This 2-hour continuing education training introduces therapists to the Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (MCD) Therapy framework of Needs-Based Negotiation, a relational process that helps partners move towards collaboration and care.

Through lecture, discussion, and experiential exercises, participants will learn the underlying structure and flow of needs-based negotiation and gain personal and professional insight into what supports couples in moving from defensive postures to mutual understanding.

The training explores six sequential skills that therapists can recognize, model, and facilitate within a counseling session to promote dialogue grounded in connection rather than opposition. Participants will examine how establishing intention, reassurance, and emotional safety prepares partners for successful communication; how brief mindful expression fosters attunement; and how collaborative brainstorming and needs-based negotiated agreements support relational resilience.

Therapists will leave with a conceptual map and client-friendly materials that clarify how shared needs awareness supports trust, co-regulation, and enduring connection.

After completing this 2-hour live, online training, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the purpose of needs-based negotiation as a therapeutic process distinct from persuasion, compromise, or debate.

2. Describe how establishing shared caring and honoring each partner’s needs contributes to relaxation of the attachment system and supports needs-based negotiation.

3. Cite three ways to prepare clients for successful dialogue: stating intention, offering reassurance, and planning for safety.

4. Demonstrate awareness of how the skill of paced expression, stating observations, thoughts, feelings, and needs succinctly, supports regulation and attunement during dialogue

5. Demonstrate awareness of creative brainstorming processes that promote collaborative strategy generation in couples.

6. Describe the benefit of transforming ideas into specific, doable agreements that increase trust of follow-through.

7. Explain how integrating earlier MCD relationship competencies: Appreciation, Empathy, Honest Expression, Recognizing Reactivity, and Managing Reactivity - enhances clients’ capacity for effective needs-based negotiation.

Jennifer “Ava” Frank, MS, LPC, Certified Hakomi Therapist

Ava is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Hakomi Therapist, and founder of Mindful Compassionate Dialogue Therapy, an integrative approach to relational healing grounded in mindfulness, somatic awareness, and compassionate communication. Based in Portland, Oregon, Ava earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2014 and has been licensed since 2017.

With two decades of study in Nonviolent Communication and over a decade of practice in Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy.

Known for her clarity, warmth, and depth of presence, Ava meets students in present-moment experience and models the consciousness at the heart of MCD Therapy as she teaches. Through Wise Heart PDX, she also offers MCD education courses directly to couples, supporting a culture of mindful and life-serving connection in relationships and communities.

MCD Therapy LLC welcomes participants of all abilities and is committed to making our programs accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If you need any accommodations to support your participation, please email ava@mcdtherapy.com. You’re encouraged to reach out at least two weeks before the program begins so we can best plan for your needs.

Each request will be reviewed promptly, and together we’ll explore reasonable ways to make sure you can fully engage in the training experience.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:  To meet needs for inclusion, security, and predictability, refunds are only given if requested 7 days before the start of a course. If you need to cancel your registration, please email ava@mcdtherapy.com.

MCD Therapy LLC reserves the right to cancel live trainings 10 days prior to the first day of the scheduled training if it does not meet its minimum attendance requirement. A full refund will be provided should this occur.

MCD Therapy LLC  also reserves the right to cancel and reschedule any live training session if something occurs that is beyond our ability to control. This includes, but is not limited to, severe weather, national disaster, pandemic, sudden illness, or family emergency for the scheduled trainer.

If MCD Therapy LLC, needs to cancel a scheduled training, participants will receive 100% of their registration fee in the form of a credit toward future training or will receive a full refund to their method of payment.

Program Complaints and Dispute Resolution: Participants may submit a complaint or concern about any MCD Therapy program by emailing ava@mcdtherapy.com. Ava Frank, LPC will acknowledge receipt within 5 working business days, review the concern, and provide a written response within 30 days.  All complaints are reviewed to determine appropriate corrective action, and records of each complaint are maintained for audit purposes.

Confidentiality of Participant Information: MCD Therapy LLC will make every reasonable effort to assure privacy. We will never sell your information.  We will not share your personal information except as necessary to comply with the reporting requirements of the various accrediting organizations that enable us to provide CE credit or if required to do so by governmental or law enforcement agencies. We do not retain or store any credit card payment information on our server.  All records are retained securely for a minimum of five (5) years.

If a participant’s image, voice, or name will appear in a recorded program, written consent will be obtained prior to use.

Participant Evaluation Policy: Each participant receives an evaluation form at the conclusion of every continuing education program. The evaluation gathers feedback on content relevance, presenter knowledge, materials quality, accessibility, and overall satisfaction. MCD Therapy LLC reviews all evaluations within 30 days to identify improvements for future programs. Evaluation summaries are retained for five (5) years in accordance with NBCC record-keeping requirements.

Proprietary Information: The PowerPoint presentations and videos are considered proprietary information and may not be reproduced or cited by MCDT students or alumni.  Please do not share your login information with anyone. 

All materials in the course workbook are © MCD Therapy LLC and are designed for professional continuing education purposes. Therapists may reproduce the designated client-handout pages for psychoeducation or clinical use, provided proper attribution is given to MCD Therapy. The workbook and its exercises may not be altered, sold, or distributed outside of authorized trainings or beyond individual client use.

Provider Contact Information: 1008 SE 112th Ave, Portland OR 97216. ava@mcdtherapy.com