault, childhood abuse as well as physical and emotional abuse, and is passionate about helping individuals overcome the challenges of significant life transitions such as infertility, postpartum struggles and parenthood. Ewelina values the role and importance of sexuality in clients' overall health, and helps clients overcome challenges such as lack of intimacy, sexual and gender identity, desire discrepancy, postpartum recovery impacting sexual health, difficulties with orgasm, compulsive sexual behaviors, erectile dysfunctions and painful intercourse. She is sex-positive, kink-friendly and affirming of polyamorous relationships. Ewelina is a Certified Sex Therapist through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapist (AASECT). In addition, Ewelina has completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which allows her to assist couples improve their communication styles and explore goals throughout each stage of their relationship. She is also trained in a variety of treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients manage anxiety and depression. Ewelina's international background allows her to connect with individuals struggling with cross-cultural issues and assist in developing coping skills to manage life's obstacles. Additionally, she has offered guidance to clients on issues involving work-life balance and behavioral and emotional health in an employee assistance setting. Ewelina earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, graduating with honors. She is fluent in French and offers services in this language.

Stephen Heintz MA, LCPC

Stephen’s clinical emphasis is in working with relationships and couples, as well as individuals. He has worked with clients experiencing challenges related to depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, self-esteem, grief and loss, life transitions, communication, and much more. Having graduated from the training program at Center on Halsted, Stephen has experience and specialized training in working with the LGBTQIA+ community. He is also sex-positive, kink-friendly, and affirming of polyamorous relationships. He has training in multiple therapeutic modalities, including client-centered therapy, Gottman, EFT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Stephen Heintz earned a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a concentration in marriage and family therapy. He was the recipient of a Distinguished Graduate Award that served to acknowledge his excellence in leadership; commitment to diversity, multicultural competence, social advocacy; and service and community engagement.

Continuing Education Hours:

This program is recognized as providing 5.0 CE Hours for:

• LPC/LCPC (IDFPR license # 197.000360)

• LSW/LCSW (IDFPR license # 159.001584)

• Licensed Psychologist (IDFPR license # 268.000146)