Relationship Skills Workshop - 101
Stay tuned for online and in person workshops in the fall or check out the Yellowstone Couples Retreat in August 2024.
Includes: Thirty minute calls with Blair Hensen LCPC, pre and post course, weekly 1.5 hour group meetings (Zoom), weekly take-home conversations for you and your partner (30 minutes to an hour).
This 6-week workshop is designed to help you and your partner build the skills you need to create a secure functioning relationship. This workshop is for couples who want to work on building relationship skills essential for long-term relationships. Any stage of relationship is welcome to join. This workshop is open to all identities and types romantic relationships.
Topics Include: attachment, creating shared values, principles, and a vision for your relationship; understanding emotions; decision making; communication and conflict repair!
Relationship Skills Workshop 201 will launch fall 2024 and will cover topics such as sex and intimacy, continued conflict repair, managing thirds, and more! Relationship Skills 101 is recommended highly prior to joining the fall course. Reach out with questions.
FAQs
How do we know if we are the right fit for this workshop?
Who is this program is for: Any ages and stages of a couple! Many choose to come who are thinking about engagement, newlyweds, considering having a family, etc. This program is for any couple interested in learning preventative skills and creating a secure and intentional relationship. All backgrounds and intersecting identities are encouraged to join (18 years old and up).
Who is it not for: This program is not able to support couples currently dealing with significant relationship distress (divorce, betrayal, addiction, emotional and physical abuse, or severe mental health challenges). Couples counseling is recommended for couples dealing with significant distress.
Do I need to live in Bozeman, MT to join?
Not for this event! This event is open to anyone who has an internet connection, and can make the timeframe work for both partners (as well as meeting the previous question’s criteria).
What if we can’t make every week?
We recommend carving out the time the best you can. If you need to miss a week, let us know ahead of time and we can send you the slides to catch up. We do offer this course in the Spring and Fall so if you can’t make it work this time, plan on it for next session!
What does the 30 minute call pre/post workshop with Blair include?
During the pre-course call we will discuss your goals for the course, and answer any specific questions you have. During the post-course call we will follow up on any additional questions and give you a chance to provide any feedback you have about the course. The pre-workshop calls will be scheduled for the week of September 25th and the post-workshop calls will be scheduled between November 7-17th.
Do we need to share about our relationship during this workshop?
Sharing is not required, but questions are encouraged! You will be asked to introduce yourselves and your significant other at the beginning of the course as a way to get to know each other. This course is educational and an opportunity to learn relationship skills. There will be time for questions and if it’s helpful to share a question with context you are of course welcome, and the context is often not necessary.
For instance, a common question I get is when we are in conflict is it sometimes better to walk away for a while than keep trying to resolve the fight? This is such a great question, and no context was needed. Everyone in the group will benefit from learning about this. We will go over this topic in the course, but the quick answer is “it depends”. The key is making sure you are both cared for and it may be that the best thing for both of you is to take some time to regulate (deep breathe, move, get outside for a bit), and then come back together to listen and repair. And you will learn ways to work through conflict, so that taking time apart is not your only option.
What will we gain from doing this course?
While it is an investment of time and money, taking the time to learn about ways to strengthen your relationship early on in your partnership can have long-term benefits. When you have the skills to have difficult conversations, co-regulate big emotions, repair conflict, and be able to listen, really listen to each other, it makes all the hurdles life throws us more doable as a strong and secure team.
What will the weekly meetings be like?
Each week there will be a different topic, each topic building on what we learned together the previous week. First, we usually go over the home conversations, and discuss any questions from the prompts from the previous week. The meetings will be set up with slides for visual presenting. Some weeks there will be demos, break out sessions for you and your partner to try out a skill, and plenty of time for questions.
Are there requirements between weekly meetings?
All take home conversations/activities are optional, and of course, they are encouraged. Take home activities are designed to be between 30 minutes to an hour. Some couples spend more time than that because the prompt can lead to additional ideas or conversations.
What’s the difference between this workshop and couple’s counseling/therapy?
Counseling is an opportunity for individualized support to help couples work through specific challenges, mental health diagnoses and goals. This workshop does not treat mental health diagnoses or offer individualized support. If you have additional questions about the differences feel free to reach out!
If you have additional questions about any of these or more, contact us and we will be happy to connect more!
Past Participant Reflections
“Blair’s online couple’s workshop was fantastic in setting my fiancé and I’s relationship up for success. We loved the group aspect of the course and hearing other couple’s perspective on the topics. I would highly recommend all couples as they transition to the next level of commitment.”
“In the 6-week online course provided by Open Routes Adventures and led by Blair Hensen, my partner and I acquired invaluable communication strategies. The program allowed us to gain insights into each other’s needs, with group sessions offering a safe and supportive space for vulnerability and reflection. Armed with newfound tools and perspectives, we successfully navigated challenges, leading to renewed intimacy, trust, and a shared commitment to nurturing our relationship.”