

Connection, Change & Trust: PORT Introduction
Are you curious about Presence Oriented Relationship Therapy?
This is a 90 minute summary of PORT's 3 foundational models: Presence Bridge Model, Relational Brain Model, & 5 Step Therapy Progress Model.
Continuing Professional Development: Australian Counselling Association 5 Points
Description
Registrants: Access Course Here
School of Love: Professional Edition: access course Here
Australian Counselling Association CPD: 5 Points (Must be completed before December 9, 2025)
Among PORT’s innovations are the integration of the PORT Relational Brain Model that makes neuroscientific insights accessible for both clinicians and clients; The Presence Bridge Model which incorporates existential and mindfulness into the bridge concept; and the 5 Step Therapy Progress Model which informs intervention and manages client conflict. PORT’s challenge and achievement has been to integrate these diverse insights into an accessible, flexible and powerful approach that empowers clinicians while allowing them to incorporate their own unique insights and experience. Connection, Change and Trust is a brief introduction to Presence Oriented Relationship Therapy.
PORT is an intensely practical couples therapy modality that developed from the ground up out of the challenge of equipping a diverse team, including interns, with the most effective strategies from models as diverse as PACT, EFT, Imago, Gottman and the Developmental Model. What became clear is that each of these models offered significant strengths but often lacked essential features or flexibilities present in other models. In addition insights from other modalities including Narrative, ACT, NLP, Psychodrama, Gestalt, Relational Neurobiology were incorporated. PORT is an integrated eclectic approach developed over the last 8 years by the Relate NZ team. Initially developed in the context of the weekly team training sessions it was honed over the next 6 years of the intern programme to help distill the core insights of successful couples and relationship therapy to clinicians who had not been specifically trained to work with couples.
PORT is an intensely practical course that coalesce around the challenge of finding the successful common features of therapy models as diverse as PACT, EFT, Imago, Gottman and the Developmental Model. What became clear is that each of these models offered significant strengths but often lacked essential features or flexibilities present in other models. In addition insights from other modalities including Narrative, ACT, NLP, Psychodrama, Gestalt, Relational Neurobiology were incorporated.
Port's focus was simple and driven by the clear imperative of research that indicated that untrained therapists working with couples were highly unsuccessful and the therapy process itself was highly stressful for the couple and the therapist.
The challenge of course is that everyone needs to start somewhere and our focus was to support our interns to be successful as soon as possible.
While Steven Dromgool was cross-training in Imago, Gottman and EFT he noticed a recurring pattern underlying their seemingly different methods. Steven adapted the Relational bridge model for interns to use and tested this among the team. The developmental brain model was the next innovation that made relational neuroscience accessible to clinicians and clients and therapy progress model among other innovations.
The feedback from PORT trained therapists is that they quickly felt confident to hold a relational space for the couple that felt safe for deep intimate connecting work and that they had strategies to help them contain and manage conflict. Additionally clinicians could maintain and develop their own unique authentic style and presence and incorporate other training and experience more seamlessly and effectively.
The Connection, Change and Trust offering is designed to provide a resource and reference point for clinicians who want to learn the basics about PORT.
We have included two bonus training sessions that therapists have loved to help give you the flavor of PORT: 5 Challenges Couples Face After an Affair Couples: Introduction to Working with Affairs, Betrayal and Infidelity and How to Break the Pursuer/Avoider Cycle.
In this self paced program, you will learn the origin of PORT and its 3 models: Relational Brain Model, Presence Bridge Model and 5 Step Therapy Progress Model. You will also get access to an introduction to working with betrayal and how to approach the pursuer / avoider dynamic in relationships.
Objectives:
Describe how the Relational Brain Model helps the therapist know how to intervene with relationships
Describe how the Presence Bridge Model explains the communication process in relationships
Describe how the 5 Step Therapy Progress Model decreases client drop-out and recidivism rates
Advanced Training in Couples and Relationship Therapy
Specializing in Infidelity, Communication, and Emotional Conflict Resolution for Relationship Therapists
Professional Training LibraryThe PORT Institute is designed for therapists seeking specialized, advanced training in couples therapy. PORT offers a unique approach focused on emotional presence, helping therapists address complex issues like infidelity, communication breakdowns, and emotional conflict.
