Relationship Fitness: Rewiring Reactivity, Cultivating Connection

Old habits die hard, especially in intimate relationships. Under stress or conflict, couples often slip back into automatic reactions that can undo therapeutic progress in seconds. While insight is important, lasting change requires more—practicing of skills that rewire the brain to support self-regulation, self-soothing, and flexible, constructive responses in moments of tension.

By popular demand, master therapist Dr. Brent Atkinson returns to UCI to share the next phase of his innovative approach to couples therapy. In his last visit, he demonstrated how to free partners from being cast as “the villain.” This time, he will present advanced strategies for rewiring reactivity and fostering better responsiveness between partners.

Designed to be highly practical, this workshop features clear demonstrations, practice protocols and tools you can use immediately in your work with couples. No prior training with Dr. Atkinson is required! Through compelling new video examples, you’ll see how he integrates session breaks, individual consultations, and guided dialogues to help partners set personalized self-change goals and design daily practices that retrain the nervous system for connection and resilience.

With his unique clarity and persuasive skill, Dr. Atkinson shows how therapists can shift entrenched dynamics, reduce defensiveness, and inspire genuine responsiveness.

Join us for a stimulating, hands-on training that will deepen your clinical effectiveness and expand your repertoire of interventions—no matter your theoretical orientation. Full description and Learning Objectives are at anatomyofintimacy.com

The Foundation for the Contemporary Family is underwriting this event so that we can offer this high-caliber training at a lower cost—and includes a buffet lunch. Plus, we are able to give out more scholarships than ever before.

Also check out other Workshops in Irvine.