Mastering the Mysteries of Love (MML) Relationship Enhancement® is an interactive, hands-on program that focuses on teaching the ten essential relationship skills that work together to change how people listen, talk, solve problems, and relate to each another.  

It is a great program for newlyweds or oldyweds, seriously dating, cohabiting, or the engaged.

In MML, couples learn to:
-understand each other better
-deepen the love, bonding, and attachment in their relationship
-talk and listen effectively, even when they disagree, to improve problem solving
-rediscover the wonder of each other
-meet each other’s most pressing needs
-experience honesty and compassion
-reawaken intimacy with and within their mates

MML is an update of Bernard Guerney's classic Relationship Enhancement® (RE), the program which has set the standard for Marriage Education effectiveness for forty years - streamlined for today's couples.  Current research done by the California Healthy Marriage Coalition finds that the Mastering the Mysteries of Love/ Relationship Enhancement® skills continue to be the most effective way to deepen couple bonds. 

MML is a 16-hour program that can be divided into two 8 hour classes--perfect for seminars at your church or for a class that meets federal requirements.  New optional Christian materials teach how the skills of RE can help couples (and congregations) effectively "Love one another."  

Who should attend?

• New Marriage Educators.   MML is easy-to-learn and easy-to-teach.  It works  with couples across the lifespan. With add-ons for teaching singles, stepfamilies, immigrants and refugees.  The program works with any class: from low-income to professionals. Materials are available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Nepali.  It mixes well with marriage inventories for engaged couples. It works in religious or secular settings.
• Experienced Marriage Educators.  Even if you have your favorite programs, this training will teach you new ways to work with and coach couples as they dialogue.  It will help you help them to deepen their relationship.
• Therapists.  Relationship Enhancement® is a research-validated therapy.  Use the MML activities and materials within your practice with couples, singles, families.  Learn couple coaching strategies that enable even the most troubled couples to have a conversation that gets beyond same-old surface fights to deep, often unexpressed needs.
• Experienced MML or RE Leaders.  Come and learn the new Christian and Catholic formats.  Be ready to teach them at churches in your community.

• Couples. Even if you never plan to teach, join us for two days to nurture your own relationship. MML is especially effective when presented by a married couple. After the training, you might decide to teach the course in your community or congregation. $100 spouse discount when you attend together. 

After taking the two-day Institute Training, you will be authorized an an MML instructor and qualified to teach MML Part One, Foundations of Great Relationships.  You will be eligible to participate in FREE bridgeline instruction to teach MML Part Two.  You can order MML materials, advertise yourself as an authorized MML instructor, and you can list yourself for free as an MML Instructor on the IDEALS website: skillswork.org.  You will also be able to add Ready for Love (our parallel program for singles/individuals) without any additional training expense through free teleconference/bridgeline trainings offered by IDEALS.

A Trainer-of-Trainers track is also available by which you can become certified to train MML instructors in your community. See www.skillswork.org for information.

What are the prerequisites?
There are no prerequisites for attending the Institute. No professional or mental health training is needed to effectively lead Mastering the Mysteries of Love workshops. Great for lay leaders and mentor couples.

What materials will I receive?
All attendees of this training Institute will receive either the Mastering the Mysteries of Love Leader's Guide, Mastering the Mysteries of Christian Love Leader's Guide, or Mastering the Mysteries of Sacramental Love Leader's Guide (your choice), a Participant's book for both the Christian and secular programs, and a set of Expression Skill Practice Cards.  Videos, powerpoints, and other teaching aids are available for purchase.  You will be eligible to participate in a variety of free support activities from IDEALS, including Marketing materials, client newsletters, and follow-up bridgeline discussions with others who use MML materials. There is no licensing fee. And it's inexpensive. The materials are as low as $8 per couple, and that's all you need to teach the class. 

What have participants said about this training?

"It's a great program and we love using it. If I can ever be a resource to other pastors or leaders about MML and how it works in a church situation, please let me know."

"This is a new way to communicate.  It is training I can teach my clients--and that I can take home to deepen love there."

"I loved all the practice exercises.  I learn by doing.  We did a lot and I learned a lot."

"I thought I knew how to teach couples to go to deep places.  Now I know how to take them to deeper, healing places."

"This class changed my life."

Why MML instead of another Relationship Enhancement program, such as Love's Cradle?
Mastering the Mysteries of Love is the core RE program--taught to over 14,000 couples in the past 3 years.  Its focus is on the work couples do together.  Over 6 of the 16 hours of MML are couple practice activities.  The focus of everything in the program is on the couple relationship. There is no extra content or special focus, as there is in Love's Cradle (targeted at low-income, unmarried parents - see Institute #907) or Mysteries of Stepfamilies (see Institute #903).

Multi-Ethnicity
MML has materials and a community of leadership that includes a growing number of ethnicities.  We have Trainers of Trainers who are African-American, African, Hispanic, Korean, Bosnian, Armenian, Burmese, and French.  Materials are available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Nepali. You will learn how to adapt MML for your community.  Videos feature African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian couples.  See listings at www.skillswork.org

About Mary Ortwein
Mary Ortwein, MS, LMFT, is Executive Director of IDEALS and co-author with Dr. Bernard Guerney of the MML Series of RE materials, including Mastering the Mysteries of Love, Love’s Cradle, Ready for Love, Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies, Mastering the Mysteries of Sacramental Love, the Happy Hometown Marriage Education Kit, and Mastering the Magic of Play. A licensed marriage and family therapist, she is also the mother of two grown sons, and a grandmother. Mary has a BA from Transylvania University in elementary education and a MS from the University of Kentucky in Family Studies. She is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and a Marriage and Family Therapy supervisor in training. Before coming to IDEALS, Mary taught elementary school seven years, was a full-time wife and mother when her children were small, directed several federal pregnancy, homeless, and VISTA programs, founded SIMON House, was Family Ministry Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, and worked as an in-home therapist, a case manager, and supervisor of mentor and in-home programs for the IMPACT and IMPACT Plus programs in Lexington, Kentucky. IDEALS was founded by Bernard Guerney, PhD, the creator of the Relationship Enhancement® program, the foundational program of Love's Cradle, MML, etc.  

For more information call Mary Ortwein at 502-227-0055
or email at mary@skillswork.org
 

This institute is part of the week-long Smart Marriages conference.

Conference Details Page to download a conference brochure, Register ONLINE, hotel & travel information & discounts, etc.