With PORT, you’ll gain practical tools for engaging both partners, fostering emotional regulation, and rebuilding trust within relationships.
Whether you're an experienced therapist looking for professional development or exploring specialization in couples therapy, PORT provides progressive strategies to expand your skill set and deliver effective results.

Introduction to Presence Oriented Relationship Therapy
Created as a training model, PORT is a solution focused relationship therapy. PORT identifies specific relationship targets for a couple which were developed based upon the key insights over the last 40 years. These insights are based on research and practice of John and Julie Gottman, Imago Relationship Therapy, Emotionally Focussed Therapy, PACT, Heart and the Developmental Model. PORT recognizes that couples are in each other’s care and utilizing this relationship allows for powerful validation, motivation, support and effectiveness.
Key Features
Among PORT’s innovations are the integration of the PORT Relational Brain Model that makes neuroscientific insights accessible for both clinicians and clients; The Presence Bridge Model which incorporates existential and mindfulness into the bridge concept; and the 5 Step Therapy Progress Model which informs intervention and manages client conflict.
Relational Brain Model
PORT’s Relational Brain model helps therapists target their interventions using neuroscientific insights. PORT is centered on teaching couples to co-develop connection skills with language that aligns with lived experience and avoids neuroscientific jargon. This allows for therapists to intervene rapidly with couples for emotional regulation and minimizing conflict through the course of therapy. It aligns developmental stages with needs and validation strategies; varying proxemic, haptic, kinesic and verbal empathy strategies; and how to triage seemingly paradoxical developmental attachment needs in the moment.
Presence Bridge Model
The Presence Bridge Model helps tracking couples moment to moment within the the session; and the 5 Step Therapy Progress Model which helps therapist track progress over the course of therapy and plan interventions appropriately
The goal of all couples therapy is increased connection. PORT is based on the idea that increasing presence allows the greatest possibilities for connection. PORT’s Presence Bridge Model provides a progressive developmental and tracking pathway to support presence. It helps therapists guide their couples into a mindful flow state incorporating empathy, validation, responsiveness and appreciation.
Additionally the Presence Bridge Model enables clinicians to integrate a wide variety of interventions from a range of other couple and individual therapy models.
A key benefit of combining the Presence Bridge Model with the Relational Brain model is that it equips the therapist to attune quickly to the neural configuration of the couple, identify neurodevelopmental challenges in the moment, and apply developmentally appropriate interventions. This significantly increases the range of clients who can be treated effectively and speedily through couples therapy.
5 Step Therapy Progress Model
A key challenge in any therapy work is progress tracking. The 5 Step Therapy Progress Model was developed by the Relate team to help guide and track progress through the affair recovery progress. The model helps therapists know where they are going and to hone their interventions appropriately to the stage the couple is at and the challenges of that stage. It also helps identify when couples are progressing or regressing. Additionally the model helps manage the couples expectations and let them know how they are doing in the journey.
Comparison to other Models
PORT is an intensely practical couples therapy modality that developed from the ground up out of the challenge of equipping a diverse team, including interns, with the most effective strategies from models as diverse as PACT, EFT, Imago, Gottman and the Developmental Model. What became clear is that each of these models offered significant strengths but often lacked essential features or flexibilities present in other models. In addition insights from other modalities including Narrative, ACT, NLP, Psychodrama, Gestalt, Relational Neurobiology were incorporated. PORT’s challenge and achievement has been to integrate these diverse insights into an accessible, flexible and powerful approach that empowers clinicians while allowing them to incorporate their own unique insights and experience.

April 9 - May 28 11 AM-1:30 PM NZST
April 8 - May 27 7 PM - 9:30 PM EST (USA)
Integrated Couples Therapy: Presence Oriented Relationship Therapy (PORT) Level 1
Presence Oriented Relationship Therapy is an integrated approach to couples therapy designed specifically to for therapists starting to work with couples for the first time and more experienced therapists looking to integrate other models.
This gives therapists lifetime access to the PORT Level 1 Training and includes the cost for examination for PORT Level 1.
