Make your good thing better, rescue your relationship from the brink.
The public - many couples and singles - attend the full conference alongside mental health professionals. It's a large crowd and you'll blend right in. We don't put degrees on the badges and no one knows who is attending to become a marriage educator and who is attending to improve their own marriage or relationship. You'll enjoy just about anything at the conference, so feed your curiosity and try out sessions that sound interesting, but here are some that are especially suited to couples who are attending to make their good thing better, or to rescue a relationship that is close to the brink. Note that there is a $100 spouse conference discount and a $50 a day discount for spouses attending the same pre or post training institute.
Don't Miss the Friday Night Banquet:
***B-Friday, July 9, 7pm
BANQUET Keynote
Becoming Better Husbands
Bill Doherty, PhD
We all know how it works - women are the relational leaders; men take their cues from
their wives or resist their lead. Learn about working with men who want to become
better husbands using a unique group experience whereby men learn to focus on
self-change without asking their wives to change, and without even asking their wives
to help them change – a bottom up strategy by which men define their own goals.
P-3 Friday, July 9, 12 noon
Lunch Plenary
Hope for Couples on the Brink of Divorce
Bill Doherty, PhD, Don Gordon, PhD
Learn how to divert couples considering divorce from entering a litigious path that will
end their marriage and harm their children. The Couples On the Brink project has developed
innovative ways to help couples look more deeply at their options for saving their marriage and
includes an online program that teaches skills to reduce conflict, increase cooperation, and
open up the reconciliation path.
P-5 Saturday, July 10, 8:30am
Love in the Time of Twitter
Pat Love, EdD
When is tweeting cheating? When is texting sexting? To safeguard your
marriage you've got to know the risks and rules of cyberspace. It's all in
your mind – until it isn't. Come learn how to "mind your marriage" and use
the new social medium to strengthen, not strain your relationship.
Porn Addiction
Mark Laaser, PhD, MDiv
Pornography, particularly on the Internet, is an epidemic that is destroying
lives and marriages. Understand the factors that can lead to pornography
becoming an addiction; and strategies to help couples recover and to prevent
relapse.
______
***P-6 Saturday, July 10, 12 noon
Lunch Plenary
Divorce Busting Secrets
Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW
After nearly three decades of helping couples on the brink, it's clear that
learning skills isn’t always enough. Divorce Busting Secrets will take you beyond
your curriculum to help couples in flat-lined relationships keep their hearts and
minds open so that renewal and reconciliation can become a reality.
_____
P-7 Saturday, July 10, 3:45pm
Keeping FAITH (Families And Intmates Together in Harmony)
Ron & Cathy Tijerina, Sherod Miller, PhD
This nationally recognized “promising practice” prison
reentry program for incarcerated fathers
combines Couple Communication and Fatherhood
skills to reduce recidivism by 62%.
***P-8 Saturday Night Live, July 10, 7:30pm
Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice
John Gray, PhD
Our marriages can only be as good as we feel!
Learn how to help couples tune-up and get their
energy and their love up where it belongs.
***P-9 Sunday, July 11, 8:30am
Erotic Intelligence
Esther Perel, MA
This provocative new take on intimacy and sex grapples with the obstacles
and anxieties that arise when our quest for secure love conflicts with our
pursuit of passion. Explore the paradoxical relation of domesticity and eroticism,
challenge the inevitable sexual decline and boredom, introduce innovative strategies to
restore sexual aliveness. Help couples sustain desire over the long haul
while respecting needs for safety and stability.
_______________
***P-11 Sunday, July 11, 7:30pm
Marriage Comedy Club
Yakov Smirnoff, Jay and Laura Laffoon, Kerri Pomarolli and Ron McGehee
The research is in – laughter strengthens the immune system, raises sex hormones,
lowers stress hormones and blood pressure. Learn how to use humor to deliver
marriage material – to change perspectives, shake up rigid systems, open couples to
laugh, listen, and connect. Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
Laugh often, laugh loud...laugh until you gasp for breath. Together!
