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 and engaged couples who…

• Desire to deepen their connection.
• Need help in establishing good communication patterns in their marriage.
• Feel distant from each other and aren’t sure why.
• Are in a rut and want to find a way to start over.
• Seem stuck in repeating patterns of arguing or silent distancing that cause frustration and pain.
• 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, a Licensed Psychologist for Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska.

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 therapist, this workshop will offer a road-map for addressing sensitive issues, encourage healthy conversations framed in faith and guide you and your spouse toward forgiveness and re-bonding.

You will not have to “share” with anyone except your spouse.

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

This approach can be broken down into seven transforming conversations that use the defining moments in love relationships to foster secure and lasting bonds:

• Recognizing Demon Dialogues—Discover what your partner is really trying to say.
• Finding the Raw Spots—Look into the feelings underneath the flash reactions.
• Revisiting a Rocky Moment—Repair rifts and build emotional safety.
• Hold Me Tight—Move into greater accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement.
• Forgiving Injuries—Discover how to find and offer forgiveness.
• Bonding through Sex and Touch—Discover how emotional connection creates great sex.
• Keeping Your Love Alive—Become mindful about maintaining connection.

Plus, opportunities for confession, celebration of the mass, and renewal of Marriage Vows are all included in the schedule.

This is a two-day workshop, but you do not stay overnight.

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 is comprised of Catholic psychologists, therapists, and priests who will offer their expertise and experience, and be on hand the entire weekend to offer individual consultation upon request.

• 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
• Dr. Kathy Musslewhite, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• Dr. Jacob Halbert, PsyD
• Roger Sandberg, LCPC
• Joel Turner, M.Psy.
• Fr. Joseph Ocran, M.Psy.

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:

• Early-Bird Rate (untilSep 27): $520 per couple
• Regular Rate: $650 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.