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.

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.

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.

This workshop is for anyone who wants to understand more about how their unique family history provides legacies for living and shapes their individual strengths. Participants will learn how to use the genogram to create an action plan for growth and change.

For more information or to register, please contact Rita DeMaria, PhD at 215-628-2450.

Within the safe community of other women this class will support you to strengthen your self-esteem to achieve your life-goals. The purpose of this class is for women to identify and release old hurts, reverse destructive attitudes, and strengthen self-acceptance and assertiveness.

With a wide range of therapeutic techniques including empathy work, journaling, relaxation techniques, and assertiveness exercises the class will support women to work on themselves emotionally and behaviorally. This 12 hour course will empower women to explore and expand their sense of self.

For more information or to register, please contact Rita DeMaria, PhD at 215-628-2450.

The Men’s Group is an 8-week Empowerment Program to help men explore their past and present relationships. Attention will be paid to the myths of masculinity as well as negative messages that challenge men as they seek emotional maturity and intimacy in their lives. Using lecture, movie clips and group discussion, participants will learn how to develop and strengthen relationship skills to foster healthy connections with others. 

The Men’s Group emphasizes that the adult experience of feeling and acting like a man is set into motion in childhood. During this time, the availability of a secure, loving bonding relationship is important because it is within this ‘attachment relationship’ that a boy evolves into an emotionally healthy, empathic man.

• January 20, 2010 - March 10, 2010
  Wednesday Evenings; 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm in Concordville, PA

For more information or to register, please contact Rita DeMaria, PhD at 215-628-2450.

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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