THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES PROGRAM FOR COUPLES
Is your marriage okay, but you’d like to make it even better? Are you stuck, arguing in circles about the same issues? Would you like evidence-based practices to set your relationship up for success?
This workshop can help!
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CLASS:
The Seven Principles Program will give you new insights and research-based relationship skills that can dramatically improve the intimacy and friendship in your relationship and help you resolve conflict in a healthy, productive way.
This class combines teaching and demonstrations with time for one-on-one practice sessions between you and your partner. Confidentiality is strictly maintained. Although we encourage questions and comments, you do not need to speak in the workshop if you do not want.
YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO:
- Foster respect, affection and closeness
- Build and share a deeper connection with each other’s inner world
- Keep conflict discussions calm
- Break through and resolve conflict gridlock
- Strengthen and maintain the gains in your relationship
IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR US?
The Gottman Seven Principles Program is designed for all couples in a committed relationship, including:
If you are dealing with emotional abuse, domestic violence, unwanted touch, or substance abuse, this class is not appropriate, and you should instead seek individual or couples therapy.
Available in 2 Formats
Weekend Intensives
In this format we meet on a Friday evening (6-8pm Mountain) and Saturday for the full day (9-4:30pm Mountain). This allows couples to experience the full Seven Principles program in a convenient intensive format.
Weekly Evenings
In this format we meet weekly for 8 weeks strait. This format goes for 90 Minutes each evening. This allows for the most complete presentation of the Seven Principles workshop. It also allows for digestible chunks of the content.
Upcoming Weekend Intensives
Upcoming Dates for 2025
Online Weekly Format
Our 7 Principles Facilitators
Dn. Basil Ryan Balke
Brittany Balke
Fr. Elias Dorham
Bibiana Arangua
Questions:
Please review the FAQ section below. For any additional questions, please email programs@mounttaborcounseling.com. Please only send workshop-related questions. We are unable to respond to therapeutic questions via email.
Event Policies
Transfer/Cancellation Policy:
If cancellation is made one week before the conference, a full refund minus a $30 processing fee will be given. If your cancellation occurs after the deadline, your registration will be converted to a credit, good for a full year, that can be applied to future workshops.
Additional Workshop Information
We would like to advise that our couples workshop is presented as a seminar. It is meant to be psycho-educational and is not meant to be couples therapy. We do offer virtual and in-person couples therapy, consultations, and additional resources at Mount Tabor Counseling. While we believe that the content of this workshop is based on sound research and principles, there is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, about the benefit of this workshop for your specific concerns.
Private Workshop Options:
For high profile couples or couples that simply prefer more privacy, we recommend you inquire about a private 1:1 workshop or a small group presentation. The Seven Principles Program presentation is tailored to you and your relationship, and you receive expert support from one of our presenters throughout the experience. We offer a variety of timing options to meet your scheduling needs, and we can offer programs virtually or in person. Email basil.balke@mounttaborcounseling.com for custom package pricing.
The Seven Principles Program focuses solely on the seven principles found in Dr. Gottman’s research to enhance a relationship. This workshop expands upon the information found within his book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
The Art & Science of Love Weekend Workshop is a 2-day workshop that includes coverage on the seven principles, while also going into a wider array of Dr. Gottman’s research and exercises as they apply to your relationship. The Art & Science of Love also offers the opportunity for a Certified Gottman Therapist to assist you personally.
In general, the Art and Science of Love is recommended for couples looking for more in-depth, therapeutic support and the Seven Principles Program is recommended for couples looking for enrichment and preventative support.
Once you have completed registration and provided an email address and phone number upon checkout, you will be contacted by our staff to complete the registration process. Typically you will be contacted via email within a few days of the initial registration. Within that email, you will be directed to fill out a final information form. Your registration is not complete until this form is returned via email to programs@mounttaborcounseling.com
If cancellation is made one week before the conference, a full refund minus a $30 processing fee will be given. If your cancellation occurs after the deadline, your registration will be converted to a credit, good for a full year, that can be applied to future workshops.
Couples attend who already have a strong, healthy relationship, and couples attend to repair relationship damage and get back on track. Parents sometimes attend who have decided to end their relationship but want to do so in a way that doesn’t negatively impact their children, and receive skills to become healthy co-parents moving forward. We welcome all couples who want to work on making their relationship stronger.
Yes. All couples are welcome. This may in fact be the best time to work on and build upon your relationship!
Yes. We strongly encourage attending our workshop as premarital preparation.
Depends. The registration fee is for a couple. There are opportunities to actively engage with your partner during the workshop. However, if your partner decides not come, or if you wish to sign up on your own, you are welcome to attend. The registration fee is the same if you attend with your partner or by yourself.
Each couple is different and we are unable to provide specific advice about how to convince your partner to attend a workshop or seek counseling. However, many individuals have found that a good place to start is by sharing some of the research and videos on the Gottman website with their partners. Dr. Gottman’s bestselling book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is also a great way to become acquainted with the research and the Gottman Method.
No problem. Couples sit as an audience during the lectures, and only engage quietly together. There is no group work, and no mandatory sharing.
The venue, location, weather, time of year and several other factors affect the size of each workshop. The large group workshops (offered periodically) can see anywhere from 10-50+ couples attend.
Yes. Couples who attend our workshop tend to fall into two categories: enhancement and repair. We applaud couples who are wise enough to attend the workshop for enhancement purposes. Our brains are more open to new learning when we are not stressed out, and our workshop is designed with plenty of humor and romance, so enhancement couples have a terrific time while learning. Feedback from both enhancement and repair couples indicates that the couples workshop is very beneficial.
There are no prerequisites to attending a couples workshop. The workshop is self-contained and is appropriate even if you’ve never heard of Dr. John Gottman and his work.
The workshop is self-contained; no pre-reading is required. Some couples report that reading The Seven Principles enhanced their workshop experience by providing a foundation in the research concepts and applications.
From time to time and upon request I offer different formats:
- 60-90 minute Seven Principles Overview – Perfect for presentation, office or school lunch gatherings, discussion groups, professional organizations, etc.
- Weeknight Classes – The same information as the 1-day workshop, only presented in a series of shorter weeknight classes.
- Semi-Private Workshop (10 couples or less) – Same great information, presented in smaller, more intimate groups in a private setting (hotel or similar accommodations).
- Semi-Private Retreat (5 couples or less) – This 1-day workshop is more intimate and offers a greater opportunity to connect personally with our presenter.
- Private Retreat (only one couple) – Upon special requests, Basil offers 1-day private retreats where you are presented the same great information, just in a 1:1 format.
- Contact Basil (basil.balke@moutntaborcounseling.com) for more information and pricing for these special formats.
