1. A Counselor’s Role In Marriage Education Jim Burg, PhD burgj@ipfw.edu (260) 481-5406 IPFW

2. The problem with grassroots movements is that they are too often created by the social and academic elite… for those that are not. Paraphrase of Bill Doherty, Ph.D. University of Minnesota

3. The Marriage Education Movement New, targeted programs for special needs populations New, targeted programs for special needs populations e.g., minorities, low-income, unwed parents, teens, stepfamilies e.g., minorities, low-income, unwed parents, teens, stepfamilies Blurring of traditional service population into more challenging contexts Blurring of traditional service population into more challenging contexts e.g., crisis couples, substance abuse, violence e.g., crisis couples, substance abuse, violence

4. National Information Websites www.healthymarriageinfo.org www.healthymarriageinfo.org www.healthymarriageinfo.org National clearing house of information National clearing house of information www.smartmarriages.com www.smartmarriages.com www.smartmarriages.com A coalition of marriage educators, counselors, academics, judges, and policy makers A coalition of marriage educators, counselors, academics, judges, and policy makers Has an active, national Listserv Has an active, national Listserv National conference in June- exceptional training venue National conference in June- exceptional training venue www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage Federal agency promoting healthy marriage Federal agency promoting healthy marriage

5. Community Marriage Initiatives Life-spanning Life-spanning teens, premarital, enrichment, empty nest teens, premarital, enrichment, empty nest Eco-systemic Eco-systemic churches, schools, workplace, social services, judges… Laundromat? churches, schools, workplace, social services, judges… Laundromat? Prevention/Enrichment/Remediation Prevention/Enrichment/Remediation

6. Has a diverse board of directors and is in the process of incorporating. Has a diverse board of directors and is in the process of incorporating. Created the Allen County Healthy Marriage Agreement to bring faith organizations together. Created the Allen County Healthy Marriage Agreement to bring faith organizations together. Will host a community-wide signing event on February 15, at the Allen County Library. Will host a community-wide signing event on February 15, at the Allen County Library. www.HealthyMarriageAC.org hmac@healthymarriageac.org www.HealthyMarriageAC.org hmac@healthymarriageac.org www.HealthyMarriageAC.org

7. A Christian Counselor’s Role? Be a marriage advocate. Be a marriage advocate. Become a provider of premarital testing/ counseling. Become a provider of premarital testing/ counseling. Become trained as marriage educators. Become trained as marriage educators. Train or coordinate marriage mentors. Train or coordinate marriage mentors. Volunteer time to help couples in need. Volunteer time to help couples in need. What else?

8. A Challenge… To be a great couples therapist you: To be a great couples therapist you: Must be well trained in efficacy-based couple’s therapy models such as EFT and Gottman’s Sound Marital House. Must be well trained in efficacy-based couple’s therapy models such as EFT and Gottman’s Sound Marital House. Must know at least one marriage education model. Must know at least one marriage education model. Cannot be “neutral” toward marriage/divorce with undecided couples… you work toward restoration Cannot be “neutral” toward marriage/divorce with undecided couples… you work toward restoration Say only positive things about your spouse in public- it challenges people’s thinking. Say only positive things about your spouse in public- it challenges people’s thinking.

9. About the Speaker James Burg, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC is an associate professor of Counselor Education; chair, of the Department of Professional Studies; and director of the Counselor Education Program. Dr. Burg is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and is a past-president of the Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is chair of the Marriage and Family Enrichment Focus Group for the National Council on Family Relations. His research interests are in the area of building stronger marriages, and he assisted in the development of Healthy Marriages Sturgis, and Healthy Marriages of Allen County, two community-wide marriage enrichment initiatives. Dr. Burg’s Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy is from Purdue University.