I created this list when a woman asked me which
courses to suggest to her husband. She thought he'd insist on
spending most of his time on the golf course but if she could
talk him into trying some of the classes, "which might be action-based,
lively, entertaining - not "talking heads or a bunch of power points and
research? He doesn't want something heavy or to be roped
into touchy feely therapy exercises." Hmmm, I think I get it.
In fact we should all probably include a few of these in our schedules to
break up the intensity. I also told her she can assure him he won't stand
out as one of the "non professionals". With 2,000+ people attending he'll
blend into the crowd. MANY public – "just regular folks" – attend. - diane

I defintely recommend that spoues join you for the keynotes and banquets - they'll
all be entertaining and interesting even to a non-clinician/non marriage-educator and
it's great fun to have your spouse there listening with you. And since an emerging
theme at this year's conference is all about sex, makes it even more interesting
to have your partner there.

The keynotes are included in the conference registration or in a daily registration,
if your spouse wants to join you for just one day.
This means all the keynotes & workshops each day
including the Saturday Night Live John Gray: Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice keynote and the Sunday
Night Comedy Cafe with Zakov Smirnoff, Jay & Laura Laffoon, Kerri Pomarolli and Ron McGehee.
Also note that lunch is included with the great mid-day keynotes on Fri, Sat, and Sun. 

You can buy guest tickets for both the Thurs July 8 Luncheon "Women: Why Marriage?!" and
the Friday night Banquet with Bill Doherty: Becoming Better Husbands.

Also Note that it's easy to add sessions in the 800# Sunday afternoon series - they're included in
conference or daily Sun registration, but it's just $15 to add a guest ticket.
----------------------------------------

KEYNOTES:

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
engergy and their love up where it belongs. 

P-11 Sunday, July 11, 7:30pm 
Marriage Comedy Cafe
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 sytems, 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!



The following workshops are active, play-based, and fun.....each 90 mins long, July 9 - July 11:

302
Warm Things Up!
Katherine Robredo, MSW, Maureen Griner, MA
Learn to be a great marriage educator with 20 icebreaker
activities to enliven any class and enhance group learning.
Plus tips on adult learning styles and dealing with difficult
people.


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.

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.

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.

714
Making Music in Your Marriage – TOOB
Nisa Muhammad, Jamil Muhammad
This program uses pop, country and R & B to teach

the benefits of marriage & how to improve communication,

manage conflict, and deepen commitment. As seen on

CNN’s Black in America.

----------------------------------------
And these, while not strictly "play" are exercise-based, and/or
entertaining, funny, got very high marks at past conferences
from people who report they brought
their non-professional spouse who loved – and "got the most
out of" – these sessions without a touch-feely vibe in sight:

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.
 
205
ThriveSphere – TOOB
Sherod Miller, PhD
Learn to facilitate this comprehensive cost-effective,
web-based inventory for premarital and marital
self/partner/relationship awareness. Part 2 training
online at your convenience. Usually $85, here it’s FREE.
 
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.
 
208
The Future of Monogamy
Peggy Vaughan
It's time to tackle the patterns of serial marriage
and serial/temporary monogamy that threaten to
make long-term marriage almost obsolete. Q & A
about affairs, monogamy and future strategies.
 
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.
 
215
Heart Rhythm Practice
Dan McMannis, MEd, Jana Staton, PhD
Teach couples a new way to reduce stress, heal
old wounds, increase trust, optimism and connection
by synchronizing heart, body & brain in a positive,
energetic state. Experiential.
 
219
Facebook and Marriage
Jason and Kelli Krafsky
300 million people use Facebook. Take your program
to the masses by tapping its free & low-cost marketing
tools.  Plus learn how to help couples protect their
marriages from its dangers.
                 
 
306
Basic Training: Men, Women and Marriage – TOOB
Rozario Slack, DMin, Nisa Muhammad
Two straight-talking curricula developed in the crucible
of the Black experience. Teach Black men and women
the principles and skills to create and sustain successful
marriages.
 
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.
 

312
Coaching Couples
Joseph Hernandez, PhD, Ana Morante, MS, CFLE
People do the best they know how but still end up in
pain and disappointment. Learn and practice coaching
skills the Family Wellness way to help couples fully
enjoy each other, rather than just co-exist.
 
314
Why Knot? Marriage-Readiness for Men – TOOB
Ken Gosnell, MDiv, MA
This program addresses the negative beliefs and
attitudes many men hold about marriage and moves
men and single fathers to a positive “readiness” view
of marriage.
 
