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During the Couples Workshop, Our Goals Will Be To:

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Strengthening friendship and emotional connection

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Improve communication and conflict management

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Increase understanding, empathy, and teamwork

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Build rituals, shared goals, and meaning

Join us for a dynamic Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work workshop presented by experienced relationship experts, Dara Harrel, LPC-S, and Mariya McKinley. This engaging, interactive experience is perfect for couples at every stage—whether you’re preparing to say “I do,” navigating life together, or celebrating decades of partnership. Based on the acclaimed research of Dr. John Gottman, you’ll learn proven strategies to strengthen communication, deepen connection, manage conflicts effectively, and foster lasting intimacy. Transform your relationship into one built on understanding, resilience, and enduring love.

Seasons of Life Counseling in Alaska

Session Breakdown

Principle 1: Enhance Your Love Maps

Objective: Help partners know each other’s inner world.
Activities:

  • Love Maps Questionnaire
  • “World of Emotions” mapping
  • Partner interview (hopes, stresses, recent changes)

Handouts: Love Maps cards, open-ended question list.

Principle 2: Nurture Fondness & Admiration

Objective: Strengthen positive sentiment.
Activities:

  • Appreciation exercise
  • Positive qualities worksheet
  • Daily rituals of gratitude planning

Handouts: 3 daily appreciations sheet.

Principle 3: Turn Toward Instead of Away

Objective: Improve emotional connection through small moments.
Activities:

  • Bid for connection identification
  • “Turning Toward” practice conversation
  • Micro-moment awareness exercise

Handouts: List of common bids, tracking log.

Principle 4: Accept Influence

Objective: Increase mutual respect & power-sharing.
Activities:

  • “Yes, and…” conflict role-play
  • Navigating differences worksheet
  • Discussion on flexibility, empathy, and compromise

Handouts: Accepting Influence checklist.

Principle 5: Solve Solvable Problems

Objective: Teach healthy conflict and repair skills.
Activities:

  • Gentle start-up practice
  • Flooding & self-soothing plan
  • Compromise map
  • Repair attempts skill-building

Handouts: Repair statement list, conflict blueprint.

Principle 6: Manage Perpetual Problems

Objective: Learn to handle long-term, recurring issues.
Activities:

  • Identify the “unsolvable” problem
  • Dreams Within Conflict Exercise
  • Values exploration & meaning-making

Handouts: Dreams within conflict worksheet.

Principle 7: Create Shared Meaning

Objective: Build rituals, traditions, and shared goals.
Activities:

  • Relationship vision worksheet
  • Family Rituals Plan
  • Life Dreams/Symbolic Meaning mapping

Handouts: Shared meaning questionnaire.

Bonus Materials

  • Gottman Sound Relationship House visual
  • Gottman Seven Principles Couples Book / Workbook
  • Red flags & Four Horsemen psychoeducation
  • Antidotes practice
  • Relationship check-in worksheet
  • Weekly ritual planning sheet

CLOSING & NEXT STEPS

  • Partners create a personalized “Relationship Action Plan”
  • Couples share one commitment for the next 7 days
  • Optional follow-up group or monthly maintenance workshop

Couples Workshop

The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work

A Gottman-Informed Relationship Workshop

Strengthen Your Relationship • Improve Communication • Deepen Connection

Join us for an engaging couple’s workshop based on Drs. John & Julie Gottman’s research-backed 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work.
This workshop is ideal for couples who want to:

  • Build stronger friendship and intimacy
  • Reduce conflict and increase understanding
  • Improve communication
  • Create lasting meaning and teamwork

WORKSHOP INCLUDES

  • Love Maps & emotional connection activities
  • Fondness & admiration exercises
  • Communication + conflict management tools
  • Turning Toward & repair strategies
  • Dreams within conflict exploration
  • Shared meaning + rituals for connection
  • Printable workbook + relationship tools

Date

February 27, 2026
March 27, 2026
April 24, 2026
May 08, 2026

Location

3719 E Meridian Loop Suite F
Wasilla Alaska 99654

In-person

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Workshop Cost

$325

Limited to 4 couples to maintain personalized support

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