Core Skills 1 & 2 immerse therapists in the foundational moves of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy—where we learn to see, name, and organize distress through the lens of attachment and negative interactional cycles. In this combined training, participants deepen their skill in shaping a coherent attachment-based case conceptualization, tracking the cycle in real time, and identifying the emotional blocks that fuel reactivity and disconnection. With demonstrations, structured practice, and in-the-moment supervision, therapists refine their ability to work effectively in Stage 1: stabilizing the relationship by accessing primary emotion, de-escalating negative cycles, and building the safety necessary for deeper work. This training equips clinicians with the clarity, structure, and confidence required to guide couples toward secure connection and prepare them for the transformative bonding processes of Stage 2.