Transform your relationships
Five Secrets Deep Practice Groups
See below for currently enrolling groups.
Our 5 Secrets groups are designed for the general public. Clinicians are also welcome.
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Brandon's COUPLES and INDIVIDUALS Deep Practice Groups:
WHAT: Six 90-minute sessions to bring your relationships skills to the next level for deepening intimacy, resolving conflict and increasing ease in relationships. We will have brief didactics and demos in the larger group, and engage in intensive 1:1 practice in breakout rooms with scenarios that are important to you and support when you get stuck. During this series, we dive deeply into each of the 5 Secrets and use tools such as David Burns’ Relationship Journal, Benefits of Blame, Interpersonal Downward Arrow, and “Forced Empathy” to pinpoint where you are getting stuck and help you get unstuck and hone your relationship and communication skills.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: The groups will likely be around 8 participants.
WHEN: INDIVIDUALS: 6 Weeks, 90 minutes per session. March 21 -April 25 2024 9:00-10:30am US Pacific Time.
COUPLES: Please contact Brandon at brandonvance@gmail.com as we are working out the schedule depending on when would be best for the couples involved - this group will be every other week for 8 weeks.
WHERE: Zoom (Link provided with registration)
FEE: $480 for the 6-Group Series PER PERSON ($80 per session paid in advance). Sliding Scale available if you cannot afford this fee (at $55 or $30 per session).
(Couples group will be 640$ for 8 sessions for each member of the couple.)
REQUIRED READING: Feeling Good Together by David Burns. **Note, you will need to read through Chapter 7 and complete a Blame CBA BEFORE the first session of the group.**
OTHER EXPECTATIONS: Participants are expected to practice at least 1 hour in between each weekly session.
FACILITATOR: Brandon Vance, MD, level 4 TEAM therapy trainer and therapist, founder of the Feeling Great Book Club. Also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples.
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Heather's Wednesday Afternoon 90 Minute Group - May-June, 2024
WHAT: Six 90-minute sessions to help you improve your relationships by honing your skills in effective communication using the Five Secrets of Effective Communication developed by Dr. David. D. Burns. In addition to learning the Five Secrets, we will examine the Benefits of Blame and work with the Relationship Journal so that you can learn to pinpoint your role in any relationship and empower yourself to improve it. Each class will have brief didactics, demonstrations, and breakout groups to give plenty of time for practice and feedback on scenarios that are important to you.
HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS: This group will be limited to 8 participants.
WHEN: Six Wednesdays, May 15th - June 19th, 2024, 4:15-5:45pm Pacific Time
WHERE: Via Zoom
FEE: $80 Per session paid in advance, so $480 for the series. If you cannot afford this fee, you will have an option to pay either $55 per session, or if you cannot afford that, $30 per session, paid in advance.
REQUIRED READING: Feeling Good Together by David Burns
OTHER EXPECTATIONS: Participants are expected to practice at least 1 hour in between each weekly session.
FACILITATOR: Heather Clague, MD level 5 Master TEAM therapist and trainer
“This class is such a great way to learn and practice the various elements of the five secrets! Brandon is kind and extremely knowledgeable as a therapist and a facilitator. His gentle manner creates a safe environment where participants can quickly feel at ease. I learned so much from him as we worked together in a group and in small breakout groups to practice the techniques. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to enhance their relationships and learn how to communicate better with other people.”
“The group was very supportive, and Brandon made everyone feel safe and welcome. The real-life examples and the roll playing gave everyone a chance to practice on issues they were facing now. Brandon gave practical advice in an empathic way, which also was a class on how to use empathy in communication! This class reinforces the teachings of the book in a way that just reading alone does not provide. Brandon’s modeling of body language and tone of voice, and real time feedback was very effective. ”
“Heather’s 5 Secrets practice group gave me the nudge to try the tools in some touchy situations and provided the insight I needed to make my efforts more fruitful. The relevant homework assignments, opportunities for paired practice, and modeling were very effective. Heather has a knack for providing sincere empathy to the participants in their struggle, without blame, enabling us to open up to see blind spots. As a result of participating in Heather’s 5 Secret’s group, I use the 5 Secrets regularly, have closer relationships with loved ones, and have been able to navigate conflicts with a supervisor more constructively.”
Testimonials
The 5 Secrets are a powerful way of communicating. Heather provided a combination of teaching, modeling, and opportunities to practice that has deepened my understanding of the 5 Secrets and helped me improve my skills. This class was invaluable to me professionally and personally.
—Deb R.
I learned so much from Heather. Even when she adds a seemingly small comment, it is always so perfectly targeted and helpful. The course has influenced my behavior and happiness daily. Naturally, that flows to other people. Such an incredible blessing.
--Deborah H.