THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES PROGRAM FOR COUPLES

Upcoming Dates

June 24, 2023 - St. George Byzantine Catholic Church Olympia
10:00 AM PST - 5:00PM PST

Register for In-Person Workshop

June 10, 2023 - Virtual Workshop
10:00AM MST - 5:00 PM MST

Register for Virtual Workshop

Do you have difficulty communicating and understanding each other? Are you stuck, arguing in circles about the same issues? Or are you in a good relationship and would like to make it even better?

THEN, THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU!

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 one-on-one work sessions where you and your partner focus on your relationship with each other. 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:

  • Married couples
  • Pre-engaged couples (those considering marriage)
  • Engaged or Premarital couples (those taking steps towards marriage)
  • Every phase of relationships, from newlyweds to senior couples
  • Those who wish to enhance an already “good” marriage or relationship
  • Those needing better conflict management tools
  • Those considering couples therapy but who are not “ready” for weekly therapy yet

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.

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 our high profile couples, or couples that simply prefer more privacy, we recommend you inquire about a private 1:1, or small-group presentation (with your friends or family). 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. Flexible weekdays, evenings, weekends to meet your scheduling needs.  Can be tailored to fit fit your schedule from 2-12 hours of time. Presented live virtually or in-your-home. Email basil.balke@mounttaborcounseling.com for custom package pricing. 

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.

The Seven Principles Program is a 1-day workshop that focuses solely on the seven principles found through Dr. Gottman’s research to enhance a relationship. This workshop expands upon the invaluable 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 a greater depth of 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 a greater chance for a Certified Gottman Therapist to assist you personally when stuck during exercises. 

Self-disclosure is not required by participants.

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 a few days of registration. Within that email, you will be directed to fill out a final registration 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.