This training is PORT Level 1 and is focused upon the history of couples therapy and the 3 foundational theories of PORT: the Relational Brain Model, the Presence Bridge Model, and the 5 Step Therapy Progress Model.
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PORT is an integrated eclectic approach developed over the last 8 years by the Relate NZ team. Initially developed in the context of the weekly team training sessions it was honed over the next 6 years of the intern programme to help distill the core insights of successful couples and relationship therapy to clinicians who had not been specifically trained to work with couples.
PORT is an intensely practical course that coalesce around the challenge of finding the successful common features of therapy models as diverse as PACT, EFT, Imago, Gottman and the Developmental Model. What became clear is that each of these models offered significant strengths but often lacked essential features or flexibilities present in other model. In addition insights from other modalities including Narrative, ACT, NLP, Psychodrama, Gestalt, Relational Neurobiology were incorporated.
Port's focus was simple and driven by the clear imperative of research that indicated that untrained therapist's working with couples were highly unsucessful and the therapy process itself was highly stressful for the couple and the therapist.
The challenge of course is that everyone needs to start somewhere and our focus was to support our interns to be successful as soon as possible.
While Steven was cross-training in Imago, Gottman and EFT he noticed a recurring pattern underlying their seemingly different methods. Steven adapted the Relational bridge model for interns to use and tested this among the team. The developmental brain model was the next innovation that made relational neuroscience accessible to clinicians and clients and therapy progress model among other innovations.
The feedback from PORT trained therapists is that they quickly felt confident to hold a relational space for the couple that felt safe for deep intimate connecting work and that they had strategies to help them contain and manage conflict. Additionally clinicians could maintain and develop their own unique authentic style and presence and incorporate other training and experience more seamlessly and effectively.
The online offering is designed to provide a resource and reference point for clinicians that can be assimilated at the therapists own pace and is designed to prepare therapists for PORT Level 2 which is 4 live sessions of group skills training with Steven which will give you provide opportunities for interaction and implementation.
You are suggested to subscribe to the Professional Edition of the School of Love to access psychoeducation materials which will make PORT easier to understand (specifically the 5 Secrets of Relationship Champions).
Where: Zoom
When: April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, & 28 at 11 AM - 1:30 NZST.
Continuing Education Details
Continuing Professional Education through the Australian Counselling Association: Approved for 10 OPD points.
Our CEs are hosted through EngagedMinds Continuing Education. EngagedMinds is a NY-S, NBCC, and ASWB approved provider.
Read our continuing education guide here.
Curriculum and Learning Objectives:
Integrated Couples Therapy Curriculum
Module 1: Introduction to Integrated Couples Therapy
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Identify the 5 key principles of couples therapy
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Explain the research that underpins couples therapy practice
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Synthesize the Pursuer/Avoider Dynamic with Attachment Research
Module 2: What Breaks Relationships - The Pursuer/Avoider Dynamic
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Identify how a couple’s behavior indicates their phase of the cycle of relationship
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Describe the Pursuer/Avoider Dynamic and how it impacts a relationship
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Employ interventions to engage both the pursuer and the avoider in therapy
Module 3: The Presence Bridge Model
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Apply the Presence Bridge Model to a couples’ ability to connect with each other
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Utilize scaffolding techniques to help couples improve their connection
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Initiate interventions to help a couple deepen a dialogue to identify needs,
values, and longings
Module 4: The Relational Brain
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Describe the Relational Brain Model
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Assess the couple’s brain state in real time
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Facilitate the couple’s behavior to engage effectively in different brain states and ultimately move into flow
Module 5: The 5 Step Therapy Progress Model
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Describe the 5 Step Therapy Progress Model
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Identify the goals and interventions of each stage
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Devise formulations for a couple’s presenting concern
Module 6: Assessments and Formulations
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Structure a couple’s therapy assessment
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Administer strategies to create alliance and ultimately improve therapy outcomes
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Identify how to utilize formulations as part of an assessment
Module 7: Dealing With Betrayal
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Demonstrate the multi-level impacts of betrayal
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Apply target interventions to address betrayal in real time
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Distinguish appropriate interventions for addressing shame and personal
reactivity
Module 8: Interventions
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Formulate interventions to strengthen the couple’s alliance and connection
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Appraise the couples readiness for interventions based upon relationship
history, brain state and present interactions
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Prioritize interventions based upon the couple’s goals and progress

April 2, 2025 11 AM - 1 PM NZST
Comparing Popular Couples Counselling Models - Practitioners view - April 2
Description
nlock the Secrets Behind Leading Couples Therapy Models
Curious about what actually works in couples therapy? Join us for a free 1-hour webinar exploring the most influential models used by relationship therapists today. We’ll compare seven proven approaches—Gottman, EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), Imago, the Developmental Model, HEART, PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy), and PORT (Presence-Oriented Relationship Therapy)—to help you understand how each one approaches love, conflict, intimacy, and growth.
