Premarriage Counseling

Skills for a Lifetime of Love

Pre-Marital (Dating, Engaged, or newly married)

In this world of exploding information and choices, easy communication around the globe, and instant intimacy portrayed in the media, most of us still yearn for that special someone with whom we share our lives – day to day and year to year. When we meet that special person and are considering making a commitment or have decided to commit, we may wonder whether this special relationship is sustainable over time. Relationship Enhancement® will give you SKILLS to make your LOVE an everyday reality for a lifetime.

Three essentials for a healthy, long term, committed relationship are the ability to:

1) talk about what is going well (appreciations);

2) identify areas of growth (differences); and

3) resolve differences constructively and creatively.

It is sometimes hard to talk about differences because we are afraid we will break the connection. In fact, areas of difference present opportunities for personal and couple growth. Learning relationship skills TOGETHER gives us a strong foundation to achieve a LIFETIME OF LOVE.

Relationship Enhancement® skills-based program is:

EFFECTIVE – over 40 years of research on effectiveness confirms that individual and couple satisfaction are increased

PRACTICAL – you can apply in your home, your work, your extended family, your friends, and of course, with your LOVE

EXPERIENTIAL – coaching is provided for each couple as they apply the skills to their relationship

INDIVIDUALIZED – coaching staff help you apply the skills to your unique experiences as a couple

TESTED OVER TIME – couples with skills and commitment to maintain a climate of appreciation, resolve conflicts constructively, and solve problems in a spirit of collaboration have longer-lasting, more satisfying marriages.

Staff at the Center for Couples, Families and Children at the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement® will demonstrate and guide you through applying SKILLS OF LOVE to your relationship. With these skills you can respectfully and lovingly address questions of commitment, prepare for marriage, and launch a healthy, life-long marriage.

Relationship Enhancement® skills are taught by licensed mental health professionals in an educational setting. You have the option of group or private sessions with or without a computerized, on-line inventory.

Couple Workshops

The Mastering the Mysteries of Love (MML) Relationship Enhancement® Program is a 1 to 2 day weekend program where you will learn Skills for a Lifetime of Love, apply them to your relationship with coaching from trained leaders, and commit to practice sessions at home.

Day I

Listening for Understanding

Expression or Effective speaking

Discussion and Problem solving

Ten Things you can do to have a Healthy Marriage

Day 2

Managing Conflict Effectively

Coaching and Deepening Dialogues

Change and Growth – Yesterday, Today, and tomorrow

Maintaining – keeping on with the Skills of Love

Private Sessions

9 hours (1.5 or 3 hr blocks at a mutually convenient time) is the minimum amount of time needed to cover Day I and Day 2 of the group sessions above. Additional time may be necessary depending on each couple’s situation and needs.

Inventory

Many couples meet each other and connect around ways they are similar. Learning to handle your differences while sustaining the close bond and loving feelings is the key to a healthy, life-long relationship.

At the Center for Couples, Families and Children of the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement Enhancement®, we recommend that couples preparing for marriage consider investing in a well researched and thorough assessment of their relationship strengths and areas of growth. We also recommend that couples periodically assess the “state of their relationship” throughout their lifetime. NIRE staff use inventories from Life Innovations (www.lifeinnovations.com) to provide information that, combined with the SKILLS of LOVE, will be of great assistance in launching their marriage. An inventory can help guide your application of skills during either group or private sessions.

Location, Cost and Registration

Group sessions are offered thorughout the year (see schedule below) at 4400 East-West Highway, Suite 28, Bethesda, Maryland – conveniently located near the Bethesda Metro station with FREE parking in the building’s (Topaz House) garage. Saturday sessions are from 9-5 and Sunday sessions are from 9-4. Snacks are provided and lunch will be on your own in one of the many restaurants or cafes in downtown Bethesda.

Couples workshops are $450 per couple for the two day program; $250 for Day 1 and $200 for Day 2. Two workbooks are included in the cost. An hourly fee for private sessions would be determined based on gross family income and number of dependents. The Life Innovations inventory is $29.95 and purchased either directly on the web (Couple Checkup) or through your counselor (Prepare-Enrich).

Registration for the MML Couples Workshop can be accomplished by contacting Laura Landi at niremd@nire.org or at 301-986-1479 or mail to NIRE – Administrative Office; 12500 Blake Road; Silver Spring, MD 20904-2056. We accept credit cards over the phone to confirm your registration. Appointments for private sessions are made by contacting the main office at 301-986-1479.