The Seven Principles Program for Couples

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.

Typically, group discussion is limited to general introductions and feedback along with reviewing lecture and book content. No one is ever pressured to say more than they would like.

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

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.