Hold Me Tight Created for Connection
For TCCC Members Only
Christian-Based Couple Relationship
Education and Enhancement Program
Hold Me Tight® or its Christian version, Created for Connection is an educational program based on the theory and practice of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). Created on the foundations of studies of adult attachment theory, EFT is an empirically tested model of couples therapy that has shown excellent, lasting outcomes with many different kinds of couples. Over the last two decades, EFT has developed as a systematic and powerfully effective approach to reducing relationship distress and helping couples create mutual emotional accessibility, responsiveness and engagement. The ultimate goal of EFT is to enable partners to not only reduce conflict and distance but to shape their relationship into a more loving secure bond that nurtures growth and healing.
EFT has also shown positive results with couples who are dealing with particularly difficult problems (e.g., where partners are trauma survivors, are caring for a chronically ill child, or are struggling with depression as well as relationship distress). Over the course of this program, you will learn about the new science of love. The program will focus on helping you and your partner use the seven conversations laid out in the Hold Me Tight® or Created for Connection book.
Register today for “Hold Me Tight: Created for Connection” and embark on a transformative journey that will breathe new life into your relationship, rediscover the joy of a loving and connected relationship.
Course Details
Course Terms:
Term 1: The importance of attachment bonds
Term 2: Barriers to attachment bonds
Term 3: Rebuilding attachment bonds [Open for Registration Now!]
Course Format:
Term 1: In the first term on the importance of attachment bonds, the facilitator teaches the core concepts of attachment and demonstrate these concepts using experiential exercises which are then carried out by the couples supported by their group.
Term 2 and 3: In second and third terms, each conversation outlined in Hold Me Tight® or Created for Connection is first presented by the facilitator who offers a framework of key points for the conversation, demonstrates the conversation and then help couples to complete the conversation supported by their group. Couples are invited to share their experience of the exercises and given homework. In the following session, couples are asked to share their experience of doing the homework.
Registration Deadline:
Sep 2, 2024 (Mon) at 5pm
Course Objectives
Term 1: The Importance of Attachment Bonds
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- Attachment and Relationships, Health and Emotion Regulation
- Attachment needs and fears
- The negative interactional cycle
- Emotional accessibility, responsiveness and engagement are the keys to lasting love
Term 2: Barriers to Attachment Bonds
- Understanding Love and Attachment
- How Love Goes Wrong – The Demon Dialogues
- Finding the Raw Spots in the Demon Dialogues
- Fixing Mistakes and Creating a Secure Base: Revisiting a Rocky Moment
- Becoming Open and Responsive: The Hold Me Tight® Conversation
Term 3: Rebuilding Attachment Bonds
- Becoming Open and Responsive: The Hold Me Tight® Conversation
- Forgiving Injuries and Trusting Again
- Tender Touch and Synchrony Sex
- Keeping Your Love Alive & Caring for Your Relationship
Term 3 Program Schedule
Term 3 consists of twelve 1.25-hour modules (15 hours in total)
- DATES: Sept 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, 17, Dec 1, 8, 2024 (Sunday)
- TIME: 9:45am – 11am (Toronto Time EST)
- LANGUAGE: Cantonese Only
- FORMAT: In person at Toronto Chinese Community Church (Warden/Steeles)
Term 1 consists of twelve 1.25-hour modules (15 hours in total)
- DATES: Sep 10, Sep 17, Sep 24, Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19, Nov 26, 2023 (Sunday)
- TIME: 9:45am – 11am (Toronto Time EST)
- LANGUAGE: Cantonese Only
- FORMAT: In person at Toronto Chinese Community Church (Warden/Steeles)
Term 2 consists of twelve 1.25-hour modules (15 hours in total)
- DATES: Apr 21, 28, May 12, 19, 26, Jun 9, 16, 23, Jul 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024 (Sunday)
- TIME: 9:45am – 11am (Toronto Time EST)
- LANGUAGE: Cantonese Only
- FORMAT: In person at Toronto Chinese Community Church (Warden/Steeles)
You are encouraged to join in person for a more effective learning outcomes, especially participants who have young children. Parents can leave their children at Children’s Sunday School and pick them up after class.
