Relationship Renovation

Relationship Renovation is a workshop designed for all sorts of couples, from de-facto, engaged, newly married, or senior couples, which aims to assist them in understanding, and applying to their own relationship, the research about what makes a relationship work, versus what makes it deteriorate and ultimately fail.

Based on the Gottman ‘Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work:’ book by  John Gottman and Nan Silver, the program involves combined presentations, psychoeducation, presenter role plays, practical skills training and the opportunity to practice skills with your partner in a safe and private environment aimed at learning skills in the three key relationship areas:

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1. conflict management skills

2. strengthening a couple’s friendship, intimacy, and emotional bond

3. creating a couple’s sense of shared purpose and meaning 

What will be covered

This workshop provides evidence-based tools to help couples improve relationship quality and satisfaction through teaching, demonstrations and couples practice sessions aimed at:

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• Developing skills in managing conflict constructively

• Gaining skills for solvable, perpetual, and gridlocked problems

• Improving friendship, fondness and admiration

• Enhancing romance, intimacy, and emotional connection 

• Creating a couple’s sense of shared meaning

• Maintaining gains throughout lifetime

These skills and techniques are supported by over 50 years of scientific research into relationships by award-winning relationship scientists Dr. John and Julie Gottman from The Gottman Institute.

Who should attend?

Couples that would benefit from this workshop:

• Those who wish to enhance a good relationship

• Those who wish to strengthen their emotional bond

• Those who wish to gain conflict management skills.

• Those who don’t require and feel they aren’t ready for therapy

Couples that this workshop is not suited for

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• Those with severe relationship distress

• Those with significant emotional or physical abuse

• Those with active addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling

• Those that have active infidelity or unresolved emotional injuries and trauma from recent affairs 

• Those with serious mental health problems.

Workshop structure

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Held over two consecutive weekends the program consists of combined presentations, psychoeducational skills training, couples private exercises, class exercises, and presenter role plays demonstrating the use of proven skills to make your relationship work.

Opportunity to practice skills with your partner in a safe and private environment, You will receive Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work box set including Seven Principles textbook, two couples workbooks, couples card decks and plenty of homework resources.

Continuous tea and coffee, morning tea and lunch provided. Couples can order lunch from the nearby restaurants or can bring their own lunch.

A Certificate of Attendance will be provided on successful completion at the end of the two days.

FAQ

• Will we have to share our personal problems and issues with the class? No. The class does not include sharing problems and issues publicly. Couple's exercises are done privately.    

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• Must both partners attend, or can I come alone? Since the class involves doing exercises together, it is recommended both partners participate to get the most out of this workshop.    

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• 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 class. While the book provides valuable information, the class lectures will summarise the content of the book. Each person will need the couple’s workbook however, to do the couple's exercises efficiently.   

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• Is this workshop equivalent to therapy or counselling? No! This workshop is psychoeducational and aimed to build skills and knowledge. It is not a replacement for therapy or marriage counselling.    

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A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” — Mignon McLaughlin