1. Will we have to share our personal problems and issues with the class? No. The class does not include sharing problems or issues publicly. Couples exercises are done privately.
2. Must both partners attend or can I come alone? Since the class involves couples doing exercises together, both partners must participate. If the class is offered over a period of time and one partner must miss a particular class meeting, then the other partner is encouraged to attend the lecture portion of the class.
3. My partner isn’t a reader. Can we still come to the class if he/she won’t read the book? Yes, still come to the class. While the book provides very valuable information, the class lectures will summarize the content of the book. Each person will need a Couples Guide, however, to do the Couples Exercises efficiently.
4. Should we do the exercises in the book at home or save them for class? The class will involve doing some of the exercises from the book so doing them first at home would duplicate some of them. In some cases, the directions for doing the exercises in class have been revised and updated from those presented in the Seven Principles book. The leader will also role-play how to – and how not to – do some of the exercises in order to help participants get the most out of each exercise.
There are some exercises in the book that the class will not have time to do, and couples are encouraged to do them at home after that chapter has been covered in class.
5. Do I need to be in therapy to attend? No. Many couples who attend our workshops have never been to therapy, or are considering going to therapy. It is a great way to test what it would be like to try couples therapy, and often couples do go on to start couples therapy, but it is not necessary. The Seven Principles workshop is a great way to learn and grow with your partner in a half-day setting facilitated by licensed therapists.
6. Is this workshop a replacement for couples therapy? This workshop is psychoeducational, and is not therapy. However, for couples who are seeking to strengthen their relationship, build better communication skills, and foster more understanding in their relationships, or who don’t have the time to commit to regular therapy sessions.
