Doing a marriage course

[Unregistered]

Our church has just started up a marriage course and my wife wants me to go along. I'm not sure it's a good idea. Has anyone out there been to something like that and can tell me how it went. I think my marriage is private and anyway we're doing ok, so why rock the boat??

[Romancer]

I am a woman but the idea of going to a marriage course is, to me, yucky! I realize they can probably help and I'd learn from them but I feel like you, that my marriage is private! If I was going to go, I'd make it clear to my wife that neither of us is to reveal secrets of our marriage to anyone other than in a private one-on-one situation with a counselor. I would never agree to go without that implicit agreement. I could not abide everyone knowing about our 'problems' or anything intimate about us.

But perhaps this is just a seminar type course and not interactive. That would be ok with me though I still would be reluctant. Not much help am I?

[Liz]

If you're talking about The Marriage Course (HTB) (http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/php-bin/jump.php?linkid=211) then this course does not involve you sharing intimate issues or problems with other people. It involves talks from a lead couple and exercises that the two of you do together. There are other courses (http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/healthclub/servprov/) like Marriage Encounter (http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/healthclub/servprov/marenhres/meang/) which also respect your relationship's privacy, but just enable you to grow closer.

We did a Marriage Encounter weekend after six years of marriage. We were a bit afraid it would rock the boat - we knew there were no-go areas that we avoided and issues we didn't know how to deal with - nothing major but enough to make life less than wonderful, but we wanted more for our marriage and took the risk We have never regretted that weekend. It has transformed our marriage and provided the foundation for years of closeness, joy and strength in times of trouble. Don't be afraid, there is so much more for you. You are growing and changing as a person through all the experiences of life. This is an opportunity for your marriage to go on growing and responding to the challenges and joys of life ahead.

Liz