Just Married - Develop Good Relationship Habits for a Lifetime

The early years of marriage are unique and crucial because during these years a couple develops patterns and habits that will continue throughout their marriage. Since we are creatures of habit and established patterns, what you are doing now is what you will be doing 20 years from now. For this reason it is imperative that the patterns and habits you want to be present in your marriage 20 years from now are fostered in these early years of marriage. Studies have shown that both happily and unhappily married couples have the same amount of disagreements in their marriages. The difference between them is the way they resolve these disagreements. Enrich your marriage through workshops, talks, reading and other resources.

The 7 Stages of Marriage: A Workshop

The 7 Stages of Marriage provides a practical timeline for understanding the journey and stages of marriage. Each stage has a set of missions that strengthen communication, passion, and friendship, while addressing difference. Questionnaires will help you identify your stage as well as give you the missions and exercises for each stage which will help you master important challenges that all couples face. Discussion with your partner and other participants will highlight the normal issues of marriage.

“Here’s My Heart” is a tool for establishing a safe way for sharing feelings and concerns. The benefit of this workshop is the freedom and hope you will gain when you understand the natural progression of marriage and intimacy. The workshop includes presentation, group discussion and private time for exercises.

August 12
7 pm - 9:30 pm - Spring House, PA

October 14
7 pm - 9:30 pm - Spring House, PA

December 2
7 pm - 9:30 pm - Spring House, PA

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

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP)

"The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) 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."

September 13
Philadelphia, PA: Saturday, 9 am - 4:30 pm

For more information or to register for a PREP class please contact Rita DeMaria, PhD, LSW, LMFT, Program Director at 215-628-2450.

Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS) Program Relationship Roadmap Course

An 8 week program designed to help couples who want to assess the current status of their relationship; acknowledge and appreciate differences that each partner brings to the relationship; resolve conflicts creatively; heal wounds from the past and avoid mistakes made in previous relationships; understand how family history influences choices and behaviors; improve physical and emotional bonding; increase commitment.

October 15 - December 10
Wednesday Evenings, 7:00 pm -10:00 pm in Wynnewood PA
Saturday Workshop: March 8, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

For more information or to register for a PAIRS® course, please contact Rita DeMaria, Ph.D., LSW, LMFT, Program Director at 215-628-2450.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

"Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God. It's a time to share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each other. (The weekend is Catholic in orientation and is expressed in the traditions and understanding of the Catholic Church. However, it is open to all faith expressions.)"

June 20 - 22; August 1 - 3; October 3 - 5
St. Mary's, Elverson, PA

For more information please call 800-456-8330. To make a reservation please call 610-449-1859 or you may register online from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter website.

Retrouvaille Program

"The word Retrouvaille simply means 'rediscovery'. The program offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship. Thousands of couples headed for cold, unloving relationships or divorce have successfully overcome their marriage problems by attending the program. The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of 6-12 post-weekend sessions over 3 months. It provides the tools to help put your marriage in order again. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way."

August 17
Malvern, PA

October 17
West Chester, PA

For more information, please contact Bob & Joyce Gillespie at
302-832-8044.

Free Relationship Education Class Preview

Come and learn about all of the Relationship Education programs offered by the Council for Relationships - ranging from courses for singles, engaged couples, married couples and all other committed couples! Dr. Rita DeMaria, PAIRS® Program Director, and our PAIRS® Leaders will introduce you to the many classes we offer that can provide directions, tools and guides for you and your partner to have a successful and pleasurable relationship.

June 12
Concordville, PA: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

September 24; October 1
Wynnewood, PA: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

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

Creating Enduring Love:
The Relationship Enhancement® Program

Educate Your Heart, Deepen Your Connection, Transform Your Relationship™

The Relationship Enhancement® Program is an advanced, research based workshop that teaches couples how to deepen their communication skills and their understanding of each other. This program has been widely used both for marriage preparation and for relationship enrichment. This 17 hour course is offered in two formats: One Saturday and 4 weekly sessions and a weekend model that is held over two weekends. The course format uses demonstrations, group discussions and private practice time for exercise with leader support.

The Creating Enduring Love program will teach you the "how-to's” of achieving these essential relationship skills:

Establishing a constructive, cooperative atmosphere for resolving difficult relationship issues;
Fostering increased openness and trust;

Reducing defensiveness, anger and withdrawal;
Expressing your feelings, concerns and desires openly, honestly and safely;

Increasing love, affection and compassion.

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

Premarital Seminar:
Strengthening the Ties that Bind - Skills for Intentional Relationships
Presented by The Wissahickon Center for Relationship Therapy

This program provides you with information on what it takes to create strong, lasting relationships, introduces you to practical communication skills and conflict resolution techniques and helps you to establish a foundation for a lasting emotionally healthy marriage. Cost: $225

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

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.

Keeping Love Alive

"An eight hour relationship skills class for engaged and newlywed couples." For more information or to register, please contact Laura Marshall, LCSW, QCSW at 215-699-1238.

PREPARE/ENRICH Program:
Counseling Program by Life Innovations

Helping couples enrich their relationships, 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.

Military Family Support Services:
Delaware National Guard Family Readiness Program

Delaware National Guard Family Readiness Program provides support, training, enrichment, social events, support groups, summer youth camp and array of services for military service members and their families. For more information please contact Mrs. Frank Vavala, Advisory Council Chairperson at 302-326-7001 or CMSgt Dawn Peet, State Family Program Coordinator, at 302-326-7268.

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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