Family Education Center

Information may not be reliable

We are family and relationship teachers.
Some couples stay happily married. Some families stay happily intact. Others don't. Over the past 25 years, we have learned a lot about why this is. We have learned what is different about those couples and families who stay happily together.

"A relationship is not something I have, it is something I do."

It isn't that successful couples and families have less disagreement or conflict. In truth, we all have the same conflicts - about sex, money, children, in-laws, etc. The difference is in how they handle their disagreements and conflicts. Successful couples and families learn to disagree in ways which can actually strengthen their relationships.
The skills needed to do this are teachable and learnable. Since 1975, we have helped thousands of individuals, couples, families, and organizations develop and practice the skills to build and nourish their relationships.

How we can help you: a sample marriage story
The following is based on a compilation of several of our clients true stories (the names have been changed, of course):
"Sue had been married to John for 8 years, and had two children ages 6 and 3. She confessed to John that she had been feeling "disconnected" from him from several years. John responded at first with surprise; he felt defensive. However, he too had been feeling some distance and confusion over what had changed in their marriage.
Sue suggested that they 'see someone, our minister, or maybe a marriage counselor'. John was resistant at first. A friend told them about the Family Education Center programs for couples, and John reluctantly agreed to make one appointment for an evaluation session.

At their evaluation session, John and Sue learned about the Couples classes we offer. They learned that the class is not psychotherapy, nor is it simply advice from 'experts' on how to make the marriage work. John felt comfortable enough to take the class.
Read what happened next

Lack of effective communication is the number one symptom of troubled families. In these families, parents and children don't talk or listen to each other as friends. Family meetings are a way to regularly discuss issues of concern to a family in a mutually supportive, agreed-upon manner.
But how do family meetings work? Do they work? A feature article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper tells the story:
Read more about family meetings

Guided conflict resolution is a formal process that can be used by couples, individuals, workgroups, and schools. Our clients who have learned guided conflict resolution skills have had this to say about their success:
"At first, I though we could never do this by ourselves and you would have to come home and live with us, or come over whenever we had a tense situation. But with practice and your help we have more courage and more skill to do this on our own. Thanks!"
Read more about conflict resolution