Marginalized Couples in Therapy
Interventions for Healing from Systemic Trauma
A 2-hour LIVE workshop with Akilah Riley-Richardson
PLUS get a FREE copy of Akilah's book!
March 26th, 2026 at 9am MDT/ 11am EDT/ 3pm GMT
"The experiences of marginalized people are often devalued even by helping professionals, and this text is my dedication to carving a space where we, as practitioners, can ensure that we are of service in a way that is rooted in the realities of our people. It is also a reflection of my obligation to marginalized couples and individuals. My sincere wish for them all is that they are never harmed in therapy but instead uplifted. "
- Akilah Riley-Richardson, about her new book
Dear Colleague,
I want to invite you into a conversation that feels both intimate and urgent...
It's an opportunity to sit together at the intersection of intimacy and power, to examine what it means to practice couples therapy in a world shaped by systemic trauma.
At the heart of my new book is a central premise: Intimacy does not exist outside of power. Our clients’ relationships are not formed in a vacuum, they're shaped by race, gender, sexuality, class, citizenship, ability, and the historical forces that live inside bodies and partnerships. When we ignore this, we risk misreading survival strategies as dysfunction and neutrality as safety.
In this live 2-hour workshop, we will explore how systemic trauma lives inside intimate bonds and how relational privilege shapes attachment, trust, and protection. I’ll introduce you to the BIOME framework as a lens for examining your therapeutic posture, and to the PRIDE model as a practical intervention pathway when working with marginalized couples.
Through presentation, video, and excerpts from my new book (which you'll get a physical copy of when you sign up for this workshop), we'll move beyond theory toward clinical application.
My hope is that you leave not only with new language, but with a conceptual shift, and with concrete strategies you can begin integrating into your work immediately, especially with LGBTQI and BIPOC couples moving from survival toward liberation.
If you're ready to deepen your practice and interrogate the role of power in intimacy, I would be honored to have you join me.
With care,
Akilah Riley-Richardson
During this workshop, you will:
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Explore how systemic trauma lives inside intimate relationships so that you can recognize when conflict is rooted in historical and structural harm rather than individual pathology, and intervene with precision instead of assumption.
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Learn how to assess relational privilege and its impact on attachment, trust, and protection so that you can identify invisible power dynamics shaping safety and vulnerability in the room, and help partners move toward repair.
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Reflect on your therapeutic posture through the BIOME framework so that you can practice with greater awareness of your own positionality, authority, and influence, and offer care that is both ethical and liberating.
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Be introduced to the PRIDE model for intervention with marginalized couples so that you have a clear, structured pathway for supporting couples navigating intersecting identities, oppression, and relational strain.
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Walk away with concrete strategies to support LGBTQI and BIPOC couples moving from survival toward liberation so that your clinical work actively fosters safety, dignity, and relational thriving.
AND, if you register you get a FREE copy of Akilah's book! This will be a physical copy for residents of the U.S. and Canada, and a digital copy for everyone else.
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Praise for Marginalized Couples in Therapy: Interventions for Healing from Systemic Trauma
"This book is a powerful clinical support to anyone who works with individuals or couples who experience ongoing systemic trauma. Riley-Richardson expertly interweaves neurobiology, our own embodied wisdom, and vivid clinical examples to help all of us face the reality of relational privilege and partner with our clients to help them thrive. If you want to support your clients to build their self-trust and feel empowered in their relationships, this book is a must-read!"
"If you work with couples, this book belongs on your shelf. Marginalized Couples in Therapy by Akilah Riley-Richardson goes beyond technique, showing how systemic trauma and oppression shape intimacy for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ partners. With practical interventions, case examples, and the groundbreaking PRIDE model, this book gives therapists concrete ways to help couples heal and thrive. It’s both a call to action and a roadmap for more just, inclusive therapy."
"Akilah Riley-Richardson’s work is a timely and essential contribution to the field of couples counseling and therapy. She offers practical guidance while deepening our understanding of the multisystemic dynamics that shape intimate relationships. By centering individuals and communities who have historically been marginalized, her text invites a more inclusive, socially responsive approach to relational work. I look forward to including this book as required reading for my doctoral students in clinical psychology."
Join Us Today:
Marginalized Couples in Therapy: Interventions for Healing from Systemic Trauma
A 2-hour workshop & book launch with Akilah Riley-Richardson on March 26th, 2026
Register Now For
$67
Meet Your Presenter
Akilah Riley-Richardson
Akilah Riley-Richardson, MSW, CCTP is a dedicated therapist, educator, and researcher with several years of experience. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and STAIR Method Certified clinician, Akilah specializes in relational healing, focusing on the needs of couples and individuals, both in the Caribbean and internationally.Her expertise extends to supporting sexual and racial minorities, ensuring that her practice is inclusive and culturally sensitive. Akilah’s commitment to education and advocacy has led her to consult for esteemed organizations, including NASTAD, I-TECH, CARPHA, and CVC, where she has made significant contributions to healthcare training and community support.
She has presented her work at various prestigious forums, such as the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium, Academy of Therapy Wisdom, Harvard Medical School, Chicago School of Psychology and the Black Mental Health Symposium. From 2012 to 2025, she served as a Social Work Educator at the University of the Southern Caribbean, mentoring future leaders in the field. Currently, she serves as a Research Supervisor and Examiner at the University of the West Indies Global Campus.
As the founder of the Relational Healing Institute and the creator of the P.R.I.D.E. model, Akilah is passionate about advancing relational therapies. Her book, “Marginalized Couples in Therapy” reflects this passion.