Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) Advanced Core Skills
2026-2027

ICEEFT-certified trainer: James L. Hawkins II, PhD
 

Host: The Mental Health Co-Op in support of Alaska EFT
 

Dates: December 10-12, 2026 (Core Skills 1 & 2) and Feb 18 - 20, 2027 (Core Skills 3 & 4)
 

Times: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm daily
 

Location: UAA, Anchorage, AK
 

CE Credits: 48 total for all modules.
NBCC credits through The Mental Health Co-Op

The Mental Health Co-Op has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7982. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Mental Health Co-Op is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
 

Registration: open August 30, 2026 through December 9, 2026.

***THIS EVENT HAS A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS PER ICEEFT POLICY***
 

Target Audience: This course meets continuing education requirements for the board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counselors, Psychologists and Psychological Associates in the State of Alaska. It is your responsibility to ensure that your licensure board accepts this training toward your specific licensure requirements in your state. We encourage you to verify eligibility and continuing education approval directly with your board prior to registering.
 

This course is open to the mental health professions listed above. If you are not in one of those categories, please reach out to us at training@tmhc-ak.com to inquire about attending the training. 
 

Life coaches are not permitted to attend unless they also meet one of the mental health professional categories listed above.
 

Investment: $1,400 to $1,950 for all four modules (both weekends). See below for payment options, discounts, and payment plans. 

To request a payment plan, please reach out at training@tmhc-ak.com. 
Early Bird: $1,775
General Registration: $1,950.00
Student: $1,650
Diversity Scholarship Rate: $1,400. Three available. Provided through Alaska EFT. See below for more information.
 

Registration: open through December 9, 2026.  

Refund policy: A $125 administrative fee will be charged for all refunds. Refunds for course fees (minus the $125 administrative fee) will be issued for requests made up to 60 days prior to the start date of the first date of the course (October 11, 2026). Cancellation requests made up to 45 days prior to the start date of the course (October 26, 2026) will be offered a 50% refund (minus a $125.00 administrative fee). Due to the high overhead costs of bringing trainers to Alaska, no refunds will be offered within 44 days from the start date of the course. If you registered for the training and were not eligible to take the training per the Target Audience section, or were not approved to attend, you will be charged the administrative fee for a refund.

Payment Plans: Payments can be divided into two payments depending on your date of purchase. All payments must be completed by December 1, 2026. Last date of payment plan registration is October 20, 2026. Second payment invoice will be sent approximately one week before the last date of payment.
 

Scholarships: There are three diversity scholarships available on a first come, first serve basis provided through Alaska EFT that will reduce the full price ticket cost to the participant to $1,400 from the General Registration cost. Please see the Alaska EFT website for more info and application. 
Alaska EFT Scholarship Information
 

Student Discount: Student discounts are available and intended for participants who are currently enrolled as students in their second year of a graduate level program studying Psychotherapy, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Psychology or equivalent, that include supervised internship (licensure track degrees) and not yet practicing in the field as professionals.

Terms:

• Already purchased courses are ineligible. 

• Must be a current second year graduate level student as outlined above.

• The student discount is $300 off of one Full Price ticket, for a total cost of $1,650 for the entire course (both weekends).

• Please allow for up to 2 weeks after submission to receive a response.

• Payment plans will be in accordance with the Payment Plans policy above.

Student discount application: 
​https://forms.gle/xeNAxNc6XyqM7UrR

Accessibility: To request reasonable accommodations for this event, please contact Theresa Hudgins, training@tmhc-ak.com. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs. Requests must be submitted by November 24, 2026.
 

Non-discrimination: we do not discriminate against any individual or group with respect to any service, program, or activity on the basis of gender, race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by law.
 

Program Complaints: if a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about a continuing education program provided, the individual may call 907-531-0585 or email training@tmhc-ak.com. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, we will consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions, and respond within 45 days.
 

Prerequisites & Sequence: Fundamentals of EFT is recommended, but not required. Completion of Externship in EFT is required to register for this course.
 

Required reading: The Practice of Emotionally Focused Therapy: Creating Connection, 3rd edition, 2020, by Susan M. Johnson. Available at: Routledge and Amazon
 

Overview

Core Skills Training requires that participants have completed a 4-day Externship. Core Skills Training will be led by a Certified EFT Trainer and comprise of two 3-day events and is limited to 12 participants or up to 16 if there is a second Trainer or Certified EFT Supervisor leading the group. In the overall context of the EFT Tango, each session is dedicated to specific steps of the model and the therapeutic tasks and interventions characteristic of those steps. The training includes a minimum of 48 hours of in-depth instruction, practice, and feedback, culminating in a crucial step towards EFT certification.
 

Objectives for the Core Skills

• Deepen your understanding of the EFT model and its application in couple’s therapy.

• Develop EFCT skills through a combination of instructional review, skill demonstrations, and live session observations.

• Engage in hands-on practice of EFT techniques and exercises.

• Receive individual feedback on your EFCT skills development via case presentations.

• Delve deeper into the EFT tango, understanding its application within different stages of therapy.

• Apply the EFT model through role-plays and discussions, aiming towards certification.

About the Trainer
Dr. James Hawkins, ‘Doc Hawk’, is a Licensed Counsellor with 11 years of experience and an ICEEFT certified trainer, supervisor, and therapist. He obtained a Master’s in Marriage and Family Counselling and a Ph.D. in Psychology and Counseling. He currently serves as a Clinical Coordinator at a non-profit counseling practice in Northwest Arkansas. James is the founder of Healing Conversations, a training program developed to equip organizations and communities to have productive conversations about race. He is the co-host of two podcasts, The Leading Edge in Emotionally Focused Therapy, and The Leading Edge: Transforming Leadership Through Attachment Science. James is a part of the online training program, successinvulnerability.com, developed to help EFT therapists and supervisors gain more focus in their clinical work. Doc Hawk brings a passion for helping individuals, couples, families, and communities in relational distress. James is married to his wife, Nicola and together they have five daughters.