___________________________________________
Workshops - These 90-minute sessions Fri, Sat, & Sun are included in a general conference registration:
201
***The Five Love Languages – TOOB
Gary Chapman, PhD
Help couples learn to speak their spouses’
“love language”, make the transition from the
“in love” to the “covenant love” stage and avoid
the trap of getting the “tingles” for someone
other than their spouse.
202
Mindful Marriage
Pat Love, EdD, Jon Carlson, PsyD
Learn to apply mindfulness techniques, practiced
for over 2500 years, as an add-on to marriage
counseling or education to increase awareness,
kindness, acceptance, and love.
204
Keeping Love Alive – TOOB
Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW
This solution-oriented, strengths-based Divorce
Busting program can help even last-ditch couples
avoid divorce, even if only one spouse attends.
Teach classes or use the techniques in your practice.
207
Celebrate Your Marriage – TOOB
Jay and Laura Laffoon
This 8-session, DVD, faith-based program teaches
5 essential actions that foster an environment of hope.
Humor driven, interactive. Use with any marriage
education program.
209
Smart Steps for Stepfamilies – TOOB
Brian Higginbotham, PhDLearn key strategies to supplement any marriage
education program or create a stand-alone class
for stepcouples and children. Information for work
with ethnic minorities.
210
1-2-3 Magic
Tom Phelan, PhD
Teach parents easy-to-follow steps for disciplining
kids ages 2-12 without arguing, yelling or spanking
and when – and how – silence can speak louder
than words.
212
Money Habitudes: The Last Taboo – TOOB
Syble Solomon, MEd
A unique card deck gives instant, life-changing
insights into attitudes about money. Teach groups,
use with individuals, couples, youth, or add to any
marriage program.
213
Sex and Romance in the Biblical Marriage – TOOB
Hon Jim Sheridan, JD, MBA
Scripture describes marriage as a relationship
between equals filled with passion and love. Learn
how to put this into practice with disagreements,
sex, and the realities of lifelong marriage.
301
Love Without Hurt
Steven Stosny, PhD
Learn how to use this approach in marriage education
settings to help overcome entrenched resentment, anger,
verbal and emotional abuse BEFORE you try to teach
communication skills.
304
Through Sickness
Hank Sibbing, JD, MS, Jon Carlson, PsyD, EdD
Illness can strike any time, but as we age sickness
increases and marriage becomes less about fun and
romance and more about survival and coping. Learn
crucial deep love practices to help couples deal with
these life changes.
307
Hot Monogamy: The Sexy Brain
Pat Love, EdD
A sexy brain is not only the cure for the lazy libido but
it's all you need to create an exciting love life. Come learn the basics – as well as the secrets of sexually
satisfied couples.
308
Affairs: Step-by-Step to Recovery
Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW
There isn’t one right approach, but it helps to have a
map of the territory. How much disclosure? What should
you do when the affair is on-going? Learn a flexible
approach that works!
309
Stepfamily 911: Crisis Intervention – TOOB
Carri Taylor, Gordon Taylor, MA
First marriages and remarriages are as different as
apples and oranges. Use the right paradigm and tools
& you can calm even the hottest issues (parenting,
money, boundaries) and avert disaster.
318
Genograms – TOOB
Rita DeMaria, PhD
Easy-to-use tools explore family patterns (cut-offs,
legacies, addictions, etc) that influence relationships
plus 5 exercises to strengthen love and commitment.
401
***IMAGO Dialogue
Harville Hendrix PhD, Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD
Structured dialogue, the very core of the powerful
Imago model, helps couples learn to switch from
monologue to dialogue and from judgment to
curiosity and affirmation to make important
new love connections. Experiential.
403
Reprogramming Your Relationship
Terry Hargrave, PhD
The best change is built on accurate insights
combined with skills and practice. Help couples
see into their past plus give them step-by-step
practices targeted at both cognitive and
behavioral change.
***404
Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It!
Pat Love, EdD, Steven Stosny, PhD
Learn an approach that combines brain research
and a set of brief behaviors guaranteed to strengthen
marriage. Best of all, men can do it without feeling
they have to behave like women.