319
Increase Your Website Traffic!
Elizabeth Thomas
150,000 people look online for marriage help every
month! Learn, in non-techie language and affordable
(free!) strategies, what it takes to get your website
ranked high – and reach them.
 

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.
 
402
Family Wellness: Skills for Fragile Families
George Doub, MDiv, Erin Simile, MS
Teach skills to at-risk families – never-married,
teen, single parent, stepfamily, military, those
with abuse – to handle extraordinary challenges
and move toward greater stability.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
415
The Legacy Campaign
Rozario Slack, DMin, MDiv
We must stop the epidemic of fathering out of
sequence! Learn the tools to engage and teach
urban males Manhood first. Husbandhood second.
THEN fatherhood!
 
419
Tech Boot Camp
Marc Payan
We can't change the world unless we reach
it! Learn how to appeal to 21st century couples
by honing your skills on the free and phenomenal
Facebook and Twitter internet resources.
 
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.
 

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.
 
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.
 
605
Deep Friendship/Shared Goals
Blaine Fowers, PhD
Learn exercises to foster deep friendship, the
keystone to a vibrant, lasting marriage. Spousal
friends bring out the best in each other, want
the best for each other, and pursue shared goals.
 
607
Hitched (or Not) & Hatching
Jennifer Baker, PsyD, Derek Gwinn, MA, CFLE
Expectant parents are busy. Learn a realistic
alternative to multi-week programs – a fun-filled,
super-charged class that delivers a full-day of
relationship education. Involve community
sponsors for extra oomph.
 
611
Teaching Marriage to Undergrads
Arthur Nielsen, MD, Frank Fincham, PhD
Learn how to make marriage courses interesting
and meaningful in the lives – and future marriages
– of students. Bring your ideas and curricula to share.
 

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.
 
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.

710
Suiting Up
Calvin Williams, Jeff Erlacher, MA, Lief Noll, PhD
This newest PREP program strengthens men to
master the complex issues facing 21st century
fathers and includes exercises to evaluate choices
& consequences and set goals that are within their reach.  
  
717
The Business of Love
John Curtis, PhD
Apply 9 proven business "best practices" to create
21st century marriages built to last. Visioning, logos,
job descriptions & performance appraisals, mergers,
etc. Great appeal to men & dual career couples.
 
719
Prison Re-entry Programs
Teach marriage, relationship, & fatherhood skills
to strengthen families and reduce recidivism, plus
how to sell the idea to local officials; funding and evaluation.
Keeping FAITH (Families And Inmates Together in Harmony)
- Ron & Cathy Tijerina
Inside/Out Dads - Ken Gosnell, MDiv, MA - TOOB
PREP & Pick-A-Partner in Michigan prisons - TOOB
- Kelly Sigler, Jim Sheridan, JD, MBA

801
How To Avoid Falling For A Jerk – TOOB
John Van Epp, PhD
Great marriages begin long before the
wedding. Learn the 5 keys to successful
mate-selection, and how to avoid the
"love is blind" attachment-syndrome.
For singles, or single again.
 
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.
 
805
The PeopleMap
Mike Lillibridge, PhD
This self-scoring, 7-item, 5-min tool is 95% accurate
in measuring 4 personality types. Learn how to
strengthen your marriage based on maps of
your personality strengths & styles.
 
806
7 Habits for 24/7 Dads – TOOB
Ken Gosnell, MDiv, MA
This new program based on the Covey 7 Habits
model, helps men become responsible, committed
dads. Includes exercises, recruitment & implementation
strategies for a variety of settings.
 
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.
 
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".                 
 
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.
 
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.

815
The Seven Desires of Every Heart
Debbie and Mark Laaser, PhD, MDiv
All couple problems can be traced to unmet
desires of the heart. Understand the 7 desires
in terms of Satir’s Iceberg Model and learn to
use them to reach deeper spiritual connection
& intimacy

816
Healthy Lifestyles = Healthy Relationships
Pamela Holtzman, RN, MSW
There’s lots more to it than communication skills.
Learn nutrition, exercise, and stress management
“skills” that are proven to reduce burnout &
depression and increase happiness, well-being,
& love.
 
818
Marriage Rally: Teach-In
Transforming Communities Grassroots Style
Julie Baumgardner, MA, Nisa Muhammad
Learn what communities across the country
are doing to strengthen marriage and how you
can get started. Brainstorm about opportunities
– free media, the web, funding, volunteers, creating
buy-in – and how to avoid the stumbling blocks.

-------------------------------------------


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