“…For Better or Worse… Till Death do us Part”
Marriage is the union of two individuals who love each other and vow before friends and family and God that they will stand beside the other through good times and bad, through thick and thin, that they will stay true to each other and be there for each other no matter what happens – for the rest of their lives. But sometimes, problems can’t be avoided and problems arise within the marriage. So what do you do then? A marriage retreat may be just what the doctor ordered.
Retreats are defined as the removal of oneself from the usual environment – they present an opportunity to become engrossed in a particular subject matter that may have troubled one’s soul. Retreats are not only experienced alone, but by definition must be accomplished with more than one person, couple, or even a big group of people.
A marriage retreat is a type of retreat that focuses on marriages and how to improve them. These retreats often help couples enhance how they communicate with each other, how they collaborate and how they solve problems together. Retreats not only give a person or a couple a sense of oneness and counseling but it is also an opportunity to unwind from the business of work and home and from the fast pace of normal life where it’s often hard to slow down and sit and talk about issues of intimacy and marriage.
A typical marriage retreat is led by a professional such as a marriage counselor or a professional therapist who has the best ability to help determine and analyze any problems and issues that exist within a couple’s marriage. The marriage therapy usually lasts from 2-7 days, enough time that the couple has really had the opportunity to spend quality time together. There are also personalized therapies offered to address overt problems directly such as infidelity. This personalized retreat can sometimes act as a counterbalance for the married couple, giving them a chance to forgive each other. Retreats should be a positive, rewarding and fulfilling experience for couples and should help get their marriage back on track.
One of the skills constantly being focused on at marriage retreats is communication. Retreats are designed to help couples learn to express themselves in a collected, positive, non-destructive manner. During marriage retreats, a couple can resolve their own personal and mutual issues, talk about their personal differences and how they can work it.
Activities often offered during marriage retreats to help a couple bond again.
Couple Games – Games are being introduced to help the couple communicate better. As the retreat progresses, later games rely on skills learned in previous games as a means of positive reinforcement.
Challenge courses – This promotes communication, self-determination and teamwork. The aim of this course is to encourage the couple to face a difficulty – physically or emotionally – and overcome them both as individuals and a couple.
Counseling – Counseling is done in a safe setting where the couple can openly discuss any dilemma or their marriage in general.
Marriage retreats are a good avenue for couples to straighten out their personal differences and improve their communication skills thus helping them create a happy, healthy and lasting marriage.
