The Gratitude and Blessings of Being Part of the PACT Community

By Tracey Boldemann-Tatkin, PhD, AMFT
PACT Institute Co-founder

I was inspired to write this blog after sitting around the Thanksgiving table with my family and sharing what we are thankful for. We do this each year, yet this year I started to reflect on my gratitude for being part of the overall PACT community. 

This reaches out to those in training, the training graduates, the training coaches and instructors, the couples both online and at retreats, and our entire operations, administrative, and marketing teams. Stan and I feel truly blessed by each of these individuals.

In the world of therapy and personal growth, the importance of strong, supportive communities cannot be overstated. The PACT community has been and continues to be transformative for both the therapists and the clients alike, with the focus on understanding and healing relationships, particularly romantic ones. 

Being a part of the PACT community comes with its own set of blessings and profound gratitude for me because of the relationships, my personal growth, and my sense of connection this community fosters.

At Our Core

At its core the PACT community is grounded in a shared mission: to help couples build a stronger, more secure-functioning relationship. As therapists we have the opportunity to help clients understand their attachment styles, how those impact their relationships, and also to understand the emotional wiring behind their interactions.

As a part of this community, therapists and clients alike are united by the desire to heal, grow, and thrive in their own relationships. This shared journey is not just about learning new tools. It includes a profound shift in how we see ourselves and those we love. 

The therapist community is one of collaboration, ongoing education and mutual respect. The common goal is not just to treat our clients but to empower them with knowledge and skills that lead to lasting transformation. Whether through workshops, trainings, or smaller peer groups, the PACT community is a place where therapists can learn from one another, share experiences, and provide each other with the encouragement needed to continue their important work.

Genuine Connection

An often overlooked but deeply important aspect of being part of the PACT community is the sense of belonging it offers. Whether as a therapist or a client, feeling connected to a group of like-minded individuals who share similar values and goals creates a sense of solidarity and support. So often we have therapists create their own small-group support systems and after couple workshops or retreats the same happens with the couples — they create connections. 

The work of healing and self-discovery can be daunting. Being part of a community that understands the challenges and rewards of this journey makes the process much more manageable.

For therapists, the PACT community can provide a safe space for professional vulnerability, where we can all explore our own growth and challenges in helping clients. For clients, being part of the process of couple therapy is an opportunity to bond with your partner in new and deeper ways, creating a sense of unity and mutual respect. For those in an online couple workshop or in-person retreat, there is an opportunity to learn from other couples and sometimes normalize the challenges all couples face.

Gratitude, Growth, and Good Wishes

Being part of the PACT community is a gift that often brings blessings to those involved. For therapists, it provides a supportive, knowledge-rich environment that nurtures both professional and personal development. This community creates real connection. For clients, it offers the opportunity to heal from past wounds, understand themselves and their partners more deeply, and build stronger, more secure-functioning relationships. 

In this season of reflection, I wanted to express my thanks and gratitude for all of you as members of the PACT community. It is hard to express the love and connection I feel when I am online with the trainees, online with the couples in the workshops, in-person with couples or therapists in a masterclass, and yes in those many weekly admin/marketing/operations meetings. I feel blessed by each of you. Thank you.