Created for Connection® Couples Workshop
Friday + Saturday | November 13-14, 2026
♡
Deepen your bond. Repair ruptures. Rediscover each other.
About the Workshop
Every couple longs for closeness, safety, and connection, but life’s stresses, misunderstandings, and repeated patterns can leave us feeling distant from the one we love most.
The Created for Connection® Couples Workshop is a two-day experience based on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the most research-validated approach to strengthening and repairing relationships.
Through a mix of teaching, live role play demonstrations by the facilitators, and private guided conversations with your partner, you’ll learn to:
Recognize and stop negative cycles of conflict
Share your needs and longings with more clarity and safety
Rebuild trust and strengthen emotional intimacy
Cultivate tools for resilience and connection that last
This is not group therapy - you won’t be asked to share personal details publicly. Instead, you’ll be guided through private conversations with your partner in a supportive and structured setting.
We are offering two ways to pay upon registration
🤍 Pay in Full: You can pay the full workshop fee at registration.
🤍 Payment Plan: If you’d prefer to spread your payments out, you can begin with a $150 deposit.
After that, you’ll receive an invoice where you can make payments over time, in any amount that works for you. Your balance simply needs to be completely paid by Monday, November 9, 2026.
We hope this makes joining us feel accessible and doable.
Workshop Details
Dates: Friday, November 13, 2026 (9:00 AM–5:00 PM) & Saturday, November 14, 2026 (9:00 AM–5:00 PM) One hour lunch break each day.
Location: Greentree Community Church – 100 Kirkwood Pl, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Format: teaching, and private couple exercises
Cost: $649 early bird (by Oct 15, 2026) - $849 standard - Includes workbook and materials, light refreshments, supportive environment
Group Size: Limited to ensure meaningful engagement – early registration is recommended!
“It softened my heart and helped me understand my partner more. It allowed for grace.” - Past participant
“The ‘loop’ image is imprinted in my brain. I notice it now when we’re in it; and I know how to slow things down” - Past participant
What Therapists are Saying
“I wholeheartedly recommend the workshop to my clients. It’s an excellent way to jump-start couples work and a powerful resource even for individuals seeking deeper connection. Clients consistently report meaningful progress and a clearer map forward as a couple. Sarah and Sue are relatable, grounded, and deeply effective teachers.” — Lilian, Therapist
Who It's For
This workshop is for couples who:
- Feel stuck in patterns of disconnection or conflict
- Want to rebuild trust after hurts or distance
- Long to feel closer, safer, and more understood
- Simply want to invest in their relationship and deepen intimacy
- Couples considering marriage (pre-marital workshop)
- Are any age!
Gentle note: This is an educational workshop, not therapy.
What Couples Will Gain
- A clear map of negative patterns and how to shift them
- Skills to talk about raw spots, rocky moments, and injuries
- Deeper empathy and openness with your partner
- A more secure emotional bond
Testimonials From Past Participants
“This workshop is totally worth the time and effort. So good.”
“It brought us closer and gave us a better understanding of us.”
“We’ve been in a giant cycle for years. This helped us see it; and start choosing each other again.”
“I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the group time. It helped to see we weren’t alone in our struggles.”
“It’s never too early or too late to prioritize your relationship.”
Facilitators - Sarah & Sue
Sarah Howell is a Licensed Master Social Worker and ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist for Couples (EFCT) and Individuals (EFIT) in private practice, and is an active board member of the St. Louis EFT Community, where she serves as President Elect (Vice President) and previously served as the Chair of Marketing and Communications. She specializes in helping couples transform disconnection into secure, lasting bonds through the evidence-based framework of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
In her practice, Sarah also works with individuals navigating relational challenges, grief, anxiety, depression complex trauma, and life transitions, drawing on advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, and creative and expressive techniques. In Sarah's free time she volunteers with her husband Matt and their certified Duo® Touch Therapy dog, Penelope.
Known for her compassionate, attuned presence and use of metaphor and imagery, Sarah brings warmth, structure, and creativity to her work. She considers it a privilege to walk alongside couples as they risk vulnerability, repair ruptures, and rediscover closeness with each other to create the secure bond every relationship longs for.
Sue Verble is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist (EFCT) in private practice with more than a decade of experience walking alongside couples who long to feel closer and more secure in their relationship. She brings a calm, supportive presence to her work, helping partners move through negative cycles, heal from betrayal, and rediscover the bond that first brought them together.
Sue holds a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University and services as the President of the St. Louis EFT Community. Before becoming a counselor, she spent 20 years in sales, management, and recruiting, as well as time as a full-time homemaker raising her four children — experiences that give her a grounded, real-world perspective on love, family, and resilience.
In addition to her weekly therapy practice, Sue offers couples intensives and co-leads Hold Me Tight® and Created for Connection® workshops. She is passionate about helping couples not just repair, but also create lasting patterns of connection, safety, and joy.
FAQ
Do we have to share in front of the group?
No. All couple conversations are private. You’ll learn from live role-play demonstrations by the facilitators, short talks, and your own partner dialogue. There will be opportunities to debrief after conversations as a large group; however, there is no requirement to share.
Is this therapy?
No. It’s an educational workshop based on EFT principles. While therapeutic, it is not a substitute for therapy.
Do we need to be in crisis to attend?
Not at all. Many couples attend to strengthen their bond, learn new tools, or deepen their connection even when things are going well.
What if my partner is hesitant?
It’s normal to feel uncertain. We’ll provide a safe and structured environment that makes participation feel accessible and supportive.
This workshop is designed to help you and your partner step out of old patterns and into a deeper sense of security, trust, and closeness. Whether you’re seeking repair or simply wanting to invest in your relationship, this workshop offers a path forward.
We’d be honored to have you join us.
We would love to have you join us. This is a chance to invest in your relationship, slow down, and rediscover each other in a safe and supportive space.
Created for Connection® is a registered program developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and ICEEFT.