This special Relational-Cultural Therapy Training is offered during the 50th anniversary year of Toward a New Psychology of Women by Jean Baker Miller. Her text disrupted dominant psychological models by refusing the idea that independence is the measure of health.

Relational-Cultural Theory began by challenging inequities, unfair pathologization, and chronic disconnection reflected in traditional psychology. Then RCT moved to fill the gaps with the theory that we grow through and toward connection.

Fifty years later, that challenge is still alive.

In a culture that continues to reward disconnection and individual achievement, RCT offers a different orientation—one that centers mutuality, cultural context, and the possibility of growth within relationship.

This training is part of our efforts to celebrate RCT and support ongoing work towards growth-fostering connections.

This training is a space to slow down and notice what happens in growth-fostering connection.

Together, we’ll explore:

• how people move toward and away from connection
• what disconnection protects
• how power and culture shape possibilities in relationship
• what it looks like to repair instead of withdraw
• how we can shift our understanding of boundaries to something mutual

You’ll leave with language, examples, and ways of working that you can bring directly into your clinical relationships.

Relational-Cultural Theory invites a different lens for therapy.

Instead of asking what is wrong within a person, we ask what has happened in relationship, how that has impacted this person, and what possibilities remain for improved connection.

In this training, we’ll move between ideas and practice, looking at clinical moments together.
We’ll stay close to what actually happens between people in the therapy room.

The goal is not just to understand RCT, but to begin using it.

Foundations of RCT: How connection, mutuality, and growth-fostering relationships shape clinical work, as well as a brief history of Relational-Cultural Theory.

The Central Relational Paradox: Why people long for connection and protect themselves from it at the same time, and how we can help without increasing fear and shame.

Disconnection and Repair: How shame, relational images, and conflict show up and offer an opportunity for growth and repair. We'll identify some concrete steps to take when initiating reconnection.

Power, Boundaries, and Ethics: Staying relational while working with power implied in a therapeutic relationship. We'll explore a new way of looking at boundaries.

This relational-cultural therapy training offers a way to practice therapy that stays rooted in connection, context, and mutuality. It’s a space to learn, reflect, and begin integrating RCT into your work in ways that feel real, sustainable, and responsive to the people you sit with.

Foundation of Relational-Cultural Therapy Training has been approved for 4.0 Indiana Continuing Education Hours by the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers – which includes 1 Ethics CEH.