The Christ-Centered Marriage Renewal Workshop for married or engaged couples looking to reconnect, repair, and re-energize their marriage.

This retreat is for married couples who…

• desire to deepen their connection, or
• need help to establish good communication patterns in their marriage, or
• feel distant from each other and aren’t sure why, or
• want to deepen the sacramental reality of their marriage, or
• are in a rut and want to find a way to start over, or
• seem stuck in repeating patterns of arguing or silent distancing that cause frustration and pain, or
• want to begin the process of repairing relationship hurts, even old ones, and understand how to move forward.

I think everybody should do this retreat at some point. Now we are more unified and thankful for each other. We've been married for 20 years, and now we are back to the closeness we had at the begining of our marraige. ~Past Workshop Attendee

Couples from all sorts of situations have come on past retreats; ranging from newlyweds to couples who are so distressed that divorce is on the table. This retreat can be specifically helpful for couples who feel like they’re ‘stuck’ in a constant state of negative interactions with each other. This retreat certainly pushes each individual to dig deeper into their own roles regarding negative interactions with their spouse, as well as to put aside their frustrations in order to hear each other’s pain.”  ~ Dr. Jonathan Marcotte, Clinic Founder and Director, Sacred Ground Psychotherapy

It touched upon topics and issues that I had been dealing with. I recieved closure and forgiveness. I also asked for forgiveness. Great deeper connection with my Hubby. Thank you for helping me recieve peace and reassurance by speaking about these sensitive topics. ~Roxanne

Understanding the "Demon Diaogues" helped break down the cause behind the conflicts and how to make changes to the way we communicate in order to stop the arguing and connect. ~ Carla

I got so much out of it...I felt I could apply the situations to my life. ~Sheila

We've been married for 20 years, and now we are back to the closeness we had at the beginning of our marriage.”

The Strengthening Your Love Marriage Workshop is a Christ-centered weekend retreat designed to nurture emotional closeness in your marriage. Facilitated by an expert team of Catholic therapists. This two-day workshop offers a road-map for addressing sensitive issues, encouraging healthy conversations framed in the Catholic faith, and provides personal guidance for married couples in the areas of forgiveness and growing in emotional intimacy.

Adapted for the Catholic couple, this workshop is based on the international best-selling books by Dr. Sue Johnson: Hold Me Tight: 7 Conversations for a Lifetime of Love and Created for Connection. These books are based in the ground-breaking Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT.) EFT employs strategies to help couples recognize and improve unhealthy patterns of communication in their marriage.

The EFT approach for couples can be broken down into seven transforming conversations that use the defining moments in love relationships to foster secure and lasting bonds These conversations aim to help couples:

• Discover what your partner is really trying to say through his or her actions.
• Look into the feelings underneath the immediate  reactions.
• Repair relationship rifts and build emotional safety with one another.
• Move into greater accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement with your partner.
• Discover how to find and offer forgiveness.
• Discover how emotional connection creates an environment for great sex.
• Become mindful about maintaining loving connection throughout a lifetime.

In addition to the private conversations couples will have with one another throughout the two days, there will be  opportunities for confession, Mass, and a renewal of Marriage Vows..

This two-day workshop does not include an overnight stay. Day 1 on Saturday ends just before dinner with couples returning the following Sunday morning to continue with Day 2 of the workshop. 

The registration fee includes the workshop fee for you and your spouse, all materials, expert-guided assistance during the workshop from therapists and facilitators, plus breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages throughout the weekend.

Our speaker team varies each session and is comprised of Catholic psychologists, therapists, and priests who will offer their expertise and experience. Therapist-consultants will be present for  the entire weekend in order to provide  individual consultation for couples.

Past speakers include:

• Fr. Peter Hopkins, LC, MSP
  • Program Director and Chaplain, Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center
• Dr. Lisa Klewicki, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  • Founder, Fountain of Life, LLC
  • Creator,  Strengthening Your Love Marriage Workshops
• Dr. Jacob Halbert, PsyD
• Jennifer Brinker, LCSW-CDr.
• Dr. Kathy Musslewhite, PsyD
• Melissa Freymann, LCPC, NCC
• Roger Sandberg, LCPC
• Sarah Portner, LCSW-C
• and others...

DISCLAIMER: While this workshop is psychologically oriented it is intended to be educational and spiritual in nature and does not imply a therapeutic relationship of any kind with any of the psychologists or therapists consulting during the weekend experience. If you are interested in pursuing therapeutic services, we can provide you with a list of therapists to contact either prior to or following the workshop.

Registration Fee: $675 per couple

Registration Fee includes materials, expert speakers and personal facilitation, if desired. Additionally, enjoy breakfast, lunch both days and a happy hour on Saturday. Space is limited. We recommend that you book your retreat as soon as possible. Your registration is final when full payment is received.

Cancellation/Transfer Policies

• To cancel your registration and request a refund, you must contact us at least 7 days before your scheduled retreat begins. Please keep in mind that all registrations include a non-refundable $75 processing fee. Cancellations made within 7 days of the retreat are 100% non-refundable.
• Requests to Transfer Registration All transfer requests must be received at least 7 days prior to the start date of the event. As a courtesy, Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center will transfer your payment one time and within one year to another OLB retreat or program. After one year, money not utilized for a retreat or program will be recorded as a gift to Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center.