405
Marriage LINKS – TOOB
John Van Epp, PhD
LINKS (Lasting Intimacy through Nurturance,
Knowledge and Skills) teaches the Relationship
Attachment Model (RAM) for maintaining intimacy,
trust, sexuality, forgiveness and mutuality.
***406
Sherod’s Squares
Sherod Miller, PhD
Get to the heart of a relationship in two minutes
with this powerful, engaging non-verbal technique.
Use in classes or clinical settings for uncannily
accurate assessment and intervention.
407
Ecstasy Without Guilt
Joe Beam
Understand the inherent causes of “low” and “no”
sex marriages and an approach to help more
“conservative” couples find excitement and fulfillment.
408
Beyond Affairs: Prevention and Recovery
Anne and Brian Bercht
Learn how to establish a BAN peer-to-peer
support system for betrayed spouses in your
community – designed to enhance any
affair-recovery program. 2008 Impact
Award Recipient.
409
Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies
Nancy Landrum, MPsy
Use tools like The Nails game, True/False Quiz,
the Stepfamily House, Stumbling & Building Blocks
Guidelines to help stepcouples learn how to manage
the challenges over which they have control.
410
ScreamFree Marriage
Hal Runkel, MS
A revolutionary program that helps couples
calm down, grow up, and get closer by learning
to embrace conflict and practice a calm
self-representation as foundations of a
great marriage.
411
Positivity Transforms Relationships
Vagdevi Meunier, PsyD
Use Positive Psychology concepts to help
couples build gratitude, compassion, curiosity,
admiration, and other approach-oriented skills
to transform relationships and boost satisfaction
and success.
412
Mindful Way Through Alcohol Abuse
Jon Carlson, PsyD, EdD
The Mindful Way, through tools like breathing
and "urge surfing", helps couples and families
achieve balance & learn either to use alcohol in
moderation or maintain their goal of abstinence.
414
The Second Half – TOOB
Claudia and David Arp, MSW
Teach empty nesters to reinvent their marriage,
avoid divorce, and make the rest the best. Great
for mentor couples to teach in church or community.
Bonus "Dates for Empty Nesters" material.
501
Mars and Venus: Grief and Loss
John Gray, PhD
The loss of a loved one – partner, parent, child
– can be the most challenging experience of a
lifetime. While loss is inevitable, suffering is not.
Learn strategies to help Mars & Venus (they
grieve differently) recover.
502
The Miracle of Connection
Hedy Schleifer, MA
Seven principles and practices will change
the way you think about relationships and help
you guide couples to embrace differences, harness
passion, and deepen connections.
503
Secrets of Happily Married Women
Scott Haltzman, MD
Help wives become energized and find
contentment in the face of the challenges of
balancing feminist ideals, traditional roles,
work, self, kids, and well-intentioned advice
about having it all.
504
The Power of Play
Elaine Braff, MPS, Hal Braff, JD
Play is the secret ingredient to marital satisfaction.
Learn exercises and tools to add to any marriage
program to help couples make play an everyday
part of their marriage.
505
A New Way to Love – TOOB
Harville Hendrix, PhD, Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD
This Imago faith-based course guides couples
in finding God's purpose for their marriage,
deepening their connection, and starting a
grass-roots movement of couples teaching couples.
506
Marriage-Friendly Therapy
Bill Doherty, PhD
Marital therapy is a challenge. Learn about the
essential skills and values of a good marital
therapist and about an exciting new resource
for locating these therapists in your community.
507
Internet Sex Addiction
Mark Laaser, PhD, MDiv
Porn, the #1 seller on the internet, has become
extremely damaging to marriage. Learn to
recognize the symptoms and to prevent and
help overcome addiction to internet sex.
508
Torn Asunder: Mending Infidelity – TOOB
Dave Carder, MA
This model provides a structure to stabilize
marriages in the crucial first 90 days; skills to
differentiate types of infidelity and to start
forgiveness and trust building; plus homework.
509
Successful Stepfamilies – TOOB
Ron Deal, MMFT
This 8-sesssion, DVD & faith based program
teaches specific skills to target stepfamily
challenges identified in research for The
Remarriage Checkup.
