Marriage and Couples' Retreat

Rationale: We know the pandemic has been an especially hard season for so many couples, as work, finances, home life, childcare, school, and routines have been disrupted in numerous ways. We are offering this retreat as a way to support couples, aware that all relationships take a lot of work to thrive. This workshop is open to the community, and we'd love for you to join us for it!

Date and Time: Saturday, January 29, 2022, 9am to 4pm

Location: Williamsburg Baptist Church (room to be determined)

Cost: $50 per couple (includes a workbook for each person, as well as lunch).

What Should We Expect?
This workshop offers proven tools to help couples:

• improve friendship, fondness, and admiration;
• enhance romance and intimacy;
• manage conflict constructively;
• gain skills to address perpetual and solvable problems;
• and create shared meaning together.

This retreat will include lectures and discussion, as well as various discussions and exercises for couples from the workbook. Participants will not share personal problems in front of others.

Is This Workshop Right for Us?
This workshop is open to the public, and is great for:

• couples who are considering marriage;
• couples in a long-term committed relationship;
• couples ranging from newlyweds to seniors;
• those who wish to enhance a good marriage;
• those who need better conflict management skills;
• and couples of any denominational or faith background (you do not have to be a Christian or member of our church to attend!).
• This is an LGBTQ+ friendly workshop! (Williamsburg Baptist Church is a welcoming and affirming congregation.)
  
• Note: There are certain relationship struggles that are better addressed in therapy, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, trauma, mental illness, and others. We would be happy to talk to you if you are uncertain if this workshop is a good fit, and we can also help find a therapist if you need one!
  

The 7 Principles Program
This program is based on Dr. John Gottman's four decades of research on relationships. This program will provide couples with practical tools to enhance and improve their relationships while understanding the research-based foundation from which they are derived.

Registration: Online registration coming soon!

Facilitator: Rev. Brent Seusy, LCSW

Rev. Brent Seusy is an ordained United Methodist minister, licenced clinical social worker and pastoral counselor who currently works for Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center. He holds graduate degrees in organizational development, divinity and social work.

During his over 20 years of service on college campuses, in local churches and mental health centers, he became overwhelmed by the needs of couples and families. After discovering Dr. Gottman’s work, he felt compelled to bring the resources he utilizes in therapy to couples in the community in hopes of equipping couples with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in relationships.

His special interest areas include marriage and family issues, trauma and the relationship between spirituality and psychology. When he is not working, he enjoys family time with his wife, 3 children, cat and 4 gerbils. They happily cohabitat after 9 a.m. in the morning and before 7 p.m. each night.