Program Delivery:
- The program will be held on Ontario Telehealth Network, a secure platform provided by the Ontario Government for physicians to meet with patients and Zoom during the presentations, videos and small group breakout time. Links will be sent to participants prior to each meeting.
Meet Your Facilitators
Course Developer and Lead:
- Dr. Tat-Ying Wong (MD, MTS, MDiv., AAMFT, CACFT Clinical Fellow and Supervisor, ICEEFT Certified Therapist, Supervisor and International Trainer, Family Physician with Focused Practice in Psychotherapy)
Dr. Tat-Ying Wong is a General Practitioner who earned his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Toronto and has extensive experience and training in marital, family, and sexual therapy. Dr. Wong is also the only Cantonese speaking certified EFT International Trainer, training thousands of social workers, counsellors, couple and family therapists, clergy, psychologists, physicians and nurses in Asia and North America. His special interests include premarital counselling, couples therapy, emotional disorders, trauma, neurodiversity, families in ministry, cultural contextualization of family therapy to Chinese families, family therapy related to medical problems and training and supervision of lay and professional helpers. Dr. Wong is involved in psychoeducation and regularly leads groups for individuals on self esteem, managing emotions, Hold Me Tight® and Created for Connection groups for couples, Hold Me Tight Let Me Go groups for families with adolescents, and other couple and parent training and support groups.
(https://reconnect.thinkific.com/)
Dr. Wong published the first and only EFT outcome study with Chinese couples based on Hold Me Tight and Created for Connection, showing couples improved their attachment security, dyadic adjustment and family functioning after the program.
Co-Facilitators:
- Dedicated mental health practitioners, peer supports and student learners
Term 3 Course Fees
OHIP only covers psychotherapy services provided by Dr. Wong (Group Psychotherapy – K025). The course fee covers all the non-OHIP costs such as the fees for using copyrighted material, access to course audio and video recordings, notes, and services provided by team members who are not physicians. TCCC is our course partner only, and no fees are received by TCCC.
Course Fees Options – Special Offer For TCCC Members Only (12 Sessions)
You may come as an individual, but we highly encourage your partner to join you. The course fee is per couple; pricing for individuals is the same as for couples.
- Participants with Valid OHIP: $100 + HST = $113
- Participants who either one does not have OHIP: $300 + HST = $339
- Non-OHIP Participants: $500+ HST = $565
- Sponsorship Application
Registration Deadline:
Sep 2, 2024 (Mon) at 5pm
1. Pay By INTERAC e-Transfer (no admin. fee or processing fee required)
E-mail address: therapy@gracehealthcentre.ca
Password: HMT3TY
*Please provide the payee’s name for easier tracking in case the payment is not deposited under your name.
2. Pay By Credit Card (additional processing fee will be charged by payment platform)
Payment will be processed when submitting Registration Form. Additional processing fee will be charged by payment platform.
Sponsorship is applicable to those with financial challenges.
Participants who would like a sponsorship, please complete the Journey to the Wholeness Term 4 – Sponsorship Application Form or contact our staff at therapy@gracehealthcentre.ca for any enquiries.
Participants who have successfully applied for sponsorship from Grace Health Centre may be asked to assist with demonstrations of the exercises by Dr. Wong and grant permission to use these demonstrations for the benefit of other participants.
Grace Health Centre will make every effort to accommodate individuals with limited resources, taking into consideration their financial situation. We have never refused any participants due to inability to pay.
Course fees (covering non-physician facilitation, course development costs, and copyright fees) may be eligible for coverage claims under Social Worker or Registered Psychotherapist – for Online Group Therapy, subject to the policies of your private insurance. Your private insurer determines and approves the eligibility of the claim. You will receive an invoice to submit to your insurer. It is your responsibility to make these claims to your insurer.
Screening Consultation
For virtual class participants, if you are not a current patient of Dr. Wong, please download the Referral Letter Template and ask your Family Doctor to complete it for a screening consultation with Dr. Wong. You may email the completed form back to us at therapy@gracehealthcentre.ca or have your Family Doctor’s office fax it to 416-633-8099.
If you currently do not have a Family Doctor, an in-person screening consultation with Dr. Wong at Grace Health Centre (402-2830 Keele St, Toronto) will be arranged.