510
The Marriage Boot Camp Experience
Ron and Tina Konkin
We learn best by playing games! These drills
& exercises will help couples quickly understand
and resolve unfinished business & begin enjoying
their here and now. As seen on TLC.
512
Parenting From the Heart
Dan McMannis, MEd
Teach parents simple methods to activate their
heart-brain connection and help foster bonding
and attachment, manage stress, improve learning,
and restore energy and optimism.
514
For Christian Lovers Only – TOOB
Clarence Walker, PhD, Ja’Ola Walker, MEd, DD
Work with African American marriages using
this 3-part Bible and research-based program
in church or community settings – intimacy
retreats, skills, skits, music, & group discussions.
601
Married Sex for Men
Michael Metz, PhD, Barry McCarthy, PhD
Ten things men need to know to deal with
the common problems – low desire, porn
addiction, erectile dysfunction, premature
ejaculation – to build a healthy, pleasurable
sex life.
602
Forgiveness for Real
Terry Hargrave, PhD
Genuine forgiveness must begin by healing
the pain caused by violations of trust and
love. A clear-cut approach illustrated with
case examples includes tools for dealing
with cutoffs, lying, betrayal, and affairs.
**604
The Five Keys to an Incredible Marriage – TOOB
Tim Gardner, MA, DMin
Teach couples to remember 5 proven keys to
a great, fulfilling marriage on one hand…and
it’s guaranteed they’ll never forget them. Faith
& research-based, entertaining, & interactive.
Usually $29.95, free here.
616
Marriage and Depression
Dennis Lowe, PhD, Emily Scott-Lowe, PhD
Marriages in which one spouse is depressed are
nine times more likely to divorce. Teach couples
to identify depression and the skills and resources
to help them cope effectively.
701
The Marriage Garden – FOOB
Wallace Goddard, PhD, James Marshall, PhD
Easy to teach, innovative, flexible, FREE
curriculum based on new discoveries in positive
psychology. Includes 6 lessons and supporting
exercises.
702
The Love Path
Joe Beam
Learn how this visual model and a dynamic
group process help married couples understand
how to fall in love all over again whether in
crisis or simply in search of deeper satisfaction.
705
Plan for Happily Ever Laughter
Yakov Smirnoff, MA
Learn to use the Performer/Audience concept
to create love & laughter, rekindle and sustain
the honeymoon stage of your relationship. This
Plan becomes your guide to happily ever laughter.
706
Dating and Marriage: 4 Keys to Success
John Buri, PhD
Help singles/singles-again understand the essentials
of a working partnership, myths that undermine success,
& tools to choose wisely. Understand selfism, maximizing,
& growth motives.
707
Blending Sexual Meanings
Michael Metz, PhD
Heal couples fractured due to problems with male
sexuality: porn, strip clubs, etc. by integrating
sexual meaning more deeply into the marriage
to strengthen cohesion and promote intimacy.
709
Beating the Odds: Successful Remarriage
Barry McCarthy, PhD
The good news is that remarried couples can improve
their odds. Examine strategies and techniques which
predict successful remarriage and identify common
traps and how to avoid them.
715
Special Needs Children
Laura Marshak, PhD, Fran Prezant, MEd
Marriages with special needs children face higher rates of distress and breakdown. Learn key
guidelines & specific strategies to help them
stay connected.
802
ScreamFree Parenting – TOOB
Hal Runkel, MS, Neil McNerney, MEd
Learn to stay calm and connected to your children and how you can do the same in
all your relationships. ScreamFree is Bowen
family-systems theory applied to today’s families.
803
Win Your Wife’s Heart Forever
Scott Haltzman, MD
If we can build skyscrapers and land on Mars,
we can also figure out how to succeed at marriage.
Eight Secrets From Happily Married Men on how
to win – and keep – the prize.
804
Crazy About You: Scorched-Earth Love
Steven Stosny, PhD
Jealousy is a crucial emotional "signal." But when
perverted through blame and control, it can cause
psychosis, misery and divorce. Discover the road
to understanding and healing.
