“Such a small investment of time for such a great benefit.”
“We found a way to say what we’d never said before–and understand things we hadn’t understood before. When we understood each other, the problems were no big deal.”
These comments by couples who have recently attended a Mastering the Mysteries of Love workshop tell what happens. In a brief time couples learn skills that enable them to reach new depths of understanding of each other. When they do, problems that loomed large come down to a size they can deal with.
The workshop is divided into two parts. In Part One you learn four relationship skills that help you develop or recover strong bonds with each other. In Part Two you learn 7 relationship skills that help you solve problems and develop habits of intimacy.
Cost of each workshop is $55 per couple. This includes a copy of Mastering the Mysteries of Love book in Part One.
During Part 1 of this workshop you will learn how to:
- Speak in ways that will cause your partner to want to cooperate
- Understand your partner at a deep level, so even differences between you can be a source of caring and commitment
- Express understanding in ways that help your partner communicate from his or her deepest, best self
- Find and express the positives that are the glue that bind you together.
- Change conflict patterns that just leave you feeling angry at each other to patterns that help you use conflicts to actually build trust and security.
During Part 2 you will learn how to:
- Solve problems in ways that work for both of you.
- Work out the details of agreements so issues resolved today are lived out tomorrow and next month
- Replace nagging reminders with reinforcing comments that help a partner follow-through on a commitment to change
- Stop patterns of conflict that eat away at your relationship
- Forgive each other for hurts and mistakes
- Build affection through simple, easy to do ongoing activities
- Use the skills you’ve learned to build relationships with your children, extended family, co-workers, and friends.
Each Mastering the Mysteries of Love workshop is small (3 to 6 couples), and couple discussions are private. During the workshop couples practice skills while off to themselves.
These workshops are intended equally for couples who wish to increase overall relationship satisfaction and for couples who want to begin to re-open channels of caring and love in their relationship.
Mastering the Mysteries of Love is a program with 40 years of proof of effectiveness. Originally created and researched by Dr. Bernard Guerney at Penn State University as Relationship Enhancement, it was updated by Dr. Guerney and Mary Ortwein of IDEALS in 2008 and retitled Mastering the Mysteries of Love Relationship Enhancement for Couples. It has been used by over 14,000 couples across the US since it’s publication in 2008. For more details on the curriculum, see Mastering the Mysteries of Love Curriculum.
Workshops are presented by Mary Ortwein, who is often assisted by interns and couples who have successfully completed the workshop. Mary co-authored Mastering the Mysteries of Love with Dr. Guerney, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and is Executive Director of IDEALS of Kentucky. She teaches the program around the country.
Workshops are offered at 306 West Main St in Frankfort at IDEALS of Kentucky. For workshops currently scheduled, see Schedules above.