***Are you stuck in a pattern of negative interactions with your spouse/partner?

***Do you often feel unheard and misunderstood after disagreements?

***Do you continually argue about the same things over and over?

***Do you worry your relationship is doomed to fail? 

Based on the best-selling book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman, this group’s purpose is to teach couples the essentials of communication and the building blocks for overcoming conflict. If you want to achieve relationship harmony and increased emotional intimacy, this group is for you!

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the culmination of Dr. John Gottman’s lifelong contribution to the study of relationships. Couples will learn to enhance “love maps”, nurture fondness and admiration, turn toward each other instead of away, allow one another to influence, solve solvable problems, overcome gridlock, and create a shared sense of meaning. Learning and utilizing the Seven Principles is a proven method to improve relationships and increase marital satisfaction & longevity.

Participants are NOT required to talk about their marriage issues as the class is educational in nature. The course is not group therapy, but instead a weekly workshop to learn communication skills, conflict resolution and create shared meaning. 

HERE’S WHAT YOU GET…

• 10 Hour of Training
• 2 Copies of Seven Principles for Couples Workbooks
• Love Maps Card Deck
• Open-Ended Questions Card Deck

Two Options for Workshops

Virtual Weekly Workshops

Weekly workshops are ideal for couples who prefer to spread their content over 8 weeks. Classes will be held virtually via Google Meet on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm-8:30pm (EST).Virtual courses require participants to have internet connection and a quiet, non-distracting place to participate in class. 

Intensive Weekend Workshop

Weekend workshops are ideal for a couple that can dedicate a Friday afternoon and a full Saturday to their relationship. Weekend intensives are hosted in Grand Ledge. 

Dates for Spring 2024 

TBD

Class cost includes the 10 hours of instruction/education PLUS the materials needed for the class. This includes two copies of The Seven Principles Couples Guide, Open Ended Questions and Love Map card decks as well as a copy of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman.

Cost: $425 per couple

Register for the group by completing the contact form to the right  and indicating your interest in the group. Space is very limited. All registrants will be contacted by Insight Counseling to complete registration paperwork and receive a copy of their material before class starts.

Meet Julie Shaltry:

 Julie is a Seven Principles Leader, Marriage and Sex Therapist and Gottman trained clinician with over 10 years experience working with distressed couples. Julie is the founder and owner of Insight Counseling Services as well as a Supervisor Educator. She is passionate about relationships and has a goal for every couple to achieve deep love, intimacy and eroticism.

Frequently Asked Questions

*Is this a replacement for couples therapy?

It depends! Many couples seek out couples therapy because they are struggling with communication and conflict management. Using the Seven Principles, couples learn skills that often keep them out of needing couples counseling. If a couple decides to do couples counseling either before or after the course, the learned material can greatly benefit that process because couples learn how to effectively communicate and do not use therapy time to develop those skills.

*Do I have to be married to register?

No. The best candidates for this group are in a committed, monogamous relationship whether that be marriage, pre-marital or simply committed.

*What if I have to miss a class?

It is highly suggested you attend fully for the best outcome, however, conflicts do happen! If you will miss a class, just talk with your instructor about homework and reading to do before the next session you can attend.

*Will my insurance pay for the class?

Unfortunately, no. Since this class is not couples therapy it is not covered by insurance. However, the cost of the course is less than $30 per couple per class and is often less expensive than an insurance copay for a therapy session.

*My relationship has a severe issue like ongoing substance abuse, intimate partner violence or an active affair. Would this class be right for me?

In these cases, I would recommend you seek marriage/family therapy immediately. This course, while full of useful information and skills, would not be able to meet the acute need present in a highly complex situation. Once the relationship reaches a safe, healthy place then returning to the workshop would be beneficial.

**I’ve never done a marriage course like this before. What should I expect?

This class is a workshop to improve your marriage. Think of it as an opportunity to meet and learn from other couples as well as grow from the skills. Couples will listen to some lecture then work with their spouse (or even other group members) on the workbook activities.  We may laugh a lot (maybe cry a little) and learn from one another.