There are many marriage enrichment programs for couples who want to strengthen and deepen their marriages. So many, in fact, that it may be hard to know what will fit you best. Here are some nationally reputed programs of marriage enrichment according to:
- General marriage enrichment
- Faith based marriage enrichment
- Marriage enrichment geared especially for parents
- Marriage enrichment geared especially for African-Americans
- Marriage support for troubled marriages
- Programs in Spanish
For more go to: www.smartmarriages.com
GENERAL MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT
Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment (ACME) – An international nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that provides enrichment opportunities and resources to strengthen couple relationships and enhance personal growth, mutual fulfillment, and family wellness.
Renee Hinson
Winston-Salem, NC
800-634-8325 or 336-724-1526
E-mail: acme@bettermarriages.org
Couple Communication – Couples learn 11 interpersonal skills for effective talking and listening, plus processes for better decision making, conflict resolution, and anger management.
Sherod Miller, PhD, co-developer
Interpersonal Communication Programs, Inc
Evergreen, CO
800-328-5099
E-mail: icp@comskills.com
Franklin Covey’s Marriage, Family, Youth and Community Initiatives – This engaging, experiential curricula, including The 8 Habits of a Successful Marriage, is based on Stephen Covey’s best-seller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Military – Julienne Stathis
703-464-724
East of the Mississippi – Maria Walden-Sullivan
888-603-1776 ext 89181
West – Durelle Price
800-827-1776 x76152
Institute for Soul Healing Love - Non-profit, non-denominational institute designed to strengthen marriages and families. Classes also assist low-income families and minorities to improve life skills through communication and relationship development.
Beverly and Tom Rodgers
Charlotte, NC
704-364-9176
E-mail: info@SoulHealingLove.com
Marriage Alive Programs – Video-based programs include 10 Great Dates, a fun and innovative approach to marriage education, and Second Half of Marriage, to renew empty nest marriages.
David & Claudia Arp
888-690-6667 (toll-free)
E-mail: Info@marriagealive.com
Marriage Builders, Inc. - Marriage Builders helps couples learn how to build and maintain a mutually enjoyable marriage.
Willard Harley, Jr, PhD
St. Paul, MN
651-762-8570
E-mail: Admin@MarriageBuilders.com
PAIRS: Practical Application of Relationship Skills – Established in 1975, PAIRS teaches practical skills for building and rebuilding great relationships. Effective with couples at any stage from premarital to deeply troubled.
Seth Eisenberg
877-724-7748 (toll-free)
E-mail: info@pairs.com
PREP: The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program – Based on over twenty years of research, PREP teaches marital/premarital couples how to communicate effectively, work as a team, solve problems, manage conflict, and preserve and enhance love and commitment. Available in Spanish.
Howard Markman, PhD, Scott Stanley, PhD, Directors
Natalie Jenkins
800-366-0166 or 303-759-9931
E-mail: Info@PREPinc.com
Relationship Enhancement (RE) Programs – Couples learn skills to increase mutual understanding and emotional responsiveness; resolve conflicts; establish more satisfying behavior patterns, and enhance relationships with children and co-workers. Participant’s manual available in Spanish.
Bernard Guerney, Director, Rob Scuka, PhD, Mary Ortwein, MS Laura Landi
Bethesda, MD
301-986-1479 800-432-6454
E-mail: niremd@nire.org
FAITH BASED MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT
Worldwide Marriage Encounter – WWME is a weekend experience that teaches a technique of loving communication to promote intimate and responsible relationships and offers community support for the sacramental lifestyle modeled by the presenters. Offered in English, Spanish and Korean.
Administrative Office
2210 East Highland Avenue #106, San Bernardino, CA 92404
909-863-9963 Fax: 909-863-9986
E-Mail: office@wwme.org
Marriage Retorno – A weekend prayer experience for couples facilitated by a married couple and a Catholic priest, it helps couples to renew their relationship with God.
Joe and Mary Ward and Fr. Mel Herman, Executive Team
234 Hemlock Drive, North Wales, PA 19454
Phone: 215-362-8699
E-Mail: info@marriageretorno.org
Teams of Our Lady — An international movement of married couples that promotes the spiritual growth of the couple and the family through a program of prayer and study.
P.O. Box 4638
Tyler, TX 75712
Phone: 903-535-7864
E-mail: info@teamsofourlady.org
The Cana Institute – Cana Institute guides couples toward vibrant marriages by helping them understand the dynamics between the spiritual and problem-solving components of marriage.
Bridget Brennan, MA, MA, President and Jerome Shen, PhD
314-832-0512
E-mail: joy@canainstitute.org
The Covenant Experience – The Covenant Experience is an innovative parish program presented by lay couples and parish staff to enhance a Catholic couple’s appreciation of their sacrament of Matrimony.
Bob & Irene Tomonto
Miami, FL 33158
305-253-2036
Marriage Enrichment Program – This parish-based ministry for couples includes three programs: The Marriage Enrichment Weekend, the Retreat, and Engaged Enrichment.
The Marriage Enrichment Weekend Program, Inc.
P.O. Box 94026, Albuquerque, NM 87199-4026
505-821-1571
Christian Family Movement – This network of families supports each other in living their faith in daily life at home, in the workplace, and in their communities.
Jane and Paul Leingang, executive directors
812-962-5508
office@cfm.org
IMAGO Relationships International (IRI) – Programs include weekend workshops, counseling with certified Imago therapists, and a DVD-based program for home study.
Harville Hendrix, PhD and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD,
800-729-1121
Marriage Enrichment, Inc – Non-profit, non-denominational, and nationwide, Christian Marriage Workshops build positive communication skills in marriage and family relationships through private and small group activities.
