From Homework to Hypothesis: Reducing Shame and Blame in Couples Therapy

Course Overview
Therapists frequently offer tools, exercises, or between-session practices to support therapeutic progress. However, when these interventions are implicitly framed as tasks that must be completed successfully, clients may experience increased shame, self-criticism, or relational blame when they struggle to implement them. This one-hour course introduces an experimental framework for offering therapeutic tools, reframing interventions as opportunities for shared learning rather than performance-based assignments. Drawing from research on curiosity, compassion-focused therapy, and attachment-informed practice, participants will explore how framing interventions as experiments can reduce shame, increase client engagement, and prevent blame dynamics—particularly in couples therapy. Clinicians will learn practical language shifts and conceptual strategies for presenting tools in ways that encourage curiosity, openness, and collaborative exploration.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Identify ways in which traditional homework or tool-based interventions may inadvertently increase shame or blame in therapy.
• Describe how curiosity-based framing can enhance client engagement and openness to therapeutic interventions.
• Explain how presenting tools as experiments can reduce performance pressure and increase honest feedback from clients.
• Apply language that frames therapeutic tools as collaborative experiments rather than compliance-based assignments.
• Recognize how the experimental framework can interrupt negative relational dynamics in couples therapy.

About the Author/Presenter 
Michal Goldman, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in relational therapy and therapist development. Michal holds extensive training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and discernment counseling, and enjoys supporting couples through relational challenges. In addition to her clinical work, she is an adjunct professor for psychology and social work, and regularly writes and speaks on topics in therapy, ethical practice, and relational work. She is passionate about helping clinicians integrate attachment theory into everyday clinical practice and deepen their self-of-therapist awareness to enhance their work with individuals and couples. For more information, please visit michalgoldmanlcsw.org. 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Counselor, Psychology, Social Work

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us