***807
Marital Sex As it Ought to Be
Barry McCarthy, PhD
When it's good, it’s great. When it's bad or
non-existent, it's a bummer. Learn what it takes
to have great marital sex – intimate and erotic –
and how to prevent and resolve sexual problems.
808
Close Calls: Avoiding Adultery
Dave Carder, MA
Advice from thousands of adulterers help us
identify our own high risk situations and
“Dangerous Partner Profiles” and provides
ideas for using Close Call experiences to actually
strengthen marital intimacy.
809
Remarriage Prep: The Second Time Around – TOOB
Carri and Gordon Taylor, MA, MFT
Learn how to identify your non-negotiables – often overlooked in courtship – and the ten key
steps to the development of intimacy & trust,
both crucial to the success of any remarriage.
810
Hot Latin Lovers: Latino Marriage
Joseph Hernandez, PhD, Ana Morante, MS, CFLE
We know the stereotypes: Latinos are passionate,
the men don't communicate, women are more
mothers than wives. Learn to use our strengths
to make our marriages nuestro "Vinculo mas Fuerte".
811
Active Parenting of Teens – TOOB
Michael Popkin, PhD, MEd
Parenting teens can stress any marriage. This video-based communication/discipline program
empowers parents to help their teens (and their
marriage) not only survive – but thrive! New 3rd
edition.
812
Seriously Dating or Engaged – TOOB
Roger Tirabassi, MA, DMin
Learn the tools you need for a life-long marriage with step-by-step guidelines to handle conflict,
anger, family-of-origin, finances, sex, etc.
813
Infertility: Hope and Healing
Montse Casado-Kehoe, PhD
Infertility can devastate and destroy a marriage.
Help couples understand and manage the emotional,
financial, spiritual, psychological, and sexual
stress, conflict, and decision making.
814
10 Great Dates for Black Couples – TOOB
Rozario Slack, DMin, Angela Slack, MD
This program combines fun dates and marriage skills – and appeals to men! Based on the proven
insights of the Arps' 10 Great Dates program.
Teach in your church or community.
819 - Note Special time: 2pm - 6pm
Crossing the Bridge
Hedy Schleifer, MA, Yumi Schleifer
Orlando premier of the film Crossing the Bridge
and an introduction to Hedy & Yumi's new concept of the Space,
the Bridge, & the Encounter to help you guide couples to
embrace differences and deepen connections.
_____________________________________________________________
Training Institutes - pre and post conference, require an additional fee of $135 a day
if you are already attending the General Conferfence.
107 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, July 7 & 8
Basic Training for Black Couples and Singles - As seen on CNN "Black in America 2"
Rozario Slack, DMin, Nisa Muhammad
Learn to teach two programs to help couples and singles in the Black community
understand the benefits of marriage, communicate better, manage their conflict and
increase their intimacy. Includes presentation and marketing skills and materials.
$100 spouse discount. Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/basic.html
110 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, July 7 & 8
CompassionPower Boot Camp & Love Without Hurt
Steven Stosny, PhD
Qualify to teach the intensive 3-day Boot Camp to reduce anger, resentment and
emotional abuse as well as the "Love Without Hurt" 8-hr program to add to any marriage
education course - designed to recognize & prevent domestic violence and child abuse.
These programs include emotional regulation skills that make it easier to learn marriage skills.
If you don't want to teach the classes, use the skills in clinical work or any setting. $100 spouse discount.
Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/stosny.html
111 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, July 7 & 8
Couple Communication: Collaborative Marriage Skills
Sherod Miller, PhD & Phyllis Miller, PhD
Teach Couple Communication I & II programs plus CORE for singles. Learn to
coach 11 classic talking & listening skills, an effective collaborative conflict-resolving
process, and practical anger management strategies using powerful skills mats.
Introduces THRIVE, the Collaborative Marriage Sphere "Reflectment". Marketing methods.
$100 spouse discount. SEE Institute #909.
