Relentless Empathy with Challenging and Resistant Clients
This experiential workshop invites therapists into the heart of attuned persistence—the practice of Relentless Empathy.
Based on Dr. Anabelle Bugatti’s book, Using Relentless Empathy in the Therapeutic Relationship, this workshop explores how therapists can stay engaged, emotionally present, and grounded in empathy even in the face of resistance, withdrawal, or reactivity.
Participants will reflect on their own blocks to empathy, examine client defenses as protection of attachment wounds, and gain tools to foster deeper connection with their most challenging clients—without losing themselves in the process.
Through clinical examples, discussion, and experiential exercises, therapists will leave with renewed confidence and clarity in how to lean in, stay soft, and co-regulate even in difficult therapeutic moments.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Define the concept of Relentless Empathy and describe its role in strengthening the therapeutic alliance, particularly with resistant or avoidant clients.
Identify common therapist blocks to empathy and emotional engagement, and explore how to regulate and reconnect when feeling frustrated, ineffective, or shut down.
Apply specific interventions and emotional stances that embody Relentless Empathy in response to client defenses, shutdowns, or reactivity in therapy.
About Our Presenter: Dr. Anabelle Bugatti, Ph.D., LMFT
Dr. Anabelle Bugatti, Ph.D., LMFT, is a Certified EFT Supervisor and Therapist in EFCT, EFIT, and EFFT, and serves as the EFT Community Leader for Southern Nevada. She is dedicated to helping therapists deepen their understanding of EFT and harness the power of attachment science to foster lasting emotional bonds.
As the host of the popular YouTube channel and podcast, We Heart Therapy, Dr. Bugatti brings expert interviews, practical EFT insights, and training content to therapists worldwide. Her platform has become a valuable resource for clinicians seeking to expand their EFT knowledge and refine their therapeutic skills.
Dr. Bugatti is also the author of Relentless Empathy in Therapeutic Relationships: Connecting with Challenging and Resistant Clients, a book endorsed by Dr. Sue Johnson, the founder of EFT. In this work, she explores the critical role of empathy in transforming difficult client relationships and offers practical strategies for therapists to navigate resistance with confidence.
With a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Bugatti combines academic expertise with real-world clinical experience to provide engaging, hands-on training. She is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and mentor, known for her dynamic teaching style and ability to make EFT concepts accessible and actionable for therapists at all levels.
Through her work, Dr. Bugatti is committed to empowering therapists to build stronger therapeutic alliances, deepen emotional healing, and create meaningful change in the lives of their clients.
This is a virtual event. Please join as this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87926346343