Whether you're a couple considering therapy, a coach or counselor wanting more insight, or just relationship-curious, this webinar will give you a clear overview of each method’s strengths, style, and what kind of couple each model works best for.
Walk away with a better understanding of how to choose the right fit for your relationship—or your clients.

August 13 - November 26 11 AM-1:30 PM NZST (Fortnightly)
Registrants will get immediate access to 2024 edition of this course and then the live training on August 13th.
Working with Intimate Partner Betrayal, Affairs, and Broken Trust using PORT
Description
Intimate Partner Betrayal is one of the most common reasons couples present for therapy. Couples present in high distress, and therapy has the potential to be chaotic and overwhelming for both the clients and therapists. Research indicates that fewer than 5% of couples therapists are specifically trained in working with betrayal. Working with betrayal will prepare you with an understanding of the current research around betrayal and an implementable approach to guide your couple through the process. The training will include demos, resources and handouts and access to a peer support group. Spaced over 8 weeks this interactive training will help you integrate research and best practice guidelines into your thinking and practice. If you have never worked with betrayal this training will give you a solid place to start including a peer group to rely on. If you are an experienced practitioner this practice will help you reflect, review and update your practice.
8 - 2 hour sessions, 4 hours of demo videos, 'Mapping the Why' betrayal disclosure activities and additional Q&A.
Sessions:
- Understanding the Research around Betrayal
- Betrayal Shock
- Creating a Safety Plan
- Creating a Working Alliance
- Co-Regulation and Self-Care
- Working with the Betrayer
- Disclosures and Impact Statements
- The 5 Stages of Working with Betrayal
What PORT Users are Saying
Focus on Emotional Presence
PORT Level 1 was great information but PORT 2 is a must if you really want to understand and get to practise (in the Zoom break out rooms) the "how" of PORT. It's more intimate and I greatly enjoyed getting to know the other participants in the course. Well worth the investment of time and finances.
Understand and Practise
I've recently completed the Port Level 1 and 2 courses with Steven, Dan, and the Relate team, and it has been an incredible experience. Not only did I gain valuable knowledge, but I also had the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share the same passion for helping couples transition from conflict to deeper intimacy. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone interested in expanding their expertise in this field. The wealth of knowledge offered is truly extraordinary.
Working with Intimate Partner Betrayal
The progression from elementary principles and issues to methodology and 'chaos' factors that present in this issue combine to make a very practical mix of clinical application, working framework and neurobiology. A lovely balance between assertive yet compassionate, directive yet enabling, rational yet caring. A rare mix indeed. This perhaps is one of the best webinars I have ever attended. The one disappointment; I wish I could have sat in a live environment and just talked over coffee with these guys!
Blog posts
Understanding the Relational Brain Model: How Neuroscience Can Transform Couples Therapy
Therapeutic approaches are constantly evolving, and nowhere is this more evident than in the growing emphasis on the neuroscience behind relationships. Research in the fields of neurobiology, attac...
Presence Is the Core of Effective Couples Therapy
IntroductionIf you’ve been exploring ways to deepen your effectiveness as a couples therapist—or simply enhance your practice—you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll dive into one of the most pivota...
PORT: An Integrated Approach to Couples Therapy
The Origin of PORT I’m beyond thrilled to finally share a project that has been years in the making—and deeply personal for me. When my own marriage was on shaky ground, we sought help from a thera...