A discussion about how to help couples who are experiencing pandemic-related stress

Interview-style, with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

  • Course Description

    Now is a time of extraordinary stress, and couples are under extreme pressure: Limited social contact with others, severe financial losses, significant career setbacks, concerns about the health of loved ones, lack of exercise and stress-relief activities, supporting distance learning for their children while working from home… the list goes on and on. From this interview, listeners will gain insight about the impact of stress on romantic relationships, and garner some tools they can use in session to help couples navigate difficult relationships situations. Case vignettes are discussed, as well as method-based couple therapy interventions.

  • Learning Objectives

    Upon completing this course, participants will be able to: List two or more reasons why relationships suffer when there is more stress; Describe two or more ways to help couples improve their communication and perspective during difficult times


    Target Audience and Instructional Level
    This course is intended for psychologists, therapists, social workers, clinical counselors, and addiction counselors. Instructional level: Introductory

  • How To Take This Course

    In order to receive a certificate of completion reflecting the associated CE credit hour, you must:
    #1: Have an active paid Clearly Clinical membership
    #2: Listen to the corresponding course podcast
    #3: Achieve a passing grade on the post-presentation test (the test has up to ten questions and you must earn a score of at least 80%; you are able to re-test)
    #4: Complete the requested course evaluation.

    Course elements (including the course audio, post-test, and requested course evaluation) can be completed on a computer or mobile device via your Clearly Clinical account.

  • Course Format

    This high-quality and interesting course contains a one-hour, non-interactive audio podcast presentation which is available for free via all major public podcast providers. You can also listen to and download the file via our course player.

  • Commercial Support

    There is no known commercial support or conflict of interest for this CE program, content, sponsor, or instructor. Shane Birkel runs a free Facebook group called The Couples Therapist Couch

  • Certificate Access Details

    Once you've completed the course, your certificate will automatically populate in the 'Certificate' section of your account; it will also be emailed to you. Access to completion certificate will expire 365 days after issuance. Course certificates will be on file for ten (10) years from date of course completion.

  • Accommodations

    If you have special needs or need an accommodation, please email us at info@clearlyclinical.com and we will do our best to assist you.

Expert Interviewees and Interviewer

Shane Birkel, LMFT #167

Expert Couple Therapist

Shane Birkel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice near Boston. He works primarily with couples and is a certified Relational Life Therapist with Terry Real as his mentor. Shane hosts a weekly podcast called the Couples Therapist Couch that is all about the practice of Couples Therapy. On the podcast he talks to experts in the field relationships and therapy. Shane also provides education, training, and supervision for therapists wanting to build their confidence in working with couples.

Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias, MS, LMFT

Interviewer & Clearly Clinical Founder

Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias (she/her) is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and the Founder and President of Clearly Clinical. She has specializations in Clinical Documentation, Best Practice, and Utilization Review, and works closely with clinical teams across the US as a trainer and national conference presenter; Beth was formerly an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University in the Graduate Psychology and Education department. Licensed in California and Oregon, she provides therapy via her private practice to young adult and adult clients, members of the LGBTQ population, and those with addictive disorders. She has two young children, a super cool spouse who helps out with Clearly Clinical's tech, and a rescue dog.

See why we're the country's premier CE provider

  • CONVENIENT: All courses are 1-hour podcast episodes, available on all public podcast platforms

  • AFFORDABLE: We offer quality CE courses through a reasonably-priced membership

  • SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE: We donate to The Trevor Project for LGBTQIA+ youth suicide prevention

  • WOMEN-OWNED: We are founded and run by Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

  • DIVERSE: We highlight expert presenters from historically-marginalized communities

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