The initial screening is NOT necessary for these people:
- Participants who are joining the in-person class;
- Participants who have seen Dr. Wong in 2023-2024;
- Participants who attended the “Hold Me Tight” courses in-person at TCCC for Term 1 in September 2023 or Term 2 in April 2024
Participant's Agreement
- This is an educational program group that does not replace the need for professional help and medications. Participants need to continue their current treatment during the course. Even though the facilitators are trained and licensed mental health professionals, they are not acting as an individual therapist in their role as group facilitator. The course materials are presented from a scientific perspective.
- Participants need to be stable, able to commit the time required, concentrate, absorb the key concepts, complete the basic exercises and not be at risk to themselves or others so that a safe, productive and supportive learning environment can be maintained. The facilitators will ask participants who need additional help to consult their help professionals. Participants are required to attend an in-person or virtual screening appointment at the clinic. The virtual screening requires a referral from the participant’s family physician whereas the in-person screening does not require a referral and is recommended for participants who do not have a current family physician.
- Attendance of all the online sessions, engaging with the audio-visual and written course material for each session and participation in the in-class discussions, sharing, self-reflection and skill building exercises are required for maximum benefit and growth. For optimal learning, participants are encouraged to review each lesson and other learning materials.
- Participants will share what they are comfortable sharing and discussing since the sessions are recorded for members paying for access to recordings. Please refrain from sharing anything that you may have concerns about group members knowing about you through the group or watching the recording. The group members in the group and watching the recording will commit to confidentiality to protect each other’s privacy.
- Participants who are absent for emergencies, illness and other reasons beyond their control are expected to notify the facilitator as soon as possible and complete the work for the session that they have missed to the best of their ability.
- I acknowledge that my personal and relational growth is my own responsibility and am willing to take this responsibility by facing myself, engaging and renewing my way of thinking, beliefs, attitudes, values, behavior and experience without avoiding, blaming myself or others. I understand that I am fully and solely responsible for the results and decisions that I make regarding my use of this course. I release the facilitator, the program developer and all related institutions and organizations from any and all liability and accept full responsibility for my involvement in this course and the use of any related materials.
- Participants can support each other through mutual acceptance, understanding, validation, empathy and encouragement.
- Participants are also required to complete self-assessments before and after the group to gauge their progress and encourage self-awareness and self-reflection, which is the first step in personal and relational growth.
- In emergency situations or times when the participant is at imminent risk of hurting him/herself or others, then he or she will need to go to the closest emergency department or call 911 for immediate assistance or 988 for suicide crisis.
- Participants agree to be involved in photographs, recording, testimonies, and the production of short audio- visual clips for promotion, distribution at discretion of course facilitators, record-keeping for the purposes of helping other course participants.
- Participants understand the risks of using electronic communication and that Grace Health Centre (GHC) Team will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received using email and/or text messages. However, because of the risks outlined below, the GHC Team cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of electronic communications.
- Use of electronic communications to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being disclosed to third parties.
- Despite reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of electronic communication, it is not possible to completely secure the information.
- Employers and online services may have a legal right to inspect and keep electronic communications that pass through their system.
- Electronic communications can introduce malware into a computer system and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
- Electronic communications can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the GHC Team or the patient.
- Even after the sender and recipient have deleted copies of electronic communication, back-up copies may exist on a computer system.
- Electronic communications may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order.
- Videoconferencing using services may be more open to interception than other forms of videoconferencing.
Participants acknowledge and understand that despite recommendations that encryption software be used as a security mechanism for electronic communications, it is possible that communications with the GHC Team using the Services may not be encrypted. Despite this, I agree to communicate using video conferencing, email and/or text messages with a full understanding of the risk.
- The course fee is non-refundable. If participants cancel before/after the first session, the course fee will be prorated and can be kept as “credit” for future courses. A “credit’ will be valid for 24 months, starting from the date of your cancellation.
TCCC is our course partner only. All personal data in the registration form is submitted solely to Grace Health Center, and TCCC will not have access to review or use any participant information. The course fee is paid to Grace Health Center, and no fees are received by TCCC.