JoAnn Johnson, Executive Administrator
800-72-N-RICH (800-726-7424
e-mail: info@marriageenrichment.org
Marriage Savers and Community Marriage Covenants - Clergy in over 150 cities have collaborated to develop Community Marriage Policies that call for rigorous marriage preparation and training Mentor Couples to help couples prepare for and strengthen their marriages.
Mike & Harriet McManus
Potomac, MD
301-469-5873
National Marriage Encounter – National Marriage Encounter (NME) promotes and encourages marriage and family life by offering Marriage Encounter weekends and a support community. It is open to couples of all faiths and those of no religious affiliation.
Chuck and Sandy Ogg, NME Business Administrators
4704 Jamerson Place, Orlando, FL 32807
Phone:800-828-3351
E-Mail: emory78@comcast.net
Living in Love – A parish-based retreat workshop for newlyweds and young married couples that presents insights from Theology of the Body through the witness of other young couples.
Ron and Kathy Feher, Fr. Chuck Gallagher, SJ
PO Box 2304
Southeastern, PA 19399
877-201-2142
PMRCusa@msn.com
Living in Love Every Day - Followup program teaching Theology of the Body life skills to married couples as an extension of the Living in Love retreat workshop and/or a mentor training course for Preparing to Live in Love.
Ron and Kathy Feher, Fr. Chuck Gallagher, SJ
PO Box 2304
Southeastern, PA 19399
877-201-2142
PMRCusa@msn.com
The Alexander House: Covenant of Love Ministry — The internationally recognized Covenant of Love ministry programs can help to build a thriving parish community by building and supporting strong, joyful, and lasting marriages focused on God’s plan for marriage.
Jeremy Rohr
763-463-9613
E-mail: jeremy@thealexanderhouse.org
The Couple Prayer Series — A six-week series to help married and engaged couples develop closer relationships with God and each other as they learn to pray in safe, close and comfortable ways.
Deacon Bob and Kathy Ovies
Box 1270
Royal Oak, MI 48068
248-546-7253
host@coupleprayer.org
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT GEARED ESPECIALLY TO PARENTS
Bringing Baby Home Certification Training Program – The Bringing Baby Home (BBH) workshops help new and expectant parents with the transition to parenthood.
BBH Info line: (206) 832-0355
E-mail: bbh.ct@bbhonline.org
Family Wellness Associates – Survival Skills for Healthy Families is a unique 12-hour parenting education program that involves the whole family and teaches practical, lifelong skills that strengthen and empower marriages and families.
George Doub, MFCC, MDiv, Ana Morante, LMFT, Erin Simile, LMFT
Scotts Valley, CA
831-440-0279
E-mail:families@familywellness.com
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT GEARED ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS
African American Family Life Education Institute, LLC. – Research-based and community-tested curricula for today’s families that is useful in secular or faith-based setting.
Lorraine C. Blackman, PhD, LCSW, CFLE
Arusi Network – Social support for African-American Christian marriages
Andrew & Terri Lyke, Lyke to Lyke Consultants
P.O. Box 907
Matteson, IL 60443
312-751-8264
E-mail: ministry@arusi.org
The Black Marriage Curriculum: Basic Training for Couples – This video-based curriculum is designed to be taught in a group setting but can also be used by couples at home.
Nisa Muhammad, Rozario Slack, DMin
301-613-1316
MARRIAGE SUPPORT FOR TROUBLED MARRIAGES
Retrouvaille – is weekend experience combined with a series of 6-12 post-weekend sessions over three months. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. There are neither group dynamics nor group discussion on the weekend.
800-470-2230
The Third Option – is an ongoing group program for marriages. It combines 14 unique skill-building workshops, sharing by mentor couples who have overcome marital problems, and a support group component. Because it uses a “self-change” model, one spouse may come alone.
Pat Ennis
315-472-6754, x320
e-mail: pat@thethirdoption.com
BAN – Beyond Affairs Network – BAN is an International Support Group with local chapters for people recovering from the devastating experience of a spouse’s affair.
Anne and Brian Bercht
604-859-9393
E-mail: anne@passionatelife.ca
COMPASSION WORKSHOPS: Anger & Violence Regulation – Educational programs for individuals and families that deal with the detection, treatment and prevention of abuse (home study/self-training kit available).
Steven Stosny, PhD
301-921-2010
E-mail: stosny@compassionpower.com
Controlled Separation: Divorce Prevention – This divorce prevention process provides hope for seemingly hopeless marital relationships on the brink of divorce. Shows couples how to avoid making an impulsive divorce decision, how to slow down, cool down, and rebuild a healthy marriage.
Lee Raffel, MSW & Elsie Radtke, MEd, founders
E-mail: elsiepradtke@aol.com
Divorce Busting Programs – Trained coaches support couples who want to save their marriage.
Michele Weiner-Davis
800-664-2435 or 815-337-8000
E-mail: virginia@divorcebusting.com
The Alexander House: Christian Marriage Coaching — This program has helped thousands of couples rediscover the joy and happiness in their marriage by focusing on God’s plan for their marriage.
Matt Dalton
303-840-1871
E-mail: matt@thealexanderhouse.org
PROGRAMS IN SPANISH
The Renovacion Conyugal – A marriage enrichment weekend program to help couples strengthen their marriage. It also helps troubled marriages where separation or divorce is a possibility or has already occurred. Available in several dioceses in the southeastern U.S.
Contact the Family Life Office
Diocese of Orlando
407-246-4882