Click for more information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/miller.html
***112 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, July 7 & 8
IMAGO: Couplehood Programs, Connects, & Conflict to Connection
Harville Hendrix, PhD and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD
Learn to coach couples using the transformative power of Imago Dialogue as you qualify to teach three programs: 9-hr Couplehood Programs (General, Christian & Jewish versions); the 3-hr IMAGOConnects; and "Through Conflict to Connection" 1 to 5 hr kit. For congregations & communities.
$100 spouse discount. Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/imago.html
113 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, July 7 & 8
Marriage Links
John Van Epp, PhD
Become certified: teach couples of any stage how to pace a relationship
with the Relationship Attachment Model (RAM) to stay connected in
communication, trust, sex, and mutuality. Teach groups in churches, schools
& the military. $100 spouse discount.
Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/links.html
115 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, July 7 & 8
Torn Asunder & Close Calls: Mending & Preventing Infidelity
(Subtitle: DRUNK WITH LOVE: Infatuation, Emotional Affairs, and Sleeping Around)
Dave Carder, MA
Qualify as an instructor to teach two programs Torn Asunder & Close Calls with a structure
to stabilize marriages in the first critical 90 days; differentiate types of infidelity; start forgiveness
and trust building; and to help others avoid the slippery slope. $100 spouse discount.
Click for more information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/carder.html
118 One Day - Thursday, July 8
Toward A Growing Marriage & The Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman, PhD
Gain practical ideas to create a Marriage Ministry in your church that will help
couples build strong marriage and thriving families. Leave equipped to teach the
Growing Marriage or the Five Love Languages programs. Or, attend simply to
spend the day with Gary Chapman to strengthen and grow your own marriage or
relationship. $50 spouse discount.
Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/chapman.html
***902 Two Day - Monday & Tuesday, July 12 & 13
Adventures in Marriage
Lori Gordon, PhD, MSW, Richard Albertson, Rob Harrison, MA
Qualify to teach this new program for couples that combines Christian principles with
Passage to Intimacy skills for confiding, resolving conflict, expressing anger, and
understanding how personality styles impact relationships. $100 spouse discount.
Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/adventures.html
903 Two Day - Monday & Tuesday, July 12 & 13
Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies (MMS)
Nancy Landrum, MA
Qualify to teach couples how to build and maintain successful, satisfying stepfamilies.
Combine Mastering the Mysteries of Love (MML) skills with critical stepfamily information
in an easy-to-teach program. Open to all - educators, clinicians, clergy, the public. Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies is a ten-hour curriculum that can be added to any marriage or relationship education program! $100 spouse discount. Click for more information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/MMS.html
***908 Two Day - Monday & Tuesday, July 12 & 13
Hold Me Tight: Sue Johnson's Emotionally Focused Interventions
Kathryn Rheem, MS, George Faller, MS
Understand Sue Johnson's exquisite logic of love – the concept of "effective dependency"; cycles
that sabotage connection; music of the dance; and how to shape conversations to
foster a secure lasting bond. Use the principles from Emotionally Focused Therapy in
your Hold Me Tight classes or in clinical settings.
Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/eft.10.html
Paradoxes of Desire
Esther Perel, MA
Why does great sex so often fade for couples who continue to love each other
as much as ever? Why does good intimacy not guarantee good sex? Can we want
what we already have? Why does the transition to parenthood so often spell
erotic disaster in couples? Why is the forbidden so erotic? When you love,
how does it feel, and when you desire, how is it different?
Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/perel.html
911 One Day - Monday, July 12
Working with Couples and Sexual Addiction
Mark Laaser, PhD, MDiv
Learn crucial tools for working with couples that are dealing with the pain of sexual addiction.
Recognize the symptoms and develop a recovery plan for the addict, spouse and couple.
$50 spouse discount. Click for more information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/laaser.html
913 One Day - Monday, July 12
Money Habitudes
Syble Solomon, MEd
The truth is that money – the actual dollar amount – is not the #1 cause of conflict in marriage.
A unique card deck gives couples & individuals life-changing insights into their attitudes about money. Teach groups, use with individuals, couples, youth, or add to any marriage program.
$50 spouse discount. Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/money.habitudes.html