PREPARE For Your Marriage: A Workshop for Engaged Couples

In this one day program couples will complete an inventory of strengths and learn basic communication skills proven to enhance their relationship and prevent divorce. Upon registration, couples will receive a logon code to complete an online customized PREPARE Inventory, the most widely used and researched premarital inventory. Couples must complete the inventory 48 hours prior to the seminar. Results are given during the workshop.

To register, please contact Rita DeMaria, Ph.D., LSW, LMFT, Program Director at 215-628-2450.

Start Right - Stay Connected
The Imago Premarital Workshop

The Imago Start Right - Stay Connected program is founded on the most recent research as well as the clinical experience of hundreds of marriage counselors from around the world. It will give you the solid foundation you are seeking to begin your married life together. 

Through this program you will learn: effective communication skills; tools for dealing with your relationship hot buttons; effective conflict resolution; how to remove negativity from your relationship; how to keep the romance in your relationship; and how to affair-proof your relationship.

For more information or to register, please contact Laura Marshall, LCSW, QCSW at 215-699-1238.

PREPARE/ENRICH Program:
Premarital Counseling Program by Life Innovations

Helping couples prepare for marriage, the PREPARE/ENRICH program is based on a set of five inventories that examine major relationship issues a couple may experience.  These inventories must be administered by a trained PREPARE/ENRICH Counselor and include 4-6 feedback sessions in which the counselor facilitates discussion between the couple based on their inventory results.

If you are interested in participating in the PREPARE/ENRICH Program, check with your local counselor or clergy person to see if they are already using it.  Or if you unable to locate a trained professional, visit the Find a Counselor page on the Life Innovations website.

Couples Communication Courses

The Couples Communication Course is a research-based approach to teaching couples (premarital, committed, or married) how to communicate effectively, manage conflicts without damaging closeness, and how to preserve and enhance commitment, friendship and intimacy. The premise is that it's not how much you love each other that makes a relationship or marriage work; it's how you resolve differences and preserve fun and sensuality that keeps a relationship strong. This one-day course uses teaching, videos, role-plays, group discussions and private coaching to educate couples in an atmosphere of informality and comfort. 

Communication Essentials - One Day Seminar

• February 20, 2010
  Saturday 9 AM - 4:30 PM in CFR's University City, PA office
  Course Leader: Chris Fariello, PhD, LMFT at 267-479-2388

Resolving Conflict - One Day Seminar
In this one day seminar you will learn how to identify and unblock emotional challenges that interfere with effective dialogue, how to establish loving patterns of emotional connection, and create empowering solutions to common relationship problems. The workshop will include lecture, exercises, and demonstrations of effective strategies to help your relationship grow.

• April 10, 2010
  Saturday 9 AM - 4 PM in CFR's Paoli, PA office 
  Course Leaders: Kerstin Miller, MDiv, LMFT at 610-889-0419, ext. 6 and Ray McDevitt, MSS, LSW at 610-558-4060, ext. 7

Strengthening Connection – One Day Seminar
This seminar is based on Sue Johnson’s ground-breaking book "Hold Me Tight", an effective approach that helps couples move from frustration and loneliness toward the creation of a secure loving bond. This one day seminar will provide a helpful roadmap to enhance the intimate connection by learning new ways to share feelings and needs and create a more loving connection. The class uses videos, role-plays, exercises, and group discussion to educate couples in an atmosphere of comfort and support.

For more information about these seminars or to register, please contact the leader of the class in which you are interested.

Engaged Encounter

"Engaged Encounter is a non-profit international program of the Catholic Church dedicated to preparing couples for the sacrament of marriage. It is a weekend away from family, friends, work and wedding preparations. (Couples who are not Catholic are also welcome to attend.) Engaged couples are given the opportunity to focus on each other exclusively in an environment which encourages deep communication and openness." 

For more information or to register for a workshop please contact one of the following representatives:
Joe & Mim Allison at 610-282-3083 for Allentown, PA workshops;
Bill & Penny Tresca at 856-529-0932 for Camden, NJ workshops;
Tim and Elyse Ratsep at 302-421-9112 for Wilmington, DE workshops.

Free Relationship Education Class Preview

Council for Relationships offers the best of nationally recognized relationship education programs available and has the most comprehensive program available anywhere in the country. These programs have proven success based on research and evaluation. Our programs, ranging from 2 hours to 120 hours in length, provide basic, intermediate and advanced skills for individuals and couples who want to strengthen, preserve and deepen their relationships. Privacy and a safe learning environment is a top priority in all of our programs. 

Our Previews are a free, no pressure opportunity to learn more!  While we have a wide range of programs at our various offices, our experienced workshop leaders are also available to lead programs at other locations throughout Philadelphia as part of our commitment to outreach and community services. 

To register, please contact Rita DeMaria, Ph.D., LSW, LMFT, Program Director at 215-628-2450.

Getting The Love You Want: The Imago Couples Workshop
Presented by The Wissahickon Center for Relationship Therapy

"This workshop consists of five processes: re-imaging your partner, restoring empathy, restructuring frustrations, renewing romance and re-visioning the future. The weekend is composed of a carefully constructed blend of educational lectures and films, group discussions, self-exploration and writing work. You will learn new skills - ways to communicate that will allow you to truly see and hear each other with compassion, to melt anger and move through conflict to a place of profound connection and compassion. A significant portion of the workshop is spent practicing these new tools with your partner. While you are invited to share your insights and experiences within the larger group, all such sharing is optional."

For more information or to register, please contact Laura Marshall, LCSW, QCSW at 215-699-1238.

Upper Dublin Lutheran Church (UDLC) Marriage Ministry

Weekend retreats in the Pocono's, Café for Couples, workshops, special sermons, monthly Couple's Relationship Club, and eight week courses in PAIRS - Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills, are all part of the Couple's Ministry at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church. Organized by the Couple's Relationship Team, these regular events are the way our congregation is more than a wedding blessing machine. We are a congregation that supports healthy vitalized relationships. Like all ministries at Upper Dublin, we invite and welcome all people to take advantage of what we offer.

For more information please visit UDLC's website or call 215-646-7999.

"MarriageWise offers programs for engaged couples to help them build their awareness of the expectations each partner has as they prepare for marriage and to help them develop skills for discussing and negotiating these expectations. MarriageWise programs also emphasize learning conflict resolution skills, maintaining love and affection in marriage, and the role of spirituality in marriage." For more information, please contact Dr. Steven Sayers at 215-823-5196.

Marriage & Family Builders/PREP Workshop

This workshop is a Prevention & Relationship Enhancement Program for all singles, cohabitating, dating, engaged & married. PREP is education, not therapy and is a research-based approach to teaching couples how to solve problems, manage conflicts without damaging closeness, and preserve and enhance love, passion, commitment and friendship. This skills and principles curriculum is designed to help people say what they need to say, get to the heart of problems, and increase their connection with each other. Program is available in English and Spanish. Please call for more information at (610) 299-0961.

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